Month: February 2017

That was the question asked of me more than once when I told family and friends I would be heading to the island of Ikaria, Greece in March.  “We’re going to try to figure that out,” I would reply, “by immersing ourselves in the residents’ culture.  We’ll eat and drink their locally grown food and wine, mimic their active lifestyle and listen to the Centenarians’ wisdom.”

There are so many planned activities that I am excited about:  visiting the House of Honey (honey is an integral component of an Ikarian’s diet), visiting with a local doctor and pharmacy, taking a hike to forage for local greens and herbs and then participating in a cooking class where the greens will be incorporated into the meal.  I also look forward to meeting with colleagues from an Athens university and visiting several of Athens’ important historical sites.    March 19 can’t get here soon enough!

Naomi Bechtold, Extension Educator, Purdue Extension-Marion County

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As I anticipate the upcoming cultural immersion trip to Ikaria, Greece, I am excited about being immersed among centenarians! I have never traveled abroad and I believe this experience will be greater than any professional development opportunity in the United States. While reading the “Blue Zones”, I was particularly drawn to the Ikarian lifestyle. It is difficult to put into words what I “think” I might gain from this experience. I am eager to learn firsthand how Ikarians live, work, eat, drink, socialize and worship.

Life experience can be one of the best ways to learn! My excitement for this cultural immersion trip is growing each day! I can’t wait to meet new people and experience life through the Ikarian lifestyle and daily routine. I believe this trip will fuel my passion about preventing disease through healthy lifestyles and I am anxious to learn new ways to improve my own health. This opportunity is going to allow me to switch roles from an educator to a student…and I can’t wait!

– Molly Hoag, HHS Extension Educator – Wells County

I cannot believe that we are only a little over a month away from heading to Ikaria, Greece! This incredible experience didn’t really sink in until I received my passport in the mail. I won’t even try to say I didn’t get butterflies of anticipation.

Trying to pick one thing I’m most excited about is impossible, but…

…the food is a definite contender. I love trying new foods, especially locally produced and created specialties. There always seems to be happiness in food – from the excitement of watching something grow, to harvesting it when it’s ready, to cooking or preparing it, to enjoying all the flavors 🙂

…the people are a close second. I LOVE meeting new people and learning about their stories. I hope to learn about how these amazing people enjoy such full and long lives and maybe bring back some ideas to use in my own life.

…the scenery might be tied with the people. They always say that pictures don’t do reality justice, so I can’t imagine how the views will be better than pictures I’ve seen!!

– Meagan Brothers, HHS Extension Educator – Gibson County

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I am excited for my cultural adventure that awaits in Ikaria, Greece. It is only about a month away. I hope that you will follow us on this blog and experience Ikaria through our eyes.

Opportunity knocks. We received the book, The Blue Zones and I was intrigued. The Blue Zones introduced me to places in the world where people live longer AND healthier lives. Learning, experiencing, and immersing myself into another culture is a dream come true. So what am I looking forward to?

Travel. I always wanted to travel to other countries. So far, my travel includes the 48 continental states with a step into Mexico and Canada. I’m excited to have the opportunity to be a part of an adventure with my colleagues and share my experiences with family, friends and community in several ways.

Food. I’m a foodie who enjoys trying new foods, preparing and sharing them. Ikarian style may just become my new favorite or at least a dish or two! Greens, yogurt, honey, wine, cheese, teas and beans, I wonder how they put them all together. Can’t wait to find out! Yum!

Healing through food. The human body is amazing. To heal naturally, feel better, live longer by eating, drinking and napping your way there – can it get much better? We are discussing and emphasizing avoiding processed foods here in the states. They live on real foods. Learning to prepare, gather greens and cook Ikarian style intrigues me. I hope to see how the nutrients and antioxidants help our natural healing methods without medications.

Culture. I am looking forward to meeting the local people and exchanging ideas. Talking to them to learn what is important to them. Sharing food and breaking bread. Learning and respecting their culture. I am nervous about not knowing the language. I love to talk and communicate. Time, yes, time is relative there. We can throw away our watches….for at least for a while?

Landscape. Beautiful beaches, Clear blue water. Mountainous paths. Rolling hillside vineyards. Fresh air. Ahhh….can I stay another week or two?

Ikaria here I come!

– Jean Akers, HHS Extension Educator – Warren County

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I’m really excited about the fast approaching trip to Ikaria to learn more about the people of the Islands secrets to longevity. I have some ideas about their secrets from reading the Blue Zones book but anticipate learning even more as we immerse ourselves in their culture. While the book definitely increased my knowledge about the Island and its people, I believe some of the best learning occurs from hands on experiences. This gives you the opportunity to formulate your own opinion and perspective based on your interactions within that culture. Even though we’ll all be coming from the broader American culture, we each have our own views of things based on our upbringing, the communities we’ve lived in, and our individual perspectives on life. When you combine those factors with an immersion experience in a new culture you get a unique perspective.

Based on what I’ve read and heard so far, I expect the people of the island to have some common characteristics. I expect them to be friendly and accommodating to visitors as well as each other. From what I’ve read I also anticipate that many of them will be avid walkers and maintain good levels of fitness. I think the people there will be more relaxed and not necessarily tied to any appointment times or schedules. As we immerse ourselves in their culture I’ll have the chance to see if my expectations match with my experience.

– Demarcus Sneed, HHS Extension Educator – Madison County

Culture, ocean, mountains, and beautiful sunsets. Need I say more?  This trip will be an incredible once in a lifetime experience.  While reading about the different Blue Zones my interest was probed in learning more about what lifestyle and cultural habits are contributing to the longevity and high quality of life of the individuals who live in a Blue Zone.

I look forward the most to meeting different people and hearing their stories.  I believe we learn so much more from experience and connecting with one another than we ever could from reading a book.  Although, “The Blue Zones”, by Dan Buettner is a great read and I highly recommend it.  The relaxed atmosphere and scenic views will be icing on the cake.  My hope is that this trip will recharge and put a positive refresh on our Extension efforts and programs that help others in our state create a better life for themselves and their families.

– Kelsie Muller, HHS Extension Educator – Benton County

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As we approach our trip to Greece, I’m getting excited about the opportunity to learn about a different culture. This will be my first trip abroad and immersed in an environment where English isn’t the primary language.

I enjoyed reading The Blue Zones: Nine Lessons for Living Longer and it caused me to draw comparisons to the lives of my aging relatives. Several are in their nineties or near ninety. It made me wonder if it is genetic or the lifestyle they learned from living on a farm. I hope to learn more about the lifestyle of the people of Ikaria and how it compares to mine as well as the residents of my community. I look forward to returning home and sharing about my experience and reflecting on the changes I may need to consider making in my life as well as inspire others to adapt some of the habits of the people of Ikaria.

– Jane Horner, HHS Extension Educator – Cass County