Sunday, June 12, 2011
An Awesome Experience
Blog By: Ellen Harris-Harvey
Our journey across the Atlantic Ocean to another world and culture was an awesome, enlightening and eye-opening experience for me. Even though I cannot speak the language of either of our travel destinations, I was intrigued by the culture of the Greeks and Italians I encountered on this trip of a lifetime. On our trip we experienced various levels of acceptance and also denial. I believe this is somewhat in part due to how our Western World has been conveyed in the world media and the belief system that we are believed to have. I think other cultures believe we have a superiority mindset over the rest of the world. Being American and African-American in a foreign country, we are certainly not always viewed from a positive perspective. I felt genuinely accepted by the tour company and the tour guides who were responsible for guiding us everyday in both Greece and Rome. The individuals chosen to conduct our tours were very likeable and informative in their positions, even though at times I felt somewhat detached due to their excessive explanations and the fact that sometimes they could both be a little over-talkative on our excursions. I enjoyed visiting the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and all of the ancient ruins because of their significance in the history of our world.
It was a breathtaking experience to see the coastline of Greece as we ascended on the Continental flight on the morning of our arrival. The massive outline of the city of Athens lay beneath me, as I looked from my window seat of the plane in awe, I was surrounded by a city of massive purportion where the center of history had begun.
It was truly an all-encapsulating experience to stand in the presence of history, taking in the awe of the ruins presence as thay still stand witness to what has past. The people of Greece and Rome continue to preserve their history, unlike us in the western world, where history has a tendency to slip away from our minds grip, never to be revisited again, until there may come a great catostrophe that makes us remember our beginnings. We seem to be more caught up in the world and our own self-indulgence instead of the history that gave us the freedom we now possess. Although we may agree to disagree, I have hope that we will one day, once again, regain some resemblance of why we exist!
There are several ways that Greek and Roman culture, traditions, and history have affected our world and our civilization. One of the heights of the trip for me was when our group toured the ruins of the Acropolis and the Temple of Athena. The Apostle Paul once traveled on this journey to Athens Greece and walked along the same paths that we embarked on during our tour. The significance of walking in the same footsteps as the Apostle Paul was an unforgettable experience for me. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles was accepted into Greece where he traveled to spread the teaching of Christianity. He is responsible for bringing his teachings to the Western world, and this was the first time that the Name of Christ had been heard in the West and on European soil. This was a very significant part of the history of Christ and the message about the coming of the Son of God.
I am a believer in the Christian faith and I have never had the opportunity to attend a Catholic Church or witness a Catholic Church Service. I believe that there is one God and one Creator of humankind and that God created all men equal. I have respect for all men of God, no matter what faith or demonination they claim, therefore the next event that I experienced was a very humbling and spiritual moment in my life.
This was a spontaneous moment that will be etched in my memory forever, and it was one of the most unforgettable moments when I stood amongst the crowd of onlookers, awaiting the arrival of Pope John Paul II, on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the evening. Although we had previously been told we would probably not be allowed to attend the Mass at St. Mary's Church that day, our fate would not end with that statement ringing true. For those of us who would perservere to enter, our destiny to witness this unexpected event would prevail. I was humbled to be allowed to enter the Mass at St. Mary's square and also to take part in a sacred Mass with Pope John Paul II himself. Along with Bishops and Nuns from across the country who were in attendance for an apparent anniversary service to celebrate the Church of St. Mary's. This experience was a definite highlight of my trip.
I would like to also mention that it was a pleasure meeting all of you who traveled with me on this tour of Greece and Rome from Ashford University and their families. It was a pleasure meeting and interacting with each and evey one of you. I am definitely looking forward to seeing you all again soon. Maybe in Spain or Paris!!!!
Thoughtfully,
Ellen Harris-Harvey
Our journey across the Atlantic Ocean to another world and culture was an awesome, enlightening and eye-opening experience for me. Even though I cannot speak the language of either of our travel destinations, I was intrigued by the culture of the Greeks and Italians I encountered on this trip of a lifetime. On our trip we experienced various levels of acceptance and also denial. I believe this is somewhat in part due to how our Western World has been conveyed in the world media and the belief system that we are believed to have. I think other cultures believe we have a superiority mindset over the rest of the world. Being American and African-American in a foreign country, we are certainly not always viewed from a positive perspective. I felt genuinely accepted by the tour company and the tour guides who were responsible for guiding us everyday in both Greece and Rome. The individuals chosen to conduct our tours were very likeable and informative in their positions, even though at times I felt somewhat detached due to their excessive explanations and the fact that sometimes they could both be a little over-talkative on our excursions. I enjoyed visiting the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and all of the ancient ruins because of their significance in the history of our world.
It was a breathtaking experience to see the coastline of Greece as we ascended on the Continental flight on the morning of our arrival. The massive outline of the city of Athens lay beneath me, as I looked from my window seat of the plane in awe, I was surrounded by a city of massive purportion where the center of history had begun.
It was truly an all-encapsulating experience to stand in the presence of history, taking in the awe of the ruins presence as thay still stand witness to what has past. The people of Greece and Rome continue to preserve their history, unlike us in the western world, where history has a tendency to slip away from our minds grip, never to be revisited again, until there may come a great catostrophe that makes us remember our beginnings. We seem to be more caught up in the world and our own self-indulgence instead of the history that gave us the freedom we now possess. Although we may agree to disagree, I have hope that we will one day, once again, regain some resemblance of why we exist!
There are several ways that Greek and Roman culture, traditions, and history have affected our world and our civilization. One of the heights of the trip for me was when our group toured the ruins of the Acropolis and the Temple of Athena. The Apostle Paul once traveled on this journey to Athens Greece and walked along the same paths that we embarked on during our tour. The significance of walking in the same footsteps as the Apostle Paul was an unforgettable experience for me. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles was accepted into Greece where he traveled to spread the teaching of Christianity. He is responsible for bringing his teachings to the Western world, and this was the first time that the Name of Christ had been heard in the West and on European soil. This was a very significant part of the history of Christ and the message about the coming of the Son of God.
I am a believer in the Christian faith and I have never had the opportunity to attend a Catholic Church or witness a Catholic Church Service. I believe that there is one God and one Creator of humankind and that God created all men equal. I have respect for all men of God, no matter what faith or demonination they claim, therefore the next event that I experienced was a very humbling and spiritual moment in my life.
This was a spontaneous moment that will be etched in my memory forever, and it was one of the most unforgettable moments when I stood amongst the crowd of onlookers, awaiting the arrival of Pope John Paul II, on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the evening. Although we had previously been told we would probably not be allowed to attend the Mass at St. Mary's Church that day, our fate would not end with that statement ringing true. For those of us who would perservere to enter, our destiny to witness this unexpected event would prevail. I was humbled to be allowed to enter the Mass at St. Mary's square and also to take part in a sacred Mass with Pope John Paul II himself. Along with Bishops and Nuns from across the country who were in attendance for an apparent anniversary service to celebrate the Church of St. Mary's. This experience was a definite highlight of my trip.
I would like to also mention that it was a pleasure meeting all of you who traveled with me on this tour of Greece and Rome from Ashford University and their families. It was a pleasure meeting and interacting with each and evey one of you. I am definitely looking forward to seeing you all again soon. Maybe in Spain or Paris!!!!
Thoughtfully,
Ellen Harris-Harvey
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