Wow, it has been two weeks since I left Athens and the Great Greek Adventure came to an end. It truly was a great semester and I couldn’t have asked for a better place, program, or experience.
Looking back on the semester and these amazing four months, I think of all the great moments I had. Over the semester I travelled to eight different countries, I hiked Mount Olympus, I went to Meteora, the land of the floating monasteries, I survived all my 12 euro Ryanair flights, I ate a countless number of Gyros, I took some great classes at CYA, loved learning about the politics and economy of Greece and then being able to make the connections during my time in Greece, I learned how to understand and use public transportation (the bus and metro), I saw many ancient and important sites ( I loved just walking around Athens and casually looking up and being able to see the Acropolis), I watched some amazing sunsets (my two favorite being at the Temple of Poseidon and Meteora), I made so many amazing memories, I meet some great friends, and so much more.
Leaving Greece was bittersweet for me, as I didn’t want to leave, while I was also ready to go home. Over the semester, I didn’t feel homesick as others might have since I had my twin sister, Connor, only 40 minutes away from me at the American College of Greece and we were able to see each other at least once a week. It was great having a “semester together” since we normally go to schools across the country, her at Wheaton College in Massachusetts, and me in Florida. I do have to say that who I probably missed most this semester were my dogs and it has been fantastic being home with them and their craziness.
I will miss the friends that I made here, the experiences we had, and living in Athens. I am looking forward to returning to Rollins, seeing my friends and teammates there, and getting back on a set schedule.
Until next time Greece! And I will end with a quote that I discovered in Nafplio, Greece. “Discover Greece, live every day as an adventure. Greece is a song about the endless blue, the sun, and the beauty. Live everything.”