No way to feel power of history without hands-on experience

Hannah Fikar / young adult columnist

Imagine walking off of a cruise ship into a bustling Mediterranean port full of rowdy tourists and busy locals. On my recent vacation to southern Europe, I witnessed many events that are never seen in the United States. Such proceedings are viewed differently by teenagers, and my experience was unforgettable.

Since the Mediterranean’s history dates back to ancient times, the architecture and ruins are still visible, but worn and deteriorated. I have studied the life and culture of ancient Greece and Rome in school, but no student will ever know the true power of the ancient time until they are face-to-face with the Parthenon in Athens or the Coliseum in Rome. Being able to touch the primeval ruins of cities built thousands of years ago is a more overwhelming experience than one can ever read in a book. It is impossible to comprehend history without hands-on experience.

Although the primitive empires of Greece and Italy were the first of their kind, remains of ancient times cannot compete with the modern culture of today’s Europe. The influence of Western society was apparent in all cities. Athens, for example, reminded me very much of Los Angeles. Homes were packed closely together and built up on hills as far as the eye can see. Thick clouds of pollution distorted the horizon; not an unusual sight in any major city. People walk the streets armed with cell phones and music players, a modern-day necessity.

Looking around at the community, the similarities are shocking. However, they will always be a world away from the modern culture we know and embrace daily.

Aside from the different culture of the people on land, the teens on the cruise were as diverse as the unique ports of call. Originating from all over the country, and even all over the globe, everyone was friendly and fun to be around. They are willing to share stories and experiences about their life back home and compare life in other countries to life in America. Discovering the link between teens all over the world is almost as valuable of an experience as visiting the ancient cities. The similarities are interesting to discuss and the differences are fun to learn about. A vacation is a spectacular opportunity to meet and spend time with fellow teens with similar interests. Any teen will make friends that truly last a lifetime.

Looking back on my journey, I still marvel at the sheer and utter brilliance of the ancient civilizations and how they have given us so many of the ideas and items that we take for granted today. Based on my experience, I feel I have a better understanding of how our modern society came to be due to the ground-breaking discoveries by the brightest minds from thousands of years ago. Even though I have traveled abroad on prior occasions, I have never been in such awe as when I visited the Mediterranean.

Hannah Fikar is 14 years old and she attends Stahl Junior High. She was born in Florida and moved to Puyallup in 2002. Hannah enjoys playing sports and spending time with friends. She will attend Rogers High School in the fall and will graduate in 2011.