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 Study in Crete: A Gem of a Program
Each year, a group of Credo Honors Program students study abroad during the spring semester of their junior year in Greece, mostly on the island of Crete.
Their days are an exciting blend of visiting historical sites, experiencing the Greek culture and studying in three or four courses taught by two Concordia faculty.
The Study in Crete program varies each year, with classes and travel experiences designed with the faculty leaders' interests and expertise in mind.
In 2006, 17 Credo students participated in the Study in Crete program from Jan. 31 to April 25, led by history professor Dr. Linda Johnson and religion professor Dr. Stewart Herman.
Megan Selland '07 traveled to Greece and Turkey on the 2006 Study in Crete program expecting an unconventional, fast-paced and thought-provoking three months - and that's exactly what she got.
"Every day of the program brought new experiences and opportunities," Selland says. "We lived in close proximity to some of the landmarks of the world, such as the Parthenon and Olympia … and we were able to have little adventures every day, whether it was riding camels, scuba diving, climbing Mount Pentelus or just exploring Heraklion and Athens."
Selland and 16 other Credo students lived and studied for about five weeks in Athens, Greece, followed by four weeks on the Greek island of Crete and another week on other islands nearby, concluding their semester abroad with a week and a half in Turkey.
They enrolled in three classes taught by Johnson and Herman on a variety of topics related to Greece: the role of women in classic Greek society, how Greece has been "imagined" in travel literature, and Orthodox religion and the problem of Greek-Turkish ethic rivalry. The students balanced their course work with a fourth class, a travel seminar involving exploring new sites, visiting museums and experiencing the culture of the two countries. The students were exposed to more than 4,000 years of history, with major highlights including the Minoans and the Mycenaean bronze-age cultures, classic Greek civilization and the Hellenistic era.
"For students interested in classics or the foundations of Western civilization, it provides more exposure to sites than any other Concordia program," Herman says. "Plus, students have a three-month dose of Mediterranean living, which they typically enjoy to the hilt."
"From all accounts, the semester was an academically rigorous, yet eye-opening, way to study abroad," Selland says. "Staying for months gave us countless opportunities to interact with the Greek people. We were better able to become a part of Greece, rather than strictly viewing it from the outside."
Josh Pederson '07 agrees, especially about their time in Athens.
"We were able to learn a lot by taking Greek language lessons and traditional Greek dance classes," he says. "Athens is a big city, but there was also a smaller community feel around the area where we stayed. Although it is a city where many tourists spend their time, we were able to get to other parts of Athens that not many people get to."
Studying as they traveled helped Pederson make the most of his time overseas.
"The best part was talking about a particular site or reading about the story behind it and then going out and seeing it the same day," he says. "We had discussions about the meaning of mythology, Greek culture, war, ethics, women's history and other topics. We visited many museums, which helped us to see the things we talked about in class."
The group divided its time on Crete between three weeks at a resort near the city of Iraklion and one week in the small village of Provarma.
"Our group literally doubled the population of Provarma," Selland says. "We were completely isolated and became absorbed in the rural Cretan life. One day, we were able to hike through a beautiful gorge and pick organically grown oranges. Living in cabins and cooking made our group feel like we were actually living there, rather than temporarily staying."
Several of the students were able to share the Study in Crete experience with their families - with seven sets of parents and siblings visiting throughout the semester, enjoying weekend travel outings and a taste of Mediterranean living.
"I would enthusiastically recommend the Crete semester to anyone who has ever been curious about the world outside of Concordia," Selland says. "The program allows students to see and get to know an important part of the world and it was absolutely a highlight of my college career.
"The Credo program is very special and the Study in Crete semester is, in my opinion, an essential part of it," she adds. "Concordia is known for its study abroad programs and Study in Crete is a gem."
Study in Crete: Student Reactions
As a part of their Imagined Mediterranean travel seminar in Crete, Credo students were required to take a series of photographs and interpret them. These images and descriptions provide a glimpse into students' perspectives and experiences while studying overseas.
Reaction 1 | Reaction 2 | Reaction 3 | Reaction 4 | Reaction 5 | Reaction 6
Photo Gallery
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