The Lyceum Connection: Lectures and Tours, Chania, Crete - ArtExchange

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"The Lyceum Connection"

Summer of 2004

Greek Art Adventure Tour for students with the ArtExchange

A shady break at Knossos Palace

We at the ArtExchange, like you our friends, know all about travel—that it is about broadening our horizons, opening doors to other cultures and perspectives, and taking advantage of opportunities to learn, exchange, and create.

Working hard

Laundry day

Checking Venetian architectural details

Cheering on the Greek Soccer Team

With the Olympic Torch

This past July, Dr. Caterina Pizanias was invited again to take part in the Summer 2004 programmes of The Canadian Lyceum of Greece in Chania, Crete. This was an unique request when first received last year, unusual only in that those taking part in the programme are young, college age students rather than the adults who usually take part in our cultural adventures. But as our name suggests, we are specialists in matters of Greece, its art and culture, and through an array of lectures, seminars, and field experiences we bring Greece’s creative culture to life. So, we said yes, and a new partnership was established that had its second act this past July!

Dr. Pizanias (or “Dr. Cat” as she was called by the students), again enjoyed being part of one of the most rigorous academic programmes offered in Greece (despite the fact that the temperatures at times reached +40 degrees).

For this summer’s sessions she devised a series of interactive learning units that focused on the Cretan House. The first part of our learning experience consisted of a series of lectures co-developed and delivered along with Ms. Connie MacMaster in the Classical Civilizations course where we focused on the pre-history, history and contemporary influences of Minoan Culture. After the “stage” was set, Dr Pizanias led a series of museum visits and city walkabouts where students could discover the remnants of antiquity as well as their “presence” in today’s Chania.

This year’s collaboration was more spirited than last year’s because while we were in Chania, Greece’s underdog soccer team became the Euro Cup champions!! This event brought all Greeks—and the Lyceum’s students—to the streets for lengthy celebrations. Then the students got to see the running of the Olympic Flame on its way to Athens for the 2004 Summer Games as it passed mere meters from our school in Chania!!! A truly memorable educational and cultural experience. An excerpt from a student’s letter to Dr. Cat:

Hello,
Its Adrienne (from the Lyceum)! I just thought that I'd check in with you and see how you were doing. I've been great! I've spent a lot of time since we got back with my friends. It's been fun. I've even seen some of the other people from Greece, and of course I've talked to all of them on the Internet. Anyways, thank you for everything that you did for us as part of the Lyceum. I really enjoyed having you as a teacher, as well as getting to know you outside of the classroom (including our shopping trip to Zara!). I had so much fun this summer, and will remember the experience for the rest of my life.

Thanks again,
Adrienne

Enjoy the photos, and keep in touch with the ArtExchange for once-in-a-life-time journeys to Greece, and The Lyceum at: www.thelyceum.ca!