"My favorite moment in the program was when we visited the island of Syros, a place we had discussed previously in readings, as it brought to life the concepts we were discussing in the seminar and was also a beautiful place to be in."
This summer I participated in UGE’s Athens Curatorial Program, thanks to the support I received from the Global Learning Scholarship. Coming to Greece as an international student from El Salvador, I did not know what to expect. This trip was my first time in Europe, and the education I received in high school did not heavily discuss the world of the ancients. My first true approximation to this side of the world was at Columbia; here I was tasked with reading some of the classic works of literature from the Western canon, which included ancient Greece. With this introduction, my conception of Greece was heavily tainted by the epic violence and heroism of the War of Troy, the drama of the Oresteia, and the grandeur of the Acropolis. This program allowed me to broaden my conception of the region, its history, and its culture.
The Athens Curatorial Program had two main components: a seminar discussion of readings regarding Greek culture, and a curatorial project. In the seminar, we learned a lot about the history of Greece with special emphasis on the modern era; we discussed ancient Greek architecture, the Roman Empire, the fall of Smyrna and other effects of the WWs on the country, as well as the current trajectory of Greece and the image it wants to project internationally. The curatorial project consisted of visiting the home of a private collector and picking objects to feature on our website. Both experiences broadened my understanding of Greece and art curation. My favorite moment in the program was when we visited the island of Syros, a place we had discussed previously in readings, as it brought to life the concepts we were discussing in the seminar and was also a beautiful place to be in.
Learning about the history of Greece, I was able to connect our readings with a course I had previously taken at Columbia: Latin American Civilization II. This course discussed the impact that the Cold War had on Latin America, and I found similarities between what was discussed in that class and in our seminar.
Specifically, both Greece and Latin America were deeply influenced by right-wing dictatorships supported by the American government during the Cold War; both Greece and Latin America have fought for an international conception of themselves as “Western.” Beyond the connections with this program and previous coursework, I also fell in love with the Greek language, and have decided to take some Greek courses during my time back at Columbia. I remain profoundly grateful for the opportunity to study abroad, which was made possible through GLS funding; Greece is a beautiful, lively place with a rich history and culture. It was a privilege to visit and learn from this place.
