My Time in Greece Thus Far

5 classmates work on their art underneath an outdoor canopy

I came to Greece expecting blue seas, ancient ruins, and way too much feta (spoiler: I was right). But throughout my travels, I learned just how much my identity as a diverse duck would shape my experience of this country. From the start, living in Greece has been the most eye-opening chapter of my 22 years. My time abroad has shown me how different the world is from Eugene to UO, full of both the familiar and the unexpected. These differences have helped me understand not only Greece, but my own identity as I navigate new spaces.

Hello, Athens!

Lane throws their "O" outside in Athens

Kalimera from Athens, Greece! My name is Lane Abraham (they/them), and I am a senior Educational Foundations major in the College of Education. I am a Eugene native, born and raised. Through this Diverse Duck Ambassador experience, I want to highlight what it's like to travel as a Queer and Non-Binary person. I chose Studio Art in Athens specifically to challenge myself as a queer educator who wants to teach using project-based learning (PBL), where students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects.

The Perfect Preview: My Pre-Freshman Experience in Siena

Luke and 10 friends outside in Siena at night

There has never been a feeling comparable to the one I felt when I left Siena this past August. You tend to not realize the full impact of an experience you go through until it's left in hindsight, and that has never been more true than last week when I said goodbye to Siena. So many aspects made my month in Siena truly unique, and to this day, I haven't really missed anything as much as my time in Italy.

Returning Home From Siena

Morgan stands in a red shirt, jeans, and sunglasses, with a canal and buildings in the background

Hello, it's Morgan Pagel. I have really been missing Siena, Italy! Coming home has been very bittersweet, and I find myself wishing I was back abroad. I enjoyed my time there so much!

One big adjustment I've been getting used to is the jetlag. Waking up at five in the morning for a week straight was not on my agenda. My tip is to be gentle with yourself. It is going to take some time to readjust, so limiting self-judgement is key.

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