Monday, August 4th

Today’s first blog post is brought to you by Amelia in Ms. Hrvatin’s English class.

Travel Journal

Our new friends serenaded us out of Syros as we walked away in sad spirits. And yet, we remained hopeful for a new beginning. 

The Bittersweet Goodbye

Our day began at the beautiful Dolphin Bay Hotel in Galissas, Syros. The sun was smiling through our windows, the air was warm, and the sky was blue. It wasn’t as early a morning as some of the others, luckily, so we were all rested and bright-eyed. All in all, there was a positive energy in the hotel complex. The only thing bringing us down was the knowledge that we would have to bid farewell to Syros shortly, since today was a travel day. 

We had packed our bags the night before, so we (most of us anyway) were already organized and ready to go, and the morning was pretty painless. We woke up and brought our bags outside our rooms by 9:30 a.m. The amazing hotel staff very kindly brought our big suitcases down for us in their van, so we weren’t tasked with the feat of lugging them down the monstrous mountain that was the trek between our rooms and the lobby. 

We then headed down to breakfast, which was, as usual, a buffet with a wide and delicious variety of food and drinks. The bus to take us to our ferry was coming at 10:45 a.m., so we hung out in the lobby until then. We got to spend some time with the group of students from the double credit program before we left. Even though we had only met them a few days prior, departing from them was like being ripped away from lifelong friends. 

If this program has improved one thing about me, it’s definitely my ability to bond quickly with new people. Although it was sad, we  were very grateful to have been able to connect with them, in such a short time. In the wise words of Jesse from the double credit program, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”. 

We said our goodbyes. As we walked away, the sweet melody of “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa danced out from Jesse’s speaker and filled not only our ears, but also our hearts. We boarded the bus at 11:00 a.m. and headed on our way. 

The Journey

We had been waiting for what felt like forever and the air was thick with sweat when we finally heard the loud horn and the ferry pulled into the port of Syros at 12:00 p.m. We loaded our luggage and settled in for the thirty-five minute ferry ride, which passed by in the blink of an eye. We talked to our friends and played games as the wind blew through our hair and the boat cut through the bright blue water. 

Dylan from the photography class found the ferry ride very interesting. She was able to take inspiration from the surroundings, saying that, “The views from the ferry, like all the different islands and the light on the water, made for great photos and I could practice my angle and lighting techniques”.  

We began to see the beautiful buildings and colours as the boat inched closer and closer to the island of Tinos, and our excitement grew. We made our way off the ferry and onto the bus, while being hit with an intense heat that quickly shifted our feelings from excitement to exhaustion. We arrived at the hotel and slumped into chairs on the patio out front, awaiting our next move. 

Settling in to Something New

Manthos greeted us on the patio with a bright smile and an energetic voice. He was our tour guide for Tinos. He explained some history of the island such as the early inhabitants, the Phoenicians and Ionians, as well as the Venetian influence. 

Reda from the classical civilizations class enjoyed this, “It’s really cool to be able to connect what I’m learning with where I am, and to actually understand the background and importance of everything I see”.

It was around 2:00 p.m., we were about to begin our walking tour and afternoon class. After a short walk around the town getting to know the history and taking some photos for our English and photography assignments, we split into groups for lunch and free time. 

It was nice to be able to spend some free time with everybody else, enjoying delicious souvlaki and cooling off in the salty hotel pool. We spent some time relaxing and getting ready for dinner, and met back up for announcements at 7:15 p.m. 

Bertan expertly delivered our announcements and we began dinner at 7:30 p.m., which was a buffet at the hotel. The scent of good food and the sound of voices filled the air as we all ate. We were then able to sign out and leave for free time after dinner. We finished off the night by looking at some of the many colourful souvenir shops, exploring the streets of the town and, of course, eating some sweet, refreshing gelato.

Takeaway From the Day

Today was all about community and new beginnings. On this program, it’s pretty impossible not to form a tight community with the group, as you are spending so much time together and experiencing the same moments, whether they’re funny, exciting, scary, or sad. Every single moment feels like a bonding opportunity. 

Because of this, we are also able to form a community everywhere we go, whether it’s with the locals, or with students from other programs. However, these communities are ones we don’t get to spend much time with. As we go through changes, leave things behind, and travel to new places, the one thing that remains constant is that our group is all together. 

While it was difficult today to leave the new connections that we had found, we all still had each other, and we pushed forward into this new beginning together as one. 

Tomorrow

We’ll explore more in Tinos! In addition, it’s a full day of classes. Stay tuned for cafe class sessions and some hard work while we get to know the wonders of the island. 

“Wait, where’s the bun?” A Day of Firsts in Tinos

By Colt in Ms. Amelio’s English class

I saw my burger and was left completely stunned: no lettuce, no tomatoes, no onions, and not even a bun. Just a single patty staring at me from the plate, as if it had been exiled from the sandwich world.

We woke up on Monday morning to the sun gleaming through the curtains and a fresh ocean breeze flowing through our window. We packed our last items and said goodbye to Dolphin Bay Resort and all the memories we had made there. After boarding the ferry, we played cards under the intense heat until we arrived at the Tinos Hotel. The room was cramped in comparison, but my three roommates and I managed.

Shortly after, we got to experience and learn about the town we would be staying in. We saw the blue ocean and the boats that lined the port. We passed many restaurants, but one that caught my eye was right across from the sea, called Epineio. I immediately ordered the burger, and to my surprise, burgers in Greece come with only the meat. No toppings, condiments, or even a burger bun. Nevertheless, I ate the burger and had plenty of room for ice cream afterward since my meal didn’t come with everything I was expecting.

Afterward, we walked back to the hotel to relax for a bit before heading to dinner. We had chicken and rice at the hotel. My friends and I then explored the town, which is much smaller than the one in Syros. I checked out the supermarket, and it amazed me how the products and atmosphere differ from my home city of Toronto, Ontario. Growing up in downtown Toronto, it’s an enlightening experience to see how life is in a completely separate country. This program has taught me that visiting a different place isn’t about seeing tourist attractions; it’s about observing how everyday things, like even something as simple as a burger, can be so different.

Walking into town after sign-out while the sun was setting was an unbelievable and truly breathtaking sight. My friends Cooper, Dean, and I all grabbed a photo together as the sun set behind us. I realized that traveling the world isn’t always about the big moments; it’s about noticing the small things and moments. I’m not just earning an English credit and learning about Greece; I’m learning how to be comfortable with different lifestyles and discomfort.

In the upcoming days, we are going to be climbing the third-highest mountain on the island, having class in a remote village, and having many once-in-a-lifetime experiences. So far, this program has been an unforgettable and life-changing experience, and I am forever grateful that I’ve gotten to experience it.