Reading the title of this post may confuse some of you. Why would I write a post of living in Athens this late into the semester? If i haven’t been living in Athens, then where? My first post here was titled “Living in History” and re-reading it I feel girlish, giddy almost, at how much I only saw this city for the history in it. It makes sense doesn’t it? That is, after all, why so many people travel here: for the history. I had the great honor of living here, and that’s the difference. We have Thanksgiving break, and I stayed in Athens, I got to live in Athens. Explore the backdrops, the hidden corners. My afternoons were spend walking, in different directions, up streets I had ignored and walking into stores I’d dismissed. I got to be among lazy people on afternoons and just be in the city. I learned to hate parts, to walk fast past buildings, to pause at certain streets and then forget most of the details as I got honked at. It was a living relationship: I wandered, I had places to be. I got deeply frustrated at the metro system, and took the wrong bus but rode it till I thought I was close to where I needed to be. It felt different than before.
Living in history showed me just how a few months apart, and I viewed places differently. I looked beyond the Acropolis, to the fallen orange leaves and remembered this was the first time I lived in a place that actually experienced seasons. And the thing is: it felt natural that it would happen. As if I knew it was time for Athens’ tree’s to change, and if it was time for me to change with it. I recently did the study abroad review and it made be reflect on my time here in Athens. I feel like for the most part I did follow that chart: I was disoriented, angry, happy/honeymoonish, and now settled. I see the good and bad of this city. I live in Athens. And within 2 weeks I’ll be leaving it, and will only be able to come back once I’m different again (a professional on vacation, not a student).
I really hope I look back at these posts and just think what a dramatic person I am.
Christmas is soon though!