24 hours from now I will be in the air on my way back to the states. I feel like I’m going to yack. You could blame it on the Nescafé frappe being the only thing sitting in my stomach and the stairs upon stairs I had to climb and carry my luggage just to make it out to a real road to grab a taxi, in this sweltering heat… but I think there is another reason for the uneasiness. Less than 24 hours. It’s been over 4 months since I have been home and while I know I have so much to come back to, it will definitely be a lifestyle change. 

Santorini was beyond incredible, a perfect way to end my time in Europe. Alex, Jess & I climbed a volcano, jumped from a pirate ship into the Aegean sea to swim into some hot springs, stayed in one of the most famous cliff side apartments (Lena’s House, with the colored mustard & blue door), rode donkeys up from the port and watched the sunset each night castle-side. Again I find myself in disbelief that these are the experiences I am privileged enough to have- it just doesn’t seem real. And in all reality it isn’t real, because no one sustains that type of lifestyle for too long. 

So now swallowing that realization, I feel sick again. I’m not sure how to deal with all the emotions so I numb them. I’ve heard over and over again when people study abroad they find themselves. Well I have to disagree. I think I’ve always done things a little differently, in my own way, and in this case this holds true again. I don’t think I have found myself. Studying abroad has meant losing myself. But in a good way. I’ve lost and left a little bit of myself everywhere. 

There’s a part of me that will always be sipping apple tea in Hussain’s scarf stand in Istanbul. A part of me biking around Copenhagen. A part of me on top of Paris at El Sacre Coeur. A part of me at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. A part of me in the gardens of the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna. A part of me in the underground tunnels along the White Cliffs of Dover. A part of me wandering the canal streets in Amsterdam. A part of me in the Hungarian baths under the snowfall. A part of me cruising the coast on my ATV in Mykonos. A part of me lying in the sun along the bridge in Prague. A part of me beachside in the Ibiza’s cove. A part of me hiking to the top of the Acropolis in Athens.A part of me exploring in England’s largest bookstore in Oxford. A part of me doing yoga on top of Santorini’s active volcano. And a part of me listening to music at Proud, at LFW for Pringle of Scotland, with my costa coffee & metro on the tube, on a paddle boat on the Seine in Hyde Park, observing parliament live, on the patio at Punch & Judy’s after class and a part of me listening to One Direction while toasting in front of Buckingham Palace in London on my last night. 

New experiences, new places and new people have provided new questions not answers. But I like questions, so this is good. 

Studying abroad to lose yourself? I like that a lot. 

See you stateside. 

You know when you hear about that person who traveled somewhere and just never came home… I am dangerously close to becoming that person. I am absolutely in love with the island of Mykonos. I have never been anywhere like the port town where the people are so disgustingly charming and the cuisine as rich and refreshing (I know that sounds like a strange description for food but the fresh seafood, vegetables, tzatziki etc. are just that & I have definitely found my new favorite type of food). Also I think the view of the ocean right out our rooftop apartments, the ATV beach-hopping filled days and endless shops/restaurants/bars littered throughout the maze of tiny stone streets definitely don’t hurt my obsession. I could live here. Discussions regarding places for rent and possible employment options to delay our departure were had under the stars with a bottle of wine… Surreal.

Thank you to Madalena, Seminal, Hercules, Gyros, Paradise Beach, Jackie Os & Meg/Jack/Jess/Alex/Joe for an unforgettable five days.

If I ever run away from home, you know where I’ll be.

It’s been a week out of London and everything has just happened so fast. Saturday we dipped to Ibiza without even any time to process that it would be our last time on Castlebar Park. Ditched the overweight luggage at a Ramada in ealing in exchange for a promise to be a future customer & in 6 hours we were on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean sea “cheers”ing to our semester abroad.

Our week in Ibiza was lazzzzzy. But it needed to be. Sleeping in until noon everyday, sauntering down to the pool or beach and making friends at Minimal, Johnny’s & our Supermercado were on the schedule daily. We were a few weeks too early for season to enjoy high clubbing and the island was fairly dead but it was really cool to basically have the island to ourselves.

Loved loved seafood salads on the beach, exploring along the coastline and our day trip into the city centre by the ports. The week went way too fast.

Yesterday we jetted to Athens to meet up with friends from Minne and today was spent climbing the acropolis and exploring the Plaka. In 24 hours Greece has managed to beat out every country thus far in my semester in terms of food. Greek salad. Kebobs. Feta. Gyros. Our introduction to the cuisine began minutes after we dropped our bags late last night when he stopped at a whole in the wall family Grecian restaurant. Sat along the street at two in the morning devouring the plates of food they sneakily committed us to, and honestly I wasn’t even mad about it. Today the taste testing ensued and I can only imagine what the rest of the week has in store.

Points Noted.
-Athens is kind of scary right now. One hour Greek turf and we had been warned multiple times to be careful & wished good luck. Good to be here with a crew of a few guys.
-The acropolis is absolutely breathtaking. It is amazing to see up close and even more beautiful for viewing from your hotel terrace while eating breakfast or playing cards as the sun sets.
-The evil eye is not just a Turkish symbol, the Greeks love it too.
-The city is beyond dirty and the buildings are littered with graffiti but the energy is high and there is so much excitement.

Ferrying to Mykonos tomorrow and Santorini on Thursday.

This country has potential to be the best yet.