International Student Highlight and Farewell: Nefeli Custer

What is your name?
Nefeli Custer

What is your major?
Classics with a focus in Classical Greek Language

What is your country of origin?
Greece

What is your class year?
2019

Can you tell us one interesting fact about your home country?
Greece is primarily known for its rich ancient history, delicious food, and beautiful sceneries!

What is the strangest thing you have noticed about US culture?
Everything is so much bigger! The roads, the cars – there is so much space!

How are you involved on campus?
I co-founded the Greek Cultural Association and have been president of the club for the past semester.

What is your favorite food?
Pastitsio – similar to lasagna but there is a layer of pasta at the bottom, above it some minced and spiced meat and on top a thick layer of bechamel.

What is your favorite movie?
Mamma Mia

What is your favorite place in the US?
The MFA in Boston

What do you miss about your home country?
The quality of fruit and vegetables

What do you like about Wheaton?
There is a strong international community and a very accepting and understanding national community.

What is your favorite place on campus to socialize?
The Dimple

What do you want others to know about your home country/culture?
Greece is more than just Ancient Greece. Modern Greece has its own, unique culture and identity.

What is one thing you have learned about the US since being here (cultural concerns, history, etc)?
The study of Classics in the US is far more liberal than it is in Europe. Classicists trained in the US tend to critically examine the values of ancient societies resulting in more modern interpretations which better help us understand our own society as well as the ancient ones.