Journeying with indecisiveness..

6 days.. yes, that's right. 6 days = less than one week. Ugh. I'm still having trouble grasping the concept that in only 6 days, I'll be on a plane heading for Greece. As of right now, it just feels like I'm heading for a vacation. But it's slowly starting to sink in that I will be gone for 3 1/2 months.

Journeying with indecisiveness is the title for today's post mostly because I haven't decided how I feel yet.

Me? Indecisive? Never.. ;)

Of course I have the feeling of excitement and the 'ready for adventure' attitude running through my veins, but the feelings of anxiety and nervousness are beginning to over-power those 'happy' feelings. The thought of being away from my family, my booskis, and my friends for 3 1/2 months kills me .. until I remind myself that I'll be spending the majority of my time on a small island in GREECE. I get to meet new people, explore, be spontaneous, and best of all, travel! Overall, I just have to keep telling myself that all will be okay as long as I have faith. The Lord will help me through any tough times I may encounter - therefore, I need to stay positive and optimistic.

Things have changed a little since my last entry. I still leave the 2nd and arrive in Athens on the 3rd, but Micah, Stoli, and I have decided to fly to Xios Sunday morning. It's only a 45 min flight, so we'll be able to have an extra day -- unlike taking a 7 1/2 hr ferry and losing half a day. Of course the flight is more expensive, but at this point, time is money. We want to spend as much time on the island as possible. While we're there, we will be staying with Micah and Stoli's cousins' house to save money and travel up and down the East coast to visit various beaches. We will also visit my family and I'll finally be able to meet my Yiayia (be prepared for some tears), as well as my cousins, Thea Roula, and my dad's Theo, who he hasn't seen in 50 years! (Which he is very excited about might I add!) My dad also promised to take me around the city and show me the home in which he was raised, his old school, the hill that he wrecked his brand new bike on, where my Papou used to work, and the restaurant where my dad was given his first job.

I know that at this time, my dad and I, both, will be on Cloud 9.

We'll leave Xios Thursday afternoon or evening (we haven't bought our flight yet so I'm not sure on the times) and head back to Athens. We'll fly in, grab a taxi, and head down to the hostel where the rest of the program is staying. We'll then jump on a ferry at 6 am and be on our way to Paros -- my new home.

Micah will stay a couple days before he heads back to Athens via ferry. He is hoping to plan another trip out in November, so lets keep our fingers crossed on that one!

After that, Stoli and I are on our own. Oh the adventures we will have.....

Until next time -

This is Xios!

This is a map of Xios, the island we are traveling to first. We will be on the East Coast most of the time, I assume. Micah, Stoli, and I are staying in Vrondathos which is North of of the port and city of Xios. (spelled Chios) We will definitely be visiting Komi and Karfas, as well as the black beach (a beach with black stones due to the volcano on Xios) known as Mavra Volia and a beautiful, stone beach - Agia Fotia.

This is Paros!

It is smaller than Xios in size, but apparently it's a beautiful island with a fun atmosphere and nightlife. We will be staying in the city Parikia, close to the port. Our apartment complex is only 50 meters from the beach. (oh, did I mention we each get our own apartment? Yes, studio set up, but I have a kitchenette, bathroom, bedroom, and my own balcony.) We are a 10-15 minute walk from the HISA University, but the walk is through town, beach side.

I won't complain.

Naoussa is only a 15 min bus ride North of Parikia, with beautiful beaches and crazy clubs.

Pounta is about 15 minutes South, and will be where I snorkel and take my windsurfing lessons :)

We will travel all over the island, so you can use this map as a guide of where I'm at as I describe the different towns and cities.

That's all for today :)

Journeying through Time...

I named my blog "Journeying..." because I feel like this entire experience abroad will be just that. A Journey. It will be a journey of a lifetime and one that I will remember for the rest of my existence.

Today's blog is titled, Journeying through Time because I honestly want to know where the time has gone. It feels like yesterday that I moved into Marietta Hall to start my Freshman year of college. Now, I've entered my Senior year and I'm only 50 days away from boarding a plane to Greece for an entire semester. Before I know it, it'll be December and I'll be flying home from Greece. What do I make of this?....I'm still trying to figure it out. I started this blog not only because it'll help me stay connected with family and friends, but many say blogging is very beneficial while studying abroad.

In case you're curious, my itinerary is as follows:

I leave for Greece September 2nd at 6:20 pm with my best friend and adventurer, Micah Livanos. I have known this boy since the womb and I could never imagine a better traveling partner. He is 100% Greek and comes from the most genuine and loving family I know. His parents are like another set of parents to me -- being that his father was the man who baptized me and helped mold me in the woman I am today.

We arrive in Paris at 8:30 am (what a flight), leave for Athens at 1030 am., and finally arrive in Athens at 2:30 pm. Micah has a few ties in Athens, so we will rage Friday night, visit museums, the acroplis and ruins Saturday during the day, and once again rage all night. Sunday, I assume we'll go to church and then jump on a ferry for a 6 hr ride to Xios.

My dad is heading to Greece August 24th and my step mom Lisa, and my two brothers head out on September 3rd. All of my family on my dad's side still lives there, so for the first time, I will get to meet my yiayia, theas, theos, and ksadelfias. The excitement is overwhelming. Micah's family is from Xios too, so hopefully he'll have the opportunity to see some of them as well.

After a few days in Xios, we're going to take a ferry down to Ikaria (because there isn't a ferry that goes straight from Xios to Paros) and spend a night there before heading down to Paros. Paros is the name of the island I will be calling 'home' for the months of September, October, November, and December. My program providers want us to be on the island by Friday, September 10th for a weekend of orientation before classes begin on Monday, September 13th. That is the day Micah is rolling out to head back to the states on the 14th. Boooo.

Through my program, we travel to Anti-Paros, Delos, Naxos, Mykonos, Santorini, Samos, and take an 8 day tour of Turkey. Obviously you see why this is an opportunity of a lifetime, and one I could not pass up!

I leave Greece December 11th at 6:20 am and arrive in Pittsburgh at 10:30 pm. I haven't even left for Greece yet and the excitement of coming home is already rushing through me. I'm sure I won't want to leave 'paradise', but the thought of seeing my mom for the first time in 3 months makes me want to cry. I tear up just thinking about saying goodbye to her at the airport! I'm such a baby!

Well, I think that is all I'm going to blog about for now. The world of blogging is very new to me so leave any comments, questions, concerns, or suggestions please. Have a wonderful and blessed day everyone!