Two are the main pillars in a Greek’s life. Coffee and family, sometimes to a religious extent. First, we went to a local coffee shop next to the College, Arteon Garden, and ordered amongst the plethora of coffees, challenging our newly acquired Greek skills! For Demetra Laurent the phrase “θα ήθελα ένα φρεντο καπουτσίνο μέτριο με κανέλλα” came rolling off the tongue straight away! It means “I would like a freddo (iced) cappuccino with a teaspoon of sugar and cinnamon (sprinkled on top)”, a coffee which in recent years has become very popular, challenging frape’s status quo as the dominant summer coffee!

What transpired later though was a testament of what this trip is all about. The ACG Peers and staff of the program hosted our guests, showing them what Greek hospitality means. Spread all over Athens, each guest experienced a different side of Athens and Greek culture, since each family acts differently.

Christina Hanos was hosted by Trifonas Asproulis and his family, saying: “I felt truly welcomed and had an awesome experience with the Alexakis-Asproulis family. I can’t wait for my next visit to Greece!”.

Rocky Kamen-Rubio was hosted by Evi Tsapara and was especially touched: “It was so sweet to see that a family meal is really the same halfway around the world. I now feel much closer to my hosts and to Greek culture as a whole.”

Anastasia Tsolometes, while in the good company of our peer Efterpi Papageorgiou, noted that “Heritage Greece is an incredible program that allows you to fully immerse in the Greek Culture, not as a tourist, but as a peer. Every day gets better and better and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to see and experience our culture through the lens of Greek college students”.

Gabriella Rerra, while also being hosted by Efterpi, laughingly came to this realization: “Greece makes you more attractive; it makes you glow!”

Finally, Alexandra Papoutsis, also hosted by Efterpi, had these kind words to say: “Not only do we get to experience Greece culturally, but we also get to experience an intimate relationship with our host family and develop a connection beyond sightseeing and learning. This is more personal and truly something to remember forever.”

Στην υγειά μας!

Ordering coffee can be fun!

With the participants spread all over Athens, some even took to the street to play music, and to dance to it, of course! (Photograph by Trifon Asproulakis)

Blog editor and photographer: James (Dimitris) Voutsas