This past summer, I had the opportunity to travel to be a part of the Business Law, Ethics, and Sustainability in an Emerging market program. We studied in numerous places throughout Greece, including Nafplio, Syros, and Athens. This experience has changed my perception on life and exposed me to a completely new and foreign culture. One of my favorite places we visited was the Acropolis (Parthenon) in Athens. We hiked to the top where the Parthenon lies and got to see nearly the whole city of Athens from the top. Some additional activities I really enjoyed were the Athens Stock Exchange, the Acropolis Museum, the city of Sparta, and so much more.

Before leaving for my program, I did not anticipate what was in store for me. I hardly traveled anywhere in the United States let alone across the world. It was nerve-wracking, thrilling, and about every other emotion possible. Our professor and program director, Harilaos, made all of us feel extremely welcomed and comfortable. Since he is a native of Greece, he was familiar with the majority of the places we traveled. He was actually born in Nafplio, one of the cities we visited. It was cool to see where he grew up and he was able to tell us a lot about the history of the town.

When we weren’t in lectures, we spent a lot of time traveling to various places throughout Greece. One place that stood out to me was the island of Syros. It is a very small island, with the majority of people being Greek locals. It was a very authentic and humbling experience and I hope to make it back someday.

Overall, I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to travel abroad and I love being able to share my story with others. If you have the opportunity to travel abroad, I would definitely take it! There are many resources available to help assist you throughout your journey, so don’t hesitate to reach out to the Office of Education Abroad because it is a great resource.

Name: Hannah Schinker
Status: Senior
Major: Finance; Minor: International Business
Hometown: Rockford, Michigan
Program: Business Law, Ethics and Sustainability in an Emerging Global Market in Greece