Author: Susan Richey | Major: Human Development and Family Science | Semester: Summer 2025

Hiking through the Samaria Gorge

My name is Susan Richey, and I am majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) within the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. In Summer 2025, I studied abroad in Greece through the University of Arkansas’s faculty-led program: Classics in Greece. Over the course of 30 days, we travelled all over the country, visiting cities such as Athens, Naxos, Chania, and more. I chose to study abroad in Greece because I was interested in exploring its rich history and culture. As an HDFS major, I was curious to learn about ancient civilizations’ ways of life, how they interacted with each other, what they valued, etc., as well as to compare their lifestyles with our own today. As a young adult who had never been out of the country, I was eager to see the world and itching for opportunity. While I didn’t know much about classical studies, I was willing to learn, unaware of what was in store for me. This trip was truly the greatest start to my journey abroad, exceeding all my expectations academically and personally.

During this trip, I often found myself thinking of a favorite quote: “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room”. According to this belief, I was always in the right room, and I learned to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge surrounding me, not only within my professors but my classmates as well. As a result, my academic experiences were nothing short of eye-opening. Learning from such inspiring professors who welcomed questions, encouraged curiosity, and dared us to explore reignited my desire to never stop learning. I am so grateful that I picked this program because I was exposed to new topics and concepts I had never considered. Now that I’ve gotten just a glimpse abroad and examined only a brief slice of its timeline, I can’t wait to continue exploring outside my little bubble of life. I learned so much about the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations, like their writing systems, their metalwork and pottery. I was exposed to different religions and customs as I visited Athen’s Jewish museum and the Arkadi Monastery, among others. I learned about Greek architecture through impressive ancient palaces, ruins, temples, and more. Our visits to the famous, tourist-crowded Parthenon and Acropolis were certainly memorable, but it was equally as interesting to learn about the materials, structure, and purposes of lesser-known, yet still impressive landmarks, such as the Palamidi Fortress, a Frankish Castle, and a Venetian Fortress. A few of my favorite stops along this trip included the site of Tiryns, with its skilled cyclopean masonry, the stunning Theatre of Epidaurus, and the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, specifically its Daily Life in Antiquity collection where I learned about sports, social and religious customs, and the process of making art.

It’s hard to pick just one favorite moment from my time abroad, but there are a few moments that I would be remiss to leave out. One of my favorite trips was our hike down the Samaria Gorge. This ten-mile hike through the White Mountains was an awe-inspiring, incredibly rewarding experience that left me speechless. It was a humble honor to be immersed in a beautiful variety of landscapes and wildlife that I will never forget. I also enjoyed listening to everyone’s site report. Throughout the trip, we each had the opportunity to present a topic of choice to the class. It was so engaging to learn from my peers as they shared information related to topics they felt passionate about. I discussed the trial of Socrates while we toured the Agora of Athens, which I had picked because of Socrates’ connection to therapy strategies today. Another highlight of my trip was our farewell dinner, where we reminisced over the past month with our Museum of the Trip project. As a class, we created an imaginary museum that showcased what we’d learned, all our inside jokes we’d bonded over, what stood out to us, and what made meaning for us. I will always look back on that particular night with such fondness and gratitude over the found family we created.

I remember the night before leaving for Greece, crying to my mother about how I couldn’t do it. I didn’t feel capable, or equipped, or smart enough, and I couldn’t hide those insecurities any longer because the time had come. Looking back, I learned so much about myself. I returned to Texas being able to recognize and appreciate my strength, my patience, my curiosity, and my adaptability. I came back, not only able to speak basic Greek phrases, count to twenty, and sing a children’s song, but with a newfound love for a variety of new Greek dishes—my favorites being bougatsa, a delicious custard pie, and portokalopita, a moist orange cake, both of which I hope to recreate in my own kitchen this summer. I highly encourage every student to study abroad if they have the opportunity, because growth happens when we are pushed outside of the classroom, outside of our comfort zones, and immersed in the unknown.