Shadowing Experience and Strong Community Impact

I joined Philotimo Med hoping to gain experience in psychology, but I left with so much more, including a deep appreciation for dentistry. Shadowing a dentist in Larissa was one of the unexpected highlights. I learned about the differences in dental practices between Greece and my home country and even observed how cultural factors influence patient comfort and care. The accommodation was safe, spacious, and filled with natural light—perfect for relaxing after a day at the shelter. It was comforting to know that the shelter was close by, which made for easy mornings. Stavros had us all laughing when he dressed up as Zeus for a holiday event and declared that we were his 'Olympian volunteers'—the kids absolutely loved it! Working with the children taught me so much about resilience and joy, even in challenging situations. If I did it again, I’d spend more time learning Greek—it would’ve helped me connect even more with the kids and understand their stories better. The community dinners, often with traditional Greek dishes, brought us all closer and were some of the best moments of my time in Greece. It was hard to leave such a warm, welcoming environment.