Come to the Table

By Addie Echols, student writer

During spring break, Harding’s Department of Communication introduced a new week-long study abroad experience in Greece, offering students unique cultural and academic exposure. The trip focused on the concept of “the table” and how it centers the Greek culture and encourages community. Each of the 13 students had the opportunity to create a project that celebrated an aspect of the table in relation to Greek culture.

Senior multimedia journalism major Kenzie James focused her project on how churches and nonprofit organizations minister to the refugee community in Athens. Her goal was to analyze how Greece has been a major gathering point for refugees for decades, similar to how people come to a table to gather together.

“My view on the table has expanded to consider how many concepts the table is a part of,” James said. “We talked about the table in religious settings, such as altars or Jesus eating with his disciples or those he was ministering to. In my project, I focused on the concept of gathering and how the table is a place where people choose to gather with others. Other projects included incorporating the table into Greek theatres, café culture and coffee in Porto Rafti, and another group made a cookbook.”

Though she had visited Greece prior to this experience, James viewed everything with a different perspective because of the structure of the class. One activity that was new for everyone on the trip was railbiking, with bikes positioned on old railroad tracks on the Greece coast. She recommends this trip to any student, whether having prior abroad experience or not.

Sophomore integrated marketing and communications major Hallie Howerton chose for her project an overall recap of the entire trip. She made an Instagram account to showcase all of the trip’s events and has hopes that it will encourage future students to attend the trip next year. Also in the works is an event in The Caf before finals week to showcase the trip’s highlights to students passing by. Because Howerton is an IMC major, she wanted to use her skills to the best extent through marketing the trip to upcoming students.  

“After research and knowledge shared from our sponsors, I was aware that the culture in Greece is very communal. Sharing meals together isn’t just on the fly or overly casual as it tends to be in America. It’s long, intentional, inviting,” Howerton said. “After this trip I developed more of a sense of the impact this culture has.”

After viewing Greece and Greek culture through a different lens, the students came back to the U.S. with a new appreciation for unity and fellowship through the table.