Hello folks! I thought I should update you all that I found out about a week and a half ago that I have been accepted to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA)’s Summer Session for this summer, which is a six-week intensive study abroad program in Greece that is scheduled to last from June 12th to July 26th, 2023. The program is meant to give an intensive survey of Greek archaeology for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, secondary school teachers, and faculty who specialize in fields other than archaeology.
The program runs seven days a week from seven o’clock a.m. to seven o’clock p.m. Half of the program is spent in Athens, while the other half is spent traveling throughout Greece. Over the course of this time, participants visit basically every major museum, archaeological site, and monument in Greece, as well as many others that are not as well known, and recognized specialists give lectures and tours to them on site. Each participant is also required to research and deliver two on-site oral reports themself and participate in seminar-style discussions.
The program is both highly respected and highly selective. My understanding is that, each year, they receive an enormous number of applicants, but the total number of participants for each year is limited to only twenty people. I was therefore actually a little bit happily surprised when I learned that they were offering me direct admission without me even being waitlisted first.
As longtime readers who are aware of my abiding passion for the study of ancient Greece and my professional ambition to earn a PhD and become a professor of ancient history may expect, I am immensely excited about this opportunity. I am especially excited because this will be my first time ever visiting Greece. (As a matter of fact, it will be my first time ever going anywhere outside the United States, which is where I have lived my whole life.)
I’ve desperately wanted to go to Greece for many years, but, until now, I haven’t really had the chance. Three years ago, in 2020, I was all signed up and ready to study abroad in Greece over the summer through College Year in Athens (CYA), but then COVID struck and IU cancelled all study abroad trips that were planned for that summer. A year later, in 2021, the pandemic was still ongoing, so I still couldn’t travel abroad. Then, last summer, although the world was slowly emerging from the pandemic, I had just graduated undergrad and was busy preparing to move from Indiana to Massachusetts for grad school, so it wasn’t really a good time.
Now, though, after years of hoping, it seems like I’m finally going to get to go to Greece—assuming, of course, that another devastating once-in-a-century pandemic doesn’t strike out of the blue and ruin all my plans. (I’m keeping my fingers tightly crossed that this won’t happen.)
One of my former professors from undergrad at IU Bloomington and one of my current professors at Brandeis, both of whom took part in the ASCSA’s Summer Session themselves many years ago, have already given me much helpful advice about how to prepare for the program and for living in Greece.
While the session is taking place, it will occupy nearly all my time. As a result, I will most likely not be able to post very much on this blog while I am in it. Nonetheless, if I can, I will try to manage some occasional, short posts updating you all about some of the museums, sites, and monuments I will be seeing. Whatever the case, I will most likely post something more about this when the time draws closer.
That is awesome news, congratulations Spencer! I hope you have a wonderful time in Greece and with what sounds like a wonderful opportunity
Thank you so much! I hope that I have a wonderful time too!
I will confess that I am somewhat apprehensive that a large part of the program will take place outdoors in Greece in the middle of summer. I don’t tend to do well outside, since I have a severe allergy to pollen that is usually active throughout spring, summer, and fall and spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in a new place where there are kinds of pollen that I have little previous exposure to, can aggravate those allergies and make me miserable. I am also extremely pale and I burn really easily in the sun. I also hate having to put up with insects. Nonetheless, I really want to see as much of Greece as I can and learn as much as possible while I am there and I obviously can’t do those things by staying indoors.
Congratulations Spencer! This amazing opportunity is so well deserved. Like many other readers of your blog, I can’t wait to read about your experience.
Bugs aren’t really an issue, more like the stray cats coming up to you for food!
Excited to see where this opportunity takes you 🙂 Take care!
There is a sporting chance that your allergies may not kick in. The agents in Greece may not be exactly what affect you in the USA. Anecdotal evidence is that a person with allergies to things like pollen here in Canada get a respite in the UK as long as they don’t stay too long.
Congratulations and have a good time. Being n the ground can’t be beat.
I am sure that all that bothering: sun, heat, insects will worth it! Enjoy and take care! Congratulations, btw!!
Yes, I strongly suspect that they will be worth it too.
Well, congratulations! Sounds like a fantastic opportunity.
Thank you so much!
Congratulations on a well-deserved accomplishment!
Thank you so much!
Congratulations! What a wonderful opportunity for you. Looking forward to seeing how this adventure will shape your views.
Thank you so much!
That’s wonderful! We’ll be delighted with anything you can post while you’re in Greece. Congratulations!
Thank you so much!
Congratulations! Make sure to work on your Modern Greek! (I’m sure you know that in Greece Ancient Greek is pronounced as if it were Modern.)
The session is through the American School, so the scholars at the school will be mostly American and all the instruction will be in English, but learning some more Modern Greek is definitely a very good idea.
Well done Spencer! Athens is a fascinating place to visit, where heavy traffic and modern living somehow manage to rumble right alongside ancient sites without spoiling the magic. You can stroll around places straight out of the history books, such as the Pnyx and the Hill of the Muses. If you’ve never even been out of the States before this will definitely broaden your horizons.
Thank you so much! I’m definitely hoping that it will broaden my horizons. I’ve often felt a bit weird and insecure about the fact that I study Greece, but have never actually been there myself. This adventure will definitely change that!
I can’t think of anybody who deserves it more. Well done and good luck!
Thank you so much! I’m really glad to hear that you think that of me!
Brilliant news. Sounds fascinating, as well as a pretty prestigious thing to be involved with.
As you haven’t been to Greece before it’ll be interesting to (hopefully) read some of your observations and reflections. It’s been too long since I’ve been in Athens, other than driving through, but I’ve spent a lot of time elsewhere in Greece over the last 35 years and I’m still completely in love with the place and the people.
Congratulations! I doubt that there is anyone on the face of this Earth more deserving!
So happy for you! I was just reading about the Peloponnese region’s history last night, a place I didn’t know much about. (My mother recently passed away and we found out how much of a Greek Geek she was. My father was eastern Sicilian, so there’s some Greek and Italian in me.) Anyway, the influx of different peoples and the cultural changes the Peloponnese went through, from ancient history architecture through wars etc is fascinating. The towns are still there, populations small. Was surprised at how little of their detailed history we know. Wanted to go wander around and see for myself, so I know how excited you must be to go learn firsthand. I have a couple friends from Greece who were just there sending photos to us here in the Seattle area as every year they travel back to Athens to enjoy their first home. They are always thrilled at exploring, discovering, and photographing hidden friezes or sharing about certain sculptured details on the outsides of old buildings. I thank you for your gift of researching ancient topics, especially those translations. I thoroughly enjoy your articles. Let us know tidbits of what you learn and see when you can find a few moments.
That is fantastic news Spencer! So happy for you, and a bit envious too (wish I could participate too!)😁
I hope you have a great time in Greece and an even better time traveling from one archeological site to another. They will be honored to have such a passionate student of classical studies and as well as such an up and coming young scholar joining their program.
Very happy for you! Wishing you safe travels, days of memorable experiences, and great new insights and knowledge ahead of you!
— Dino
Well done! Bravo! And I look forward very much to reading about your impressions and discoveries afterward! Esp. the lesser-charted areas like the Peloponnese, Laconia, maybe even Mani!
Congratulations!
This is so amazing! Congratulations!! No one is more deserving I believe.
Congratulations, Spencer! We the people who know how much you deserved this are all very proud of you! 😀
Well Deserved Spencer, as a Greek fan and follower of you i am happy to have you in our country of its history you know so much and study so passionately. Hope you have a great time here and let me know if you need help with anything
Congratulations! You are going to have the time of your life. Enjoy every second!
Fantastic!!! Congratulations!
Dear Spencer,
I am happy for you. But you are not ambitious enough. You have a rare talent. Becoming a Professor of Ancient History is not sufficient for you. Professor of History, including the history of the last centuty, should be within your sights, and during the years of your life, which I hope will be numerous, you will do well to become a social critic, informed by your understanding of history. How much of our talent we squander! Don’t squander yours.
Well done, Spencer. I’m sure we’re all rooting for you as we know your worth from the quality of your posts. You deserve this opportunity. All the best to you!
Well done Spencer. You deserve this. I’ve been following your blog for a couple of years and I find your opinions and ideas very refreshing. I think it’s great that you weigh in against transphobia, homophobia, racism, misogyny and anti semitism without being some ideological puritan. I say that as a white, hetero, British, working class socialist woman with a beloved trans child. I can hardly wait till you’re a published, peer reviewed lecturer. Don’t take too long. I’m nearly 70!
I am so glad for you Spencer! Perhaps this is one advantage with being a European, though I have myself never been to Greece and to Italy only once. I very much hope it will be fruitful for you and that you may see lots of interesting things there!
Congrats…!
Well done…
Feel free to contact me via e-mail, I’ll be happy to provide any info.
If you can extend your stay, you’ll find it definitely worth it, there are many places you might want to see, even before thinking islands and fun.
Pollen is not much of a problem, neither are insects other than mosquitoes, BUT do make sure you have plenty of high SPF sun-screen, wide brim hat and sun glasses.
In case you have a chance to wonder around in Athens, I think you will find it quite interesting to read the names of the streets!
I can’t think of a more deserving person for this honor / opportunity than you! As one of your devoted readers, I’m hopeful you’ll return with even more interesting and entertaining stories on antiquity.
Thank you so much!
Congratulations! My best wishs for an edifying and entertaining (I doubt a little about the latter but you never know) sojourn.
excellent! Now you have the opportunity to unearth the evidence of the 11,000 year old Athens that will prove Atlantis existed!
/
😆😂🤣, good one!!!
Wait, were you being serious? 😁 Got you! 😁
I add my congratulations to the pile, Spencer! I will make a libation to Hermes to smooth your way and an offering to Hestia so you feel at home once you arrive. I’m so happy your worth is being recognized and your horizons are expanding at just the right time. Thank you for all you share with us.
Thank you so much for your congratulations (and, of course, the offerings to the deities on my behalf)!
Congratulations for your success. It is a great opportunity for you. Greetings from Greece. You are welcome to our country. I live in Athens and I have travelled enough in the countryside. I can help you as friend and guide if you need any help. Please contact me anytime.
Hello!
Your essays and generally the research that you have done is inspiring and honestly, as a Greek I feel like most modern Greek essays don’t compare to the work you’ve put in this website.
Very happy that I stumbled upon your work and congrats! I hope you have a wonderful time in Greece.
Well done! They are lucky to have you, too. You have an audience which awaits news of what you learn, and of how you contribute. Congratulations!
Thank you so much!
Ringing in a bit late on this, as the Mac’s been in for repairs, but I was overjoyed when I read your news! A very well-deserved opportunity for you, and I wish you all the best. Oh, and take a camera, and we’ll all be looking forward to some pics!
Thank you so much! I will try to take and share some photos.
Congratulations! Greece would be a nice country to visit if I had the chance, the islands with closely-knit villages especially seem like a quaint place to live, but I doubt that will happen in the foreseeable future.
I’ll add my congratulations here, Spencer.
With your passion & perseverance, you are a perfect fit for this program. I’m curious as to whether you listed this blog in your application —thinking that your portfolio of articles here perhaps showed how committed you are and that you would be a good fit for such an intensive course.
So happy for you, and can only project how excited you must be. Though it’s not my style, I would still be all, “Squeeee!”
Thank you so much! I did mention this blog in my application to the program, but I didn’t make a big deal of it, in part because I know that many professional scholars, perhaps even the majority of them, don’t look favorably on public-facing scholarly endeavors like this one. They view these sorts of projects as at best unimpressive and at worst a waste of valuable time that one could better spend doing original research.
The first thing I was taught in my university is that it has three goals: research, teaching, and extension. Your blog is an amazing and lovely informal work of university extension, even if you started it as an amateur. It’s a pity that so many scholars fail to see the enormous value of reaching out to the community like you do.
Spencer, congratulations for your acceptance!
Totally off topic, but I’ve been rereading your article “This Is How We Know the Egyptian Pyramids Were Built as Tombs” as a source to debunk some ancient astronauts supporters’ claims about the pyramids.
I’ve found it the best and most complete source on the internet on the topic (excluding academic papers and books).
Unfortunately, I’ve noticed a small error, but I wasn’t able to point it out in the post itself, due to the comments being closed.
In that post you mention pure water being and insulator (which is true) and tap water being weakly conductive due to the presence of small amounts of iron.
I’m not a chemist, I’m an engineer, but I have a solid background in chemistry and I can guarantee that iron is present in water only in trace amounts and its effect in conductivity is negligible.
What makes water a weak conductor is the presence of salts, which once in solution break into individual cations (with a positive charge) and anions (with a negative charge).
If there’s a difference in potential – for example, if a pair of electrodes connected to a battery is inserted into the water – the negative charges are going to be attracted and thus migrate to the positive side and the the positive charges are going to migrate to the negative side, thus generating a current.
Thanks for pointing this out! I’m not a chemist or an engineer, so my knowledge about water’s conductivity is limited.
There are a few other errors in my pyramids article that I have become aware of that I haven’t gotten around to correcting yet, but I am planning to correct them when I remember and I have the time.
Congratulations!
Congrats!!! I did the summer program in 2017, so if you need any advice about surviving in the heat, I’m happy to help! Luckily the dorms have been updated in the meantime so they have air conditioning now!!
Spencer, congratulations for this! I live in Athens, so if you could drop me a line, I would be happy to catch-up and meet in person when you come. Cheers!