EC EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SUMMER PROGRAMS: Name Day

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Name Day

There’s nothing to compare Greek name days to in the US. The dancing and drinking made for a really special night that I won’t soon forget. The night began with a brief church service - what the priest talked about I have no idea. An hour after we arrived for Dr. Vamvakas name day the fun began with the band beginning to play. Before long the people of the surrounding villages began to dance. We met up with Yota’s daughter and her friend and the two of them attempted to teach us.
I am not a good dancer but I gave it a try. Going around the circle two times was enough for me and a sat down on the stone ledge nearby. Some of the group even danced alone up in front of the large crowd - something that isn’t for me. A young woman motioned for me to join her and her friend back in the dance circle. So I ended back up in the middle of the festivities (hopelessly trying to catch up) and honestly had one of the best nights of the trip. My month in Crete has been amazing and I couldn’t have asked for a better group to share these new experiences and culture with.

Best,
Matt

No comments:

Post a Comment

EC Eastern Security Studies Program

In the summer of 2011, as the "Arab Spring" was unfolding and the "Eurozone Crisis" was entering its second year, the Emmanuel College Eastern Mediterranean Security Studies Program was established in Crete, as a way to make the location the classroom. Beyond the grand theoretical, historical and political understanding that can be achieved through reading and classroom discussion and exchange, a more immediate, intimate and truer appreciation of the complexities can only achieved by experiencing the cultures, languages of personal interaction.

Since 2012 students have been able to combine an intensive curricular study, with the experience of immersion and living in a local setting. The geopolitical and geoeconomic forces that have acted in the region for centuries, can be identified in the classroom, but they can only be understood by being there. This year's EC EMSS Program will add a fourth week of study, experience and exploration and will also travel to the islands of Rhodes, and Cyprus. In Rhodes we will be partnering with the Prefecture of Southern Aegean and the Aegean University, while in Cyprus we will be hosted by the University of Nicosia.