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!