I just returned from the Archaeology in Greece program and I have so much to reflect on. Living and experiencing daily life in the small village of Ancient Corinth for six weeks gave me a different outlook on traveling and global experiences. We were not only there as tourists, students or workers. Many locals look forward to the summer when archaeologists and students stay for months and they welcome us as part of the community for a short time. We got to know shop, restaurant and cafe owners who were all very generous with extra food and appreciative of our attempts at speaking Greek. Even when we traveled in our free time or on field trips and greeted locals in their language we could see their faces light up.

Professionally, participating in this program for a second time provided me with a new leadership opportunity as an Assistant Trench Supervisor. I was able to enhance skills I practiced last year with a more advanced management perspective as I was overseeing other students and directly supporting a Trench Supervisor. I felt that the other assistants and I bridged the connection between students and the people in administrative roles on the project, as well as acting as advocates for them with directors and supervisors. We were also there as students while living and interacting with them outside of work, but the only difference was we held more responsibility in the field. On most weekends, we would travel to nearby historical sites and supervisors alternated teaching us the importance of the different sites. I found that this project helped me learn how to make many personal and professional relationships and connected me to students and experts from across the country.

Although excavation techniques and digging abilities will not directly translate to my remaining time at Pitt Business, the discipline of the skills used during this global experience can be incorporated academically and professionally. In my previous blog posts, I mentioned how this program developed my adaptability, attention to detail, empathy, etc. But, I cannot emphasize how much leadership I learned during my time in Greece this summer. My main responsibilities as an assistant included teaching students, keeping track of progress, taking noted and recording findings. There were days of work my supervisor left me in charge of the students and our work area to provide expertise in other trenches. Although stressful and sometimes overwhelming, I learned a lot about teamwork, dividing tasks and asking for help from others. I experienced the difficulty of managing a team and gained understanding in problem solving when it comes to organization.