so long, farewell

Hey there, reader! Well, I'm going to keep this short so as to not make myself emotional (again). This entire trip has been one of the best experiences of my life. It felt so long because I feel like I've known these people forever, but so short because it doesn't feel like it should be over. I am so, so, so incredibly lucky to have had this experience. Everything from the excursions to the late night talks left a lasting impression, and I wouldn't change any of it for the world. I'm so lucky to have been here, not only in Crete, but to have done it with these people. Every single one was irreplaceable. This trip was made by the personalities. I cannot imagine it being remotely the same if even one person was missing. I am lucky. I am thankful. And I better see y'all in the fall (or preferably sooner). Signing off for the last time. (No I'm not crying again)

Fin.

XX Jess 

Send off

I'll keep this short,

As most of you depart today and tomorrow, I wish you all good luck in your travels home or on your continued adventure abroad. The last four weeks have been full of many highs and enough lows to really put in perspective the joy it has been to travel with you all.

In familiar words, let us reflect on our "roses, thorns and buds," and hopefully, see full gardens.

Fondly,
Cole

Avaca-do-n't

In class today it the avocado problem was brought up today. The avocado problem, in general, is that the fruit can be very profitable due to consumer trends but can be very devastating for environments who are forced to take on mass avocado plantations/orchards. Avocados are an issue of hurting local economies and devastating environments making them inhabitant due to the large demand for water that avocado trees require to sustain its life. The demand for water in the world is already too high to fulfil the needs.

Going to the mostly EU funded dam that's a short distance from the village, you can see first hand how water scarcity and water supplies have depleted. Mismanagement and capitalistic endeavours are posing and expediting the rate of the threat of water insecurity. 

Its an issue of both greed and climate change, and the issues will de address one way or another: People changing their behaviour/slowing their impact or having to leave their communities because they can not sustain life anymore. 

The program has successfully stressed these global concerns and more specifically the local concerns in Crete. 

The Chania Agenda:

My Secret Agenda:

One of my secret favorite activités to do in a new place is to hit up the local thrift store in each respective town or city I am in. Ever since I got my license at the not so prime age of 16, I made it an effort every time I was allowed to borrow the car and drive the state over or a few towns over. Once I was older and had my own car I made it an effort to squeeze in stopping at goodwill in Fort Meyers, Wooster, Buffalo and Scranton- to name a few. It became a game and a joke amongst my close friends. The concept was that I (Cole, a frugally expensive lady) would not have TRULY experienced and REALLY visited a place unless I found a rummage sale or checked out the local thrift store. Then I would rate the state or city based on the thrift. 

I have been lucky enough to be able to continue this practice throughout my travels.

I have had luck in France, Italy and Mainland Greece, and today I was finally able to check out a few places in Chania. I am really into thrifting for a number of reasons, but the aspect that stands out the most is the different styles of modern and vintage clothes you can find from place to place. By far the best thrift store I have been to in the US is in Brattleboro, VT that sponsors the local hospice, and then the Best thrift store abroad is this small two thrift shop in the Le Marais section of Paris.

Chania's second-hand stores were neat and quite. They most resembled the atmosphere of a thift store in the basement of a church. I was able to talk with the owner of one of the shops I stopped at and she told me about how the shop is more so popular with locals rather than tourists. Which I thought was an interesting note from the conversation. Overall, I hope I will have more opportunities to check out more second-hand shops abroad. 

confessions of a teenage drama queen

Hi howdy hello! Today was probably one of my top 5 favorite days so far. It was really great to have the opportunity to get a lecture from Dr. Kulich. One of my favorite parts of this trip has been hearing opinions from a wide range of people. We heard from professors and professionals from Cyprus, Athens, and Crete. These lectures offer a wider range of analysis than we would get if this class was taught at Emmanuel.
After classes, we headed down to Chania. Celia and I found the coolest shop that was selling all sorts of Greek-myth related items. I got to do shopping for my friends and family (and also me because treat yourself ammirite ladies). I realized how lucky I am to have so many people back home who are excited for me to come back, but I also really don't want to go back. I don't want these times to become just memories, and I cannot believe how fast this month has gone by. I really thought I would feel homesick on this trip, but because of all the amazing people here, I really haven't wanted to go home. I love it here, and I love all these people. I probably never would have met, or become friends with, most of the people here if it weren't for this trip. To me, these friendships will be one of the best takeaways of this trip. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to interact with and learn from the amazing people on this trip. Reflecting on these past few weeks, I wouldn't change a thing. Till next time.

Fin.
XX Jess

A POST

I really liked the idea of compiling a playlist of music I have been listening to this past-soon to be four weeks. Frankly, I listen to a wide variety of music but have been really embracing jazz and soul more than per usual.  (This does not reflect in the songs chosen.... Oh Well)

Here is a list of music that odds are I am listening to out and about in our travels.

St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Call Me (Live at SXSW 2014)

Bayside - Carry on (Live)

Monsieur Perine - Sabor a Mi

Saintseneca - James

Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeros - Truth (Live at the Big Top)

Elliott Smith - Needle in the Hay

Daughter - Youth

The Crane Wives - Safe Ship Harbored

Unit 42 - Concrete & Clay

Gina Chavez - Miles de Millias

La Santa Cecilia - Ingrata

David Bowie - Queen Bitch

Blind Pilot - One Red Thread

Klo Pelgag - Le Tronc

The Proclaimers - Over And Done With

Sigur Ros - Staralfur

Bonus!!!!! Anything by Mother Falcon or even Sharon Van Etten 

An Unexpected Encounter - 24 June 2018

During our visit to the Allied cemetery at Suda Bay, I happened upon two things I had absolutely no
idea I would find. As I walked among the white headstones, it was mentioned that there was a dog near the monument Devin was standing by. I figured I might as well go investigate. On the way over I noticed the name "MACKENZIE" etched on a headstone. It instantly caught my attention. J.D. Mackenzie was a member of the British Royal Artillery and died at the age of twenty nine. To my knowledge we have nothing in common but our shared surname and our clan, but that is still a connection nevertheless. To make things a bit more abnormal, the crest of the Royal Artillery was etched at the top of the headstone. The Tudor Crown was a part of that crest, and is also tattooed on my chest. It was a little strange, but not entirely surprising. The Mackenzies are a fairly large clan and the Tudor Crown a fairly prominent symbol.

I continued over to the monument that Devin had been looking at earlier. I discovered another abnormality. At the top of the monument was one of my family crests - the one I happen to have tattooed on my left forearm. The monument itself was dedicated to members of the Seaforth Highlanders, a regiment sponsored by Clan Mackenzie centuries ago. This, combined with the gravestone I had encountered earlier, was strange. I never expected to encounter such a thing in this cemetery, but I did. Two of the three things I had tattooed on my body were present in the cemetery, both with direct connections to my greater family. 

Interconnectedness is something that is comforting to me, and as a student of history I appreciate my connections to the past - no matter how small or unexpected they may be.   

*To note, I opted for the official spelling of Mackenzie, which uses a lower case k - not the capital K my branch of the clan uses. Not that this note matters to anyone but me, but I wanted to point out the difference. It is just one of those little things I appreciate.