November 02, 2021
Ruth E. Castillo-Espinoza '22
Notes from Abroad: Ruth in Greece
The Acropolis of Athens
Ruth E. Castillo-Espinoza '22 , a double major in Spanish and International Relations with a minor in Philosophy, is studying abroad at the American College of Greece in Athens, Greece.
Γειά σου! I’m Ruth E. Castillo-Espinoza, a senior at LFC, and I’m currently majoring in Spanish and International Relations and minoring in Philosophy. Currently, I’m studying abroad in Athens, Greece at the American College of Greece. I decided to study abroad in Athens because my minor is a discipline that was heavily influenced by remarkable Greek thinkers. Studying philosophy in a country that shaped it has allowed me to acquire a deeper understanding of the material I’m learning.
My courses this semester explore philosophy, sociology, art, and language learning. My philosophy courses dive into history, as well as the importance of privacy in world where technology is growing. My sociology course investigates and observes the problems that we see in our world today, such as poverty, war, femicide, etc. Additionally, I’ve been given the opportunity of sculpting and exploring my creative. Finally, I’m learning the beautiful language of the country I’m in: Greek. Learning has now only allowed me to communicate with the people but has allowed me to further appreciate the culture.
Not only have I been able to explore Greece through my different courses, but also through the trips that my program has planned throughout the semester. Within the past two months, I’ve had the opportunity of exploring downtown Athens, Aegina, and Nafplion. In downtown Athens, students were exposed to the city-Greek life and enjoyed traditional Greek gyros. On the Aegina trip, students visited the Temple of Aphaia, swam at the beach, and were treated with a traditional Greek meal. And finally, on the Nafplion excursion, we visited the Corinth Canal and toured the Palamidi Castle. These outings gave me the privilege of seeing this country’s exquisiteness and experiencing Greek life and culture.
All in all, I’ve truly been enjoying my experience abroad. I’m looking forward to the adventures that I will find myself in the future and the new people I’ll meet. I hope to continue documenting my experiencing and sharing it with you all!
Thank you to the Dan Cole Scholar/Demertzis Prize for helping make this experience possible!
Meteora Monasteries:
Palamidi Castle:
