When Jen and I planned our trip for this summer our main focus was volunteering with the Refugees in Greece. We wanted to travel a little before and after but this summer we wanted to do something different and give back. Unfortunately, since I was unable to get to the police station for a background check they could not offer me a position at the camp. I was definitely disappointed at first but I figured I could check out some islands or something while Jen did her thing. Now looking back I realize that fate had a grander plan.
When I got to Athens (after sleeping on the bench like a homeless person for a couple of hours) I headed to my hotel. After what I had just been through, I decided I deserved to treat myself and booked a few days in a four star hotel. I spent the next few days relaxing, doing nothing but swimming on the rooftop terrace and living the life of luxury 😎 That lasted all of a few days because I am broke and had to get back to the hostel life but it was exactly what I needed.
Anyways, come Friday, I was checking out of my hotel and Jen and some friends from the refugee camp were coming to Athens for the weekend so we all met up and rented an Air B&B in the center. It was great to meet up again, and it was fun to meet all her new friends from all over the world. She told me that everyone was going to the Acropolis the next morning except for her roommate Eva, who was going to do some volunteer work. Since I had already been to the Acropolis with Kiera a few weeks before, I asked Eva if she would mind if I tagged along. She told me the more the merrier, and that since it was a Spanish volunteer agency that most people would be from Spain. I thought Perfect! Not only will I get to do some work with the refugees, I can practice my Spanish!
So the next day we went to what is soon to be a community center in downtown Athens and helped with various projects. We met three Spanish boys and another Spanish girl and after work, we spent the day together visiting Squats (old buildings that have been turned into a place for refugees to stay) and that night we had dinner together. The next day there was no volunteer work to do so we all headed to the beach😎.
Later that night, I headed back to Athens with the boys. since we got along so well and since I had nothing to do that week, I decided to continue volunteering at Victoria, the community center. I spent the week getting to know people from all around the world and honestly it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. On the last day I even got to give English class to a couple of boys from Syria. This gave me a chance to really connect with them and find out more about their situation. It was so interesting, eye opening, and heart breaking to hear their stories..but it is an experience that will stay with me forever.
In the United States we are so far away from the whole crisis that it is easy to ignore. However, the reality is there are so many people who need help. I got to see first hand the horrible living situations, the desperation and sadness of these people. One boy told me how when he got to Greece his passport was taken from him and I just thought "how lucky am I?!" I was lucky enough to be born into a country where my passport allows me to go anywhere in the world. I am lucky enough to travel without restriction and when I am home I do not live in fear of the Taliban, Civil Wars, or my government being over thrown. But here's the thing..it is just luck. I HAPPENED to be born into the United States but that does not make me any more important than any of these other people. These people happened to be born into a war torn country but they are just as deserving of a good life as anyone else. This experience was so humbling and made me so grateful for the live I live and I can not wait to go back again and do more! I am also thankful for the way fate played out and the amazing people I met along the way 💗
When I got to Athens (after sleeping on the bench like a homeless person for a couple of hours) I headed to my hotel. After what I had just been through, I decided I deserved to treat myself and booked a few days in a four star hotel. I spent the next few days relaxing, doing nothing but swimming on the rooftop terrace and living the life of luxury 😎 That lasted all of a few days because I am broke and had to get back to the hostel life but it was exactly what I needed.
Anyways, come Friday, I was checking out of my hotel and Jen and some friends from the refugee camp were coming to Athens for the weekend so we all met up and rented an Air B&B in the center. It was great to meet up again, and it was fun to meet all her new friends from all over the world. She told me that everyone was going to the Acropolis the next morning except for her roommate Eva, who was going to do some volunteer work. Since I had already been to the Acropolis with Kiera a few weeks before, I asked Eva if she would mind if I tagged along. She told me the more the merrier, and that since it was a Spanish volunteer agency that most people would be from Spain. I thought Perfect! Not only will I get to do some work with the refugees, I can practice my Spanish!
So the next day we went to what is soon to be a community center in downtown Athens and helped with various projects. We met three Spanish boys and another Spanish girl and after work, we spent the day together visiting Squats (old buildings that have been turned into a place for refugees to stay) and that night we had dinner together. The next day there was no volunteer work to do so we all headed to the beach😎.
Later that night, I headed back to Athens with the boys. since we got along so well and since I had nothing to do that week, I decided to continue volunteering at Victoria, the community center. I spent the week getting to know people from all around the world and honestly it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. On the last day I even got to give English class to a couple of boys from Syria. This gave me a chance to really connect with them and find out more about their situation. It was so interesting, eye opening, and heart breaking to hear their stories..but it is an experience that will stay with me forever.
In the United States we are so far away from the whole crisis that it is easy to ignore. However, the reality is there are so many people who need help. I got to see first hand the horrible living situations, the desperation and sadness of these people. One boy told me how when he got to Greece his passport was taken from him and I just thought "how lucky am I?!" I was lucky enough to be born into a country where my passport allows me to go anywhere in the world. I am lucky enough to travel without restriction and when I am home I do not live in fear of the Taliban, Civil Wars, or my government being over thrown. But here's the thing..it is just luck. I HAPPENED to be born into the United States but that does not make me any more important than any of these other people. These people happened to be born into a war torn country but they are just as deserving of a good life as anyone else. This experience was so humbling and made me so grateful for the live I live and I can not wait to go back again and do more! I am also thankful for the way fate played out and the amazing people I met along the way 💗
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