Week 2 in Chios, Greece
My second week in Greece started with a long weekend! Across Greece and Turkey, the local population was celebrating the Pentecost weekend, which is an Eastern Orthodox (Christian) holiday. The town I am staying in received many visitors, mainly from nearby Turkey, which made for a vibrant and fun environment with live music and dancing! On Tuesday, we returned to work which was very busy as we were beginning our summer distribution of clothes and hygiene products for the customers. Throughout the week, we had to sort through many boxes of clothes and donations and to organize the clothes into winter and summer storage. I helped with moving and sorting our winter clothes which will be placed into storage until the fall. I also spent every day in our free shop with the customers who were able to try on and pick their summer clothes. On some days we had around 20 appointments, and next week we will probably have more. We also were able to deliver a baby basket to the Vial Refugee Camp which was an emotional but very meaningful experience. We feel very grateful that we are able to provide products and services for the many new mothers on the island but it is very difficult to imagine what it must be like to give birth in a new environment, country, and while on the move. On the brighter side, it was very rewarding to provide so many of our customers with new summer clothes and products as many are leaving within the next few days and weeks for Athens or Thessaloniki. In terms of my personal reflections, I felt a lot more confident in the work and knowing what to do and my way around the building. Our volunteer team also grew which is exciting as that means more new friends and people to work with!
I am a senior at Brown University who aspires to learn and grow as a student and person. Through completing an Urban Studies and International & Public Affairs double concentration, I aim to pursue a fulfilling career that works with people and has a positive effect on the global community. Throughout my time at Brown, I have worked with a variety of community organizations, conducted extensive research projects in the humanities and social sciences, and served as a leader in student spaces that mean a lot to me. These experiences have strengthened my communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills, while also allowing me to apply my academic learning to real world scenarios and communities. My interests extend across cities and development broadly, and include human rights, transportation, and cross-cultural relations. I am also passionate about migration, affordable housing, and environmental science. I am an intentional leader who values connecting with and learning from others.
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