The first week and a half of the program is complete and it has been eventful to say the least! So far we have visited the Allied War Cemetery, Manousakis Winery, attended a local concert, traveled to Rethymno (one of the coolest places!), listened to lectures at the University of Crete, had several beach days, and still have so much to look forward to in the coming weeks.
This year, four of us (Thalia, Nick, Lilli, and I) have returned to conduct directed studies focusing on different challenges within the region such as climate change, evolving political voice, emerging electoral voting trends, and art therapy. Our classes, meetings in the evenings, and discussions together are quickly revealing just how closely intertwined these issues are and the compounding effects of seemingly inconsequential slight changes in each one.
Returning a second year has been a unique experience. At first glance, most things are identical: the same Institute, same traditional delicious dishes for dinner, same beautiful beaches in the afternoon, same historical background and political theories in our classes - Just inserted with a different group of students. However, when you really start to look, you’ll find the glaring differences.
This year, it is undeniably hotter - a brutal and unrelenting heat that is extremely concerning for manual laborers, taxing on limited resources (i.e. water or energy), and unforgiving for biodiversity in the region (from the panting stray animals in town to migrating aquatic sea life). Around town, there is a visible increase in rotting fruit, like molded oranges hanging on branches, and more newly planted avocado trees - a continued trend in agriculture to maximize profits for local farmers. The European Parliament election results with ND dominance waning and the increased popularity of fringe far-right parties illustrates the desire for a insular nationalistic political approach, however, even more troubling is the continued voter abstention rates. The consequences of representatives elected by only a majority of the small percentage of citizens who voted is extremely distressing.
On one of our walks last week, Thalia and I were reflecting on these changes. The weeks are long yet the months seemingly fly by and day to day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different. For me, it feels like experiences, places, and even people are permanent and enduring tenets within my life yet, inevitably, they become unrecognizable given enough time - for better or for worse. This applies both as a young adult but I also think in a political science perspective as well. Sometimes nation-states look so far ahead on the chess board that they miss the important precedents and trends establishing day to day within society that will undoubtably shape the future. I guess its just one of those lessons that everyone has to constantly keep re-learning, à la Sisyphus and his rock.
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