Athens
Experience ancient Greece, where the headquarters will be at Cosmovision Center. Visit
Parliament, Syntagma Square, The Plaka, Acropolis, the 2004 Olympic Stadium, The Agora,
Monastiraki Square, and Mars Hill. Experience the antiquities of Mycenae and Corinth.
Thessaloniki
Experience contemporary Greece. Thessaloniki is a busy, vibrant city that is Greece's
second major economic, industrial, commercial and cultural center as well as a major
transportation hub in southeastern Europe. Its commercial port is of great importance.
The city has two state universities that host the largest student population in Greece.
Home base in the north may be the beautiful sea-side village of Leptokarya. Additional
locations and excursions in the north will include viewing Mount Olympus, Dion, ancient
Philippi, the monasteries of Meteora and more.
Economics
Talk with local merchants in Thessaloniki and service employees in both urban and
rural communities. Shop at the local food market. Meet with community professionals
who provide service to the community (i.e., doctor, teachers and school administrators,
lawyer, judge). Discuss the difficult economic issues facing Greece with the locals
in many locations.
Education & Family
Talk with families in rural and suburban communities to become acquainted with traditional
family customs. Visit primary and secondary schools to understand the Greek education
system. Examine current social issues through conversation with local citizens of
all ages and media. Eat meals in family owned restaurants with local citizens to engage
in conversations with the locals and understand more about contemporary Greek life.
Government
Speak with local citizens about their perception of current government, membership
in the EU, and understand the role Greece has played in democracy past, present, future
and the current role of Greece in global issues and perspectives. Meet with a person
from the American Embassy. Visit Greek parliament and hear a presentation by an official
representative. Understand the challenges an island nation faces with immigration
and migration of many people from Africa and the Middle East to Europe through Greece.
Religion
Visit the local Greek Orthodox Church. Speak with the local priest and parishioners.
Examine the integration of church and state in Greek culture and society. Visit at
least one non-Orthodox church and discuss the role of that religious perspective in
Greek society. Visit and study historical sites identified in New Testament writings
(i.e., Paul's journeys). Visit with local missionaries and evangelists and examine
the role of evangelism in Greek culture. Engage in helping ministries in Athens to
learn up close and personal about the immigration issues facing Greece and evangelical
ministries to the illegal immigrants and people migrating from areas of conflict.
Talk with people involved in NGOs helping women entrapped in prostitution through
poverty or trafficking.
