Day 19: Class Trip to Chania!
Tuesday, August 12th
Today we have two blog posts for you. The first is brought to you by Aiden in Ms. Hrvatin’s English class.
Class Trip to Chania!
In some places, time seems to fade away; in Chania there’s a timeless feeling that stretches back thousands of years.
As I stepped out of the hotel, the warm humid air hit my face, like the blast from a hot oven. We loaded onto the chilly bus, the AC refreshing me instantly. Then we began the one-hour drive to Chania from Rethimno. We slowly drove out of the small, but busy town, and as I looked out the right window the view was like no other. Instantly the crystal clear blue ocean caught my eyes in the distance, glittering like a mirror reflecting against a shining light. Surrounding the water were mountains, filling the landscape with flecks of light grey rocks scattered throughout. It seemed as though, ages ago in the time of Cronus and Zeus, it might have rained rocks here. The dark green of the trees and rows of palm were stunning. It was something I had never seen before, the vivid colours and unique landscapes that felt like driving through paradise.
As we got closer to Chania, the view quickly transformed. The coastline changed from mountains to small buildings packed together in neat rows. The buildings shone white, little sugar cubes along the sea. In the town, there was yet another stark difference: the modern structures blended with the old ancient ruins.
Ms. Hrvatin’s English students made their way to a cafe to run class. Both English classes had essay workshops to discuss thesis statements and how to integrate quotes. As we worked we were surrounded by the sights and the salty smell of the Aegean Sea. We wrapped up class and started free time to explore. I walked around with Callum, Simon, Thomas and Brody. My stomach, rumbling and whining for food, led us to 9STR, where the smell of Gyro, fresh tzatziki and crispy pita filled my senses.
After lunch, we came across a street filled with stores and began shopping. Each shop was full of unique items like swords, Greek themed jewellery, soccer jerseys and countless other options. The shiny jewelry gleamed catching my eye, and the countless modern stores drew us in, reminding us of home.
We continued exploring as we made our way down to the port where another gust of the sea air and cold breeze surrounded us. The closer I got to the edge, the louder the waves crashed against the rocks. The sound hit my ears, calming me like a slow melody. All the restaurants tried to welcome us with their warm hospitality, offering me a table and trying to get me to eat the fresh seafood.
Our time to explore ended, and the Ancient Civilizations teacher, Trevor, took us to see Ancient ruins. It was so interesting to remember all the people who have been on this island for thousands of years and how they have protected these ruins and the heritage behind it. It was like stepping into a time machine, with some of the houses actually built into the ancient structures.
As I walked across the old roads, back to the bus, the firm stone beneath my feet, I realized how meaningful this experience was to me. We had the privilege to explore Chania. This small day trip reminded me that globalization has brought this country so far. It made me think of how Greece has evolved over time. This excursion was significant to me as we got to discover more of Crete, and it reminded me to be grateful that I have parents and teachers who have set this up for me.
As we travelled back to Rethimno, I decided to get other people’s opinions on today. I first interviewed Calliegh from the Ancient Civilizations class. I asked what her favourite part of the excursion was. She replied, “I enjoyed having class on the Venetian port of Chania. Seeing the colourful buildings and the old lighthouse in person made the history I was learning feel alive.” Then I asked Brennan, from Ms. Amelio’s class, what his favourite part was. He said, “The best part of Chania was the vast dining and shopping establishments. There was something for everybody down by the exquisite port.” Then I went to my friend Simon, from the photography class he said, “I enjoyed taking pictures of the stunning lighthouse.”
Overall it was a very enjoyable day for me, and my peers seemed to enjoy it as well. Chania had won me over with its stunning colours and historical vibe. I would recommend visiting it when in Crete!
Our second post is brought to you by Charlie in Ms. Amelio’s English class.
“Grounded for two nights?! What could I have possibly done wrong?” When I woke up that morning, I had no idea how the day would end. I was up before my alarm, the bright Crete sun bleeding through the curtains and keeping me from sleeping. I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t. Excited for the day, I got up, got ready, and went to breakfast.
Today was a class day, but not a normal one. We were going to visit an old Cretan town called Chania. These field trips are always a lot of fun for me. Walking through such a traditional, beautiful place that I’ve never been to before is an amazing experience that everyone should get to have. Seeing the culture, the beautiful old stone buildings, and trying all the different traditional foods and drinks in this old Greek town was a euphoric and fun experience.
My English class took place in a small and cozy cafe right on the water. I ordered pancakes, which did not disappoint. A local man sat right in front of my friends and me. He was middle-aged, with white and gray hair, and was very friendly. He asked me what I was doing here, and we talked for a while. He asked what I wanted to do in the future in terms of work and university. I told him my biggest goal was to go to the Olympics for wrestling. He gave me advice on not giving up on my dreams no matter what they are, and said that if you have a goal and are determined, you can achieve anything. He had a strong Greek accent but I understood everything he was saying. It was one of the best conversations I’d ever had with a stranger.
Still unsuspecting and naive of what was to come, I went on with my day. The trip to town was over and everyone got ready to get on the bus. I took everything in one last time and got on. On the bus, I started to get a weird feeling in my gut. No, it wasn’t from motion sickness, although that probably didn’t help. This was different. It felt like I was anticipating something stressful and bad. My gut was telling me something bad was to come. It bothered me the whole bus ride, and I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.
“It’s all in my head,” I kept telling myself, and by the end of the bus ride, I had convinced myself everything was fine. Later in the day, I was sitting in the lobby of our hotel. I was socializing with my friends on a comfortable couch when Bertan, our program manager, came up to us. The first thing he said shocked me.
“You’re grounded.” It all hit me. This is what the gut feeling was about. My friends and I had been caught for breaking the rules the night before. I was immediately struck with a strong sense of guilt and regret. Why did I decide to break the rules? This program gives me so much luxury and has very few rules, but I decided to break one of them anyway.
Whether I was caught up in peer pressure or didn’t actually want to do it, it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, I am my own person. I made the decision to break the rules, and now I have to face the consequences of my actions.
Tomorrow we head to Heraklion, the capital of Crete. We will also visit Knossos Palace. Stay tuned for more!
