Trip to Greece opens eyes, warms hearts

By Brittany Wilton
Pulse Staff Reporter

“There’s no place like home.” The classic catch phrase of “Wizard of Oz” resonates with each of us; however, the whole world is out there and its lessons cannot be learned by sitting at home

In 2006 three Palo Alto faculty members, two Palo Alto students and a group from different schools took a trip to Greece for a study abroad program. They departed from San Antonio on December 18, 2006, and returned eight days later.

“It’s more wonderful than I could imagine,” said Anthony Pierulla, Assistant Professor of Counseling and tour leader of the group. “You should not be able to get your degree unless you spend a week abroad.”

Greece is commonly known for its mythology: Zeus, Hercules, Hermes and Aphrodite. The Epidarus Theater is famous for its acoustics where a voice can be heard from the top row of the theater cut into a hillside.

“I got to sing in the center, and everyone got to hear in the very back,” said Rachel Ross, a sophomore at the University of Incarnate Word.
The Ancient Greeks are responsible for numerous inventions and theories present in modern living, but students learned more than historical knowledge.

Upon their arrival in Athens, the group didn’t have much time to rest. Without a nap or a meal, they were rushed to the Plaka, plaza, for their first look at a place that had only been read about and seen in photos by the group.

The people of Greece are proud of their heritage, and they welcome tourists.

“They love Americans. They were very kind to us,” said Lee Ming Ross, Instructor of Computer Science and Computer Information Systems at Palo Alto and mother of Rachel Ross.

Eloisa Cordova, Education Support Specialist, said she liked the educational component of the trip. “It gave me an idea of how people perceive the U.S.,” she said.

One morning, two girls from the group woke up late and decided to go down to breakfast in their pajamas, as many young Americans would consider doing.

“We didn’t think anything of it,” said Priscilla De Los Santos, a sophomore Kinesiology major at Palo Alto, who also took a study abroad trip to Spain for five weeks in June 2005.

Once at the table De Los Santos said that the waitress raised her voice at the girls for their apparel, and they scurried back upstairs to change.

“I felt like I was a little kid in trouble,” said De Los Santos, who was reminded that not all cultures are the same.

“It’s definitely an experience, and I think everyone should try it,” said De Los Santos in reference to study abroad programs.

Study abroad offers students a chance to travel the world and see amazing things.

Rachel Ross said, “It [the trip] taught me to enjoy life and not just rush through. Preserve things that are important to you.”

Pierulla thinks that the trips don’t end when you leave.

“It’s like someone giving you a piece of jewelry that stays with you for the rest of your life. The students at Palo Alto should do whatever they have to do to study abroad. It’s not only interactive, but engaging to the body, mind and soul.”

Photos courtesy Lee Ming Ross

Next Story in this issue...