Day nine at Mycenae, the site of the ancient city of the earliest Greek civilization. Legends say that Agamemnon ruled here, he who was “The fabled king of the Iliad,” as Kaleb Gonzalez, biochem major, puts it while standing near one of the walls.  Earlier,  back on campus, we read The Iliad. Now, it becomes part of our actual experience. The city lies on the top of a windy hill, with mammoth walls surrounding it.  

We have come to Greece to learn about the culture that gave us many of the traditions we still have today: art, medicine, philosophy, literature, architecture, and democracy. What better place to learn than by walking on the very stones where once walked people like Sophocles, Socrates, Plato, and Hippocrates. 

Several of the students plan to become physicians: they’ve learned that the Greeks were the first civilization to understand that illness is a problem in biology and can be treated with proper diet, exercise, and fresh air in a beautiful setting. Another student, English major Reese Gallant, plans to write her senior Honors thesis as a creative work, a children’s book with original illustrations. What better place to seek inspiration than where Homer himself gained inspiration. 

Later in the day we’ll pass through Corinth, where the apostle Paul visited at least three times. Keith Barrow, a recent graduate from the communication department, takes time out from creating his Vlog to ponder why Paul visited here, a city on a narrow isthmus separating mainland Greece from the Peloponnese peninsula. It was a trade city, perfectly situated to spread the good news of the recently risen Christ. He spread this gospel to Greeks, Jews, and travelers from all over the world, who passed through this important hub.

This evening, our final night in Greece, Ania Ochoa will bless our meal, praying for us in Greek, which she learned at Southwestern. The tour guide will complement her pronunciation and vocabulary. Patrons at nearby tables will see that at Southwestern Adventist University,  we combine knowledge and faith. 

But for now we’re still at Mycenae. The steps are steep and the footing a bit treacherous. Some of our group get assistance from Esteban Deku, a recent biochem graduate, who shows what service means–selflessly helping others. Thanks, Esteban!

If you want to join us on our next adventure, join the Honors Program at Southwestern Adventist University.

View the Honors Program Greece Trip Photo Album.