Swan Song of Crete

It's very sad, knowing that for the past month I've spent my life living in Crete with a group of people I only really saw as friends and colleagues. It wasn't until it was over that I realized, that although it was only for a month... We truly were quite the family, and this post serves as a swan song to that family and to that experience. My time spent in Crete saw a lot of change in myself, such as more confidence than ever before in my experience and voicing my opinions. I can now safely say I know what is going on in the Mediterranean, I can say I know what the Eurozone Crisis is; I can say that I have seen things I have only ever dreamt about as a child. Most importantly, I can say that this trip has given me the stepping stone needed to advance into the field I wish to serve in, and that is international relations and diplomacy.
Until next time,
Edward George Bennie

VENI VIDI AMAVI

One of the things which stood out to me the most on this trip was when we went and listened with the local farmers learn on how to plant and cultivate avocados. As bizarre as that might sound, I really did enjoy being able to witness the behind the scenes process, because it let us all in on the secrets from where produce comes from. During my sustainable development class, we discussed food policy and to what extent food cultivation, and food consumption effects the overall sustainability of the planet. Being in that room, and witnessing real farmers taking notes on how to better their crops gave me the same chills the military base did. Farmers are the backbones of society and far too often their work goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Having the ability to even be in the same room as those guys was really an extraordinary experience. 

It’s interesting to think back on the first couple days here and to see everything I have done, compared to now. I remember one day we all came out of Yota’s class and I decided to grab a piece of paper, a pen, and write down the English pronunciation of any Greek phrases that I could find on the internet. I sat down with Evjenia and she helped me formulate the pronunciation. It was a weird experience at first because we had never talked before, and I wasn’t sure how she would interpret me seeking help. At the same moment when I was sitting with her, Anastasia and Cleo peeped their heads out to see what was going on. They smiled, and eagerly joined in. I ended up using what we had written when we went to the markets, or into Chania. It was really helpful while I was first learning greek. To this day I still have that list, and it holds a special place in my heart, as it represents the 5 seconds of courage I had to ask for help, and how that moment ultimately ignited a relationship with these women I cherish forever. Later that day Nathan and I went down to the grocery store bought a bottle of wine and went back to the patio to sit and talk. Little did we know this would be the first time we really got to meet Yanni. I really enjoyed this moment because of how authentic it was. This man had just been pulled out of a river, yet he was willing to talk about the complexity of Trump’s election in America and to what extent censorship effects the tough skin of “millennial snowflakes.” After having these interactions I was able to get a taste of just how open Greek culture is; you come, need a place to stay, and will we feed you. To this day I can’t shake how telling it was for the institute to have let Yanni into our weird bubble of Emmanuel. This is the definition of Greek hospitality, and just what I said during the round table in Rhodes. One simply cannot deny the overwhelming generosity that exists within Greek culture. The cross one might bear is the cross, “we all bear.” If it weren’t for this mentality none of us would have had the pleasure to get to know Yanni and be blessed with all the wise words he was kind enough to share.

This is where my overarching, conceptualization of life comes into play. The world, what we do, where we go, who we meet, and what we see, is absolutely intentional as those factors play a major role in who we become, and how we interact with the world. The reasoning behind why we all came here was different, yet it is the curiosity that exists within exploration which was our common denominator. If Yanni hadn’t found his way into the river, he would have never needed to seek refuge at the institute, and I would have never been able to hear his words which comforted me

two nights ago. For me, everything is either connected in some way or it isn’t. Coming here I was able to see how certain things played out and to what extent those events influenced my life. I wouldn’t change one thing about my experience here. I’m so fortunate to have spent a third of my summer in this remarkable place, and I am more than thankful to the people I shared it with.

Another Reflection on Cyprus

When we were in Cyprus last weekend, street are was one of the most heavily populated themes throughout Nicosia. Coming from Chicago, I’ve seen my fair share of street art when in the city due to violence, mistreatment, and racism. I connected both Chicago and Nicosia in a way that street art is the way that the Cypriots spread their word of discontent, pride, and many other feelings. The street are in Cyprus made this 3-day weekend my favorite part of the whole 30 days.

I’ve always loved art whether I was making it or looking at in an art museum. I’ve always been surrounded by a plentiful of art, and I’ve always appreciated the hard work people put in. I think I loved Cyprus so much, not because it was full of rich history and an interesting situation, but because of the street art scene. Seeing people express themselves like this was cool because when you live somewhere where conditions may or may not be ideal, people demonstrate that.

This weekend made me appreciate home a little bit more. I don’t live in a possibly hostile situation where crossing over another state can be dangerous for me. I think of Cyprus as the coolest place I’ve ever been. As I said in my previous blog post, I have loved everything about Greece, but the differences were clear when we walked through the entire city of Nicosia. The people are the same, but more diverse, the food is the same, and the culture almost seemed a little less to me. I’m aware this isn’t Greece I’m talking about, but this whole city seemed very modernized in a Western value type of way. I don’t know how I feel about that when reflecting in this blog post.

Being an American living in a not American world for 30 days has been interesting; I’ve loved every second of it. Seeing how the world works outside of big, powerful, and almighty land opens your eyes. The people of Cyprus and Greece both lives different lives, but in a way the lives they live have bettered me. I’ve loved seeing the differences between all of the the places we visited. I do not want to go home to the modernized world of America that I have called home for so long. I want to fully embrace the lives of how the Greeks live them.  I cannot wait to come back and show whoever I’m with Cyprus and Greece in the exact way that I was shown by Petros and all the people we’ve experienced here on a day to day basis.

My Favorite Day in Greece

Reflecting on the last month here in the Eastern Mediterranean, we done many things that I would've never seen myself doing: hiking the longest gorge in Europe, being able to visit NATO bases,  becoming close with the village people, and etc. Over all these experiences, visiting new places, and becoming immersed in culture in the best way possible, my favorite part of this trip was the day was visited Penelope Gandhi.

The women at Penelope Gandhi showed me what hard work and dedication can bring you. I loved seeing the ideals of a self-sustainable business made by the people for the people. From their old age, these women still worked harder at their job than my parents do something and that’s something I really loved about this day.

The lunch after we had our talk and demonstration showed a lot about Greek culture, it was very moving. To be able to see how this man remembered the small gesture that the American people did for him was unbelievable. It’s crazy how much you can impact someone’s life without even knowing it.

His whole speech about giving and how he giving was how he felt like he showed his thanks was something that has stuck with me. We celebrate holidays like Christmas where all people think about are gifts and material items, but this man has thought of this one thing and has continually acted on it.

My whole point when writing all of this is that you could do one small thing for a person and they can remember it for the rest of their lives. The best part about this is that you might not even know that you did. Like when Sarah nurseda dog back to health and Ioanni took her home. Something as simple as giving someone something they’ve always wanted. Always think of others when doing things on a day to day basis because you might do something that influences someone’s life more than you think.

Lessons from the Scavenger Hunt

During this last week in Crete we did a scavenger hunt around the village. The previous weekend we did one in Rhodes around the Old City and the competition was at all time high as the blue and gold teams battled to be reigned champion. The scavenger hunt we did in Crete had a completely different vibe as winning was the goal of all team members, but it was behind the other goal of team work.

I was part of the blue team and our strategy was to divide and conquer for both hunts, in the ended we reigned victorious, but the point was not to win the hunt. As we were finishing to meet our team back at the institute; Star, Megan, and I were running up the hill to the sounds of the rest of our classmates hollering and yelling. As we were running up the hill, we had seen the yellow team members as they were in the same situation as the three of us. While we were running up the hill we spotted Dylan, the yellow team captain making his way up right behind us.We then realized at that moment that waiting for the other team to finish at the same time and calling it a tie was better than winning. After we all had walked up victorious, we greeted Petros, showed him all our pictures and everyone was pleased with the result.

This reason I decide to write about a silly scavenger hunt rather than the an army base is because over the past month a lot of what we've done as a group has required patience from each other. Even what we learn about in class leading to discussions allows people to share their opinions and there's almost always other people to back up their argument.

On this trip, I've learned the value of patience and being more considerate. I've personally learned a lot of this from Peters: the man, myth, and legend. He has demonstrated a remarkable amount of patience in times where we can get rowdy, tired, moody, and temperamental, but he is still able to manage us as a unit. I think that patience is valuable to have, and I’m glad I was able to learn that here in this place, with these people, and under the wing of Petros. I assume that I am speaking for the entirety of the group, but being here has been an amazing experience, but because of the people who put this together that is why we are able to do have done all we wanted.

One month later...

As the final night comes to an end, I can't stop thinking about how grateful I am for this opportunity to study in Greece for a month. I got to visit two new countries and visit places I never dreamed of ever getting to go. As someone who hopes to work for the UN, it was amazing getting to go to the DMZ with them in Cyprus.

This trip has also solidified my want of majoring in political science. I am looking forward to the next three years of polysci classes and the internships I hope to get. Getting to learn Greek has given me new hope of learning a language. I have not had a language course for five years, so I was very nervous to start learning one again. Even though Greek has been difficult, I am hoping to keep up with it and become better.

Tonight's event has shown how close this community truly is. As cliche as it sounds, they are like one big family. Everyone from the village came up here to celebrate with us, and it was very fun. I got to speak Greek in front of Greeks and I felt very welcome. I wish it was more like this in the US, but then again, that is what makes Greece so special.

I hope I get another opportunity to come back to Greece and Cyprus as well as the neighboring countries in the Middle East. Now that I have a more in-depth basis for what is going on in this region, I want to continue learning and keep up with the events better than I have in the past.

Overall, this trip has been an amazing experience. I got to know everyone on this trip and truly feel like I have made friends I will keep in touch with. I also got to see myself become comfortable around people, which hasn't happened for a while. It will be hard to go back to Colorado and away from friends for another two months, but I am looking forward to reuniting in Boston.

It's my last real night here in Crete and I couldn't be sadder.

An older Greek lady came up to me and told me I had beautiful hair. As someone beaten and battered by the system hearing such words had me on the brink of shedding tears, but the chains of masculinity refuse to allow such things. The ocular canals stay dry for the sake of preserving the sediment necessary for staying steadfast.

But here, in Greek Night, or rather, this celebration of women, I've seen a beautiful thing of these beautiful people of Alikianos. A subset of culture seen differently from their own people in mainland Greece. People never heard of. But their stories and sense of community lives on, and will always live on here within this small town of the hellos and goodbyes of nostalgia with the furrowed brow of "where are we going, where do we think things will go, will things be safe in the next 20 years???".

My time in Greece has brought me to an odds end. Do I know where I'm going? Time will tell, as my Uncle Petros says; it's really all up to the ebb and flow of the galaxy. But like, how many times will I get this level of kindness and hospitality outside of my homeland of Ghana? We all love to share. I think the periphery has this tendency to be one in the same in some cultural things. Auntie Eva, Auntie Clio, Auntie Anastasia all one in the same being kind and wonderfully beautiful people with the steadfast and stubborn attitudes needed to continue to live on; to live on year after year while preserving that necessary flow.

The Greeks are some of the most beautiful and perfect people I've ever met. Some of the most brilliant, some of the most passionate (it all feels like home), some of the most in-control, pureveyors of slow yet efficient living, and some of the most hungry people I've witnessed. They don't settle for less, they grasp life by the sultry tongue. Alikianos, I'm going to miss you dearly. Some of the most subtly poetics live here without even knowing. Every *phoenetically typed out* "yasas" will be remembered within these memory banks, and once again be witnessed in due time. This is a new home to me. A home struggling in a world enamored with international relations. Slow living. We live life and drive slowly. Much love.

I love you all.

Scavenger Hunt

A few nights ago we had our second scavenger hunt of the program. The first scavenger hunt took place in Rhodes and my team had a great time running around the city exploring, learning (and winning). The most recent scavenger hunt was around our neighborhood in Alikianos. I have to admit I wasn't too excited to do a scavenger hunt after a long day and with the deadline for a paper hanging over my head, but once we got started I realized I was thankful for the incentive to get out and explore Alikianos. The village was absolutely beautiful with the pink sun hitting the mountains at sunset, and because I arrived to the program a day late I missed the initial tour of the village so it was nice to go investigate some of its hidden treasures. I was sad to realize that this is the last week of the program and I didn't spend nearly enough time out in the village. One of the most heartwarming things was when our group was searching for Basil and we thought there would be some in a woman's garden. Even though she didn't speak much English, Starr was able to connect with her and it was a really sweet reminder that a huge part of the scavenger hunts should be connecting with locals and not being afraid to ask for help. In the end both teams ran up the final hill together, which served as another reminder in the sense that the scavenger hunts should be about coming together as a program as much as it's about engaging with the community.

The Clash of Cultures

If there is anything that I have learned from my time here in the Eastern Mediterranean is that civilizations do collide, and sometimes they can collaborate with each other to create something that is new, beautiful, and unique; but, sometimes this can also result in the destruction of one culture for the dominance of another. We have see the former take place here in Crete, especially in Chania where the lone minaret that still stands is attached to an orthodox Greek church that was initially a roman church, then a mosque, and then a Greek Orthodox church. There are elements of all three in the structure and you can see the influence from all of their periods (the Venetian, Ottoman, and Greek periods respectively). In Chania in general you see elements of all of these traditions and cultures being built upon themselves because the buildings and structures are still standing. But sometimes elements of culture and history can be lost when civilizations and cultures collide.

Last night when I was doing some reading I received a New York Times notification to my phone informing me that Great Mosque of al-Nuri (famous for its leaning minaret and for the fact that it was constructed in 1172) was destroyed by ISIL. It made me sad to see that this beautiful piece of culture and history was destroyed through hateful forms of violence but it just brings to fruition so much of what we have learned, especially in reference to statecraft. We see what happens when states are not able to properly and reliably allocated the necessary resources to its citizens: people get put under strain and competition arises to ensure that people have what they need. Competition breeds conflict and can create power vacuums to the point that civil wars break out and states collapse. And this is the primary reason for the destruction of Iraq and Syria. During my time here I have listened to numerous professors say that they do not ever believe that Iraq and Syria will be able to restructure themselves and become viable states again, but how can that be the case when places like Crete exist that shows that states can survive clashes of civilizations and cultures? Crete has witnessed numerous empires and cultures collide with each other, it has witnessed more than its fair share of conflict and atrocity and it has still been able to remain strong and viable through it all. So, maybe there is still hope for Iraq and Syria, and maybe there is a chance that something new, beautiful and unique can be constructed from the rubble of the history that has been destroyed.

Cyprus Reflection

Cyprus was definitely the most interesting place I have ever been, and it will probably be the most interesting place I ever visit. We stayed in the capital city Nicosia, which is divided down the middle due to the Turkish occupation. It was amazing to walk along the walls and see all of the barbed wire, especially because it's the last standing wall of its kind in Europe. It's still hard to wrap my head around the concept of the Turkish occupation and how there can be such a direct disregard for state sovereignty. Turkey takes it a step further by flashing a huge, flashing, lit up Turkish flag at the southern portion of Cyprus every night. To me this was the epitome of international pettiness and it sounds more like a joke than an actual action of one country towards another. During our time in Cyprus we were able to attend a number of interesting lectures at the University of Nicosia, and we spent a lot of time talking about energy disputes in the region. Turkey's presence also complicates the aspect of energy because Turkey refuses to recognize Cyprus' rights to explore their resources off the coast. This trip gave me a lot to think about and I am so thankful to be a part of the first group to travel to Cyprus through EC EMSS.

From the Venetians and Ottomans to NATO

On one of our last excursions we had to opportunity to visit a number of military installations that are in Souda Bay right by Chania. With the closest thing being the UN buffer zone visit, I have never been to a military base or installation in my entire life. Upon entering the US installation within the Greek Air Force base, we were greeted to the roar of jets taking off only a couple hundred meters from us. Throughout the day we were to meet many interesting military personnel and we learned all the different purposes and occupants the various installations had. The first tour with the American commander illustrated the importance of America's presence on Crete was as far as being able to deliver important logistical needs in the strategic region. He also explained how historically civilizations that have commanded the island have been dominant regional actors. Next we went to a missile firing site that tested drone equipment and missilry. The NAMFI site was under NATO and was a cooperative project amongst three member states (Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands). We were shown the operational rooms and where the ordinance was tested. Finally we went to a training facility where personal under the guidance of Greek commandos provide classes and operational modules for personnel to deal with maritime issues. Some of the operations they train these soldiers and law enforcement for have to deal with drug seizures and other maritime crime activity. The people at the institute worked amongst many other NATO allies and offered training to other entities as far away as Singapore and Senegal. What struck me about this particular visit was just how deep these intergovernmental organizations have become in their operations. It also showed cooperation and collective action at play where all these states larger or smaller, developing or modern, more powerful or weaker came together to learn common strategies and tactics to combat destabilizing factors such as crime that in recent years have been amongst the many issues that have been causing insecurity in the region. What this experience has taught me that collective security can be a viable thing and that for too long we have seen international institutions in this narrow view as being centered on very specific objectives and disputing into irrelevance. I told the commander there that until that day I very much viewed NATO as a simply an agent to contain Russia. However leaving there I see that the institution does serve an essential role in bringing member states and their partners on equal footing so that other forms of security threats can be neutralized better ensuring order in the chaotic international system that has been bred in the past few decades. Also the cooperation amongst the various nationalities at these installations was telling. It affirmed my belief that even as a hegemon, the United States needs to engage with these states and foster positive relationships. Partnerships can work amongst these different states and in the end it is beneficial to out nation to have this cooperation to guarantee a secure world.

Limassol

Over the past few days we have been in Cyprus and have been exploring, as well as being educated about some of the main problems facing Cyprus by professors and students from the University of Nicosia. One of my favorite tour spots of on our time in Cyprus was the town of Limassol. I especially liked this because during our free time, Nathan and I went to walk around the city, and discovered street art after street art. I don’t think that I have every experienced street art like this. In the United States, you don’t really see a lot of street art, you see more of graffiti, which in often looked down upon. If you do end up seeing any graffiti is more gang oriented for territory more than anything (of the graffiti that I have seen). In the European hemisphere is it clear to see that street art or graffiti is meant for so much more than just a territorial war, street art is used to express oneself through art, or even a political centered piece. To me I saw that two things that were being expressed with the street art. An expression of thought was definitely evident with one side of the street art. A lot or people are unhappy with how states are running the current system and its affects on the people. Those said people have chosen to take a specific path and express themselves through graffiti, instead of a political system. Such expressions contained negative and positive words about facism and refugees. What I took away from seeing this graffiti is that people are not happy with their current system that they are speaking their minds to an audience that may not be looking at the message at all, they are spray painting things on the side of walls that many people are likely to pass or look over. Instead of taking it to their legislatures or elected officials, they have chosen an alternative route. I feel that is shows the problems within the political system, how the state is not providing amenities for its people; that there is no social buy-in therefore no legitimacy for the government (and no opportunity to repair the damage that has been done to the society and the people that inhabit it). It often makes me think about why these people have chosen to stick around when things are so tough. How are these people sure that things will get better, if they themselves are not doing anything to help the system? What will eventually happen to them, and the state if there is a continual disconnect between the two? 

Another thing that I took away from seeing all the graffiti is that it is embraced here. There were no signs of trying to cover up the graffiti to make building look uniform or similar (how it is in the United States). What the graffiti adds to the society is a sense of uniqueness, something to be proud of, embracing the beauty of human creation. All of the street art that Nathan and I saw was so well done it was mind blowing. It was fascinating to see that people were integrating what an artist had done into their business or home. We passed on specific restaurant that had a mural of a street with children playing in a fountain, and when you continued down the wall, people were framed with shutters to make it appear as if they were looking out into the street as a normal person would do. It made it seem that people were watching you when in theory no one was actually watching you. An underlying concept to me with the graffiti is that no one is trying to erase the graffiti because it is the spirit of the people, it is the people showing their true emotions in a way that they might not be able to do before. The graffiti in a sense is the soul of the people, and one has to look in the right place to find out what they people may want or desire, because graffiti or street art can easily be overlooked or passed by, but those who care enough to stop are the ones that understand the struggles and hardships that people are under, and are willing to help.

EC Eastern Mediterranean Security Studies Program 2017
Visit at Souda Bay US Navy Installation

Entry #6 6/22/17

This past week has been full yet exhausting which is something I've come to expect in this past month. The group spent three nights in Cyprus, just outside of Nicosia's old Venetian walls. Upon arrival, it seemed that everyone was too hungry to function. The barbecue chicken pizza I ordered was heavenly, and I could take up an entire blog post talking about it. I'll restrain myself to just a few lines. The crust was so fluffy, but dough underneath was so thin. The chicken was cooked perfectly which sizzled on the cheese that reached a light golden hue. The barbecue sauce drizzle on top was the absolute crown jewel of this entire endeavor. I ordered a medium so I could have some for later, and well, let's just say none got taken home for later. Anyway, the first day was a Sunday, so it was rather light, and consisted of a walking tour of the old city and a very detailed history of the Turkish occupation and negotiations in Cyprus. It's one of the most complex situations that exists in the world today, and the negotiations seem to reach further from an outcome each and every day. The next day consisted of classes and a trip to the southern city of Lemassol. The city is emerging and all of the waterfront property was in the process of catering to the influx of tourists. That day felt like forever considering the bus ride lasting over two hours. That day made me realize the importance of state capitals being accessible to water. Nicosia is not a port city, as it sits in the center of the island. Therefore, going anywhere in the state takes a long time and has the potential to reduce the state's capacity. Anyway, the next day consisted of a tour of the Nicosia International Airport buffer zone. This was amazing to see how nature effects an abandoned structure, and the United Nations in a practical setting. Theoretical education about this superstructure fails to encapsulate what was seen in this deserted  airport. I enjoyed Cyprus more than Rhodes because it didn't have a noticeable mass tourism factor, and the food was absolutely my favorite so far (plus we had the privilege of flying RyanAir). There is still some time to go in Crete, so until next time,

Teddy Miele

Penelope Gandhi

One of the most inspiring excursions of the trip so far was our visit to the University of the Mountains to learn about their Penelope Gandhi Mission project. The project integrates the traditional Cretan art of weaving with public health initiatives as they use the money raised to provide health services to rural mountain villages. During the visit we were greeted enthusiastically and everyone we encountered seemed genuinely excited to tell us about their work. This sentiment is something I've observed throughout Crete. Everywhere we go people take great pride in their work and they are constantly looking for ways to preserve their culture, history, and identity as Cretans.


For me the most captivating part of the visit was seeing how this project empowers the women of the community. This project provides a unique opportunity for the older women of the village to have an active role in sharing the Cretan art of weaving on a broad scale. During the visit we were able to get a small taste of all of the work that goes into weaving as we were able to sit down at the loom with the women and also learn how to separate the material that can be used as thread from the plants. The process was very intricate and time consuming. One blanket or dress could take multiple months to complete depending on the complexity of the pattern. I believe that especially as you get older it's extremely important to feel like you're using your time in a meaningful way and that you have a purpose. To see the passion in each of the women we encountered inspired me to search for the same type of empowerment through passion within my own life.

Our Home Run

Today marked our final day in Crete before finals and the finale of the program. We spent the day doing a home run of military bases (ha) and concluded with a delicious meal by the harbor. The first base we visited was the US naval base in the region that is essential due to its ability to carry just about any aircraft and dock any ship including aircraft carriers. The interesting part of this base was not just the tour but the lesson we received about US foreign policy, more specifically the lack of change from the Obama days to the days of Trump. The base just finished a construction project to expand its capacity and has been approved for further work; this only shows the escalation of US intervention instead of US withdrawal from the region like President Trump promised on the campaign trail. This goes back to Geopolitics and how essential a presence is in order to secure the region and all of its resources. Next we went to a NATO missile testing site. I believe that the site could really be used and intended as a defensive structure rather than just a testing site.

Reflection on Cyprus and the EU

After visiting Cyprus, I am amazed at how Americanized it is. Besides Athens, it was the first place I saw fast places, such as Burger King, McDonalds, etc. Many of the signs and advertisements were also in English. This surprised me because Cyprus and the US do not really have any ties to the US yet they have so many US restaurants.

The discussion we had in class today shed a great light on the Cyprus/EU issue. By checking passports from Crete, it is hinting at an internal issue and distrust with the people. The entrance of migrants through Turkey is causing heightened security through EU member states or those bordering said states.

This unrest is also evident in the graffiti that could be seen around the city of Nicosia. Many mentioned Syrian refugees and fascists. There was also a play on the "keep calm and carry on" that said "don't tell me to keep calm". This tension continues from the 1970s. Yet what has changed is that the youth is not as engaged as the previous generations had been. This has been sending Cyprus into an unknown territory.

Leadership vs. Management

We're nearing the end of the program, and Lord have mercy I don't want it to end. I really don't; the amount of things I've seen and amount of things I've experienced on this program are numerous and the amount of intriguing conversations and encounters are many more than I would usually get in one whole entire academic semester. Yeah, I said it. These three weeks have had more than I've gotten in 3 months.

Seeing what we talk about in the classroom in action is one of the highlights here, and it takes me to a conversation / discussion we had in Statecraft today. The issue of Leadership vs. Management.

What consists of a true leader? What consists of a true manager? I'd wager to say that all leaders and managers are of two special toolkits; your red pills and blue pills for a lack of a better concept. They both have their own concepts and do their own special things, and cannot be confused for each other. I firmly believe that leaders are leaders because they shift the paradigm and that managers are managers because they keep the systems stable and in place. Why? Because they cannot be one another. They can only be good versions of each other. Good leaders like Kwame Nkrumah shifted the paradigm. They took the road less traveled. Managers would be individuals like Hillary Clinton, as she continues policies established by Bill Clinton.

This leads into the leadership crisis that's been established out here that's really spooky. Like, where are we headed from here? Clearly, some of the issues we have currently (re: the Eurozone Crisis) stem from a lack of concrete leadership. Look at Tsipras. Look at the outlook for Greece in this complicated era. How do we fix all of this? It's really a lot to think about friends, isn't it.

Love u.

??? Leadership in the Eurozone

This morning we had a debate about leadership and management, and whether or not the two are mutually exclusive. Many good points were thrown around, and while there was a lot of disagreement, I think I was able to come to a pretty solid conclusion: you need a good leader to establish a framework for law and governance that can serve to build a solid institution that can function properly from one generation to another. This leadership must come with uncontested exchanges of power that has been legitimized by public consent and willingness to cooperate.

In regards to the eurozone crisis, we talked about the issue in terms of a change in socialization and behavior in order to fit the model of globalization. Professor Vamvakas presented the class with a question about the Eurozone as a failed institution: will the population follow the leaders that emerge as the crisis progresses?... the truth is, I don’t know. What I am concerned about is the kind of leadership that will emerge, and whether or not it will prove to be effective in managing the crisis and re-establishing the sense of public buy-in that is necessary in order to make ANY system function in a constantly changing society. 

Last week we got the chance to visit a bee museum and local bee farm. Going into it, I wasn’t really ‘buzzed’ about the situation. However, I underestimated that amount of interest that the museum and farm would have. I had thought I knew a little about the bee farm from outside sources such as documentaries, movies, and light readings on bees. We entered the bee museum and got a little history on the positive affects of having bees on the island of Rhodes, and how important they are to the world in general. Additionally we got to see how the honey, wax, and other products and modes of techniques that were historically used to extract the benefits of honey bees. I had previously thought that bees only had major stakes in pollination and making honey. Bees actually produce a variety of products such as beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and bee venom that can be very beneficial to the bees as well as us. 

Not only did we learn about the history of bees but we were able to see two hives, and the different kinds of bees that it contained, such as worker bees, drones, nurse bees, and a queen. It is amazing to see that under one command, the bee community or hive can function, but if that queen bee is to die, she is easily replaced. It is also mind-blowing that such a small organism can have such an affect on our world. We account on the bees for pollination of the world’s plants. Without the bees there will not be any pollination which will in turn cost us greatly as we will lose the plants around us as well as our food source. It makes me think that such a small being in the world can change it for the better, so one should never underestimate themselves or others because you do not know what you or another person may bring to the table. 

One things that was intriguing to see was the extraction of honey process. As a collective we were able to extract honey from the beeswax sheet through a honey extractor. Extracting the honey called for one to crack or spin a handle on a machine at a high rate to ensure that the honey would separate from the honeycombs. Each of us were able to take a turns spinning the machine and see how much effort it takes to extract honey as past people have done. Now things aren’t as complicated due to the easy extraction from machines. After extracting the honey, it was a delightful treat to be able to taste the honey. 

It is interesting to see how much hard work has to go into trying to extract a product. I also found it interesting to see the relationship that American’s hold bees to and Europeans hold bees to. In Europe, they seem to hold bees in such a higher regard that we do in America. In America there are so many toxins, and hazardous conditions for bees as we are one of the main contributors of pollution. Currently with our current presidency we are headed away from an environmental and sustainable outlook that not only we need, but the bees need as well. Without a clear environment bees will not be able to survive, and the end of bees means the end for us as well. In Europe, people see the need for bees, the need for their protection, and their importance. There have been some movements within the United States to education people on the importance of bees such as in educational institutions (colleges), however on that scale you are not able to reach everyone. I think that it is great that a small movement within America is seeing the need for the bees, however I hope that everyone catches the importance of bees before it is too late.