Heritage Greece is coming to an end and I would like to share my experience and how it has changed me. Prior to arriving in Greece I had trouble rapping my mind around the idea of going to Greece with 19 other Greek American students from around the U.S. to discover our heritage and culture. Upon arriving in Washington DC where we would embark on travels we were informed that we would met and travel with 9 additional Greek students from Deree. 

It was not until arriving in Greece and taking our first day trip to the Acropolis that the trip became a reality. Standing atop of The Acropolis and looking at Zeus’s temple and downtown Athens below that I began to realize I was in Greece; and that I would be here for the next 2 weeks seeing some of the oldest most important sites in Greek culture. By traveling through Greece with 19 students who though come from all over the U.S. but share similar backgrounds  helping make this an amazing learning experience. However, if it was not for the 9 Greek students that traveled with us I would have not learned nearly as much as I have. 

Through the Heritage Greece program I have become inspired to continue to try and learn more once I return home.

This inspiration came form the Greek students that traveled with us and shared their stories and experiences, this helped me understand the importance and significance of many places. It is through talking to the students that I have come to learn what it is to be Greek and seeing their pride in our heritage and history has inspired me to proactively learn. 

~ Austin Cooke