The Spire

Julia Kane ‘27

Opinions Editor

Almost immediately upon moving into my apartment in Athens, Greece, I was startled by the way people carried themselves, which was vastly different from any American city I was used to. While Bostonians bustle through the city, often appearing to be stony-faced and unapproachable, Athenians take their time. I quickly had to remind myself that it was okay to take in the scenery of a new city, stop to pet a cat, say good morning to locals, and savor the walk. I soon came to understand that something as simple as walking pace translates to many parts of human life and work culture as a whole. 

Similar to 40 percent of the Holy Cross student body, I chose to study abroad for a semester to gain an opportunity to breach my comfort zone, immerse myself in another culture, and have a hands-on learning experience. Especially as students at an academically rigorous institution, it is deceptively easy to get caught up in endless assignments, part-time jobs, and applying for internships, forgetting to leave enough time to relax and get sufficient sleep. As I tried to adapt this hectic mentality and schedule to a slower-paced life in Greece, I felt years of stress ebbing away. While this could partially be due to being surrounded by idyllic seas, historic ruins, and a city brimming with life, I believe it is largely due to the leisurely tempo and prioritization of one’s relationships and personal life. My motivation never left, but the absence of feeling overwhelmed and anxious made an immeasurable difference.

Passing countless people sipping espresso at cafes with their friends, family, and colleagues, I was constantly confronted with the realization that, back home, life revolves around the workday. In the US, you drink your coffee on the way to work, consuming caffeine as fuel for productivity, rarely sitting down in a cafe to enjoy a slow morning. In America, customers are nearly rushed out of restaurants to turn tables quickly. The opposite holds true for Greece, as they can sit for hours, even having to flag down the server to get the bill. Similarly to other European countries, Greece practices ώρες κοινής ησυχίας, or silent hours in the afternoon. From around 3-5 pm every weekday, each business’s lights shut off and doors were locked, allowing workers to go home to sleep, have a meal, or rest. Uniquely, Greece also regards Sunday as a mandatory time of rest as a sabbath day to spend time with loved ones, reflecting Orthodox tradition. Coming from a country where people ration their personal days and vacation time, these differences were sobering.

Living in such a different environment, I was continually impressed by the Greeks’ ability to maintain an admirable work-life balance that nearly all Americans could benefit from. Returning to the American lifestyle has certainly been an adjustment, as I try to sustain my collected mindset in this hectic, work-driven setting. Americans could benefit immensely from remembering that, while one’s career is important, there is so much more to life than sitting behind a computer screen and constantly competing with one’s colleagues. To me, concentrating on friends, family, your relationship with yourself, and taking the time to enjoy the world around you is far more fulfilling than any paycheck or job title that we so deeply yearn for in the US. To slow down is not a weakness; it is to work to live, not live to work.

Featured image courtesy of International Living

Copy edited by Charlotte Collins ’26