Pinned Locations

Theoni Tsinonis
Jan 9, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Jan 26, 2021

Greece, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Germany

Greece- ΚΑΛΟΣ ΟΡΙΣΑΤΕ!

There are two specific characteristics of the Athens airport, the billboard that says "Καλοσ Οριστατε" and the distinct smell of cigarettes. As I push my cart full of suitcases, I am filled with excitement as I hear Greek fill the space. A peninsula with over 6,000 islands, Greece is the country of water. Not only from a geographical perspective but also from a cultural one. Come the first of May, the first question a Greek asks is, "have you had your first swim?"Instead of having a second car, Greeks buy small boats. Trades still exist in Greece; everyone has their go-to seamstress, shoe-smith, and locksmith. The barista around the corner soon becomes your friend. They know your coffee order and become concerned if you do not stop by the shop one day. The Greek parea (friend group) is off-limits. If someone tries to break your royalties to the group, they are immediately blacklisted. Athens is the most disorganized but extravagant city I know. I acclimate myself through landmarks, turn right at the blue building with the older man outside. Side streets are full of coffee shops and bars buzzing with lively conversation and passion. Do not be shocked to see coffee shops packed at noon on a Wednesday; crisis or not, the coffee ritual will never die.

Greek Islands

Athens

Italy-LA Gioia di vivere

Italy: the homeland of pizza, pasta, and wine. The saying "una faccia, una razza" proved true during my road trip to Italy. Just like the Greeks, Italians speak passionately and take tremendous pride in their cuisine.

Suggested road trip: Milan (1 day)-Venice (4 days)-Florence (3 days)-Tuscany (2 days)- Forte Dei Marmi (1 day)- Portofino (1 day)- Lake Como (1 day)

Milan

Venice

Burano

FLORENCE

Tuscany

Forte Dei Marmi

Portofino

Lake Como

France- Meet me in Paris

My conversation on a regular Monday morning:

Theoni:"Good morning mom, what does your day look like today"

Joana: "Nothing particular. Oh I forgot to mention, I am flying to Paris tomorrow"

Theoni: "What are you talking about mom?"

Joana: "Check your email"

Sitting on top of my mailbox was a flight reservation to Paris.

Paris was a walking museum; I felt the history as I walked down the cobblestone streets. I now understand why Paris was the hub of artistic movements in the 19th century.

The Netherlands- The Country of Bikes

When I think of the Netherlands, I think of Andrew, my brother. Andrew was studying in Groningen, a city north of Amsterdam. Whenever I was flying in or out of Europe, I would make a pitstop in Groningen. I was never afraid of getting run over by a bike until traveling to Groningen. Bike racks replaced parking spots; my brother used his bike to move his furniture when switching apartments, not a car. Guess who started biking to the supermarket after visiting Groningen?

Norway-The Hey Mahos Reunion

The Hey Mahos squad consists of Helene, Mahos, and I. We met in college and instantly became best friends, Helene and I had many commonalities. Both came from an international background and spoke Greek as our second language. Mahos did not realize the importance of his loyalty to the squad. You see, Helene and I wanted Mahos to join us at every single meeting we had. We took it upon ourselves to motivate Mahos to be active in the group. When Mahos did not answer the phone, we would continuously call him. Sometimes Mahos would not reply to our texts, so we would text his friends. "Hey, Mahos" soon became the squad motto. Mahos and I visited Helene in Norway after graduating, a trip I will never forget, and neither will Mahos. Upon arrival, I gave Mahos a welcome gift, a picture of Helene, and I. Mahos will always remember who his best friends are.

Poland-First Steps

It all started with my professor of the course"European Union Economic Funding Policies." She was like an EU encyclopedia; there was not one instance where I had a question that she could not answer. I soon discovered she conducted independent research and was a key member of Polish think-tanks. She was the turning point in my academic and professional career. My publications in Emerald Publishing and The Review of European Affairs resulted from my professors' incredible mentorship. I continued to research the socio-economic state of developing nations after my publications. Soon after, I presented my findings on the political, economic, and social development of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Warsaw School of Economics. Warsaw will always represent the first step in my career. I thank Dr. Anna Visvizi for that.

Germany- Radlers and Pugs

My brother and some friends decided to take a spontaneous trip to Munich for Octoberfest. The only problem was, I did not mention I hated beer. Thank god for the Germans and their inventive minds. I couldn't have survived the weekend without a radler; a drink comprised of half beer and half sprite. Aside from the radler, I was excited to discover all the pugs in Germany. Every day we saw at least two pugs! In honor of our incredible time in Germany, my brother and I decided to name our next pug Pretzel.