Reflections from the Heritage Greece® Program
In May 2017, I was a recent college graduate who planned on moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in documentaries and journalism. Yet what I was most excited for, following graduation, was the Heritage Greece® Program.
Heritage Greece 2017 group in front of The Parthenon (Photo Courtesy of John Voutsas).
In June 2017, I joined over 50 young Greek-Americans as we returned to our roots on the two-week adventure. The National Hellenic Society (NHS) developed the Heritage Greece® Program (HG) to preserve Greek culture, language and history for future generations of Greek-Americans. NHS sponsors a bulk of the program costs, so students can fully enjoy the experience without worrying. The American College of Greece (Deree) also contributes to the experience by providing housing, Greek language classes, and their own Greek students as leaders during the program. Pairing the Greek-American students with the Greek students at Deree is one of the best and most unique elements of HG. The Deree peers were not only our leaders and planners, but they quickly became our friends.
Here are some of my favorite memories from HG 2017.
Maroutsis, Tzagournis, and Simos get ready to race on the Olympic track (L to R Demetri Maroutsis Elizabeth Tzagournis Alexa Simos).
Morning Runs and Farmers Markets
Sometimes before class, my flatmates and I would go on morning runs. Jogging through the streets, we watched the little town of Agia Paraskevi come to life. The smell of Greek kafés and tiropita would waft through the air, while the markets opened their doors and the street stands began selling their daily newspapers. One morning, we discovered a Farmers Market. The fresh, bright colored fruits and veggies were enticing. The barrels of Greek Kalamata olives reminded me that I really was in the land of the olive tree. Yet, I was most touched by our encounter with the locals. Whenever we tried to pay for our fruit or bag of nuts, they would simply smile and tell us to keep our money and enjoy. This gesture was never forgotten and further emphasized why the Greek people are known for their kindness and generosity.
Beach Days and the Temple of Poseidon
One of my favorite days was one spent both on the beach and above it. Perched atop Cape Sounio sits the Temple of Poseidon. There are few cliffs with such a view – ancient ruins dating back to c. 440 BC against the backdrop of crystal blue waters. The HG program was informative and immersive, while still offering fun experiences and activities. We started our day enjoying Greek kafés on the beach, while we ended it by exploring the historic Temple and hearing its compelling story.
Trip to Olympia
Visiting Olympia put us all in a time capsule of sorts. The ancient grounds are the origins of the world’s most revered games, The Olympics. We toured through the stadiums, Temple, and training grounds and heard stories of their glory. However, the coolest aspect to the visit was racing on the first Olympic Track. The track may have seemed unexciting, as it was unmarked and made of dirt, but the fun came in knowing it was where the first ever track and field events were held thousands of years ago. Following the events, we all held an Olympic Awards Ceremony and sang both the Greek and American National Anthems. Although most of us were probably off-key, it was still my best memory from our trip to Olympia.
Learning to Cook with Diane Kochilas
Cooking is one of my favorite pastimes, and the opportunity to learn from Diane Kochilas (host of the show My Greek Table) struck a chord. Kochilas explained the importance of eating in season and why the Greeks are known for their fresh and flavorful produce. Following the demonstration, we enjoyed sampling the different types of Greek salads Kochilas had created. Food really does bring people together.
Morning runners in front of Deree (L-R Nicole Simos, Christina Hanos, Elizabeth Tzagournis, Maddee Vourlitis, and Alexa Simos)
These are just a few of the countless memories and moments experienced during my trip. HG is an incredible opportunity to explore Greece and make friends from all places and walks of life.
Visit the website for current application requirements. The 2019 trip dates are June 6 to 23. Interested students can apply now through March 18. The application is available via https://www.nationalhellenicsociety.org/application.html
Email the author: Elizabeth Tzagournis
