Welcome to Athens

Every day here keeps getting better and better. I don't even know how that's possible. Today marked our first adventure into the beautiful and ancient city of Athens, and wow. I'm in love with this city I've only been in once.

We toured the the Acropolis area and saw the PARTHENON! It's in the process of being reconstructed so there was a crane there haha but it was still amazing. And the view? Nope. Can't even handle it. You could see everything in Athens, the whole city stretched below us.

Here's a panorama our director Dr. J took of the Acropolis view!

We're at the ACROPOLIS!

I'm in GREECE y'all!

More precious puppy dogs. Followed us on our tour.

The entire group (and dog) in front of the Parthenon

 After the Acropolis we visited Mars Hill, just a short walk from there. Mars Hill is the site where Paul spoke to the Athenians and delivered speeches. It was so powerful being able to stand where Paul once stood and imagine him speaking to the people of Greece.

My group standing and looking out from Mars Hill. Even though it was rainy, the view was amazing.

The speech from Acts 17 Paul is said to have delivered at Mars Hill.

We ate lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in Athens afterwards -- I know, I know, that's not Greek food! We just went to the Parthenon and we're eating burgers? What! But hey, it was really cool.

The soda in Greece is different! I tried orange Fanta. Seriously tasted like fresh oranges were in there, with less syrupy taste.

We were able to walk about the city after that! Now, the streets in Athens are very narrow, the buildings are right next to each other, and the people drive really small cars. No trucks like in Texas. At all. And the whole city is a giant juxtaposition too; you can see modern styles mixed with ancient ones, graffiti right next to a bank or public office, an old beautiful church next to a new store. I can't wait to go back and explore more! (And buy things!! SO MANY SHOPS!)

Lastly we visited the Acropolis museum. So many ancient old things. Interesting, but most of us were so tired by that point that we were ready to head back to Porto Rafti!

View of the Acropolis from the museum

Greek student ID and ticket to get in

 Every day I'm here I am more and more excited about what's to come. I've only been here a few days, but it's beginning to feel like home. I know Porto Rafti a little better now. The Greek culture is so welcoming and friendly. And something changes in you once you see another country. I can't quite explain it right now. But it's happening. I'm not any different than I was when I arrived 2 days ago. And yet I am. Realizing there are other people and things outside my own little world--it's amazing. Going someplace you're unfamiliar with that is foreign and strange is humbling and very eye opening. What an amazing opportunity I have been blessed with.

Oh! Exchanged my American money with Dr. J and got some euros!! (This is the equivalent of $90 right here)

The One with the Porto Rafti Introduction

Today. Was. So. Busy.
Classes started at 8:15, and 33 bleary eyes greeted our bible professor, Mr. Baker, in the downstairs classroom after a quick breakfast of baklava, pastries, fruit, cereal, and juice. After that was chapel in the living room at 9:15. It was such a different chapel time than the typical Harding student experiences, sitting around in couches and chairs, with promise of future group discussions instead of staring at a speaker on a podium.
After that was western literature at 10am, a class I'm really looking forward to. It's not going to be too hard, but we're required to take notes on all the trips we go on and do a presentation on a site we go to.
11 o'clock finally came and I ain't even gonna lie--I took a nap. Still tired from jet lag and done with classes for the day (We do an odd/even day system. Today was an odd day and I only had those two classes) it was nice to just rest :)
Now to the good parts.
Lunch was yummmmmmmy. Chicken, potatoes, salad (with olive oil and feta cheese, of course) and bread with some kind of cookie.Getting used to Greek food. After clean up we toured Porto Rafti! Dr. J showed us the main highlights and necessities around town, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and the gelato shops and bakery!

The sweet gelato lady!

Eating gelato!

Cute old lady pushing her puppy dog around! She was so so sweet.

 Our last stop was everyone's favorite: THE AEGEAN SEA. It was amazing. The water was so clear and although it is too cold to swim in right now it's absolutely beautiful to look at.

The world is MINE :))

 The rest of the day was filled with a complete tour of The Artemis (we have a gym, a library, a computer lab, and a pool. So cool.) Then dinner, a travel meeting covering EVERYWHERE we will be going on our trip - Peloponnese, Israel, Egypt, Northern Greece, and a Mediterranean Cruise including a day in Turkey, in addition to the destination we choose for our long free travel weekend. (I'm thinking Italy right now...not sure.) I'M SO EXCITED!!! It's slowly sinking in that this is real, I'm here. Traveling and seeing these places I'd only seen in pictures before. After this trip is over, I will have visited 3 more continents (Europe, Asia, and Africa) Amazing.

Tomorrow is the Athens tour - super pumped! I need some new adjectives. I have no words right now besides awesome and amazing. Because, well, everything here is awesome and amazing.

PS. Fun fact about Greece. There are dogs. Everywhere. It's just so great. 

Playing with the puppy dogs! Makes me miss my babies at home.

PPS. Sorry if this is super photo heavy. Getting used to the blog thing and I'm really excited about the hundreds of photos I've taken :)) (And yes the title is a tribute to FRIENDS. I'm still mourning that it's over and I will never have another new episode to watch again.)

Yassou Greece!

I'M HERE. After 3 flights and a total of 14ish hours traveling, I'm in Greece.
And holy cow it's amazing.
To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, this is what I get to wake up to every morning:

It's absolutely breathtaking here. To welcome us into Greek culture our Greece directors picked us up from the airport in Athens and we drove back to The Artemis (our home for next 3 months!) in Porto Rafti.  We moved our stuff into our rooms and had a little down time before a quick orientation session.

Room 244 with the lovely Alli and Kelsey!

After orientation the Directors (Dr. J and Mama B) introduced us to their culture properly with an authentic Greek dinner: salad (onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, feta cheese, and olive oil), bread (with more olive oil), potatoes (like french fries, with you guessed it, olive oil), fried zucchini with cheese on top, and a choice of a pork or chicken gyro or a pork or chicken skewer. The gyro was seriously to die for. (DO NOT PRONOUNCE JY-RO. It is pronounced HERO.)

1st authentic gyro!

They taught us to say thanks to our hosts like this: F HARRY'S TOE. But put it all together and do your best to hide your American accent.

After walking back to the Artemis we had a job meeting, a name game, and tea time. Let me tell you, Greek nutella is AMAZING. Is it blasphemy to say it's better than ours?

Anyways, first day of classes tomorrow starting at 8:15. Despite being really jet lagged right now at 12:30AM Greek time, I'm completely wired. I'm so excited to be here and can't wait for the Porto Rafti tour tomorrow. But I'd better sleep, so I'm not dead tomorrow.
Kali Nichta! (Good night, another phrase they taught us tonight)

ONE DAY MORE.

So tomorrow's kind of a big day.
Tomorrow begins my Greek adventure abroad for the next 3 months. I'm so excited. A tad nervous. BUT SO READY.  At this time tomorrow I'm going to be flying over the Atlantic Ocean, on my way from Atlanta to Amsterdam. And then...GREECE. Pinch me, I must be dreaming right?

I've never been abroad before, so having this opportunity is just beyond belief. I have been so incredibly BLESSED. And so I decided I would start a blog. Mostly for me, to write down my thoughts and feelings and to help me remember EVERYTHING. I'm so ready to soak it all in. But it's also to share with family and friends and update them on how things are going. I've always kept journals, but having a blog is something I've always wanted to do (I have a bucket list, and don't laugh, this is something that was on there). So here goes nothing haha.

I have no idea how I'm going to sleep tonight. The Les Mis soundtrack is stuck in my head. (Those of you who caught the title reference, I applaud you, you fine well-cultured and full of great taste people)

Until tomorrow then.

"I am looking for someone to share in an adventure..." GANDALF