Here is another gallery for you to view at your own discretion. These were taken during my time in Norway. Enjoy!
Norwegian Air
Food for Thought
With my days abroad numbered and in a decrescendo, I leave you with an inquiry; for centuries if not longer we’ve utilized this concept of ‘progress’ to underscore all of the achievements we accomplished. Yet, if we look at the concept ontologically, there’s a sense of the Nietzsche’s Apollonian illusion; that we’ve created ‘progress’ for ourselves to endure the randomness of our world and to justify whatever atrocities result. It becomes a convenient excuse that is easily explained by pointing to all of the material goods we’ve produced, yet ignores the existential component of our lives. For all the ‘stuff’ we have, we’ve neglected ourselves in the process. Thus, are we progressing or regressing, and in what way?
The Imminent Return
With the end of my time abroad fast approaching and final assessments piling up, it becomes a good time to step back and reflect on my experience abroad. At times it feels scarcely real; a pleasant dream I’ll wake from in the reality that is a residence hall bed. Whisking from country to country with only boundless curiosity to go on, trying new foods and exposing myself as a tourist on multiple occasions, my time abroad was a glorious mess, a smorgasbord of experiences pieced together by hundreds of photos and dozens of traveling companions. Over a dozen countries visited, ballooning a once listless repertoire into something far more substantial; no longer is my scope limited to the North America. Perhaps more important is the new knowledge acquired; academic jargon often dismissed leading to greater introspection as I uncovered what it meant to be a tourist in the 21st century while pondering where this world is headed. Logic is the way it seems, but a place at the table should be reserved for a deeper existential understanding; science isn’t everything. Now the task is to take what I learned and disseminate it; no small task as I continue to grapple with questions that my academic time abroad has given me.
A Week Away (The Images)
As promised, here are some photos I took while on my long study tour in Greece. It was an experience going from the gargantuan Athens to the tiny, mountainside town of Delphi. At the Acropolis, the absence of the gods was felt acutely, the massive sprawl of tourists and the incessant snap of phone cameras driving away the sense of sacredness.
Yet, this feeling of malcontent dissipated on the island of Aegina at the Temple of Aphaia. There we, the educational tourists, had the space virtually to ourselves. The magnificent 360 degree view of sea, island and forest was the benefit of the temple’s exalted space. Within this location I could finally think as we began of journey with Heidegger. Yet, this was not the most overwhelming place; that would be the temple of Poseidon in Sounion. Accompanied once more by Heidegger’s writings from fifty years earlier, one felt the magnitude of the place and understand why the temple was situated in this location. Fitting was a potent wind sweeping across the rocky outcrop, it’s chilly embrace soothing; a sign the divine hadn’t fled this place.
Time Flies
A month from now, the grand European adventure will draw to a close; a realization that seems scarcely conceivable when August feels only a few moments ago. Nevertheless, it’s rapidly approaching. The next few weeks hold many assessments in their grasp, from exams to papers to presentations, all aligning as the end beckons. With the return from Athens and the Greek countryside, this reality becomes all the more tangible; even now, my time abroad going from country to country while uncovering the ancient past feels like a dream, one that requires me pinching myself to ensure its validity. Look forward to a future post with the pictures from the various towns and cities visited within Greece, as well as the breathtaking views they revealed to me as I traversed the mountainous landscape.
A Week Away
The travel week is upon us; six days with my core course in another European nation. Fittingly, we are headed to the birthplace of western philosophy: Greece. Not only will I have the opportunity to see the places where some of the great Greek epics were said to originate, but also have a time to reflect and learn. It is a time to connect the dots; to understand. There, I will have an opportunity to put theories formulated by Heidegger and Nietzsche to use; do these grand ruins still work and do the monumental art they attest to still have pieces of salvation within? We’ll find out.
The Dionysian Experience
Oktoberfest. So much summed up in one word yet synonymous with another: beer. Not the poor man’s brew either; but instead good, quality beer. Barring the misadventures of Hamburg Central Station (where I missed a connection because the train I was on arrived late and another where the train was canceled), it was an experience worth remembering and retelling for years to come. Even the train troubles had their silver lining; I bonded with those who shared my troubles while we were ushered to a later train.
The event itself was true to form; beer by the liter and plenty to do. What was surprising was the diversity of age; I saw everything from my own demographic to families, older couples, and teenagers. An air of revelry arose with each step; whether it was a rollercoaster ride or enjoying a nice bratwurst after downing a cold one. That it was an experience drawing people from all across the globe was the cherry on top. Should you find the time in your busy study abroad schedule, I highly recommend making the trip south to Munich; don’t forget to don your lederhosen or dirndl!
Whirlwind Tour
I’ve spent the past three days in Lübeck and Hamburg; an eclectic endeavor that included everything from visiting the remnant husk of a once grand cathedral to visiting a repurposed former Nazi bunker. Spending time in the two cities painted a sharp contrast; the sleepy town of Lübeck with a historical center that preceded the existence of North American British colonies, and the bustling counter-culture of the Hamburg port city center.
Browsing the art galleries of quaint Lübeck art exhibitions and the grand museum of Hamburg, we searched for the elusive “artwork that works”, and how this manifested both in the past and now. We pondered if the displaced artwork can still do important work in its new setting; other times if the artwork even had the capacity to work at all anymore. Using the Heideggerian principle, we also looked at how the use of a particular artwork altered its meaning and the surrounding narrative.
In all, it was an affair that was equal parts intriguing and invigorating, making sense of two cities that lie so close to each other yet are as distinct in nature and flavor as one can be; displaying different sides of the German coin.
Thus We Start
Here, we are. It’s been several months since I first started the application for DIS Copenhagen, a plucky junior who decided he had delayed long enough; it was time to write this study abroad application. I had listened to the regrets of others who wished they had taken the steps to do so; in my mind, I did not want to wallow in the same sunken place. So I wrote. And wrote. And wrote some more. Document after document needed to be rallied just to submit an application. Long, stressful days blended into intense, concerted nights. When the acceptance email arrived, completing the process required a new level of dedication. More documents piled up, more communication required as I bulldozed through deadline after deadline. The arduous process of making sure my courses were approved meant another test, another challenge.
Yet, here we are; three days before lift off. All the most important pieces put to bed; only last minute packing beckons. Then, the journey; a new country, a new continent. A new me? We’ll see.
Let’s start.
Welcome to Caramel Plato
Here, we’ll be discussing everything from philosophy, to Danish culture, to race relations, to travel in the bustling continent of Europe. It’s going to be quite the treat; perhaps some Danish delicacies during my semester long stay in Copenhagen will be included. I’ll try not to fill you with too much envy 🙂
Thanks for joining me on this ride!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Caramel Plato 