Byzantine Museum and Exploring Greece!

I’ve never had so much information fed to me in such a short amount of time and it actually stick with me. But, being out their made you appreciate everything. The food, music, and people are so captivating and accepting which was a big relief. During our lectures at Middlesex we got told time and time again to be cautious of our surroundings. It was the exact opposite for me. We’ve met countless people who went out of their way to help us when lost or had a genuine interest in us. After visiting the museum I learned christianity and God play a big part in this culture and everything has some type of significance or purpose. It wasn’t all work and no play. After doing what we had to do on this day we had the afternoon off, and decided to visit a beach! The views were stunning it seemed like we were in a painting, living a fantasy.

Christopher Hernandez

Visiting the Byzantine museum was a great opportunity to learn about an aspect of modern Greek religion that I have never thought about it. Although I was perplexed by the facts and stories I learned during our visit to the Byzantine museum, I was also excited to take notes and ask questions that will enhance my understanding. Learning how Greece was one of the most prosperous regions of the Byzantine empire was shocking for me at first. This is one of those things that are not mentioned that often. I also realized the importance the byzantine era had in blending Christianity with traditional Greek religions. These connections are very well reflected through the arts. I didn’t realize that terms such as “Alpha and Omega” actually have roots in Greece. Alpha is the first letter and Omega is the last letter of Greek’s alphabet.

After going to the museum, we actually had our first free afternoon to explore the city of Athens. Coming from New England, where most of us are used to the cold weather and beaches, in which you can’t swim for long periods of time, a group of us decided to take a subway adventure down to a beach in Athens. This day, I was also able to see the value most of us brought to the group. Every student had a different backgrounds and majors. Every student had stories to share. Every student brought their perspective of life to the table. As I witnessed a sunset at my favorite beach in Greece, I reflected on the fact of having this amazing life experience. I also learned life lessons by talking to the advisors by the beach. This really made me think that I want to become a professor at some point in the future. I loved how Vikram and Michelle shared with us their passion for teaching and how fulfilling it is to see their students grow and become professionals. The scenery was perfect to reflect on the amazing impact and influence others have had in my life. I had a moment of appreciation for all those who have helped me make my dreams come true; in fact traveling to Europe as always been a dream of mine as well.

Juan Breton