Activities & Hobbies
What I Like to Do
When I'm not at school, I spend most of my time with my friends,. However, I have also been lucky enough to have travelled to Europe for three weeks these past few summers. I went to Greece, specifically Athens and the island of Antiparos, Amsterdam, and Germany. I have deep ties to Greece, as I am half Greek on my fathers side.
My Experience in Europe
What I Saw
Athens
Summer 2017 and 2018
While in Athens, we visited The National Archaeological Museum (2018) and The Acropolis and The Parthenon (2017). We also spent the day in Monastiraki flea market where people enjoy shopping, drinking coffee, or eating authentic Greek food like souvlaki (2018). Other than the tourist activities, I spent most of my time in Athens doing regular Greek tasks like taking the subway, walking everywhere, and spending time with my family.
Antiparos
Summer 2017 and 2018
Both summers, I visited the small island off of Paros, Antiparos. This is the island where my parents met, so it has a lot of significance to me. While on the island, I immersed myself in the culture; I spent time on the beach, ate the food, partook in the daily siesta, and listened to the language. Many of my parent's friends have remained on the island, taking over their parent's old businesses and keeping them alive, which was very inspirational to me. I also visited the Antiparos cave and learned a bit of history.
Kalamata & Avramio & Messini
Summer 2017
To learn more about my family, I spent about a week in the village that my father grew up in, Avramio. It is a small village near Messini that relies on the olive trees for resources and income. This village is full of tradition and family. While there, I learned a whole new kind of life that my family lived, which in turn made me appreciate all that I have ten times more.
Wuppertal & Kolon
Summer 2018
We spent about a week in Germany, mostly to attend my half-brother's wedding, but we also took the opportunity to experience a whole new culture. I stayed in Wuppertal, enjoying the new food, an old German castle, and the famous Schwebebahn (suspension train). We also took a day trip to Kolon, where we visited the famous Cathedral and learned of the history and presence of religion in the region.
Amsterdam
Summer 2018
Lastly, we experienced Amsterdam's culture. We visited Annes Frank's Annex, the Royal Palace, a dutch clothing museum, Van Gough museum, and did a canal tour that explained the history of the buildings throughout Amsterdam. My favorite part of my trip was just walking around and observing the buildings and how they were slightly tilted.
