Author: Darren Black | Major: History and Classical Studies | Semester: Summer 2025
The Parthenon did not disappoint (mind the scaffolding)
My name is Darren Black, and I am a rising junior at the University of Arkansas majoring in History and Classical Studies. When I heard that Dr. Levine was leading a trip to Greece before retiring, I knew I had to go. As far back as the fall of my freshman year, when I added Classical Studies as my second major, I had wanted to go to Greece with him in the first Summer intercession of 2025. His encyclopedic knowledge of ancient Greece and fluency in modern Greek allowed me to connect with both the present and past of the country in a way that would have been impossible had I traveled independently. Thanks to the opportunity presented by this program, I suspect I was able to get more out of Greece in 28 days than I would have in two months on my own. My brilliant instructors frequently directed me to places of interest and taught me some Greek expressions that deeply endeared me to the locals. Given my background in History and Classical Studies, Greece was my ideal study abroad destination. The trip consisted of various sites and museum visits, with a few free days included for leisure. Regarding the workload, I was required to keep a travel journal to reflect on my daily observations. I submitted a site report that I had prepared in advance on the Greek Civil War. I chose this topic because I knew nothing about the conflict before the trip. My instructors were invaluable in providing me with research materials and reviewing my drafts. Because of this preparation, I was able to follow the conflict as we travelled across the country. A particular moment that stood out to me was when we visited the Greek Parliament building, which had been a site of major violence during the Civil War. Thanks to my research, I was able to appreciate the building on a deeper level, visualizing the conflict that erupted in front of it whenever I set foot in Syntagma Square.The whole country was beautiful, especially the mountains and the beaches. We took an optional 11-mile hike through the Samaria Gorge, which, unlike campus, was a long downhill walk. Although Samaria was beautiful, my favorite nature moment from the trip was when I took a hike to the Corycian Cave by Delphi. The cave was vast and cold, providing respite from the Hellenic sun. On the way down, we saw a group of mountain goats making their descent. It was such a beautiful moment that felt timeless in the sense that it could just as easily have occurred in that exact spot in antiquity.
As is often the case with international travel, there was initial culture shock. Athens, especially, was a surprise. In my mind, all of Greece resembled Santorini’s pristine image. Athens was loud and a little dirty, but it had a certain charm to it. Everyone I met there was incredibly welcoming and hospitable. The city has fantastic views of the Parthenon. The islands of Crete and Naxos were more aligned with my expectations of Greece. From these experiences, I was able to correct my mental image of Greece from a monolith of beautiful white buildings and beaches to something infinitely more multifaceted. In my mind, Greece was a museum of a country, unchanged since antiquity. This trip allowed me to clear my misconceptions and learn to love Greece as I found it, as a modern, vibrant country.
In summary, this trip was truly delightful, and I highly recommend anyone on the fence about studying abroad to commit to it. You will learn so much more about a place than you would by reading about it in a classroom, and you will likely discover new academic interests while abroad. I, for one, returned from the trip with a deeper interest in Venetian rule in Greece, asubject I had limited knowledge of before embarking on the journey. The personal and academic growth I experienced on this trip will remain with me for the rest of my life, and I sincerely hope that others will take advantage of the incredible opportunities offered by studying abroad.