“greece was a wonderful experience. It changed me in ways that
I never expected. We stayed at a beautiful oasis just outside
of athens called Cosmovision Center. The facility was nice and
everyone at the center was incredibly welcoming. Secondly, the
greeks we met were delightful. They spoke mostly english to us
and were gracious when we attempted to speak greek to them.
Core 275:
GREECE
experiences and memories that last a lifetime! You will come home
a changed person, for the better. and for all you worriers (like me)
out there, you will come home safe and sound!”
MAY 2017
Dr. Brian Kono
There is a saying that when God made the earth
he saved the best for Greece. There are few places
on the planet that have more beauty and more
spectacular scenery, from mountains to islands
to rivers and canyons, than the land of Greece.
Learning-intensive activities
may include:
ATHENS Experience ancient Greece, where
the headquarters will be at Cosmovision Center.
Visit Parliament, Syntagma Square, The Plaka,
Acropolis, the 2004 Olympic Stadium, The
Agora, Monatiraki Square, Mars Hill and Corinth.
Experience ancient Delphi and the antiquities of
Mycenae, Corinth and Olympia. On the beautiful
Isle of Patmos, we will experience the Greek
Orthodox monastery of St. John the Divine and
the cave where it is said St. John received the
book of Revelation. Greece’s exemplary success in
hosting a safe and secure 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens has enhanced its international prestige.
The 2004 Olympics and Paralympics left an
impressive legacy of new roads, spectacular
stadiums and modern public transportation
systems, which began in 1997 and the new
democracy government of Karamanlis completed
in 2004.
THESSALONIKI Experience contemporary
Greece. Thessaloniki is a busy, vibrant city that
is Greece’s second major economic, industrial,
commercial and cultural center, as well as a major
transportation hub in southeastern Europe. Its
commercial port is of great importance. The city
has two state universities that host the largest
student population in Greece. Home base in
the north will be the beautiful seaside village of
Leptokaria. Additional locations and excursions
in the north will include viewing Mount Olympus,
Dion, ancient Philippi, the monasteries of
Meteora and more.
ECONOMICS Talk with local merchants
(kiosks) and service employees in both urban and
rural communities. Shop at the local food market.
Meet with community professionals who provide
service to the community (i.e., doctors, teachers
Ashley Norris
and school administrators, lawyers, judges).
Discuss the difficult economic issues facing
Greece with the locals in many locations.
EDUCATION AND FAMILY Talk with
families in rural and suburban communities
to become acquainted with traditional family
customs. Examine current social issues through
conversation with local citizens of all ages and
media. Eat meals in indigenous restaurants with
local citizens to engage in conversations of
their choosing.
GOVERNMENT Speak with local citizens to
inquire about their perceptions and understand
their role in democracy’s past, present and future
and the current role of Greece in global issues
and perspectives. Meet with a person from the
American Embassy. Visit Greek parliament and
hear a presentation by an official representative.
RELIGION Visit the local Greek Orthodox
Church. Speak with the local priest and
parishioners. Examine the integration of church
and state in Greek culture and society. Visit at
least one non-Orthodox church and discuss
the role of that religious perspective in Greek
society. Visit and study historical sites identified
in New Testament writings (i.e.,Paul’s journeys).
Visit with local missionaries and evangelists and
examine the role of evangelism in Greek culture.
Engage in helping ministries in Athens to learn
up close and personal about the immigration
issues facing Greece and evangelical ministries
to the illegal immigrants from many places.
Talk with people involved in NGOs helping
women entrapped in prostitution through
poverty or human trafficking.
DEPARTURE DATES May 2017 experiences
will begin sometime during the week following
the projected May 13 commencement date and
will last 19–23 days. Students should not make
irreversible plans until their departure date is
confirmed by the CCS office in February 2017.
“I do not know if I will ever feel as beautiful as I felt in greece. It
wasn’t that I felt physically beautiful, but instead, I was a part of
something so beautiful that it allowed god to reach to new corners
of my soul each day we spent there. The historical setting alone
can bring tears to any traveler’s eyes. Standing exactly where Paul
stood when he preached the gospel makes the words jump off the
biblical page and into your heart. I saw the beauty of each greek
person inviting us to share an experience in their country, revealing
greek culture to us—the good and the bad, with hospitable spirits
and incredible wit and charm. Dining next to the aegean Sea
with delicious food is very special! The most beautiful thing about
greece is that the people there have so much to teach us, and
you will carry their lessons with you forever. You can only fully
understand the pure beauty of greece if you sojourn it yourself!”
Sara Burge
“The greece CCS program changed my life and how I look at
the world. I learned so much about greek culture, history and
myself. The people we met will forever be on my mind. greece is
an absolutely breathtaking country and an amazing culture. Our
guide and our hosts were very kind and gracious when it came to
teaching us even simple greek words. Visiting with greek students
was such an eye-opener to culture. Being able to hang out with
some of the students in Katerini was a lot of fun. The island of
Patmos was beautiful, and visiting the cave where it is said St. John
received the book of Revelation was extraordinary. Visiting places
that are mentioned in the Bible made the Bible incredibly real
to me. The food was delicious! I’m so happy I decided to go
to greece; it really changed how I view the world, and
deepened my faith.”
Jennifer St. Charles
This experience, like all CCS experiences, is subject to political and safety
realities at the time of departure. CCS options can be physically and
emotionally intense and stretching. Before enrolling, all participants
should consult the disclosures on physical hardships of CCS at
arbor.edu/crosscultural.
Passport and immunizations required (both at additional cost).
*CCS May program costs do not include summer school tuition charges.
Participants who are full-time students at SAU both fall and spring
semesters 2016–2017 are encouraged to consider NOT taking a class for
interim (January 2017), as the available January credits may then be
applied to the summer school tuition charges of a May or Summer 2017
CCS. Tuition and program costs are separate monies.
*CCS program costs do not include: tuition, passport, immunizations,
or the $150 study abroad fee. The study abroad fee provides the basic
international ID, insurance, travel photos and support services.
**For information on eligibility for CCS benefit, see page 56
or visit arbor.edu/crosscultural.