While I realized that the culture in Athens would be different than American culture, I didn’t realize how that cultural difference would impact how anthropology is practiced. As Greece in general is a more laid back country than America, so is anthropology. When doing ethnographies in America, I have always been encouraged to interview strangers but in a formal manner. I am supposed to strategically choose my interlocutor and then speak with them and establish a trusting relationship over a few weeks. However, Aimee has encouraged us to go up to whoever looks interesting and start a conversation. While this strategy doesn’t work well in America as people are more private, in Athens it is a perfectly normal thing to do and works like a charm.
Also, anthropology in Greece places a much larger focus on the visual aspects of culture. While my urban anthropology courses in the past have analyzed how the structure of the city reflects the city’s culture, I had never focused so intensely on the meanings of graffiti and the impact of combining ancient ruins and modern buildings in one area.
Ultimately, while I am still learning anthropology here at CYA, it is a very new approach to culture than I am used to. So far, Aimee has taught me to always observe and that everything from a graffiti tag to an abundance of plants on a balcony means more than it seems. I can’t wait to learn more from Aimee and from Athens itself!”
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