2009 European Odyssey
Welcome to the 2009 European Odyssey Web site, where we will follow the experiences of 12 students and their two professors as they travel through Europe in one of the most unique study abroad opportunities ever offered.
From February 28 to May 9, 2009, this semester-long program allows students to study European history, politics and culture in the context of the developing European Union. This interdisciplinary program also challenges the students as individuals who must work within a group setting to learn, live and thrive.
About the Program
On February 28, 2009 12 students and two professors embarked on semester-long program that allows the students to study European history, politics and culture in the context of the developing European Union. This interdisciplinary program also challenges the students as individuals who must work within a group setting to learn, live and thrive.
Though other schools offer study abroad opportunities, there are none of which we are aware that offer an 11 week mobile classroom covering as many countries and cities as this "Odyssey." Travel is by minivan. Accommodations are in youth hostels and inexpensive hotels.
According to Hofstra Political Science Professor Linda Longmire, the structure of the European Odyssey course is based on the same ideals as the European Union: unity and diversity. Many of the countries on the tour, now partners in the EU, at some point in their histories may have been enemies or isolated from one another. Professor Longmire says, "As the students contemplate the unity and diversity of the countries on our itinerary, they will work on their own partnership. They need to work and travel as a team while holding onto and appreciating the interests and qualities that distinguish them as individuals."
Sponsored by Hofstra University's New College, the Odyssey programs have been ongoing since 1990, though this was the second one to take place for an entire semester. Hofstra graduates from past European and American Odyssey programs have called it a life-changing, transformative experience.
Coursework examines both historical and contemporary topics in each country and region. It is a 16-credit course comprised of 12 credits of coursework and a four credit independent project. The first aspect of the coursework focuses on the ancient and medieval roots of European civilization. Students visit Olympia, the home of the Olympic games; the Acropolis and the Parthenon in Athens; as well as the Coliseum and Pantheon in Rome. The second part of the course is devoted to understanding the contemporary, political, economic and sociological landscape of Europe. This is complemented by excursions to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Brussels and the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg. The third and final aspect of the program was an examination of human values and human rights in the context of the history and culture of WWII and the post war era in Europe. This part of the trip includes a stop at Terezin, the Czech concentration camp.
Faculty
Linda Longmire
Professor and Teaching Fellow of Political Science
Linda Longmire, Ph.D. is Professor of Political Science at Hofstra University, where she teaches Women's Studies, International Politics, and Political Theory. She is the Director of New College's European Odyssey Program and the Co-Director of the Italian Odyssey Program. She is also the Producer and Host of a weekly radio show, "Visions and Choices" on WRHU, 88.7 FM, Radio Hofstra University.
Office: 103A Roosevelt Hall
E-mail | Web Page | Bio
Voice: (516) 463-5828
Fax: (516) 46(516)463-4832
Timothy Smith
Professor Emeritus of Foundations, Leadership & Policy Studies
Timothy H. Smith, Ed.D. is Professor Emeritus of the Foundations, Leadership and Policy Studies Department at the School of Education and Allied Human Services at Hofstra University, where he has taught Philosophy of Education, Cross-Cultural Education and Ethics for Educators. He also teaches Human Values and Human Rights in Modern Europe in New College's European Odyssey Program and Educational Psychology in the SOEAHS’s Summer in Sorrento program.
Office: 277 Hagedorn Hall
E-mail | Bio
Voice: (516) 463-5773
Students
Amanda Bowker
Amanda Bowker, 21, is a senior majoring in sociology. She participated in the 2007 European Odyssey and the 2008 Mexican Odyssey programs. She is most looking forward to visiting Spain and Portugal.
Nick DeSimone
Nick DeSimone, 20, is a history major who is active with the Hofstra Historians and Phi Eta Sigma. He is most looking forward to visiting Germany and Greece. He is hoping to gain cultural enrichment and a better understanding of the world.
Carlos Hernandez
Carlos Hernandez, 21, is a Latin American Caribbean Studies major who is hoping to gain a more well-rounded view of the world on the European Odyssey. He is most looking forward to visiting Germany and the Czech Republic.
Liz Jolly
Liz Jolly, 20, is a broadcast journalism major who is involved with Delta Gamma sorority, and she served as a Debate ’08 volunteer. She is a seasoned traveler who has previously spent four month in London. She is looking forward to visiting Greece and Budapest.
Christopher Kiernan
Christopher Kiernan, 21, is a junior at Hofstra who is studying film production and political science. He is involved with WRHU on campus. He has been to England before and is now looking forward to traveling to Spain and Italy.
Liz Manning
Liz Manning, 20, says she is looking forward to seeing every city on the European Odyssey itinerary. She is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. This will be her first trip to Europe, but she has enjoyed traveling all over the U.S. East Coast, California, Canada and Hawaii.
Jossolyn Myhand
Jossolyn Myhand, 23, is a senior liberal arts major who believes the European Odyssey is a once in a lifetime experience. She has been to Hawaii, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, but this will be her first trip to Europe. She hopes to attend graduate school in Canada and Europe.
Nikko Onowo
Nikko Onowo, 20, is a sophomore at Hofstra who loves traveling. She has been before to Spain and Japan and is most looking forward to the European Odyssey’s stops in Italy and Greece. She hopes someday to have a career that will allow her to travel frequently.
Clifton Schwarz
Clifton Schwarz, 21, is a senior majoring in history. He hopes the European Odyssey will give him a better awareness of the world. He has traveled before to Greece and Italy and is most looking forward to visiting Germany and Spain.
Christine Sikule
Christine Sikule, 20, is a junior majoring in English, and the European Odyssey will be her first time traveling abroad. She is most looking forward to visiting Croatia and Greece. After graduation she plans to get a job as an editor at a children’s publishing house.
Ross Staffin
Ross Staffin is a senior history major who is involved with the Philosophy Club at Hofstra. This will be his first trip to Europe, but he has previously been to Israel and traveled extensively throughout the United States. He is looking forward to visiting Italy, Greece and Germany.
Matthew Wertheim
Matthew Wertheim, 20, is a junior history major, who says he has a passion for traveling and hopes to refine his language skills and knowledge of European history. He is looking forward to traveling to Spain, Germany, France and the Czech Republic. At Hofstra he is a member of the Hofstra Historians and the Hofstra Pep Band.
Itinerary
The 2009 European Odyssey itinerary:February:
Feb 28 Departure for Paris
March:
March 1 Arrive Paris
March 1, 2 Paris, France
March 3, 4 Mont. St. Michel, France
March 5, 6 Bordeaux, France
March 7, 8 San Sebastian, Spain
March 9 Bilbao, Spain
March 10 Salamanca, Spain
March 11 Coimbra, Portugal
March 12, 13 Lisbon, Portugal
March 14, 15 Seville, Spain
March 16, 17 Mojacar, Spain
March 18, 19 Barcelona, Spain
March 20, 21 Carcasonne, France
March 22-24 Nice, France
March 25-27 Florence, Italy
March 28-30 Rome, Italy
March 31-April 3 Sorrento, Italy
April:
April 4 Ferry to Greece
April 5, 6 Nafpaktos, Greece
April 7, 8 Olympia, Greece
April 9, 10 Athens, Greece
April 11-13 Meteora, Greece
April 14 Ferry from Greece
April 15 Ferrara, Italy (Venice)
April 16, 17 Piran, Slovenia
April 18 Ljubljana, Slovenia
April 19-21 Budapest, Hungary
April 22-24 Vienna, Austria
April 25, 26 Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
April 27-29 Prague, Czech Republic
April 30-May 3 Berlin, Germany
May:
May 4 Nuremberg, Germany
May 5, 6 Luxembourg
May 6 Visit European Court of Justice
May 7 Visit European Commission
May 7 Bruges, Belgium
May 8 Paris, France
May 9 Departure for New York
Odyssey Journal
Odyssey Journal
April 13
Today we were able to recharge our batteries for a bit. Some of us planned to rock climb, however, the weather wasn't cooperating. We had our third consecutive homemade group dinner before a class focusing on Plato and Aristotle's teachings. While at dinner, our host, Yannis, told us about a French man named Alain, who is traveling on foot all over the world! Can you imagine? He has been traveling for about four months now. What possessed him to do this, you ask? A break-up. If I had a dime for every time one of my ex-boyfriends traveled the world on foot after our break-up, I'd have ZERO CENTS! This man’s determination is truly awe-inspiring, and although we didn't meet him (we missed him by a few days!), he has truly become an inspiration to our Odyssey group. And we thought traveling in two Puegot’s was rough!
April 12
On the day we left Italy for Greece an earthquake struck the town of L'Aquila (60 miles from Rome) and caused cataclysmic damage to the historic architecture as well as immeasurable human loss. The quake measured a 6.3 on the Seismograph and its epicenter was determined to be approximately 6.2 miles below the surface.
Ongoing rescue operations have found several survivors including an elderly woman in her 90s. Though PM Berlusconi has refused foreign aid stating that Italians are very proud people and have sufficient resources to deal with the crisis, he is open to accepting aid to restore the historical buildings that were damaged. State funerals were held yesterday for the 250+ victims of the quake.
This has been the closest I have ever come to being in an area struck by a natural disaster. Living in New York City (a region relatively shielded from natural disasters, particularly seismic activity) it's difficult to fully understand what it means when something like this happens.
Though I consider myself and my fellow travelers fortunate to have just slipped away from this disaster, our thoughts are nonetheless with the victims of this catastrophe. Where will the homeless go? Will there be any more survivors? How long will it take for the town to be habitable again?
Unfortunately as bystanders all we can do is hope for the best for the town and its people.
Our condolences to L'Aquila – may your wounds heal and your streets flourish once again.
This was truly an amazing Easter. This morning we hiked up the mountain in Meteora and visited two monasteries that had been there since the 14th century when monks had come to the area. Because of political unrest they had retreated to the rocks and inhabited caves in the 12th century before becoming organized and creating monasteries. We were able to visit the largest, Great Meteora, which among other relics had many old manuscripts dating back to ancient times and included works by Homer. Many of the books were taken in 1943 when the Germans took control during WWII and are now scattered around the world, many in private collections or in museums. It was exciting to see some of these works in person, and it was interesting to see the historical contributions of these monasteries.
April 11
We arrived in Meteora, Greece earlier today. It's absolutely gorgeous. The view from our hotel is breathtaking. All we can see are huge mountainous rocks! They don't look real! We decided to celebrate by cooking a delicious group dinner. Tomorrow we plan to hike to the monasteries and burn off the calories from the croissants and baguettes that are still in our bodies from PARIS!!
April 9
Today we drove from Olympia to Athens. We stopped in Mycenae and Corinth. Mycenae was one of the major ancient Greek civilizations in the second millennium BC. Mycenae was ruled by Agamemnon, the husband of Helen of Troy. Sadly by the time we arrived in Corinth, it had closed. Corinth was another powerful Greek city-state and one of the oldest archeological sites in Greece. Although we were upset about not being able to see Corinth, we knew that bigger and better things were to be seen in Athens!!!
April 8
We are now in Olympia, Greece, the site of the original Olympics and where the torch is lit in the ancient ceremony before the games. It was very exciting because the owners of the hotel we were staying in have been a part of this tradition and have run the torch in three different Olympics. After they pass on the torch they get to keep it, so they had the torches on display in the hotel. We also got to see the original stadium and some of us ran a race together to gain a more unique understanding of what it must have been like to be an ancient Greek Olympian.
April 7
This morning we had our "Know Thyself" midterm, which was comprised of two essays relating to Alan Watt's novel, Become What You Are, and Chapra's article "The Turning Point" and movie Mindwalk. After our midterm we were on our way to Olympia!
Today we all realized that the trip is about halfway over. Where did the time go? We've been in "tourist mode" and have been "culture shocked" everyday for a month. We're not even tired! We want more! We're all apprehensive about life after the European Odyssey! We're not going to be able to take pictures everyday or wear our money belts!!
April 6
We arrived in Nafpaktos, a small little town not too far from the ferry docks. We got off the ferry at around 7 a.m. and drove to our hotel. After arriving at our hotel we all fell asleep until early afternoon!! It was wonderful!! After class, we went out to celebrate Jen's birthday!
During dinner, we met a man who was exiled from his home country of Nigera. He had been exiled because he spoke out against the government and is currently struggling to make a living for himself selling CDs. Did I mention that he has a master's degree in psychology? His story inspired all of us to become more active in current events and helped us realize that not everyone is as fortunate as we are (traveling around Europe). It's absolutely surreal to hear these stories on the news but to actually shake the hand of a man whose whole life has been turned upside down all because he was doing the right thing, and knowing that you can't help him. It really makes you ask yourself, what kind of world do we really live in?
April 4
Today we took the ferry from Bari, Italy to Patras, Greece. The boat was filled with many different people, from truckers to other students. Although much of our time in this 18 hour ride was spent taking midterms and sleeping, it was also relaxing to spend some time on the deck watching as we passed mysterious islands and mountains in the distance. It was nice to get my first taste of Greek food – stuffed peppers and tomatoes. Quite delicious!
April 3
Buongiorno from Sorrento, Italy!
As you most likely know, our great President Barack Obama is currently in Europe. We have all been enjoying the positive feedback from the Europeans about our new President. Especially during this past week when Obama stated his plans to bring back the relationship between America and Europe. What Europeans seem to respect the most was his attempt to diminish any negative perception of Americans by saying, “I don't come here bearing grand designs. I'm here to listen, to share ideas.”
Our American president has been seen on every TV station and every newspaper. He is truly thought of as a celebrity over here, which we all feel is comforting and exciting. We leave tomorrow for Barri, Italy. And on Saturday we are off to Greece! The days are flying by, but we are enjoying every moment.
March 30
Our final day in Rome was crammed full of last minute site seeing. Though we were exhausted by the end of the night my heart stopped when we turned the corner and saw the Trevi Fountain. The gleaming lights upon the water and the beautiful sculptures in the background were truly stunning. Something about the magnificent fountain made me thankful for the people I have in my life. Four girls and I stood together in awe and threw our coins into the fountain together. It was a moment that I ill never forget.
It has been a lifelong dream of mine to see the Coliseum in Rome, and it was finally realized on this trip. I have seen Roman ruins before in Israel but none like the Coliseum. This massive structure was used for the Gladiator games as well as brutal public executions and other ancient Roman festivities. There may have even been mock sea battles but it is still unknown how the floor would have been filled with water. The Coliseum was definitely a highlight of our visit to Rome, and I hope to return sometime in my life.
March 29
The Sistine Chapel, the most famous and monumental room of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, is exceptionally beautiful and awe-inspiring. When I entered the Chapel I gazed with amazement at the incredibly detailed paintings in near-perfect condition on the walls and ceiling of this overwhelmingly large room. It is difficult to imagine the painstaking efforts the famous Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, and – especially – Michelangelo, who painted the entire ceiling over the course of four years beginning in 1508. The paintings are based on the scenes of the Book of Genesis, the most famous being the “Creation of Adam,” Michelangelo's best-known work. One thing I noticed was the depth of the image in Renaissance paintings. It feels as if the figures were truly present in their physical form, achieved by the artists’ talent for anatomically accurate structures.
March 28
Today we were in Florence, Italy. We saw so many sights like the Uffizi, Ponte Vechio, and the Bargello. Seeing Botticelli’s the Birth of Venus”, and “Spring” was awe-inspiring. As I write this we are leaving for Rome, and I can’t wait for the wonder that awaits us.
March 27
The verdict is in – Florence is an amazing city. Three nights here have flown by as usual, and we’re off on the road again. The city is full of such history, it’s difficult to absorb all the things we’ve seen- The Uffizi, The Bargello, The Accademia- The wonders of the past mixed with the present city. It was quite breathtaking to see Michaelangelo’s David for the first time – I literally gasped when I saw it in the distance – it is awe inspiring to be experiencing things we’ve only seen in books and photos. Quick note – the food is amazing, and I can feel my body getting softer with each bowl of pasta and scoop of gelato – I’m going for the Pavarotti physique.
March 25
We are in Nice, France, the most beautiful place I have ever been. Located in Southern France, Nice is the capital of the French Riviera and France’s fifth largest city. Nice is located on the Mediterranean coast, between Marseille, France, and Genoa, Italy. We had a great first day in this beautiful city. We took a tram into the city center and discovered an outdoor antique market. Various French tapestries and artifacts were set up along the street. We walked through a small side street and discovered the gorgeous glistening Mediterranean Sea. We grabbed lunch outside on the famous Promenade des Anglais, worked on our French speaking skills then walked across to the water. After sitting on the beach, collecting sea glass, and taking in the amazing view, we decided to take a short trip to Eze, Cote D’Azur, a small town above Nice. The bus ride was quite an adventure, filled with windy roads, steep hills, and a breath taking view of the city below. Every place we visited in Nice was more beautiful than the first.
Eze, “the eagle’s nest,” is a town with a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea. Clinging to its rocky spur, the village, which has successfully been Ligurian, Celtic, and Roman, was often attacked and destroyed but always managed to rise from its ashes. The 12th century ramparts were torn down in 1706 on the orders of Louis XIV, at the same time as castle in Nice. The church half way up the hill was rebuilt in the 18th century. The Chapel of the White Penitents dates back to the 14th century. A small picturesque town with ochre facades and blue shutters, craftsmen’s shops, stone portals and flowers everywhere – Eze seems like a fairytale. With only around 50 people living permanently in the village, there aren’t any cars. The long steep walk is rewarded by a superb view from the castle ruins with just below the exotic gardens, the ancient houses with Roman tiles, and further below is the glowing blue of the Mediterranean Sea.
The following day we took a class trip to the medieval village of Saint-Paul. Surrounded by ramparts, proudly set on a rocky terrain between the Pre-Alp chain and the sea, the village is sheltered by rolling hillsides and is a highly popular center for sightseeing and culture. The streets are paved with pebbles and lined with numerous art galleries filled with beautiful paintings and elaborate sculptures. If you follow down the main street Rue Grande you will discover a stunning view from the ramparts of the intriguing city of Nice and its wonderful coastline.
Nice, France, is by far my favorite city, and I truly am sad to leave. One will find all the wonders of the world here – Mountains, sea, culture, and diversity, young, old, beauty, history, and the opportunity to travel – not to mention the Cannes Film Festival is held near by. Tomorrow morning we leave for Florence, Italy, and saying goodbye to France.
March 20
We arrived in Barcelona on March 18 after a "relaxing" seven hour drive from Mojacar. On our first full day in Barcelona, Christine, Amanda, and I walked down to the beach and had a nice lunch and got a little sun. Later on in the day we all walked down to Sagrada Família Church (created by Antoni Gaudi) which has been under construction since 1882. After visiting the Sagrada, we walked down to the Gothic Corner which is the center of the old city. Some of the buildings date back from medieval and Roman times and some of the buildings are also designed by Gaudi.
We enjoyed the Gothic Corner very much. However, we were all apprehensive about walking around because you really have to be aware of your surroundings and belongings (don't worry Mom and Dad!). Some of us even got to experience the Barcelona Metro, which was very enjoyable.
Before we departed for Carcassonne, France, we detoured at the Gaudi Museum which is on top of the mountains over looking Barcelona and the Mediterranean. Although we didn't get to see that much in the half hour time slot we were allotted, its all the more reason to return to Barcelona.
After the Gaudi Museum, we drove down to the Olympic beaches to soak up some sun before our five hour car ride.
See you in France! We can't wait indulge in some delicious French baguettes.
March 17
I got my first real glimpse of the Mediterranean yesterday. We are staying in Mojacar for two nights, right on the coast of Spain. I’m happy for a little relaxation between the cities of Sevilla and Barcelona.
It is absolutely gorgeous here. I couldn’t wait to be on the beach, so this morning I got up and went for a run. It was a little rocky in some parts, but the experience was well worth it. The view around me was amazing, with the turquoise ocean on one side and huge mountains on the other. At some points when I was running I just had to stop and gaze in amazement at everything around me. It seems so unreal sometimes that I am actually seeing these things that I’ve only heard or read about.
As I was running at one point, a little dog came barking after me. The owner, probably in his late twenties, called him back and apologized for his dog. I felt like I was in the beginning of a romantic comedy or something.
We spent the day exploring the little town and hanging out on the beach. Even though it was very cold, Cliff and I went swimming for a little while, just to say we had done it. The freezing water took our breath away but we both agreed it was well worth the effort.
March 16
Seville was enchanting. The Moorish influence in the architecture and culture was very noticeable. The Alcazar, once a palace of the Moorish rulers of this region, still stands today. Each room is ornate and grand. The courtyards were so beautiful and the garden was also exquisite. It’s beauty like this that you just can’t describe in a blog. You must go!
What I truly loved about Seville was the Flamenco. Oh what passion in the music and the dancing. I’d never seen Flamenco live before and it moved me very much. My first taste came with a street performance near the Seville cathedral with Liz Manning and Liz Jolly. We were privy to an enlivened performance and I knew then that I must go to a Flamenco club. Chris and Nikko were frightened by my determination to find the club. We were lost for two minutes but it felt like an eternity!
We finally found the club and although it was hot and filled with smoke, the dancing was so beautiful. Nick said it sounded like the man’s voice came from another world. The face of the dancer was so stoic and expressionless, but you could see and even feel the pride and the passion in her dancing. This gypsy style of dance enchants me to this moment. If I do return to Spain, it will be to Madrid to see Flamenco.
March 16
Seville, Spain, is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. Seville is a beautiful and busy city. I have enjoyed every city that we have visited in Spain, but Seville is one of my favorites. We spent our second day in the city sight-seeing. We visited Seville’s City Cathedral, which is amongst the largest of all Medieval and Gothic cathedrals. The inside was beautifully decorated with large quantities of gold and lavish designs.
Facing the Cathedral is the Alcazar, the city’s old Moorish palace designed in a Renaissance style. The architecture was beautiful and unique. Surrounding the palace were beautiful gardens of various and exotic plants and flowers. A lily garden lined the outside walls, and a modern designed fountain sat in the middle with a duck swimming inside. Near the Palace was the Plaza de España, which has a diverse mixture of historic Spanish styles with glazed tiles and bright colorings. One of the highlights of our trip to Seville was the large number of Starbucks coffee shops. Our American culture took the best of us; we couldn’t help but stop at each one we passed.
Spain is known for its complex traditional and beautiful Flamenco performances. Flamenco is an art form, consisting of singing, music, and dancing. Flamenco can be seen in various nightclubs, venues, as well as on the main streets. A few of us were lucky to catch a small group of Flamenco performers while we were exploring. While I was watching the performance I couldn’t help but feel very connected to this beautiful country and appreciative of the culture and passion behind the art.
March 14
Week two was just as mad as week one! We've all seen so much together that I'm shocked it's been a mere two weeks. I feel as if I've aged six months. We're on the road every one or two days. At first it was a little stressful, but now we've all got the packing of the vans and the long van journeys down.
Driving these vans in the city is really an adventure in frustration. European city streets can be so narrow and inclined ... to keep both vans together is a miracle sometimes. Whenever we get off the highways and into the cities, especially Salamanca, I think "Oh what fresh hell is this?!" But what's a troublesome van journey compared to seeing all this beauty.
As our professor Linda would say, "Beauty! Beauty! Beauty!" I'm having so much fun learning about the European Union too! We must have interviewed 10 different people about their thoughts on the EU and the Monetary union. Some love it, especially in France ... but those in Spain and Portugal aren't as keen since they're poorer. They feel they're being screwed. I can't wait to see how the Italians and Germans feel about it. Well I must go get some shorts to adapt to the beautifully warm weather here in Iberia.
Adeus from Lisbon!
March 14
We have completed our visit to Portugal. I was extremely excited to visit this small European country. From what I have learned along the trip, things are going pretty well for Portugal right now. European Union funding has brought the infrastructure up to speed. Our group was a little nervous to visit Portugal considering not one of us spoke Portuguese, but I must say I was surprised at how quickly we picked up on the key phrases. Our first stop was Coimbra, a small city with a lively young vibe due to the active student life centered on the beautiful 13th century University. The city is made up of ancient stone walls, narrow cobble stoned streets, and is known as the birth and burial place of Portugal’s first king, Compared to the next city on our tour, Lisbon, Coimbra is quite small, yet the culture overpowers its size. There are people of all backgrounds here. The student population is large, and the city is filled with many young travelers. Our first night in the city we headed out for a group dinner a few blocks away from our hotel. The majority of us attempted to try some of Portugal’s famous dishes. We were a bit shocked once the food was brought to the table. I must admit that from now on I’m going to be a bit hesitant when ordering foods I’m not familiar with. Bakeries lined the street of our hotel; there weren’t any complaints about the desserts.
From Coimbra we headed to the larger city of Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon is one of Europe’s smaller capitals, offering a sense of history and culture within its smaller population. The city is made up of long narrow hills that overlook the sparkling Tagus River. The architecture around the city is extremely colorful and vibrant. Expressive graffiti and murals are decorated everywhere you look, giving the city a very artistic vibe. Loud speakers filled the streets with the countries famous Fado music, which in Portuguese stands for fate. Fado is the melancholy nostalgic songs which originated from the Portuguese sailors expressing their emotions on the high seas. The songs are of loneliness, danger, nostalgia, the joy of survival, and even of the greater passage of life.
On our last day in Portugal we took a tour around the cities main sights. We drove to the Sao Jorge Castle, which was located on top of a hill giving us a beautiful picturesque view of the city. We also took in Lisbon’s beautiful waterfront, and the famous Vasco DeGama Bridge, the largest suspension bridge in Europe. Before heading to Seville, Spain, and saying goodbye to beautiful Portugal we stopped in the Roman Medieval city of Evora, and visited the Saint Francis Church. The church is a masterpiece of late 15th century Gothic architecture, and is home to the Baroque styled Chapel of Bones, which is made entirely of human bones. Our time in Portugal was great, the country is beautiful, and we all share the common hope to some day return. Now onto Seville!
Portugal joined the European Union in 1986 and is still in the process of gaining the Union’s advantages. Many Portuguese citizens feel slighted by the EU and hope to see a greater change and focus upon their country in the near future.
March 12
Today we had our first quiz on materials we’ve learned so far. After the quiz we explored Coimbra, and then got in the vans and headed to Lisbon or Lisboa. Before we arrived in Lisbon we stopped at Fatima. Fatima was named after the Virgin Mary who was said to have appeared before three shepherd children at Fátima, Portugal, on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917, starting on May 13, the Fátima holiday.
We arrived in Lisbon just in time for dinner. We all got dressed up and enjoyed a night on the town.
March 11
Today we are driving from Salamanca to Coimbra, Portugal. It is home to the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest Portuguese universities. Coimbra served as Portugal’s capital in the 13th century and even has Roman ruins.
Now that we’ve been in three countries, it’s beautiful to see how each country’s culture is expressed in their architecture. In Portugal I’ve noticed brighter colors, mosaics and tile used on houses and buildings. This creates such a cool ethnic vibe.
March 10
After leaving Guernica, we stopped in Bilbao to visit the Guggenheim Museum. We were all very excited to see some unique artwork. Sadly, one of the floors was closed so we weren’t able to see as much as we would have liked. The Bilbao Guggenheim featured exhibitions by Japanese artists Takashi Murakami and Cai Guo Qiang, who were featured in recent shows at the Brooklyn Museum of Arts and New York City’s Guggenheim Museum.
After our Guggenheim experience we were off to Salamanca, Spain, one of the oldest university towns in Europe.
March 9
The Basque region and its people are fascinating. Who are these ancient people with such a rich and isolated culture? Where did their language come from if not from Indo-European roots? How did their culture survive the Romans and the Visigoths and the Spanish? It’s as if they were able to outsmart some of the greatest empires of the world … or perhaps those empires didn’t see fit to assimilate such an isolated people? Or maybe the Basques wouldn’t be assimilated.
In Donostia, a part of the Basque region, we learned a little about Basque feelings toward Spain when we tried to toast Spain in a local pub and were quietly told by the friendly waiter that we shouldn’t do that in case there were any people with heated feelings on the subject.
We also stopped in Guernica, the former seat of power for much of the Basque region. Linda and Tim’s friend Mariea showed us around the Parliament building, and we saw the legendary Tree of Gernika, under which ancient legislators would gather to make law and policy. We were also privileged enough to stay at her house in the Basque countryside. It was a truly wonderful and mysterious time in Basque country. I plan to return one day, perhaps to study their culture and language.
March 8
Today is our first full day in Spain! San Sebastian (also called Donostia) is part of “Basque” country. San Sebastian is known for beautiful beaches, good surfing, and Basque culture.
What is Basque? The Basques are believed to be the indigenous peoples that lived in the Pyrenees. They have their own language, flag, and government. Though they are technically in Spain, they are not a part of Spain.
Today we are celebrating International Women’s Day, which is very popular in Europe. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 8, 1909 to give rise to the labor movement in New York City and raise awareness about horrible working conditions, low wages, police brutality, etc. In Italy on International Women’s Day women are given roses and chocolate (listen up American men!)
Tomorrow we head to Guernica to meet Basque students and Professor Longmire and Professor Smith’s friend, Mariea. Although we are excited to meet new people, those of us who are beach lovers are having a hard time leaving these perfect waves.
March 7
Today on the drive to San Sebastian, Spain, we appreciated the beauty of the French countryside. Vast amounts of land in America are replaced by strip malls, housing developments, and golf courses. In Europe they seem more knowledgeable about environmental preservation.
About half way through the drive we stopped in Biarritz, France. Biarritz is located on the border of France and Spain near the Pyrenees Mountains. Biarritz was once a wealthy vacation spot similar to Monte Carlo and is known for its beautiful beaches.
We arrived in San Sebastian, Spain, at around 7 p.m., and we can’t wait to explore the town in daylight.
March 6
This week has been a huge cocktail of awe, fatigue, fun, and euro-spending. My first transatlantic flight was a nice transition into jet lag, customs, baggage check, and packing 14 people and their baggage into vans that can really only fit 12.
BUT PARIS! C'est magnifique! I didn't care. The Eiffel Tower was on my doorstep. The Paris Opera House, the Notre Dame, the Louvre were all at my doorstep. The first time seeing the Eiffel Tower is like a punch in the gut. I lost my breath at the magnitude of it.
My experiences in Paris were akin to no other experience I'd ever had. The beauty of the city dwarfs the beauty of even my beloved Manhattan. A few long van rides brought us all to Chartres cathedral and Mont St. Michele, some medieval structures you can see miles away. As we approached, they seemed to attract me and draw me closer. They appeared to be not man made structures but more offshoots from the horizon. We've all grown so close this far. I'm having a great time getting to know my fellow travelers and exploring this new lifestyle of being on the road. We'll be in Spain tomorrow where I hope to use my Spanish. I can't say I've been able to speak French thus far.
Where do I begin my story of intrigue and adventure?
T'was a dark and windy night in Queens, N.Y., and there I was in the middle of JFK International Airport, waiting to board a flight for Paris. This was the start of our European Odyssey, and what an Odyssey it has been thus far. Departing 10 p.m. that night, we landed in the city of Paris 11 a.m. the next morning, tired, hungry, jet-lagged, delirious and ready to explore. Since then we have seen so much, and we still have so much more to visit.
As I write this blog entry now in the middle of gorgeous French wine country in the lovely Kyriad Hotel, I think how tomorrow we will head to Basque country to explore San Sebastian and how our journey will continue throughout Spain to Bilbao, Salamanca, and beyond. I think of the spectacular day we had today when we visited a wine vineyard and learned exactly how wine was made and saw Chateaus that were literally hundreds of years old. I think about how I learned that an entire bottle of wine is made with as little as seven grapes. I think of the beauty, peace, and tranquility of this French countryside and how it compares to my daily life in the USA. I also think of all the beauty we have already seen in the five short days we have been on the road, from the Louvre, to the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Pere le Chez cemetery, the ancient cathedral at Chartres the ancient cities of Mont St. Michel and San Malo – this has truly been an amazing opportunity, and we still have nine weeks to go. Germany, Italy, Greece, Hungary, and more still await.
March 6
Today we explored the town of Libourne, a small town located outside of Bordeaux in the wine region of France. While in Libourne I had an enchanting conversation with a woman named Dominique from Seville, Spain who moved to France to make a better living after marrying her husband. Dominique believes that the Euro is still very expensive, she LOVES Obama, New York, Australia, rap music (her favorite artists include: Rihanna, Jay Z, Timberland, Kanye West, 50 cent, The Pussycat Dolls, and P. Diddy).
She also is very knowledgeable about U.S. tabloids and Hollywood current events, for example, she is very upset with the whole Chris Brown and Rihanna situation.
After Libourne we went to a Chateau in St. Emillion, where we were given a tour of a vineyard and a lesson on how wine is made. We learned that:
- The French drink more red wine than white wine.
- Seven to eight grapes are used to make one bottle of wine.
- The quality of the wine depends on the skin and color of the grape.
- It takes about three days for 50 to 70 people to harvest a vineyard.
- Roses are planted near the vineyard to detect viruses.
- Temperature is vital in wine making. If the temperature you make vinegar.
- In France the wine is known by the chateau.
March 1
Bonjour! Aujourd'hui nous sommes arrives a Paris! (Today, we arrived in Paris!) "The City of Lights" is absolutely gorgeous. Although we are still jet-lagged, Professors Longmire and Smith took us on a "power" van tour of the city. We saw the Arc de Triomphe, le Tour Eiffel, the Bastille, and Notre Dame, just to name a few. Tomorrow we are going on a walking tour which includes going to le Louvre, and obviously going back to the Eiffel Tower! Most of us don't want to leave Paris, but we know that a great journey lies ahead.
I'd have to say that the highlight of my day was yesterday (although it doesn't feel like yesterday) at JFK airport. When we all were about to board for Charles de Gaulle, a French boy of about 5 years old named Adam came over and started talking to us! This gave me a great opportunity to practice my French skills! It was the most exhilarating conversation of my life! I'm so happy that my six and a half years of French helped me have a five minute conversation – I really had to bring out the big guns. Half the time, Adam was making animal noises and taught us the French word for pig and cow just by snorting and mooing.
Being in Paris for only a couple of hours really makes one appreciate Parisian culture, because it is one thing to learn about it via a textbook or in class as opposed to physically being in the city and experiencing it first hand.
It is now about 10:30 p.m. Paris time, and we are all severely jet lagged, but we cannot wait for a longer tour of Paris tomorrow morning. With that being said, we must say
au revoir, a demain! (Goodbye, talk to you tomorrow!)
February 29
Today was our first day on our European Odyssey. We arrived in Paris after a smooth flight and began our first day as European explorers. After gathering our suitcases and locating the vans that will be taking us across Europe, we headed to our cozy hostel in beautiful Paris. We rested for a bit, but didn’t let our jet-lag stop us from venturing out into the city of lights. Professor Longmire and Professor Smith are great tour guides. They drove us around Paris, stopping at some of the major sites, such as the breath-taking Eiffel Tower, the historical Notre Dame and around the Arc de Triomphe.
The city of Paris truly has a romantic and elegant feel. As we were sight-seeing we all had a look of awe and amazement upon our faces. Standing in front of the Eiffel Tower I think we each felt that we are so very lucky to be given this opportunity, to see such beauty. Seeing this magnificent and historical sight gave me a feeling of thankfulness, excitement, and even pride.
Tomorrow we will be visiting the Louvre Museum, which is home to many wonderful pieces of art, such as the famous Mona Lisa. We are also exploring the modern museum the D'Orsay.
February 25
I am leaving for Europe in three days. This seems so overwhelming, especially in light of the fact that I feel so unprepared. Not in the emotional sense – I am ready to explore a whole new continent and discover other people and nations. I'm not really ready to leave home, leave my friends, but it is for a very short time, and I know this will be a really good thing for me. And hopefully I will learn a lot about myself in the process.
But even more, I'm not ready in a physical sense ... especially with the whole terrible ordeal of packing. Before I left home to come to Hofstra, I packed one suitcase with everything I thought I needed. And now I'm not exactly sure I packed the right things. When I get over to Paris, it is going to be cold – in the 30s. I do not want to bring a huge bulky jacket that will only become a hindrance later when it gets much warmer (and take up room in my suitcase for more worthy items). But I also do not want to freeze the first couple weeks there. This is a terrible conundrum. But layering seems to be the answer. Long sleeve shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts etc. And I keep getting more ideas of things to bring each day I talk to my fellow students. I think packing is seriously an unending project. If I had a whole year to pack I think I would run into the exact same problems ... and so there is always this: if I forget something, I can always buy it over in Europe. :)
To prepare for this madness, I've done a lot of monetary preparation. I've gotten a checking account and ATM card (now I just need some money to put into it). I bought a ton of toiletries and miscellaneous items (now I just need a bag to put it in). Some of my fellow travelers have been packing and unpacking and weighing their luggage. I've done nothing of the sort. I'm really ashamed of how I put things off until the last minute!
The classes we've been taking are really helping to ease my mind about being on the road for two months. I'm also getting to know the other students going on the Odyssey, and I think we'll have a great time together. Now I'm just excited, and the anticipation is really growing as we approach this Saturday!
Guest Speaker
Lori Jacobson
L.M.S.W., European Odyssey alumna
Lori is a social worker at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center. She graduated from Hofstra University in 2004 with a bachelor of arts in family studies. Lori participated in the European Odyssey Program during the spring of 2003. During her time at Hofstra, she was actively involved with Hillel, serving as president during her senior year. Lori graduated from Columbia University in 2006 with a master’s of science in social work.
Lori assisted Professors Longmire and Smith with the orientation classes for the European Odyssey, and she is meeting the group in Paris to work on more team building exercises for the first 10 days of the trip. Lori says her European Odyssey experience, which was seven weeks long, taught her a lot “about Europe, community building and myself. I define it as my most important experience at Hofstra.”
Among the challenges she says this year’s Odyssey group will face is the lack of personal space. “It is difficult to travel in a group like this for four months. The honeymoon period will end pretty quickly and they will have to work hard to keep their group together.”