Baylee Roy

15 September 2014

HIST 199C/International Field

Studies

Journal/Activity Forms

Summer2014

HIST 199C/International Field Studies

Baylee Roy

Modern and Ancient Civilizations

Eastern Washington University

15 September 2014

Journal/Activity Forms (10)

Travel Journal #1: Day 4

Activity-Explore Dicteon Caves, Palace of Knossos

Location- Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Date- 27 June 2014

Today I awoke from my first ferry ride. My roommates and I woke up a little earlier than

the wakeup call planned and we went up on the deck to watch the sunrise. Unfortunately we had

just missed it, but the sky was still a beautiful orange-blue color. I was overlooking the sunrise

on a ferry boat, in which you could see Crete in the distance. It seemed to be anxiously calling

for our arrival, teasing us as we got closer and closer. The water sparkled, much more vibrant

and blue than back in America.

Later that day we drove along the valleys and hills of Crete, which seemed to be an

unreal dream destination. I will always remember the ride on the tour bus as we were getting

closer to the Dicteon Caves, overlooking the endless beauty of Crete; it was breathtaking. The

hike up the hill to the Dicteon Caves was just as breathtaking, literally. The hill was so steep, that

the way down seemed like a breeze. The Dicteon Caves is the alleged place where Zeus was

born, in Greek Mythology. Walking through the caves, I could picture all the stories vividly. The

story of Zeus’ birth is an important one in Greek Mythology, for Zeus eventually saves his

brother and sisters (the other gods) from his father, so most stories branch off the story that came

right from where I was standing. How amazing!

Next we saw the Palace of Knossos. This was where the famous labyrinth was built that

the Minotaur was kept in, where King Knossos ruled. I had heard so many stories and myths

about this palace, but nothing compared to actually seeing it. It was insightful to able to put my

knowledge and the actual place together. It was a lot bigger than I expected. I was in awe of how

preserved it was because even though most of the roofs had crumbled, the pillars the rooms

themselves had stayed intact. As a result, you could envision firsthand how the room was shaped

and what it was used for. Today I had learned more in depth about the stories and legends that I

knew some about before. I had learned the versions of the story that came from Greece itself, so

it was amazing to see and learn about these main legends in Greek Mythology at the same time.

Travel Journal #2: Day 5

Activity-Sea Turtle Organization, Rethymo, Traditional Greek Dancing, Beach

Location- Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Date- 28 June 2014

Today we accomplished a lot. First, in the morning, we went to help out with the Sea

Turtle Organization “Archelon”. In this organization people from all around the world come to

help keep the sea turtles and their nesting grounds safe. They showed us what they usually do,

which was scout the beach early in the morning for new turtle nests and put markers around any

they may find. They also check up on any sea turtle nests they had marked previously. We were

able to help paint and clean these important markers that they use so often. All of these people

come together to help one cause that they really believe in. They give up privacy and luxury to

live in simple tents to be closer to the environment and protect the sea turtles. I think that is

astounding, and one day I wish to be as devoted to something as they are right now. They are

truly making a difference, and that’s all anyone can ask for.

Later we took a tour around Rethymo, a famous city in Crete, and talked to the Mayor of

Rethymo. Rethymo reminded me of a more island-like version of Athens. Later we participated

in Greek dance lessons and performed in a town square. Today was more of a hands-on activity

day. We learned things not by just seeing, but were active participants in various activities and

interacted firsthand with the native people of this area. We learned just how hard the people of

Archelon Association work by helping them rebuild markers and activities on the beach. We

learned about Greek traditions through dancing in a town square with many native Greeks and

were able to interact with them personally. I learned that Greeks like to involve their past in the

present. They are proud of their culture and embrace it in any way they can. I found it very

insightful how two groups of people from completely different cultures came together and

danced. Just danced. We were able to put all cultural differences aside, and just have fun by

appreciating and respecting each others’ cultures and beliefs. That is a memory and lesson I will

never forget!

Travel Journal #3: Day 7

Activity-Guided Visit of Delphi

Location- Delphi, Greece

Date- 29 June 2014

Today we did a lot of driving. This was good because we got to catch up on journal

writing and sleep. I also got to take a lot of pictures of the scenery of Greece, which was great! I

really enjoyed just looking out the window at everything, because in those moments it really hit

you that you were truly in Greece. I noticed a lot of things on these long car rides. For one thing,

in Greece I noticed it has very mountainous terrain. However, what I found odd was that the

mountains are near the ocean. They were right on the coast. Due to this, there were a lot of

coves, not necessarily extended beaches and coastlines as I am used to in North Carolina. The

coves were small and circular usually between two mountains. Sometimes there were little

villages right behind these coves in the valleys. Due to this location, the water in the coves did

not have waves; it was typically very flat seas. Since the mountains blocked the wind, the water

was always really calm.

Speaking of mountains, the ruins of the city of Delphi is right on top of a mountain which

was our next adventure! First, we took a tour through the museum that held smaller artifacts

such as statues or household items and crafts. It held the famous statue of the Greek Sphinx that

guarded the city of Delphi. The Sphinx in Greek Mythology is a symbol of meaning. It means

searching for the right answer even when you were wrong before. This is what the city of Delphi

stood for. It was where people came from all over ancient Greece to try and find answers for

problems haunting them or their village. They would build houses surrounding the main building

in Delphi where people presented their ideas to Apollo or asked him for help. People would wait

long periods of time just to get the chance to speak to him. Delphi played a very important role in

Ancient Greek times and provides one of the earliest forms of cultural diversity due to the variety

of people that traveled to Delphi. So far Delphi is one of my favorite places because it had and

still has a rich historical significance.

Travel Journal #4: Day 8

Activity-Guided visit of Olympia

Location- Olympia, Greece

Date- 30 June 2014

Today was sadly our last day in Greece, but we saved the best for last. We were able to

see Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. They took place for the first time in 776 BC.

Olympia was not a normal village; it was a village housing only elite athletes. This was where

they trained, in order to honor the Gods. Olympia was the birthplace of the highest level an

athlete could ever achieve. So being an athlete myself, I found it inspiring to be standing on the

same ground where ancient athletes once trained to their breaking point, pushed themselves past

the limits, gave it everything they had, to please the gods and become the ultimate victor. I was

able to see the Temple of Zeus where the statues of all the victors once stood, along with the

statue of Nike; the winged God of Victory. This was actually where the shoe and athletic brand

Nike got its name. They even took one of the wings from the statue and used it as their symbol;

the swoosh check mark emblem imprinted on all of their products. I had no idea of this until our

tour guide explained this to us in front of where the statue would have stood.

The village of Olympia was a lot bigger than I expected. But I guess there needed to a lot

of room for all the temples and stadiums that they needed to worship and train in. So most of the

buildings you saw were just areas of training, not actual houses. We even saw an area that was

once a swimming pool used for athletic purposes. Seeing this was unbelievable because I am a

competitive swimmer. To think how far back my sport history goes and knowing I was standing

at perhaps one of the first Olympic training sites was priceless! This ancient pool made me want

to jump right in it, even though there was no water in it at the moment! Seeing Olympia was a

great way to end Greece; it is something I will definitely always remember.

Travel Journal #5: Day 9

Activity-Cheese Factory, plant flowers with disabled kids

Location- Bari, Calabria Italy

Date- 1 July 2014

Today was our first official day in Italy! We did a lot of driving today and were able to

fully see the landscape of Italy. One thing you will notice a lot in Italy is the vast amount of olive

trees. They seem to be never ending! Almost all the major roads were lined with olive tree farms

that had a variety of aged trees. They ranged from “baby” olive trees to the ones that seemed to

be fully grown! I now can fully understand why Italy is one of the top producers in olive oil. It

must take so much patience to farm olive trees, because they aren’t like regular crops that may

take a several weeks to mature; they can actually take up to 7-35 years for them to actually bear

fruit. However, in return they can last for numerous years. By seeing first hand just how many

olive trees the landscapes of Italy holds, no wonder it is such a big part of their history and

economy.

Another thing Italy is known for is their cheese. Italy’s cheeses are said to have some of

the richest flavors in the world. We were actually able to drive up to a cheese farm in Italy and

observe the making of cheese as well as eat a freshly prepared lunch. The farm was up in the

mountains, so while eating lunch we had a marvelous view of the mountain tops and the valleys

down below. For lunch we actually were able to try some of the homemade cheeses. They were

delicious! The cheese that was my favorite was the ricotta. In my opinion the taste was the

richest, and tasted the best with the bread they gave us. We also watched how they made the

cheese, and I was able to actually churn the cheese mixture for a while! Churning the cheese

requires a lot of upper arm strength as it gets very tiring after a while. After seeing and learning

all the steps that go into making just one type of cheese I appreciate it so much more. They have

to heat a cheese mixture to a certain level, churn it, clamp it and squeeze the excess mixture out,

then refrigerate it (the steps vary due to which type of cheese you are making).

Later we visited a Medieval Castle near the cheese farm, which was shockingly in very

good condition. It was missing the roof and some frame walls but most of it was intact. The view

from the top was amazing, you could see everything: the town, the mountains, and the farms. It

was by far the most breathtaking view I have seen on this trip so far. I can still picture it in my

mind. Unfortunately, one part of our trip that we did not get to participate in was a planned event

to plant flowers with local disabled children as it was cancelled. However, our tour guide

improvised and organized our group to still have an impact on the landscape. We were able to

plant some flowers right beside the castle! It was meaningful planting the flowers there because

our People to People group left a lasting impact on that one small area. All the tourists that pass

by and see the flowers, we actually planted those! Although it would have been much more

exciting to take part in this with the local disabled children, we realized things don’t always work

out as planned. It’s comforting to know that I helped make a lasting impact from all the way on

the other side of the world!

Travel Journal #6: Day 10

Activity- Dance lesson, Teatro Greco, Homestay

Location- Taormina, Sicily, Italy

Date- 2 July 2014

Today is the day I met my homestay family! However before that happened, we actually

crossed into Sicily. We took a 20 minute ferry over the “Straight of Messina”. We landed in the

tourist destination of Taormina. There we saw the Teatro Greco a famous Greek theatre in Sicily.

We were able to tour this ourselves. It was so stunning to see! I couldn’t help but notice the way

it was built; it had positioned seats to face an extraordinary view of the coastline of Sicily. You

could see the entire town below and the view of the ocean and beaches of Taormina. It was

surprising to see Greek influence somewhere other than Greece because we just came from there.

The way the building was set up I could actually believe I was in Greece. This just proves the

strong movement of ideas among the times back then, and how it applies to Sicily’s history now.

Later we were able to take part in Sicilian dance lessons. Instead of traditional dances

(like we learned in Greece), we learned the popular dances they use now. Our instructor actually

taught us one traditional dance and then showed how it applied to modern dancing. This is very

important because it represents how Sicily uses their old tradition in their modern lives. It’s nice

to see people so proud of their culture.

Later that day I met my Homestay-Family. I was really nervous because they hadn’t

contacted me beforehand, so I had no idea who they were! There were 4 members in my family

the mom, the dad, Laura (younger sister), and Nicoletta (older sister and my “homestay girl” in

the family that was my age). They were all very nice and welcoming. It was a little awkward at

first but eventually, we all opened up and got to know each other during dinner. Today seemed

like a marathon, we did so many activities. I am so excited for tomorrow to experience the true

Sicilian culture.

Travel Journal #7: Day 11

Activity- Homestay Day 1

Location- Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

Date- 3 July 2014

Today was my first full day with my homestay family. It was unbelievable! I loved every

minute of it. Throughout the day we did so much. Nicoletta introduced me to some of her friends

in which we hung out the entire day with. They were all so welcoming and made me feel right at

home. We hung out at the beach rocks right beside her house and played a game similar to

volleyball. They then showed me one of their favorite places in the water. It was a little island

you would have missed at first if you weren’t a native. They called it “Neverland” just like from

the movie Peter Pan. Later we roamed the city and its landmarks. They explained to me

everything they knew about everything we saw. They explained it in a way that they knew I

would understand because it was teenager to teenager, not from an adult tour guide. According

to Nicoletta and her friends, Siracusa consists of three things: caves, catacombs, and tombs. It’s

funny how they say it in a bored-like tone, as though these things are redundant to them; when it

amazes me so much. There are definitely not any catacombs and caves like this around Raleigh!

Later that night, I ate dinner with Nicoletta and her friends. I tried Aranchini which is a

famous meal in Sicily. It is a little ball of rice and meat with breading. It was delicious. They all

pitched in and made me try it. They said, “You can’t travel to Sicily and NOT try Aranchini!” I

then said goodbye to my new found friends and went home with Nicoletta. I had so much fun

experiencing the Sicilian way of life. It was incredible and I never wanted to leave! Nicoletta has

become like a sister to me, and I knew I was going to hate leaving her.

Travel Journal #8: Day 12

Activity- Homestay Day 2; Mt Etna

Location- Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

Date- 4 July 2014

Today was my last full day with my Homestay-Family. It’s crazy to think how much they

reminded me of my own family, and how much I am already going to miss them. In the morning

we went up to Mount Etna and reunited with my group. I was able to introduce Nicoletta to all of

my friends, and meet some of the other homestay kids as well. Mount Etna is an active

stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily. It is usually active but does not really disrupt life for the

Sicilians due to its high altitude, according to Nicoletta. She told me how many times for field

trips in school, they would travel up Mount Etna. Then they would learn about the different types

of rock samples found their or the history of the towns in and around Mount Etna. It is

completely ash filled. When you hike up the mountain, you are mostly hiking through mountains

of ash. We hiked up one of the five distinct craters of the volcano.

Later that evening I went out to dinner with my Homestay-Family. We had pizza and

gelato while we enjoyed our last night together. Oh how I will miss those late Sicilian nights;

they were nothing complicated but brought out so much joy. Most families go out and roam the

streets to socialize and relax, which is what I did with my family. It was very touching to be

spending my Fourth of July holiday with them; they made it extra special. I know this is one

fourth of July I will never ever forget. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world.

Travel Journal #9: Day 13

Activity- Leave Homestay, Pottery shop, Ceflu

Location- Palermo, Italy

Date- 5 July 2014

Today was the day I left my homestay family. It was a really sad occasion because

everyone was emotional and crying. It was then we all realized just how far away they live and

the small chances we have to see one another again. However I learned you cannot look at it like

that, as if it is the end of your friendship. You have to be thankful that you got the chance to meet

them and share your experiences with them and simply keep in touch as best we can with the

hope of meeting up again some other time, perhaps if they get to visit the United States! As Dr.

Seuss would say, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” I am definitely going

to stay in touch with them, but I am just so thankful for everything they taught me. I learned

from them how to let go and live in the moment and experience everything fully. This is an

important skill to have in life. When I left I didn’t say goodbye, I said, “See you again soon!”

After the somber departure, we went to a pottery shop in Sicily and learned how pottery

is made. We were able to witness a vase being made and see their art studio. It was astonishing

that people make all of these designs truly be themselves, by hand, no machine is doing it for

them. They incorporate a lot of history into their pottery; including faces of gods, or

mythological stories used in their designs. It is interesting to see that they try in every way they

can to add in little details of the past, to things sold in the present.

After the pottery shop, we had free time in Ceflu, an Italian city formed around a massive

rock. We were able to buy gifts and catch up with one another since we had not seen each other

in a couple days (which we were not used to). It might’ve been sad because we left our families,

but we have the rest of the trip to look forward to. Soon enough we’ll be Rome!

Travel Journal #10: Day 14

Activity- Segesta, Palermo tour, pizza making

Location- Palermo, Italy

Date- 6 July 2014

Today we got to visit another Greek temple outside of Greece! It was by far the most

impressive Greek temple I have seen. I was shocked at its condition. It even had part of the top

of the columns that held the triangular roof; almost no ancient temples have these! It was very

large too, almost as big as the Parthenon in my opinion. It had the classic Greek designs

including the cylinder columns stacked on top of each other and the embroidered top sections.

However, as I was saying before, it has the triangular roof covering. So you could actually see

how the top of the column was meant to support the roof. There is an extra slab of rock that goes

in-between that I had never noticed before, because in the other temples it had eroded away.

Next we made our own pizza for lunch! I made my own Italian pizza in Italy, how

priceless, making my own pizza where it originated from! They gave us slabs of dough and

taught us how to roll them out (you have to use the bottom of your palms and interlace your

fingers while pushing outward), how to apply the right amount of sauce, and how to apply the

toppings! We even got a recipe, which I am definitely using as soon as I get home! It was so

amazing to see how the Italian interpreted pizza versus how we do. They certainly care a lot

more about using only the finest ingredients and a lot less fat.

Later we then walked around Naples and had to find our own food. This was very

challenging and important. We learned how to interact with locals and find our way around a city

we didn’t fully understand. Luckily, I was able to speak Spanish to the Italians to help find my

group and I find our way around. This was a whole new experience in itself. I have never had to

rely on my Spanish skills so intently. So this was a completely different experience for me, and it

really taught me to trust in myself and what I know.