May 22, 2009
Rising junior running back Gaston Miller and rising senior safety Joel Caldwell are spending May 4-29 studying abroad in Greece. The duo is taking a three-credit hour course called “Uncovering Greek Religion: Cults, Sanctuaries & Festivals in the Ancient World.” While being immersed in a foreign culture for the first time in his life, Miller will provide Vanderbilt fans with updates of his experiences in Greece on VUCommodores.com. (Photo by Steve Green)
Also, check out Ryan Schulz’s feature on Miller and Caldwell in Commodore Nation magazine — click here
Friday, May 22
Hello from Greece,
We are back in Athens after being on the road and traveling for 12 straight days.
We were last in Delphi, which is the city that people travel to from all over Europe to ask and receive guidance from the Oracle. While in Delphi, I had a couple of run-ins with some of the local animals that live nearby. At the site of our first lecture in Delphi, a large pig came in sight and wandered close to where we were sitting. Everyone from the course sought higher ground on large stones as the pig came closer. The second day in Delphi, I decided to go on an optional hike up one of the many mountains with the professor and a few other students. During the hike we bypassed a herd of sheep that were nurturing a young lamb.
This morning on the way back to Athens we made a stop about mid-way and visited an 11th century Byzantine Monastery, Hosios Loukas.
This is the final week of this course and we will be stationed in Athens until the end. We do not have any coursework for the rest of the weekend and some of the students have decided to travel to another island, Mykonos. However, I have decided to stay back and visit other parts of Athens.
Later,