Hello from the BSA Undergraduate Course 2022!

So here it is, my first ever blog post. And where better to start than from within the walls of the British School at Athens, on a balmy evening with the sound of the cicadas echoing through the trees. It's been a long road to get here, from summoning the courage to apply, through the disbelief and the joy of acceptance, to excitement and nervousness in equal measure. But I have finally made it to the Undergraduate Course. Now in its 50th year, the course covers The Archaeology and Topography of Greece, and all undergraduates studying a related subject at a UK university - thankfully including mature students! - can apply. The itinerary is amazing but intense, with three weeks of lectures, seminars and visits to some of the key sites around Athens and the Peloponnese. There is also the option to gain 30 module credits by completing a trip diary or essay at the end of the course.

Day One introduced 29 travel-weary but keen students to the 135-year history of this incredible institution, including the original building designed by the first director Francis Penrose (which is now the director's residence and lecture room), the annexe which houses 40,000 potsherds painstakingly catalogued during the pandemic by the current assistant director Dr Michael Loy, the library of over 70,000 books, journals and maps, and the Fitch Laboratory for science-based archaeology. Its beautiful exotic garden - complete with tortoises! - makes it feel like a scholarly haven amidst the bustle of the surrounding urban landscape which now fills the 2km of land between the Acropolis and the school.

Today has been the perfect start to the course, spending time amongst students with a shared passion for learning about ancient Greece and experiencing actual live lectures from the tutors in these wonderful surroundings. My personal highlight was being let loose on pottery from the teaching collection at the Library, holding thousands of years of history in my suitably-gloved hands. So it's off to bed, ready for an early start and our first site visit to the Acropolis. After today's storms, which brought a temporary but welcome respite from the heat and humidity of August in Athens, I hope Zeus will be kind to our happy band and hold his thunderbolts until after lunch at least!