"It pushed me beyond the classical stereotypes of ancient marble ruins to engage directly with the modern sociopolitical realities of a living city wrestling with state power, gentrification, and spatial autonomy."
As an FGLI student who had never traveled outside of the United States, participating in the Athens Curatorial Project was a milestone that would have been entirely out of reach without the support of Columbia's GLS. Navigating a foreign country for the very first time was both thrilling and daunting, but going abroad provided a uniquely supportive framework.
I was able to discover a new culture alongside peers who were exploring it for the first time right by my side. Attending daily seminars with local mentors, and trusted guides, I gained the confidence to navigate the city with genuine purpose, absorbing new perspectives and learning about Greek culture while actively living within it.
This experience allowed me to fully lean into my interdisciplinary background as a Neuroscience and Political Science student. Living in Exarcheia, a neighborhood steeped in counter-cultural history, vibrant artistic expression, and active community resistance, fundamentally shifted my understanding of Greece. It pushed me beyond the classical stereotypes of ancient marble ruins to engage directly with the modern sociopolitical realities of a living city wrestling with state power, gentrification, and spatial autonomy.
Through field visits to sites like the historic Prosfygika refugee complex and our digital curation work, I synthesized political science, material sociology, and cultural history into a single holistic lens. I analyzed political theory in real time while conducting research on curated objects that ranged from post-WWII Japanese dolls to Catholic figurines. Through all of that, I was still able to catch outdoor movies, go singing karaoke, and eat wonderful Greek food with friends. Bridging these diverse fields broadened my global worldview, enhanced my academic confidence, and proved the value of interdisciplinary study.
