Greece May 2019 Journal
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TEAM 137 JOURNAL GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS MALEVIZI CRETE MAY 4 18 2019 WWW GLOBALVOLUNTEERS ORG
GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS E c u a d o r T e a m G o a l s To be of Service T e a m 1 7 6 T e a m C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s Flexibility Punctuality To Share Sense of Humor Collaborative To Teach Supportive Respectful Positive Leverage on Strengths To Experience the Culture To Accomplish Personal Goals Patient Compassionate Mutual Goals Sharing Patient Caring Love 2
M e s s a g e o f t h e Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm Ralph Waldo Emerson D a y
May 4 2019 T LINDA MURPHY J o u r n a l E n t r y oday was Global Volunteers arrival day Most came by plane some by ferry and a couple challenged by flight cancellations and other travel delays arrived in the wee hours or even the next morning The good news is that all arrived safe if weary Traveling with my Big Brother Bob BBB and his lovely wife Judy we came to Handakas Hotel from the Heraklion ferry port on Crete having previously traveled to Athens Rhodes and Santorini We grabbed a cab ride to the hotel with a friendly and chatty driver who was impressed that we were going to be working with Greek children When we checked in we noticed three other English speaking people in the lobby but were told by the hotel staff these folks definitely were NOT part of Global Volunteers Not wanting to intrude on strangers we hung out for a while Upon further inquiry and self introduction we met Cassidy Mary and Nancy some of our fellow volunteers A f t e r w e a l l g o o d f o o d t o d d l e d t o o u r a n d o f f p l e a s a n t t o e x c i t i n g b e d c o n v e r s a t i o n l o o k i n g f o r w a r d a d v e n t u r e After two more volunteers were added to the mix Janet and Robin our Team Leader Sam Pinakoulaki hosted a welcome dinner for the eight volunteers who were able to make it to Crete She advised that because of circumstances beyond their control two more volunteers are delayed but are still on their way After good food and pleasant conversation we all toddled off to bed looking forward to our exciting adventure 4
M e s s a g e o f t h e D a y Do what you can with what you have where you are Theodore Roosevelt
May 5 2019 W MARY CONDON J o u r n a l E n t r y e got a late start today as the last two stragglers Melody and Allegra arrived late last night and early this morning Breakfast was available in the morning and people showed up whenever they chose Some then went exploring in Amoudara some went back to bed and some settled in We finally had the whole gang together at noon There are ten of us on the team some with Global Volunteer experience many without We introduced ourselves and shared our stories of how and why we ended up here today It is always interesting for me to hear as a veteran Global Volunteer the many winding paths we ve taken to arrive at this moment One of my favorite things about these experiences is that so many like minded people find each other all over the world Sam presented a Greek language lesson followed by some information about the work projects We had lunch and discussed expectations for service and behavior as well O n e o f m y e x p e r i e n c e s p e o p l e f i n d f a v o r i t e i s e a c h t h a t t h i n g s s o o t h e r m a n y a l l a b o u t t h e s e l i k e m i n d e d o v e r t h e w o r l d We are all a little tired from travel enthusiastic about sharing ourselves our skills and our culture with the people of Heraklion and Gazi and anxious for our anticipation to become reality We made it an early evening so we will be fresh and ready to go 6
M e s s a g e o f t h e A good teacher can inspire hope ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning Brad Henry D a y
May 6 2019 T MELODY COVEY J o u r n a l E n t r y he word of the day is Anticipation Our happy team of ten is settling in and is anticipating the start of the service project in Crete We are all still getting to know each other and learning about our host country In the previous afternoon before many of us had gone out we were already sharing what we were learning The overall unemployment rate is at about 28 and the even higher rate of unemployment for young people is just under 40 We as volunteers play an important role at the English Schools we serve As always we started the day with our team meeting We all met one of our first GREAT team characteristics which was being punctual The first four teammates went off with Sam to meet a new teacher and see a new school in Heraklion I have been teamed up with Cassidy who is the youngest member of our team She is attending University to become a teacher I got to be with her on her first night of service I think like me already she got as much or more out of the experience as our students did I was so impressed with her ability to think on her feet and engage with the teachers and students I continue to be in awe of the young people in Greece I continue to be in awe of the young people in Greece They attend school all day participate in sports do homework and still attend 90 minutes of English School in the evening We as volunteers play an important role at the English Schools we serve As Mother Teresa said We shall never know all the good a simple smile can do 8
M e s s a g e o f t h e A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles Tim Cahill D a y
C CASSIDY MATZ May 7 2019 J o u r n a l E n t r y ompanionship This is a very important thing to have when working with such a diverse group of people Companionship is what allows us to make light hearted jokes in times of stress It s what helps us work better and harder together It s the framework of a good team It s things like companionship that makes our team work and is able to help the students here in Greece When I finally got out of bed and made my way down to breakfast and the morning meeting we talked about our schedules for the day and what everyone was planning to do in their free time Linda stated that she Bob and Judy were going to visit Knossos and anyone was able to join them This sparked my interest since I had learned so much about the Minoans in my history classes A half an hour later Linda Bob Judy Allegra and I were on our way to Knossos I was astounded by the beauty and history of the place around me Walking around I was able to piece together pieces of history that I had learned in class with the sights that were right in front of me After one of the longest bus rides back we finally made it to Heaven a local cafe restaurant next to the beach Linda Bob Judy Allegra and I conversed about our families and our lives back in America It was so nice being able to get to know everyone a bit more and have the time to connect Later that day when Melody and I were working with the students I realized that companionship is also very important when helping them Without it there would be no trust between us and the students wouldn t be able to talk or learn from us Our relationship with the students also helps them calm their nerves Having native English speakers there to listen to them speak and talk back to them makes them more confident than when talking to their teachers who they know can revert back to Greek at any time It s things like companionship that makes our team work and is able to help the students here in Greece 10
M e s s a g e o f t h e I hope for nothing I fear nothing I am free Nikos Kazantzakis D a y
W JANET DYMARSKI May 8 2019 J o u r n a l E n t r y aking to the sounds of birds turkeys roosters and dogs Coffee outside in view of the mountains My friend Robin says that she is falling in love with Crete Me TOO A very blue sky promises another beautiful day Morning meeting at 8 45 following breakfast with the team Personalities that seemed a little strange at first have become wonderful to experience and know This is a wonderful way to experience a country and a way of life We are all teaching this evening at our now familiar locations The students are for the moment wonderfully shy They participate in after school programs to learn English and we practice with them through our conversations and interviews Robin and I have met a class of seven ages 11 to 17 a pediatric surgeon looking to emigrate due to lack of work and service cutbacks and a delightful 15 year old who loves to read Stephen King This is a wonderful way to experience a country and a way of life 12
M e s s a g e o f t h e A heart that reaches out with love can heal a soul and change a life Kiran Shaikh D a y
A May 9 2019 JUDY NIX J o u r n a l E n t r y synonym for serendipity is blessing In the Greek dictionary the synonym is good luck As I awake this fourth day of our service project in Crete I feel truly blessed As I awake this fourth day of our service project in Crete I feel truly blessed I am spending time with my husband with only a bit of shopping as a distraction no meetings reports and electronic devices How fortunate to see the beautiful Greek islands we have visited so far and to have my sister in law Linda as our tour guide The opportunity to help students advance their English skills is bringing joy to both my husband and me as many of our students start taking their tests today and over the weekend We truly feel we are making a difference and I am happy Sam paired me with Bob so we could experience this together Tonight Linda and I worked with students and then were able to help an older student draft an admission acceptance letter for a Masters degree program at the University of Crete Medical School The opportunity to help students advance their English skills is bringing joy to both my husband and me Looking forward to more serendipitous experiences with family students and new friends 14
M e s s a g e o f t h e Whether you think you can or you think you can t you are right Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers Football Coach D a y
S BOB NIX May 10 2019 J o u r n a l E n t r y tarted a typical day with early coffee before the rest of the team came down for breakfast After breakfast we had our usual team meeting at 8 45 am Everyone has teaching assignments for tonight We had lots of interaction with older students during the evening They are all highly motivated to learn English and get good jobs One student Maria age 16 took her proficiency exam today and came in smiling to tell Tenia the school s teacher that she thought she had done well Everyone clapped for her More students are testing this weekend Tenia said she goes with them for support and does an exit poll at tests with other students to try and coach her students One girl got very emotional talking about her parents and how hard they work to make a better life for themselves and their children A pair of 16 year old girls who immigrated from Albania shared their hopes and dreams for a better life by learning English and maybe moving to another country One girl got very emotional talking about her parents and how hard they work to make a better life for themselves and their children Two 17 year old girls shared that they want to move to the Netherlands or Germany to attend University and start their lives 16
M e s s a g e o f t h e If you do not know where you are going any road will get you there Lewis Carroll D a y
May 11 2019 LINDA MURPHY O J o u r n a l E n t r y n Saturday eight of ten Global Volunteers opted for a trip to the western part of northern Crete Our bus picked us up at 9 30 am We drove along a scenic oleander lined highway with views of Mount Ida and the gorgeous White Mountains on our way to the first stop in Rethymno It has a small Venetian harbor guarded by a lighthouse and an intact old town We ogled the Rimondi fountain and a mosque dating back to the mid 1600s This quick 1 5 hour stop was punctuated with a stop for drinks at a corner caf and then back on the bus The highlight of this day Hania was our next stop This is a truly lovely place with little alleys wonderful unique shops and a rather large Venetian harbor surrounded by colorful old buildings The four of us Bob Judy Cassidy and me took our guide s advice and avoided the harbor cafes for lunch opting instead for a wine bar in an alley with jazz playing in the background Loved loved loved my carbonara pasta dish Shortly after we were joined by Robin Janet Nancy and Allegra at the same restaurant Our last stop on the tour was at Crete s only freshwater lake Kournas where we saw a small lake and lots of vendors Once back in Amoudara went for a wonderful dinner to a nearby hotel The hotel has a reflecting swimming pool and a fire pit along with a really nice outdoor eating area What a treat 18
May 12 2019 O LINDA MURPHY J o u r n a l E n t r y n Sunday several of our intrepid team decided to trek to the eastern part of northern Crete by at least two separate bus tours Ours left at 8 00 am We made it to Agios Nikolaos a bit after 10 00 am Agios Nikolaos was attractive with many restaurants bars hotels and caf s clustered around a small bay however we were very early for Sunday shopping as most stores were just in the process of opening as we strolled by There was a small lake connected to the harbor by a canal which gave us some photo opportunities With only 1 5 hours for this stop Bob Judy and I decided to stop at a waterside caf for some crepes and real coffee a pleasant experience Our tour then proceeded to Plaka where many of our fellow tourists hopped a boat to the nearby island of Spinalonga to see a Venetian fortress and the former leper colony that operated until the late 1950s the last active one in Europe We choose instead to walk about the small town admiring the beautiful stone architecture and walls poking into some shops for new treasures to take home and finally grabbing a light lunch overlooking the water Our last official stop of the day was in Elounda described by our guide as having the most expensive hotels and frequented by celebrities The public beach was one of the few sandy beaches we have encountered While exploring the town we came upon a wedding feast being held in a family restaurant and while departing we passed by a funeral procession with a long line of people walking from the church behind the hearse Truly a circle of life encounter one family just starting out and one mourning the loss of a loved one Safely back to the Handakas Hotel around 9 00 pm It was a good day 19
M e s s a g e o f Wisdom begins with wonder Socrates t h e D a y
May 13 2019 T NANCY V BROWN J o u r n a l E n t r y his is day 10 of our Global Volunteers experience in Crete The day began with our team meeting All the team members were fully engaged again today Robin and Janet had an early morning appointment to work with a Greek pediatric surgeon who is unemployed here and seeks to gain employment as a doctor elsewhere Later Robin and Janet had late evening assignments as well arriving back around 10 00 pm Bob and Judy heard from their students who took tests over the weekend They also helped write a resume for an older student who seeks to gain entrance to a University program on infection control and immunizations They brought postcards of Portland Oregon and a book with photos of Oregon to share with their students The pictures were enthusiastically received It was a productive day for all of the team Linda and Allegra met with 13 to 15 year old children who were very excited to discuss information about their weekend Cassidy helped students with their essay writing and corrected homework Mary and I worked with many classes at all levels We stayed 35 to 40 minutes longer to allow a class of three adults listen to and speak with native English speakers us It was a productive day for all of the team 21
M e s s a g e o f t h e There is still reason to be hopeful and courageous Hoesung Lee D a y
May 14 2019 A ROBIN SEXTO J o u r n a l E n t r y nother delightful day on the beautiful island of Crete So many new experiences so many wonderful people After our morning meeting the group of volunteers headed in different directions So many new experiences so many wonderful people Janet and I spent several hours at the delightful beach at Heaven and were joined for lunch by Allegra Later Linda also joined us to relax and bask in the sun by the delightful Aegean Sea No one was brave enough to venture into the cold water Janet and I did an individual session with a young man we have met with several times to practice English He has opened up after several sessions with us and seems to be doing well We then ventured down to the center of Heraklion and ran into a young boy we had met with several times His mother was so happy to see us and the young boy was proud as he spoke to us There is a spirit of love and service with this group that transcends individual differences political beliefs or ideologies and socioeconomic status At dinner all of us talked about the different children and adults we are working with and their progress and struggles with English I think the general feeling has been how thankful we are to be of some small service to these people of Crete There is a spirit of love and service with this group that transcends individual differences political beliefs or ideologies and socio economic status It is amazing what a cohesive group we have become 23
M e s s a g e o f t h e You can t buy happiness but you can buy wines And that s almost the same thing Lyrarakis Winery Alagni Crete Greece D a y
May 15 2019 T ALLEGRA FORTUNATI J o u r n a l E n t r y he day began in an un Greek Way Despite Greece s epic history and culture we all continue to refer to the Greeks lackadaisical way of life as the Greek Way But today as a result of yesterday s planning a cultural field trip in Crete s countryside outside Iraklio our driver showed up on time in a brand new black van dressed to the 90 s in a black Pierre Cardin shirt and black pants fit for an evening of nightclubbing in the swankiest dance places on Crete Our arrival at Lyrarakis Winery in Alagni was welcomed by their outstanding staff So really this is where our day began Some of our team thought serendipity should be the word of the day because we ended up in a place everyone was happy with The Lyrarakis Estate is a family winery which has been in business since 1966 Its focus is on rare local wine varieties We were escorted around their vineyard Strolling among the vines with a view of the Lassithi Mountains we learned about the unique and sometimes rescued Cretan wines such as Plyto Dafni Vidiano Mandilari among others We learned about their pressing process and distribution Finally we sat down for the tasting 25
ALLEGRA FORTUNATI May 15 2019 Next we went to lunch in Arhanes a village a bit outside of Herakleion The restaurant was Taverna Spitiko Sam s choice and were we happy Great spread dakos pork peppers dolmattes with egg and lemon fava beans mush vegetable and tomato fritters tzatziki sour dough bread and olive oil Greek and potato salads raki and profiteroles After lunch at Koronekes where we had a wonderful tour and explanation about where their olive trees are how olives are harvested and how to tell good olive oil extra virgin only from others Koronekes is a family estate and a traditional olive mill They have several groves in the area Kiara Koutoulakis talked about the trees tree maintenance and harvesting Her husband George took over the tour to talk about their standard and unique processes traditional and modern techniques Really everything you ever wanted to know about olive oil Then the olive oil tasting truly we could have stayed longer and tasted more George was passionate about his oil and we bought it in more ways than one At last we had to end our cultural tour winding back through the villages where some of our students are from Really a delightful day Dropping off Cassie at her school the remaining volunteers went back to the Hotel and dispersed to their English schools or to Heaven 26
M e s s a g e o f t h e You give but little when you give of your possessions It is when you give of yourself that you truly give Kahlil Gibran D a y
May 16 2019 T MARY CONDON J o u r n a l E n t r y oday began as usual with the morning meeting We are all aware that our time on Crete is coming to an end Consequently several team members headed to Heraklion or the shops in Amoudara to pick up their remaining souvenirs The hunt for note cards continued but to no avail it seems that is not something typical here Cassidy Janet and Robin began their day at Heaven They then went in search of the animal rescue near the Crete Aquarium After much searching they found it 200 dogs chained but with shade water and a process for adoption Cassidy fell in love Although a bit disconcerting the conclusion was that they do what they can with what they have where they are which is the best they can do and certainly better than the alternatives Some of us ate lunch in most ate out We went to our various schools many are winding down as classes are ending and school exams are looming Mary and Nancy went at their usual school working with students who will take their test in December It is their first exposure to the actual exam questions so we helped them come up with possible ways to answer the various opinion questions with enough detail and examples We learned some interesting things Greece has just lowered the voting age to 17 from 18 but five out of six students think the voting age should be 20 or 21 Even more interesting the children think that people over 65 should not be allowed to vote It s hard to believe that our two weeks are up tomorrow Where did the time go Mary and Nancy returned to the hotel where we were met by Sam and taken to another school Those students are taking the speaking proficiency in two weeks and were given the opportunity to meet and speak with real Americans for the first time The evening concluded with more food It s hard to believe that our two weeks are up tomorrow Where did the time go 28
M e s s a g e o f t h e Volunesia noun that moment when you forget you re volunteering to help change lives because it s changing yours D a y
May 17 2019 B CASSIDY MATZ J o u r n a l E n t r y Before starting this experience with Global Volunteers volunteering to me was a required obligation that I needed to finish in order to graduate high school When I was in high school it was mandatory that each student perform 40 hours of volunteer work before the end of their junior year in order to be eligible to graduate I performed my hours working in a concession stand for the middle school football games and helping my local middle school build sets and props for their musical productions Those experiences for me weren t taken as seriously as they probably should have been I either did them with friends to make the time go by faster or by myself and watched the clock tick anxious to leave It is too easy to become the typical complaining teenager and I wanted to make sure that I was grateful for what I have but something in the back of my head was telling me that I wasn t fulfilled When I went to college my freshmen year I was concerned with meaningless things I spent most of my days fretting about boys friend drama parties and what everyone thought of me Overall I believe it was one of my most selfish years so far in my life It wasn t until my sophomore year that I went through a really difficult time and started thinking about things differently I stopped caring about what others think and started acting less selfishly and giving back to the community I was in I joined a service band fraternity and a social sorority where service to the community and others was very important I also started volunteering at a local animal shelter Whenever I was doing service projects with my organizations or helping the animals at the shelter I felt so good and like I was spending my time at school wisely It is too easy to become the typical complaining teenager and I wanted to make sure that I was grateful for what I have but something in the back of my head was telling me that I wasn t fulfilled 30
CASSIDY MATZ May 17 2019 Around last summer I remembered that a friend of mine from high school had posted about a trip she took over the summer to Greece In her pictures she was teaching English to kids At first I was so jealous of the fact she was abroad but after looking at her pictures more I figured out that I wanted to do that Teaching has always been a passion of mine and I love to travel and see new things So I asked her about the organization and how I could get some information Teaching has always been a passion of mine and I love to travel and see new things This experience has changed my perspective on teaching my limitations what I should be grateful for and my life overall Before this trip I believed that the only grade I would feel comfortable teaching was kids under 4th grade But after teaching the group of kids I had these past two weeks I believe that I could teach any age I also learned that I can do absolutely anything I set my mind to After pushing myself out of my comfort zone by traveling by myself successfully for the first time I feel limitless and as if I could conquer any problem or situation that comes into my path Another thing that I have learned on this trip is everything that I should be grateful for After learning about the way that some people live in this country and the amount of work that they do for the little pay they receive my heart has broken and all I want to do is help as much as I can so that these children can be successful and live amazing full lives While serving others they have given me more happiness than I could ever have hoped to give them I have been transformed and encouraged by finding the joy of people in the darkest of places and they motivate me to do the same I have been transformed and encouraged by finding the joy of people in the darkest of places and they motivate me to do the same I am also so grateful for the people that I have met during this trip They have all shaped me into a different person in the short two weeks that we have spent together Little did I know that after two weeks of working together I would end up befriending and loving you all We all started out as a team of strangers but along the way it evolved into genuine friendship 31
CASSIDY MATZ May 17 2019 I am so proud of each and every one of us and we should be proud because we deserve to be The journey was not an easy one it was long exhausting and at times very demanding but we made it Thank you guys for being an incredible team Thank you for giving me some beautiful memories that I will always cherish Memories of the most random moments we shared From plans that didn t work out at first but turned into great memories to everyone competing to be on top of Sam s pyramid Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart Overall even when you think you are helping others volunteering changes you Overall even when you think you are helping others volunteering changes you It can be one little thing that completely changes your outlook or a series of moments that shape you into a different person Volunteering has changed me and now it is my mission to make the world smile laugh and see the beauty in every day like it makes me do time and time again I found happiness in giving back and it is a high I can t even describe Whether you go volunteer a few hours a week or decide to make the leap and dedicate your life to helping others I promise it will change your life in a way no money or material objects can 32
M e s s a g e o f t h e We will be known forever by the tracks we leave behind Dakota Indian Proverb D a y
May 18 2019 T LINDA MURPHY J o u r n a l E n t r y oday is the last day of our Global Volunteers adventure Most are heading home today others are staying a few days longer still others are continuing to tour other sights in Greece We are all sad to leave the Handakas Hotel it has grown on us Most of all we will miss the smiling faces of the teachers and students at our various schools It is obvious how committed the teachers are they clearly love the kids and work hard to help them achieve the desired language skills What a treat it has been to participate in the students English learning experience We are hoping that all of the students dreams and wishes for travel better jobs and a happy life come true To all have a safe trip home 34
TEAM 137 JOURNAL Malevizi Crete May 2019 The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention Oscar Wilde Thank your you for service GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS 375 East Little Canada Road St Paul MN 55117 1628 USA 800 487 1074 toll free 651 482 0915 fax globalvolunteers org email globalvolunteers org GlobalVolunteers globalvolunteers globalvolunteers
