My Athenian Adventure: Reflections on a Memorable Internship Experience

When I first arrived in Athens, I was apprehensive about the prospect of living alone in a foreign country. I was thrilled when I first received my acceptance for this Internship, but as the time drew nearer, I did not know what to expect. The atmosphere in Athens was very different compared to my hometown of Richmond Hill, and Waterloo, where I attend University. Cars and motorcycles were always zooming down the narrow streets, and the volume of fast-paced pedestrians was much more than in the smaller communities I had experienced in Canada. However, over the three months I have been here, I have grown accustomed to calling Athens my home, and I will definitely miss it when I leave.

At the Institute, I worked on many different tasks, though my favourite was working on the Frederick E. Winter archive. Going through his old notes and drafts was very interesting, and it made me wonder if one day I will complete work that is meaningful enough to be archived. Archiving is a career path I have considered for a while, so having the opportunity to delve into the steps involved first-hand was a great experience. I was glad that I enjoyed it so much!

When I was not working, I spent my days exploring Athens. I went to local restaurants and cafes, visited shops, and walked through the beautiful parks. One of my favourite cafes was Little Kook, a fairytale-themed cafe that sells delicious crepes. The slopes of the Acropolis had dozens of little trails that provided wondrous views of the city. I befriended some of the girls who worked at the restaurants I went to most often, and we would meet up to explore the city together.

Of course, I visited the countless historical sites that Athens has to offer. I saw the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora and the Roman one, the cemetery of Karameikos, and many others. As a Classical Studies student, I have spent a lot of time examining ancient ruins in class. Being able to see these landmarks that I had only ever studied in class was breathtaking. Plus, the cats that frequent these archaeological sites were excellent tour guides!

I have also been able to explore so much of Greece outside of Athens as well. I took bus trips to Delphi, Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Sounion. One weekend, I even had the chance to fly to Crete and see Knossos and the towns of Heraklion, Rethymnon, Chania, and the archaeological site of Phaistos. Seeing all this history throughout Greece truly awed me, and the Greek countryside is beautiful.

The community between the different Institutes was so welcoming. Going to darts night at the Red Lion pub and being able to speak with people from the British, American, Finnish, and many more Institutes, in a casual environment was a lot of fun. I have made friends with many of the Interns, and I hope that these friendships will last a long time. A group of Australian students stayed at the CIG’s guest accommodations for a month with me. They were very charming and welcoming, and we spent many weekends touring the city together.

My time in Athens has been amazing. Having prior experience doing archaeological fieldwork, it has been fascinating to see how the non-fieldwork aspect of archaeology is practised. I am so thankful to Jonathan and everyone else at the Canadian Institute for this incredible experience. Thank you for having me, and I hope to return someday!

Kaia Lee

University of Waterloo Intern, Winter 2023