I read the following quote within a notebook at the Benaki Museum that
states, “Athens, the city with a thousand faces and many contrasts, is
waiting for you to come up with your own special reason to love it. Take
a stroll beneath the Acropolis, and hear the stones telling stories and
myths. If you are able to find art in every day’s life, to relax with
an endless coffee in the bustling centre, to comprehend the worries of a
modern-ancient city and start your evening out when Europe goes to
sleep, then you will adore Athens. And take notes…” I have kept this
quote with me, since the first month that I arrived, because somehow
this passage captured what I had imagined my life might be like over the
course of my three-month internship.
As a student who is interested in Greek social and political history,
embarking on an internship within the heart of Athens allowed me to gain
a new and more enlightened perspective on the history hidden within
Greece. Visiting multiple ancient sites, museums and monuments as
opposed to simply reading about them and seeing their pictures in
textbooks was enriching. Being able to palpably contextualize the size
and location of certain sites allowed me to view the ancient world
through a new lens, and it truly felt like my eyes had developed their
own form of virtual reality.
While working at The Canadian Institute I not only enhanced my
professional skills, but I learned a vast amount about history,
mythology, archiving, living abroad, academia, and even a bit of Greek!
The majority of my work consisted in updating and organizing the
existing archives. I was able to create an excel sheet that documented
the existing electronic archives in a manner that paralleled the
physical archives. I also archived a numerous amount of documents myself
that dated back to the 1980s. In addition to this, I filtered the CIG
website of any inconsistencies that might have existed in both the
English and French version of the site. These tasks were rewarding
because I knew my work was genuinely beneficial to both the Institute
and to myself. It was additionally rewarding because whilst mastering my
archiving skills, I also thoroughly understood the detailed history of
the institute via the many archived documents I looked through. During
my first month, the fellow Barbara and I had also helped with the open
meeting which was a pride and honour to take part in.
Thanks to the Institute, I was also informed about many events that took
place within Athens with regard to Greek history and archaeology.
Attending multiple open meetings, lectures, receptions, and even a
Canada Day event at the Acropolis Museum was a huge part of my learning
experience. Aside from lectures, I was also able to learn a vast amount
of information from the many museums and sites I visited, and even from
professors within the community. I also cannot forget to mention darts
night, a Canadian Institute tradition where I met many people from the
archaeological community in Athens and learned to play darts.
My learning experience extended itself into my understanding of
different cultural lifestyles. I learned about the details of local life
on different islands (especially local cuisine), the state of the
Loggerhead turtles in Zakynthos, Greek mythology via theatrical
performances, and the attributes of Greek festivals such as the Miaoulia
festival in Hydra. I went on many excursions but a few of my favourites
include Hydra, Syros, Zakynthos, Mycenae, Olympia, and Meteora.
On every excursion that I embarked on, I was awestruck by both the
artificial and natural beauty of Greece. Meteora, for example, was a
place that truly left its mark on my memory. The existence and manner in
which the monasteries were built is absolutely amazing.
I was ecstatic to be living in a city where I was able to immerse
myself in a variety of cultural and historical experiences, such as
eating dolmades beneath the acropolis with the sound of Zorba being
played by a band in the restaurant. I am extremely grateful to the
Canadian Institute for providing me with this unforgettable opportunity
to both enrich my knowledge of Greece and to enhance my professional
skills. I can say with confidence that my life has changed quite a bit
in the course of three months thanks to this lasting experience, and I
am already looking forward to returning to Athens again soon!
Monica Santos
York University intern, summer 2019
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