Goodbyes and Hellos

          Well, folks, we’ve come to the end. Yesterday was my last day at ACS and my last day in Greece. It started and ended as all Greek things should: with coffee. Kersten and I got some before school and I had some while waiting for my plane to Rome.

          The kids gave me all sorts of adorable gifts throughout the day, but the one I will treasure most is the book they wrote for me. It has pictures of every kid and their wishes for me as a teacher. It is a beautiful gift. I learned so much from these kids and I’m honored that I got to be their teacher!

          I also met some of the most amazing teachers and just all-around great people. Without them, my time in Greece would have been a very different experience. I am so grateful for their friendship. J

          As I left Greece, I turned my thoughts toward my next destination: the Eternal City of Rome. I arrived at the airport and made it to the train station, where I waited to meet up with the Conception alum studying at the North American College – Brashears, Mattingly, and Niggemeyer. We caught a train toward my hotel and pretty soon I was steps away from St. Peters. I closed my eyes and was led to the center of St. Peter’s Square. When I opened my eyes, I was struck speechless. (Which, for you who know me, is not an easy thing to do!) Plus, the pope’s light was on. Again, speechless. I am such a Catholic nerd. J

After grabbing pizza with the guys, I got settled into my hotel and set the alarm clock for 6 am so I could attend Mass at St. Peter’s in the morning. Today has been a whirlwind of sightseeing, but I’ll describe that when I can post pictures! As I was told on the tour today, “It keeps getting better” so just take it one step at a time!

Like it’s your last…

Here’s my pearl of wisdom for today – Take in every moment because you’ll never be there again. Never put off doing something that could be done today. Why am I offering these you ask? Well, mainly because of my lovely going-away present from the Greek Transportation system.

          Let’s backtrack for just a moment – It’s my last week in Greece. Yeah, you read that right – my LAST week in Greece. As of now, we’re down to my last 36 hours in Greece. I had great plans for this week too. Cleaning the apartment on Tuesday, dinner with the gang on Wednesday, packing and one last stroll through Plaka on Thursday, flight on Friday. It had the makings of a great week. I had plans to see the city one last time, to say my goodbyes, to take in the sights and sounds of city center just once more.

          Alas, it was not to be. I found out yesterday afternoon that the metro was going on a 48 hour strike – from Thursday morning to Friday night – effectively complicating my life. So, I was faced with a few choices. I could stay in my apartment and catch rides with Steve back and forth to school, or I could pack it all up and move out to Kersten’s until my flight. I chose option B, mainly because it cuts down on the travel time and adds to the convenience factor.

So, in about 45 minutes, I packed all my belongings into my suitcase, backpack, and a few random bags and headed for Aghia Paraskevis, the suburb near school. (By the way, when I say ‘packed’ what I really mean is ‘threw everything into the bags as quickly as possible with little to no organization or thought’) One quick metro ride later, my last metro ride, and I was settled.

It wasn’t until I was lying in bed thinking about the day that I realized some things. 1) I moved out of my apartment. Out. Nothing makes the thought of leaving more real than moving out. 2) I’m not going to see the Acropolis again. Or the Temple of Zeus. Or Hadrian’s Arch. Or Parliament. Or Plaka. Or, or, or. The list just kept scrolling through my head. This was it. I’m really leaving and I guess I’m going to miss this place more than I realized.

Thus, the pearls of wisdom – Always take the chance to do that one thing you’ve been thinking about. Take the time to walk down that street that looked really interesting. Take a picture, capture a moment, turn it into a memory. Because in the end, it’s the little things that you’ll miss the most. So, explore, dream, discover, and as always, take it one step at a time.  

KALO MINA!

Happy December everyone! While I am thrilled that Christmas is just around the corner (as well as graduation!), I’m a little confused. Can someone explain to me how the days slipped by so fast? It seems that just yesterday Brianna was flying in and Budapest seemed but a dream that would never arrive, and now both those are crossed off my calendar. The countdown for Rome is in the single digits, with the one for my trip home just days behind.

November has been a month of “new-s” – new responsibilities in the classroom, new experiences in Athens, new Greek words in my vocabulary, new friends, new stamps in my passport, and even new foods. It was a month of new memories and they are ones that I will treasure forever. It’s also been a rollercoaster – the homesick phase crept in for a few days at the beginning of November, but that was quickly put aside for the adventures that were in store. Now, it’s December and I’m looking homeward.

It’s finally sinking in that there is an ending date on this leg of the adventure. I’m having a graduation party here tomorrow and then getting in my last day of shopping for gifts since this is my last weekend in Athens. I have come to realize that each day is a small adventure, if only you open your eyes and look for the unique in the midst of everything. If you are open to the world, you can continually be surprised by the littlest things. It’s the little things that can turn into the best adventures. I’m excited for the next two weeks of adventures abroad –but I know I’ll be ready for a whole new kind of adventure as a recent college grad back in the States.

This week has helped prepare me for real –life as my cooperating teacher has been out sick all week so I’ve been truly in charge of the classroom. It’s been a great trial-by-fire experience and I’ve learned so much about truly running your own classroom. Please keep Marla in your thoughts and prayers so that she can get back to the classroom soon!

As I finish up the semester over here, I’m thinking about all of my college friends finishing up classes and looking toward finals. That part of college I don’t miss so much. I do miss seeing all of you, having random adventures on campus, and especially Newman events. I’m praying for all of you as you take on those tests and papers. Study hard, try to get enough sleep and just take it one step at a time!

Buda + Pest = Beautiful

Did you know that Budapest was actually two cities, Buda and Pest? They were divided by the Danube river, but are now combined into the capital city of Budapest. And what a city is it! 4 days was nowhere near enough time to explore this beautiful and historic city! 

What struck me first was just how beautiful the city is. Every building had a decoration here or a statue holding a balcony there. Beauty hidden in the tiny details – I kept falling behind the group because I wanted pictures of everything! However, the pictures don’t even come close to capturing the experience. I could see my breath, feel the cold in the tips of my fingers, see the skyline in the distance, and breathe in the crisp air. It was wonderful.

An estate on Kodaly Circus - I had fun taking pictures while looking for the Kodaly museum!

We took a bus tour and saw the major sites of the city, but the best views were obscured by the fog. I split off from the group and saw the Liszt museum, which is housed in his apartment. It was a cool exhibit with both his musical and religious artifacts. Speaking of religious artifacts, I saw my first Incorruptible saint—well, part of one anyway!!  St. Stephen’s right hand, known as the Holy Right, is housed in the Basilica of St. Stephen. It was such a beautiful church and I had the opportunity to attend an organ concert there on Friday night. There aren’t words to describe it. It was a dream come true.

St. Stephen's Basilica 

Food was also another focus of the trip – I tried a lot of new foods this weekend. Coming from the queen of peanut butter and jelly, this was huge. I tried ostrich, chilled apricot soup, chicken tikka masala (Thanksgiving dinner, my first experience with Indian food), falafel, and we even found a Hungarian wine and cheese festival!

It was a great vacation – full of crazy memories with new friends and quiet moments surrounded by the sights and sounds of a new place. It’s hard to believe it’s over because it was the big milestone to look forward to before I finished teaching. I have 4 days of instruction left, then a week of observations and then I’m done. Time truly does fly. I have to start reflections about my time here and I know that the bottom line is that I have been changed by this experience. I have been truly blessed beyond my wildest dreams. And, it all started with just one step.

Parliament and the Danube - taken from the boat  

Gobble Gobble!!

                  Happy Thanksgiving from Budapest, Hungary! For the long weekend, I was invited to join some of the teachers for a holiday in Hungary. It could not have come at a more perfect time. I'm 6 weeks into my Athens adventure. I flip between feeling like I just arrived and feeling like I've been here forever. I love the school more each day and have so enjoyed making friends with the teachers from the States.
                  I had a long (but completely wonderful) weekend around Athens. We celebrated Thanksgiving, had an American football tournament, and went out to celebrate one of the teacher's birthdays! Kara will be glad to hear that I found a flea market and bartered for some great jewelry! I made a fort in the corner of my  apartment and took a nap :) Then, I went to mass and found out that this church will not be getting the new translation until after I'm gone. Bummer.
                  After two intense days of school, (lots of tests and projects), we flew out of Athens and arrived at our apartment in Budapest. We have the whole apartment to ourselves - there are 8 of us. It's a cute place and has a great location. We're loving it! Today, we walked to the Christmas market and it felt a bit like home.
                 This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all the people that made my trip possible. For the friends that told me I could do this, put up with my craziness, and celebrated with me when I was finally accepted! For the teachers that supported me, educated me, encouraged me. For my family, without whom I would not be here. For the people I have met that have made this trip wonderful. I love you all. Be thankful, keep the world beautiful and always take life one step at a time.

Humanity's Awesomeness

            It's so easy in a big city to forget about everyone but yourself. Athens isn't like Minnesota, where everyone waves, stops to chat on the sidewalk, or invites you in for some coffee. Big cities just don't function that way. However, something happened the other day that opened my eyes to just how awesome humanity is. The city has it's own way of 'inviting you in for coffee'. Here in Athens, it's as simple as a piece of paper.
            This piece of paper is a small rectangle of blue that costs 1.40 euro. It's a metro ticket, good for 90 minutes of travel anywhere in the city. How does that make humanity awesome? Well, 95% of the trips the average Athenian takes are much shorter than the 90 minutes. It has become common practice for people to leave the used, but still good ticket on the escalator going to the trains where it can be picked up by another passenger. Call it Athens Nice :)
             I have been the reciepient of this random act of kindness and have since adopted the practice myself. It's such a great feeling when you find a ticket and know you've saved 1.40 euro (about $2). And passing on that feeling to someone else? Priceless. On Monday, I picked up a ticket at my metro stop, rode home, and then passed my ticket on to someone else. Best feeling ever. I swear I floated home :)
           Here's my challenge for you, friends. Today, take the time to do something nice to someone else. Buy a coffee for the guy behind you. Take out the trash. Compliment a stranger. Leave a metro ticket. Whatever you do - start small and take it one step at a time.

Family = love

     This past week was completely awesome. Brianna and I split our time chilling and seeing the sights all over Athens. Brianna hit so many of the sites and took some great pictures. Now, I've got to get going and catch up on the sights as well! 

     On Thursday, I discovered why girls like boats so much! Bri and I caught a ferry from Piraeus to Crete. It was a huge boat and it was awesome. I snuck around the ship for a while (I think I was allowed to be where I was) and saw some great views of the port! However, all my pictures are on Bri's camera, which is back in America. So, you'll have to wait to see! 

      We headed out to Crete to see our Uncle Bryan, Aunt Chrisa, and cousins Roula and Melina. It was a great weekend! We toured the town with them, saw the markets and a few museums, went shopping (of course) and basically had a great time. We bowled on Friday night and I was reminded just how terrible I am at bowling. :) They took us to a church in a cave which was spectacular and then drank hot chocolate by the sea (inside because of the rain) I'm so glad we were able to make it out to see them while I was over here! 

        Brianna took off super early on Monday morning and is now back in the States. I'm back to focusing on school and enjoying Athens. I'm teaching practically everything at this point, which is great. It's crazy to think I'm halfway done with this experience. I'm looking forward to making the second half even better than the first, and you know I'll start by taking it one step at a time! 

Time Flies!

It may be cliché – but it’s also true. Time flies when you’re having fun! Time has truly flown since my last post and I apologize for the sporadic nature of my blogging! The past week went quickly and was mostly uneventful – at least comparatively speaking. There were no metro strikes, no riots, no tear gas, no crazy jaunts through Plaka – so mostly uneventful J

However, this weekend was anything but uneventful, in the best way possible! My sister, Brianna, left Denver on Thursday and arrived in Greece on Friday afternoon! I wasted no time in introducing her to Greek culture as we went out for dinner in Plaka. There are people hired by the restaurants whose sole job is to convince you to eat at that restaurant. There was one super nice older gentleman who convinced us that his place was the best and he was true to his word. We had a typical Greek meal – a tomato salad, lamb souvlaki with pita, tzaziki, and tomato, dessert and coffee – and it took about 3 hours!

          Saturday was our day to explore – we headed to Monstriaki and hit up the flea market. It’s basically a giant garage sale with mostly junk – you have to dig for the real treasures! After a coffee, we headed back to the Acropolis and climbed onto the Areopagos rock. This is the rock that St. Peter stood and gave his “Men of Athens” speech found in Acts 17:22-34. Kinda cool, if you ask me. Then, we went to the Acropolis museum and were wowed by the history we saw. The best part was the glass floors that show the excavation of the ancient city below the museum. We also celebrated Halloween a week late with some teachers from ACS. It was an awesome night!

          Sunday was the day for the Acropolis. Words and pictures don’t really do these views justice. We climbed around the site for over an hour and it was just fascinating. The Parthenon was impressive, but my favorite was the Caryatids found on the side of the Erechtheion. The real ones are in the museum, except for the one at the British Muesum. That museum houses a bunch of artifacts from the Acropolis, which the British should really give back already. I’m pretty sure all of Greece agrees with me on that one…

The Caryatids 

         

               We did some shopping in Plaka before catching the Changing of the Guard at Syntagma before Mass. I just love that we can go to Mass here and it’s exactly the same Mass as everywhere else. I guess I didn’t really appreciate the “Catholic” nature of our faith until I attended Mass here. The Lord is sooo good!

The Changing of the Guard

          Brianna and I will be exploring more of Athens this week before heading out to Crete to visit Bryan, Chrisa, and the girls for the weekend. We’re really excited! J I’ll leave you with a picture of me and my city and the reminder to take every day one step at a time!  - just not backwards! 

           

Stepping to the Beat!

             So, the past week has been all about getting into the groove – as much as that is possible in Greece! My school week started on Tuesday and it was my week to start teaching! I was just assigned spelling and language arts, so it was pretty simple. Tuesday is also when the Greek class meets. It’s an Introduction to Greek class – so we started with learning the alphabet and the different pronunciations of the sounds. I think, because of this experience, I’ll be better able to relate to my students as they learn the phonemic structures of English! It’s a fun class and I’m learning a lot!

          However, the public transportation system decided they would try to rain on my parade – they went on strike. For no apparent reason. Getting to school wasn’t too bad – only about 5 or 10 minutes longer than the normal 20 minutes it usually takes. However, getting home was a whole different story. It took us over an hour in stop and go – bumper to bumper traffic. Not my definition of fun, but this is life in Athens.

          Wednesday was a special day at school because the 4^th grade put on an OXI day presentation. OXI day is a national holiday in Greece. It celebrates the day the Greek Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas, said “OXI” or “NO” to Mussolini. The Axis powers wanted to enter and occupy Greece and it is rumored that Metaxas replied with a single “OXI!” He actually said “Then, it is war!” Either way, it was a historic day for Greece, even though the Axis powers did eventually invade and occupy Greece.

          The 4^th grade did a great job of presenting the story, as well as Greek poetry and songs. They also told stories of what life was like for children under the Axis occupation. It was a very informative and entertaining assembly –but it also meant that we had very little time with our students in the classroom.

          Thursday was much of the same – this time because of the Halloween parade. The whole school gathered in the courtyard and the youngest grades showed off their costumes. They were soooo cute! Then, the 5^th grade danced to the Monster Mash. They did a fantastic job, but again, we didn’t see much of them in the classroom!

          Friday, October 28^th, is officially OXI Day, so we didn’t have school. I took advantage of the long weekend by not setting an alarm clock! J I wandered around my neighborhood, Plaka, Syntagma, etc. On Saturday, I went all the way out to the Athens Mall. I spent most of the afternoon there, but only bought boots. Everyone in Athens wears boots, so this is my step toward fitting in! J

          On my way back from Mass on Sunday, I walked right through the middle of a (peaceful) protest in front of Parliament. I also saw the changing of the guard. It’s definitely something to see if you get to Athens!

          Well, that brings us to today. I’m teaching spelling/language arts and reading this week. I’m getting great feedback and support from Ms. Coklas. I just love working with her and with these kids! The rest of the week should go smoothly – well as smoothly as possible at ACS! And Brianna will be here Friday –so that’s really really really exciting!

          You’re all in my thoughts and prayers – as I settle into a rhythm here and figure out the steps in Athens, I hope you’re taking it one step at a time! 

Climbing around ancient ruins!

   I’ve spent my entire life going on trips with high school kids – so why should Greece be any different? This past weekend, I was invited to join the high school Humanities class on their three-day exploration of the ruins at Delphi. I’m so glad I said yes because I had a great weekend!

           We left Saturday around noon and headed out of Athens. My main thoughts on the drive were: 1. High school kids here are EXACTLY like high school kids in America. And 2. The landscape of Greece is not very pretty. Turns out, I was only right about one of those things! You see, Delphi is surrounded by mountains and from these mountains, you can see the path through the valley to the shore where pilgrims would have begun their journey to consult the oracle. According to Greek Mythology, Zeus released two eagles, one from the west and one from the east. Delphi is located where these eagles met – the center of the world. And when you’re there, looking at the mountains, you can see why people believed. 

          We spent Saturday night exploring the lower site of Delphi  - this was the training stadium for the Pythian games and the Temple of Athena Pronaia. The gymnasium was so interesting because there is evidence of showers – plumbing, hot water, etc, from hundreds of years ago! There is also a circular building known as the Tholos – but researchers aren’t sure what it was used for. We also saw the Castillian Spring. This was used for ritual cleansing before a pilgrim would approach the temple to seek advice from the oracle.

          That night, we checked into our hotel and I was instantly struck by the differences between Greek and American hotels. This hotel used real keys that were left at the reception desk when you left the hotel so you wouldn’t lose them. The hotel room had tile floors and just the bare necessities – a bed, pillow, chair, bathroom. But what it didn’t have in luxury, it made up for in view. The whole town of Delphi seems to be built on the edge of the mountain, as if a slight breeze could blow it down to the sea below. The hotel rooms each had a balcony that showed the entire valley, mountains, and down to the sea. The sunrises and sunsets were simply breathtaking. God’s scenery never fails to impress me

The view from my hotel balcony!

         

          Sunday was spent at the upper site of Delphi. The humanities teachers were the best tour guides. They know Greek Mythology, world history and random fun facts that made the place come alive in a historical way that I would never had gotten alone. We wandered along what is known as the Sacred Way – the path to the Temple of Apollo. It is lined with treasuries . These treasuries were both for the gods and men. They housed spoils of war and other trophies of the respective city states. Though they were displayed as tributes to the gods – they were also a way for the city states to honor particular heroes or display their power and wealth.

Me standing in front of the Temple of Apollo

          The most famous treasury is that of the Athenians. It is mostly restored on the site and many artifacts from it are housed in the museum. My favorite part about this treasury is the south wall. It was inscribed with hymns to Apollo. These inscriptions are some of the earliest forms of notated music in the world. While the notations made no sense to me, it was still neat to see how music has progressed.

 The Temple of Apollo was nice,  but what I really enjoyed was the view from the top. We climbed up to the stadium and I paused when I was directly above the theater. This theater was used for the choral and instrumental competitions during the Pythian games. The view down to the valley was indescribable. If “All the world’s a stage” then this stage has one of the best natural views ever. I don’t think I’d be able to focus on the play with that view stealing the limelight.

          

The view from the top. 

  After exploring the rest of the site and the museum, we went back to the hotel where I proceeded to crash for about an hour before dinner. The teachers and myself went back to the taverna we had visited the night before. I had chicken souvlaki and it was phenomenal. They also treated us to dessert both nights. I had walnut cake and tiramisu –both delicious!

          Monday was our day to travel back  and we had one more stop. We visited the Orthodox monastery of Hossios Loucas – a blessed in the Orthodox church. Again, the view was outstanding. This monastery is also one of a handful of places that still has intact gold mosaics. They were beautiful. All in the Byzantine style – depicting Our Lord and the Virgin Mary. Beautiful. We couldn’t stay long because we had to be back to school, but I’m so glad we were able  to stop!       

Gold Mosaic in the Narthex

       

          It was a crazy weekend, but one that I’m so glad I was able to have while over here. I’ll be posting again with an update about my week – but I think this post is long enough for now. So, I’ll leave you with a prayer and a reminder to keep taking it one step at time – especially if you’re climbing a mountain! 

Adventure!

Adventure is about the only word to describe last night. But before I get there, I have to mention the school. I just finished my first week. and I am loving it! Just loving it! My cooperating teacher, Ms. Coklas, is amazing. The students are fantastic - funny and (mostly) well-behaved and polite. One big difference between this school and American schools is the number of ESL students. In my class of 23, there are 6 currently in ESL and another 3-4 that just tested out of ESL services. It's going to be prove to be an interesting challenge. But, seriously, it's so good here! And the campus is great - you can see the mountains from the balcony just outside our room. Beautiful. 

So - last night. Well, we had parent-teacher conferences, so it was about 6:30 -6:45 before I even left school. Again, the Syntagma station was closed, so I got off at Monastiraki and that's when things got interesting. As I rode the escalator up to street level, I started smelling smoke and teargas. You could have cut the air with a knife - tensions were high. When I got off the stairs, I saw why. Monastiraki square had been taken over by a massive fight between the rioters and police. Fires were burning, people were shouting, projectiles were being thrown - it just was not good. So, I quickly headed the opposite direction. 

Unfortuately, I don't know my way around the Plaka as well as I would like (especially in the dark). So, I wasn't lost, per se, but I wasn't sure exactly how to get where I wanted to be. There was no way I was going to pull out my map and look lost, so I found a view of the Acropolis and used that as my North star. Eventually, I found a small church that I remembered. However, it was right by Syntagma and there was a small fight going on just ahead. I ducked down the side street again, and soon found myself in more familiar territory. It wasn't until I saw Hadrian's Arch that I really started to feel comfortable again. I was almost home when I saw a whole group of people get arrested at the crossroads before my house. Suffice it to say, once I got home, I stayed there. 

So, it was a long and stressful walk home, but I did make it. Lizzie interviewed me for the radio - and she asked me what it felt like to be here, during these times. My answer: Well, this is just life right now. This is how it is. You deal. But, it's going to really sink in when I teach about this in social studies or economics someday - and I'll be able to tell my kids - Hey, I was there. I saw this. It's a crazy thing really. 

So, yeah, the metro is fully operational today, which made my walk home much easier. I wandered around my neighborhood and found a supermarket. :) Now, it's homework and packing time. I leave tomorrow for a visit to Delphi with the Academy's Humanities class. I'll be back Monday night. I'll post pictures and an update then! Have a great weekend and take it all one step at a time. <3

χαρούμενα γενέθλια!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

And what a birthday it was! Greek Parliament is voting on new austerity measures today (Oct. 20), so protesters were out in full force yesterday. Of course, this means the country is virtually shut down as the people either a) take to the streets to march or b)stay home. The metro was closed until 9 am - so I rode to school with Steve. School was fairly uneventful - but I was allowed to take a long lunch! :) Ashton and I walked to a small square near the school and ate lunch at Haagen Dazs. I had a chocolate banana crepe that was amazing!

After school, we had teacher meetings, so I didn't leave school until about 4:30. and that's when the day started to get really interesting! Since the government buildings are in Syntagma Square, that metro stop was shut down. Unfortunetly, that's where all the trains switch, so I couldn't get to my stop. Instead, I rode the blue line down to Monastiraki and got off there. I had a map, but I wasn't sure exactly how to get home, so I just started walking. There were tons, I mean TONS! of people in the area and I soon realized why. I was headed directly toward Syntagma. Not exactly where a young American should be - petrol bombs and tear gas are not my idea of great birthday presents! I took a side street and headed through the Plaka unil I ended up at the Acropolis metro stop and headed home.

Once home, I skyped with Bri and got very excited for her trip here! Then, not content with sitting alone at home on my birthday, I took myself out to dinner. I grabbed a sandwich from a corner cafe and started walking toward the Acropolis. It's so beautiful at night! I also explored the grounds of a small church right at the end of my street, near the Temple of Zeus. It was fantastic.

I'm at school now, (the kids are at specials) so I'll have to post pictures later. The metro situation is much the same as it was yesterday, but I promise I'll be safe and avoid getting arrested! :) Until next time, keep taking it one step at time (away from riots, moltov cocktails, and police!)

Organized Chaos

Day 1 of student teaching has been nothing but organized chaos. And what a day it was. Steve met me for the walk to the metro and introduced me to the school. My cooperating teacher, Ms. Coklas, is fantastic. She described her classroom as ‘organized choas’ and I have to agree with her. It’s going to be a great 8 weeks here! The 23 students are great kids and the rest of the staff at the school are fantastic.  Later this week, I’ll try to post pictures!

          I was invited to join the high school humanities class for their field trip this weekend and I said yes! Which means, ladies and gentlemen, that a few of my steps in Greece with be taken in Delphi! I’m so excited!

          Ashton, the other student teacher from the states, will also be going! We had a great afternoon getting to know each other – over coffee, of course! We also took a bus to IKEA and sat on the couches for quite a while J  

          I navigated the metro by myself tonight and didn’t get lost once! It’s a really easy trip actually – just one switch at the Syntagma station and then straight sailing back home. I was pretty proud of myself though! I’m finally able to eat real food – which makes me very happy and now, it’s almost bedtime. The next few weeks are going to be crazy blur – thanks again for your prayers – I need them always and you need to keep taking it one step at a time. 

Home Sweet Athens!

Attention Athens: I have arrived! My steps through customs and the Athens airport were short and soon I was riding through the streets of Athens with Steve and Ashton. Steve showed me my new home, a small ground- floor apartment in his building. It’s well-furnished and very close to the city center (About a five minute walk! – My metro stop for home is Acropolis!!) I have internet and phone so anyone with a good long-distance plan who wants to call, email me for the number. Everyone else – Facebook and skype are still great! J

Bath - 

 View from garden door -

 GARDEN!

 Kitchen area -

 View from front door -

 Other side of the room -

          I fell asleep around 2 am last night and slept wonderfully until about 11 this morning. Steve took me on a walking tour of the neighborhood and we headed to meet up with Ashton and some other people for lunch and shopping. While we were waiting, I partook of a classic Greek tradition – coffee and conversation at a local coffee shop. The streets are full of vendors – cafes, coffee shops, clothes, shoes, you name it, you got it. The whole time we were drinking coffee I kept thinking of My Life in Ruins – “Everyone has to take time for a coffee!” I now understand why – the coffee is delicious here!

          We couldn’t find Ashton and so after waiting around, Steve and I finished walking a circle around the center of Athens. We saw the Parliament building, more shopping areas, the temple of Zeus, (literally in my neighborhood), and even a building that was built around this cute old church. We then grabbed lunch at the café across the street from our building. The food is delicious, but my body is still not a big fan of food just yet. Hopefully, that’ll change soon!

          The metro is not on strike as of today, but the garbage collectors are – and have been for about a week. Almost everything will be shut down Tuesday and Wednesday because the law should be voted upon in Parliament Thursday. At least I’ll have a ride to school on those days, but it could be very interesting! The protests are peaceful, but it will still be interesting to see how things work out.

          I start school in the morning – Steve will be meeting me to show me around the metro. I am so incredibly blessed. Thank you all for your prayers – I know they were heard! I’ll be posting again about the school sometime tomorrow – until then, keep taking it one step at a time. 

It starts with a step....

It’s been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Take it from me, truer words have not been spoken. I took that first step into the security checkpoint at KCI and it’s been a series of small steps since. I’ll be completely honest, that first step was hard. There were some baby tears in my eyes. But this is the chance of a lifetime. An adventure. Something I’ve always dreamed of. And I’m scared. It’s finally starting to sink in that I’m alone, on the other side of the world. The airport is full of people, colors, signs, noises. Most of them I don’t recognize. Occasionally, I’ll hear English slip through and for this, I’m grateful.

          My trip has been fairly uneventful so far. The flight to Chicago was short, as was my time in Chicago. We departed and I just started taking those small steps in any direction. I had to catch a train to get the international terminal, then find my airline and get my boarding pass. By the time I got through security, my flight was loading. I met a wonderful lady named Alice who was also headed to Istanbul and we navigated O’Hare together after I saved her shoes from being left behind! It's always fun to meet new people and she was so sweet!

          The flight to Istanbul was 10 hours long. I pulled my blanket out of my bag, turned on “You’ve got Mail”, and promptly fell asleep until dinner. For airplane food, it looked and smelled great, but my body just wasn’t feeling it. I ate a bit and then curled back up for more sleep! Breakfast was fresh fruit, eggs, potatoes, and other deliciousness. I was feeling better and actually managed to eat something. We landed with barely a jostle and it was time to take some more steps.

          It’s funny, because I had no idea where I was going. That’s not a common thing for me. So, I just followed the crowd and I guess I did it right because I’m sitting outside a gate, typing this message to send out to the world. My flight doesn’t leave for a while, so they haven’t published which gate I’m supposed to be at. J

          Update on housing – Ashton and Steve are meeting me in Athens, and as of now, I have a place to live that has transportation to the school! (That’s been tough with the metro strikes!) God is so so good! I’ll post again (with pictures!) when I land and get settled. Until then, keep taking it one step at a time.