Wild International

In response to the assignment, Greek and Roman culture have had an enormous and far-reaching influence on Western culture. If we even look at language we can see how medicine, law, botany, physics, and theology are rooted in Greek and Latin. Given that consideration, romance languages such as French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese are rooted in Latin. English borrows heavily from Greek and Russian is an evolved form of ancient Greek.
The major Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle continue to teach students of intellect and history how to think, and that it is important to question life and the world. Modern government and democracy are extensions of ancient Greek and Roman invention, and a quality city life itself is owed credit to Roma.


Reading through everyone's postings is very nostalgic and brought back good memories of a trip that already feels far away.

Arriving in Greece was disorienting. For a first time international traveler, I felt that something extraordinary was about to happen, yet driving from the airport to Athens, I was reminded of southern California.
Traffic signs were in Greek and English, and I remember seeing more signs for businesses in English than there were in Greek. This both saddened and frustrated me.
I found that Athens is largely tourist driven city and that it was the tourist attractions that were taken the most care of, whereas the rest of the city was left to vandalism.
I also struggled with not knowing any of the Greek language at all. I wanted to be respectful of the culture and of the lands that I was visiting,and be as humble as I could be, but Greek was very difficult for me to learn. Luckily, English was understood by most people, though I feel like the dumb American for relying on that convenience.



Something that occured to me, and that I mentioned in one of our class periods, was that this travel experience symbolizes a catharsis for me in my own life, and that catharsis mirrors the self-actualization that is discovered through personal "tragedy" (tragedy being used in the form of losing personal footing, recovering, and becoming stronger for it).
We all move through struggles, that is nothing new to report. What was important to me was realizing that my own personal struggles are not only typical of the human condition, but in that process of moving through a tragedy, and overcoming it, I become something greater, and wiser than I was before.
This class helped me to understand that, not only about myself, but that great minds thousands of years before me, and through out all of human history have gone through the same process. That made sense, and was comforting.



That understanding also helped me to appreciate the value of comedies and tragedies in literature; something that I never cared about before. They are tools to help us better understand ourselves, and human nature.



It is absolutely mind-blowing and awe inspiring to think about how much has been thought, and planned, and built, and destroyed, and then built over again, over and over, for thousands of years. The Greco-Roman history is so vast and complex that it is almost a joke to write an essay about how it affected Western culture; it's enough to find where to begin.
Listening to our tour-guides communicate their thoughts to us in English was also overwhelming. Understanding that these people not only speak multiple languages, but that they are thoroughly educated in world history, and it's normal to them. I felt so far behind in my awareness and education. But I am so thankful that I met them and now have a thirst for linguistics and history. It's all connected.



Know thyself. When I think about this now, it holds different meanings to me. Know who you are, and what you are capable of. Also know that you are capable of change and accomplishing great things. Know that you are responsible for your actions, and reactions. Know your limits, and know when to push them.



Returning home was a relief, I was so exhausted, and I still had so much to do. Returning to work was not fun, talking about my travels with co-workers WAS fun. Catching up on my homework has been difficult, but I am so happy to have had this opportunity that I don't mind at all.

I am beginning a new chapter in my life, and this class was the end of the last chapter. I am still working through the old crap that has bogged me down for so many years, but I know that it is normal and it is a process.
Thank you all for the time we spent and I hope to see you again some time. Maybe I will see you again in Europe! I will definitely be returning to Itala, and when I return I will speak only Italian, and I will treat myself to a new Italian wardrobe.
Ciao,
Geof