Programs : Brochure

Spring Break in Greece:
Mediterranean Crossroads

Program Overview

Greece is awash by the Mediterranean and serves as a crossroad among three continents. Crete is an island which lies between the so-called East and West. As one of the largest island societies in the Mediterranean, Crete has served exceptionally in that networking area while it also holds a significant tourist, economic and social role for its surrounding countries. This course offers students the opportunity to literally dive into the Greek experience through an empirical study of its rich multifaceted culture as it is expressed today on the island of Crete. Field trips have been incorporated into the course requirements, exposing students to interdisciplinary ways of Eastern Mediterranean history, culture, traditions and society. Students are guided through the techniques of fieldwork and participant observation to attend family, household, village and city customs and practices as these all are valuable mechanisms for learning the social, economic, cultural, political and religious ways that underlie and make Greek culture distinctive and important at a Mediterranean level. Selected locations, such as archaeological, historic and cultural sites, farms, markets, local businesses, social networks and households, are part of those field trips. Traveling functions as a course requirement while students reflect on their Greek experiences through a looking-glass process.

Why Crete?

• Integrate other courses with association and consolidation to/with the learning experience abroad
• Connect with local business and social environment
• Understanding Islandness and Nissology
• Cultivating a community of co-op employers in Crete
• Explaining University Research in Crete (--as part of the EU reality)
• Elaborating how sustainability meets integrated cultural heritage in a hybrid learning Minoan crossroads
• Taking the… virus “by the horns”: Manifesting Cretan vitality, creativity and resilience in times of adversity

Academics

Credit/Registration
Students will be registered for GST T280: Mediterranean Crossroads for 3 credits as a part of their spring term course load. Students must leave space for these 3 credits in their credit load, or will otherwise be billed for exceeding the 20 credit term maximum.

Pre-requisite: None. All undergraduate majors are welcome to apply for this program, including First Year students.
 
Requirements: Pre and post academic requirements. For details review the Syllabus_2025. The final grade will be based on a combination of assignments and class preparation and participation.
 
Instructor: Dr. Maria Hnaraki (also spelled “Chnaraki”), a professor of anthropology, folklore and ethnomusicology, a writer and an accomplished scholar in the field, has extensively researched cultural identity expressions, traditions and customs, such as music and dance events in the Mediterranean, as well as investigated topics in nissology, experiential learning and hybrid educational environments. While the founding Director of Greek Studies at Drexel, Dr. Hnaraki created more than 30 university courses, several of which are unique in the USA, with the educational purpose of implementing an integral, holistic, interdisciplinary, academic approach to the Greek and Mediterranean reality.

Program Calendar

Arrival Date: March 20, 2026
Return Date: March 29, 2026

Prior to departure, students are required to attend an introduction/preparatory session. Details TBD.

Program Activities and Visits
Throughout this program, students will meet several resident specialists on-site for presentations and tours. For a detailed list of activities and visits, review the syllabus:

• Archaeological, mythological, historic, literary, artistic and cultural sites
• Co-operatives and research centers
• Nature reserves, organic farms and vineyards
• Organic farmers’ markets and open-air markets
• Traditional settlements
• Food production facilities
• Cooking workshop
• Cretan music and dancing class
• Pottery workshop

2026 Program Fee TBD - $2,550

Due November 15th: $500 Advance Payment + $25 application fee

Due January 15th: $2,050 Final Payment
All payments are non-refundable unless declined admission or program cancels for unforeseen reasons.

Included in Program Fee:

• In-country transportation by private van and driver
• Guides for all scheduled excursions
• Expert guide/resident specialist fees and entrance fees to historic sites
• Private tours and tastings with the owners-operators of an organic winery, olive oil producers
• Scheduled music, dance, pottery and cooking classes, demonstrations and meals
• Accommodation in double to quadruple occupancy in private apartments with private bathrooms
• All continental breakfasts and dinners as well as several incidental group meals
• On Call Emergency Assistance, health insurance & quarantine coverage

Not Included in Program Fee (Approximate):

• Round-trip airfare: $1500
• Airport transfer: $45
• Spending money: $250
• Meals: $80
• Passport: $160
• Course materials $150

More Information

• Housing and Meals: Students will be provided rooms at https://www.idealapts.com/, a family, friendly run establishment. That informal, cozy atmosphere makes them feel relaxed and at home. The location of the apartments at Kokkini Hani is geographically ideal as housing is located only 15 minutes away from the cosmopolitan capital city of Heraklion. All apartments have two bedrooms, kitchen, lounge, bathroom, wc, air conditioning and balcony overlooking the pool or gardens and are equipped to a high standard with all necessary appliances. Cleaned daily and fresh bedding and towels provided. Pharmacy and supermarket a few meters away. The “Ideal”, on-site taverna will be serving breakfast and dinner. The variety of dishes served represent the famous Mediterranean-Cretan Diet, prepared daily with fresh produce picked from the apartments’ garden by “Mrs. Maria”.
   
• Is a visa required for US citizens? American citizens are not required to have a visa for this program. Students of other nationalities should confirm visa requirements on the Greek Embassy website.