ώρα να πούμε αντίο! Time to say goodbye!

A day that none of us has been looking forward to is here. We have had our last gyro, our last Sirtaki, our last sighting of Grecian beauty. 

The program may have come to an end, but the memories that we have made here will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Whether it is the hustle and bustle of Athens’ Plaka neighbourhood, the serene natural beauty of Syros’ Galissas beach, the breathtaking phenomena of Oia’s sunsets, or the amazing flavour of Cretan cuisine, when we think back on these moments, they will surely bring a smile (or a tear) to our faces. 

After an unforgettable evening of food, dance,  and music at our banquet last night, we have piled onto the bus, driven to the airport, and arrived back at Toronto Pearson. 

On the flight, everybody was abuzz with conversations about their favourite memories, things that they will miss, and having their last reflections on the experience of a lifetime that was Global Summers Academy Greece August. 

The scene at Pearson yesterday was extremely  bittersweet, as new friends had to say goodbye, students reunited with their parents, and teachers said good luck for the future. Needless to say, many tears were shed, but they were tears of joy. We can feel comforted in the fact that each one of us had an unforgettable experience of joy, expanded horizons, friendship, and learning. 

We say goodbye for now, but not farewell. Our students will undoubtedly stay connected, and it is certain that many of them will want to return to Greece in the future. 

On behalf of the Global Summers Academy Greece August staff, I would like to wish all of our students the absolute best on all of their future endeavours, whether that is going off to postsecondary, starting off in the workforce, entering their grade 12 year, or coming back to Global Summers for another program next year. We will not forget the wonderful experiences we had with each and every student on our program as we say goodbye and good luck. 

Thank you to everyone who made this special program what it was; the experience of a lifetime. 

Aντίο και καλή τύχη! Goodbye and good luck!

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator

Ένα τελευταίο βράδυ! One Last Evening!

The final day of Global Summers Academy – Greece August is here. As sad as we are to be going home soon, our students had an extremely memorable and reflective final day on the program! These 26 days will be an experience that they will never forget. 

Following a morning of rest, relaxation, and some final review, our students piled onto the Athens metro to travel to our final exam location. All their hard work is finally finished, as they wrote the exam and completed their courses! Now time for some final fun and bonding at our final banquet.

At 7pm, our students congregated in the lobby of the hotel to get some details on how the evening would play out, starting with a visit to the rooftop of the Jason Inn hotel for a golden hour photoshoot. It was a perfect way to kick off the evening, as the students got to snap some pics in front of the Acropolis all dressed to the nines with their new friends!

After the photos, the students headed to the hotel conference room for a program slideshow screening. The students laughed, smiled, and even shed some tears looking back at the memories they had made throughout the program. 

We walked as a group over to the main event of the evening, a traditional Greek evening with delicious food, Greek music (and some popular covers), and most importantly, dancing. Our students got pulled up onto the stage by the performers, and everyone had the chance to engage in some Greek dancing as a group, as well as some singalongs to popular songs such as ABBA’s ‘Mamma Mia’! 

After the restaurant cleared out, the group got started on the final part of the evening, a speech from program manager Bertan, followed by some gifts as a memory of the program, and our famous paper plate awards. Each student was given a fun award for a memorable story about them during the program. The room was filled with big laughs as we recounted some of the funny and endearing moments that our students participated in throughout the month. 

Following the awards ceremony, the students had a final dance party as a group, and then went to a nearby gelato place to cap off the evening. What a wonderful way to spend our final night in Athens! Truly an evening that none of us will soon forget. 

Tomorrow, we return home! 

For more updates, follow our program Instagram page. 

@gsagreeceaugust2023

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator

Τελικές παρουσιάσεις! Final Presentations!

Today, our students presented their culminating assignments to their classmates! After weeks of hard work, our students have absolutely exceeded expectations, creating some incredible work ranging from speeches and films to presentations and written work. 

Our English classes travelled to the archaeological site of the Ancient Cemetery of Athens to present their rhetorical speeches, as each student showed off their public speaking and writing skills with creative ideas such as the Jordan vs. Lebron debate, the use of headgear in contact sports, the best Greek island for teenagers, and the refugee crisis in Europe.

All the students spoke well and showed off their knowledge of rhetorical devices that they learned in their study of Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar.’

Our Classical Civilizations students presented their findings on a topic of their choice, ranging from Ancient Greek philosophy to clothing and culinary cultures of classical Greece. Each student presented a creative and interactive activity, showing off their multimedia skills. A particularly memorable activity was on the proper way to wear a toga or tunic! Experiential learning at its finest. 

Our math students presented their final lab findings, and did some prep for their final exam the next day. 

In the afternoon, our English classes screened their short documentary films, all on topics related to their travels in Greece. The amount of humour, creativity, argumentative skill and production prowess that our students demonstrated was truly mesmerizing to see, as each student brought something that they were passionate about to the process. 

In the evening, the group had their final night out on the town in Athens, eating dinner near Monastriaki square followed by free time in the Plaka neighbourhood. Everybody spent some time out in Athens, and then many chose to return to the hotel to do some prep for tomorrow’s exams. A great balance of hard work and fun! 

For more updates, follow us on Instagarm at:

@gsagreeceaugust2023

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator

Στην κορυφή της ακρόπολης! On top of the Acropolis!

 

More than 3000 years of history. Majestic architectural beauty. A small window into what life for the Classical Greeks must have been like. These are the vivid experiences our students were able to share in today’s programming.

 

After a morning of class to finish off some course work and prepare for their final exams, our students ventured out from the Jason Inn Hotel in Athens on a very special adventure. Today, they travelled to the beating heart of Classical Greece, the Acropolis.

 

Our wonderful local coordinator Chara walked the students through Monastiraki square, over to the Plaka neighbourhood of Athens, with its perched tavernas and cafés, steep hillside lane ways, and breathtakingly beautiful Bougainvillea flowers. On the way, the students got to check out the ruins of some of the Roman era Agora, and excitement was abuzz in the air.

 

When we reached the base of Acropolis hill, students began to get a sense of the wonder of the site we were on, with its charming Olive and Moria trees interspersed with marble walkways. We began our tour with a local guide, first exploring the theatre of Dionysus on the side of the hill.

 

As we began to reach the summit of the Acropolis, students began to remark how much bigger it is than they were expecting, and how the view alone made the hike worth it!

 

After a quick walking tour of the main gateway to the citadel, the students were shown the temple to Athens’ namesake, the goddess Athena, as well as the towering figure of the Parthenon. Our guide was expert at describing many of the architectural features, and painted a vibrant portrait of what life on the Acropolis must have been like in ancient times.

 

The students had 30 minutes atop the Acropolis to take pictures, enjoy the views, and take in the living and breathing history at their footsteps. Because it was a Greek national holiday, the Acropolis was significantly less busy than a typical day, providing ideal conditions for the tour!

 

Following the visit, the students travelled to a restaurant in Athens’ Latin quarter for a quick bite, consisting of incredible red pepper mezze, a tomato and eggplant dish, and various types of souvlaki, sausages, and meatballs. Typical Athenian fare! Students had time after dinner to explore the neighbourhood a bit more, and most opted to head back to the hotel slightly before curfew to prepare some work for the following day.

 

Tomorrow, final day of classes and tour of the Panathenaic Stadium!

 

For more updates, follow the program account on Instagram:

@gsagreeceaugust2023

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator

Επιστροφή στην Αθήνα! Arrival in Athens!

Goodbye Crete! 

After an incredible 6 days on the pearl island of the Mediterranean, we have sadly departed from Heraklion. Our time there was absolutely fantastic, with just the right mix of history, museums and archaeological sites, beaches, city life, and fun excursions! There is definitely a bittersweet feeling in the Global Summers Academy Greece August camp, but everyone is stoked for what comes next! 

At 7 o’clock we boarded an overnight ferry from Heraklion to Athens. Each student checked into their cabins and headed to the ferry restaurant for a delicious meal of roasted chicken and potatoes. 

It was a special night as Jaiden W. celebrated her 17th birthday on the ship! Over dinner everyone sang her happy birthday, including some onlooking passengers, and Jaiden got to enjoy a special dessert! What a memorable and unique place to spend your 17th birthday. 

After dinner, everybody piled out onto the deck of the ship to watch the sun set over Heraklion. It was truly a sight to behold, as the city lights began to shine, and we set sail past the old Venetian fortifications of the city. 

On the ship, many of the students opted to join a game of ‘Fishbowl,’ a fun and energetic game combining ‘Charades’ and ‘Password.’ It was a great way to pass the time as the ship ventured far into the darkness of the Aegean waters.

A short 9 hours later, and the students were able to watch the sun rise over the mountains of Piraeus as we pulled into port.

Athens, here we come! 

Tomorrow, our Acropolis tour!  

For more updates follow us on Instagram at:

@gsagreeceaugust2023

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator

τελευταίο μπάνιο στο Αιγαίο! Last swim in the Aegean!

 

Our time in Crete is coming to a close. We have had an absolute blast in this place, and this day was a fantastic final full day on this beautiful and ancient island!

 

Following a well-deserved sleep in and wonderful breakfast, students piled onto the bus for our very last beach day on the program!

 

The group travelled to the nearby village of Karteros to a positively stunning white sand beach. Equipped with volleyball courts, a restaurant, and lounge chairs, students were in for an incredible day.

 

Most of the students decided to spend the first couple hours of the day catching some rays (and maybe some Z’s) on the beach chairs, relaxing in the hot Grecian sun or finding a quiet place in the shade to read. A few even brought their computers with them to the beach to complete some school work while enjoying the sun.

 

In the mid-afternoon, students played a game of beach volleyball in the very professional courts. Our students are very talented, as some of the rallies they were having lasted a long time and demonstrated a ton of skill!

 

After everyone was finished playing volleyball, the whole group went and hopped in the Aegean for their last time. Some of the students were emotional, as they will not have another chance to swim in Athens, and many of them spent the time taking everything in and reflecting on their program to this point.

 

The waves in the water were absolutely sublime, and everyone finished the day wave jumping and body surfing. What an end to our Aegean adventures!

 

After a beautiful risotto and loukomades dinner out on the town in Heraklion, many of the student chose to watch Mamma Mia! in the basement conference room of the hotel, and a lot of them turned it into a sing-along dance party! Other students chose to go out on the town and enjoy their last evening in Crete.

 

Tomorrow, a full day of class, followed by our transfer back to our last stop in Athens!

 

For more updates, follow us on Instagram:

@gsagreeceaugust2023

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator

το σερφάρει! Surf’s Up!

 

Hang ten!

 

Today our students spent their Saturday on a very special excursion, surfing on the Cretan coast!

 

After a relaxing morning sleep-in, many students chose to participate in the memory game ‘fishbowl’ in the downstairs conference room of our hotel, while others chose to take care of some work, explore the town, or chill by the pool.

 

At 4 p.m., the group headed out from the hotel about 20 minutes away to an absolutely stunning beach. We had been hoping all week that there would be a sufficiently wavy day for surfing, and we were not disappointed. As we pulled up to the beach and saw that there were perfect waves, a buzz of excitement filled our bus.

 

After a quick 30-minute tutorial from some truly amazing surf instructors on dry land, students took to the sea!

 

Surfing in 3 groups of 7, each group started off with some small tumbles and challenges getting up on their board, but with the help of their excellent instructors and some perseverance, all of our students were getting up on their boards and loving the surfing. “I did it!,” one of them exclaimed as they surfed into shore on a choice wave.

 

After a sunset surf and a short bus ride home, students ate a delicious meal at the hotel, and all students opted to spend their last Saturday night in Greece out on the town! A day full of adventure and fun vibes.

 

Tomorrow, we have our last beach day for the program!

 

For more updates, follow the program Instagram page:

@gsagreeceaugust2023

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator

Νόστιμο φαγητό! Delicious Food!

Today was arguably the most authentic Greek experience that we have had thus far on the program!

This morning, students in English class performed their choral readings, getting extremely creative in their performances, costuming, dramatic techniques, and oratory styles. Each group offered something different, and each played to the individual strengths of their members!

Math class worked on mapping quadratic functions, and Classical Civilizations spent the day attending the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which was absolutely spectacularly loaded with Greek history and culture! True experiential learning.

Those who chose to attend the optional authentic cooking class excursion had an incredibly memorable day. The group drove 2 hours to the small Cretan village of Nipos, where they were greeted at a positively breathtaking taverna nestled in a mountain valley amongst orchards, vineyards, and olive groves.

Our fantastic guide Vincent introduced us to the staff at the taverna, who began to show the group how to cook a typical Cretan meal: stuffed vegetables, tzatziki and pita, traditional Cretan Dakos, and cheese phyllo pastry drizzled in honey for dessert. The mouth waters just to think about it!

The students also had the opportunity to walk around the quaint and serene village, and many remarked that they felt this was the most authentically “Greek” experience that they had engaged in on the program. A truly special evening!

Those who hung back at the hotel had a variety of activities they took part it, including basketball, volleyball, going to the gym, swimming at the rooftop pool, or simply exploring the city of Heraklion!

In the evening, students had a weekend curfew of 12:30, and had the chance to explore Heraklion by night, and all the students seemed to have had a wonderful evening of shopping, exploring, and trying gelatos or crêpes!

Tomorrow, a sleep-in day followed by our optional surfing excursion!

For more updates, check out our Instagram page regularly:

@gsagreeceaugust2023

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator

Το παλάτι του βασιλιά Μίνωα! King Minos’ Palace!

 

Three major myths in the Greek anthology. A 4000-year-old palace. Ruins of Europe’s first advanced civilization. The oldest road in Europe. These are some of the things that our students got to experience first-hand today!

 

After a morning of classes filled with presentations, skits, performances, and some independent work time, our students piled onto the bus to the Minoan Palace of Knossos. This was one of the absolute highlights of the program to this point!

 

A short drive away from our hotel in Heraklion, the students disembarked the bus to wonder and awe at the archaeological site. All around were extremely beautiful Cyprus trees and mountains, as well as ancient walkways, structures, and art.

 

In the compound, students were able to see the original palace interior, frescoes of Ancient Greek soldiers, the famous pillars of King Minos’ palace, and of course, the ruins of his labyrinth!

 

Our guide through the palace was extremely well-informed and was able to tie in plenty of content from our students’ English and Classical Civilizations class. Our students were absolute rockstars for braving the hot sun, as they learned about the palace’s connections to the myths of Theseus and the Minotaur, Zeus and Europa, and Daedalus and Icarus.

 

The students had the once-in-a-lifetime to take a group photo on the oldest road in Europe, and take in the millennia of history at their very feet!

 

After the tour, the students got prepped in their best pink clothes to go see the Barbie movie as a group! Many of our students were really looking forward to this activity, and were loving the beautiful old theatre at which we saw the film. Laughs were had by all, and even some tears!

 

Tomorrow, morning classes and the optional authentic cooking class!

 

Be sure to follow our Instagram for further updates:

@gsagreeceaugust2023

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator

πηγαινοντας στο σχολειο! Off to school!

Goodbye Santorini, hello Crete!

After two weeks spent on smaller Greek islands, we are back to a larger settlement, that has many of the comforts of home at arms reach! The students are absolutely loving the Capsis Astoria Hotel, especially the incredible food at the hotel restaurant.

After the half day yesterday, students got to work for a full day of classes. Students met with their teachers all throughout the hotel, ranging from the conference room in the hotel basement, to the hotel cafe on the ground floor, to the rooftop patio with stunning 360 degree views of the city of Heraklion in the backdrop.

It was a busy day, as many students were preparing for presentations the following day. It was wonderful to see the hustle and bustle of students working in teams and preparing to get up in front of their classes. Some donned Greek-style costumes, others practiced elaborate skits. All seemed to be having a wonderful time!

During some downtime in the afternoon, a number of students elected to go to a local basketball court to play some pick-up ball! It was hard to play for an extended period during the blazing Greek sun, but with lots of water and shade breaks, they had a great little game.

At our dinner at the hotel, the students had the unique and heartwarming experience of getting to wish one of their teachers, Mrs. Leverton, a happy birthday! Mrs. Leverton got a delectable looking slab of baklava, and all the students were happy to celebrate their teacher in Greek fashion!

Tomorrow, our tour of Knossos Palace and the Barbie Movie!

For more updates, follow our Instagram page:

@gsagreeceaugust2023

-Harrison R., Activity Coordinator