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!