Athens

It's hard to describe how I feel for Athens these days. I miss my friends and bits and pieces of life there, for sure. I miss our group of girls and coffee dates and meeting up on a whim in the evenings for a walk or a glass of wine. I miss our chats and the depth of relationship I was able to create with several people in a short time. There's something about sharing common circumstances in life (being a foreigner, single girl, in Greece, etc.) that forges bonds quickly.

Occasionally when I see friends' photos or hear stories from there, I feel this pang of familiarity and loss. It's strange; I can't say I miss the city, to be honest. I do miss the lifestyle, the feeling of being somewhat familiar with and being "at home" in another culture, and aspects of what life was there for me. But I don't miss the city, the dirtiness, the drug addicts, the brothels, the hardness and apathy and rebellion, feeling of always being a foreigner, the struggle with language. I don't really miss Athens at all.

The funny thing is, I hold so many fond memories and feelings for my time in Greece, but I know that if I went back it wouldn't be the same. A different blend of people, the absence of my fun apartment in my cool neighborhood, different work and social circumstances, and even more unrest and disruption. It will never be the same as it was while I was there. So I guess what I think fondly of is the time, the memories, and the friends and circumstances that came together to make my time there what it was. I'm glad I was there when I was. I like to think I made my little mark and others made theirs on me. :)

Wow, how life changes in a hurry. Life now looks nothing like it did even four months ago. Adjusting to a third culture (where I am SO SO SO thankful they speak English), new people, new job, and soon to be new marriage. It's exciting and feels like a grand adventure is just beginning. So Athens has become another place that I think of when I think of "home" and my friends there are others that I count as close and significant when I think of my important people.

I saw this video on a friend's facebook page a couple months ago. It brings feelings of familiarity and loss, but also of distance. Memories of what was, but knowledge that that isn't my life anymore. And ultimately - fortunately! - contentment and excitement about where I am now. :)

Athens...the Little Great City (I know it's big, sorry)

new habits die hard

I picked up a couple bad habits in Greece, like staying up too late (comes with the job - and the culture). Seeing as how it's currently 1 am, that one has stuck around. :(

Another bad habit is one that I just noticed Sunday. I knew I did it, but I realized that it has quite unfortunately carried over to Australia. In the car on the way home from church on Sunday, Andrew asked what I thought of the sermon. "It was fine," I answered. Truthfully? I had no idea. He asked me about some specific points and saw right through my generic responses ... I wasn't even listening to the message.

After two years of sitting through Greek services and meetings and artfully tuning out that which I did not understand, it is going to take some retraining of the brain to focus and actually listen to a sermon! No longer do I have a good excuse to use the time to think through my week's workout schedule or whether I should go back and buy that dress that I saw on sale a few days ago. It's in English now!

Don't get me wrong - I WANT to listen! There have been a few really good ones that have actually held my attention in the last couple months. But in general my attention span for anyone speaking in front of a group probably doesn't exceed 5 minutes at the moment. After that, I just can't help it! No matter how hard I try and focus, the wandering begins. Blame it on the Greeks who natter on incomprehensibly (to me, anyway) for three times the necessary time duration. Or blame it on my laziness. Whatever.

Bad missionary.

(I should have made a "bad missionary" label for this blog years ago - I would have so many awesome entries by now.)

Deep breaths

goodbyes

I'm leaving tomorrow. For a whole new life, basically. Ok, bye.

Where did the time go?

Miss them already...

I have two full days left in Athens. Tomorrow is my goodbye party, Monday I'll tie up some last minute loose ends, and Tuesday I fly.

Even though it's been a quick transition and the past few weeks have flown by, I feel like I've had the time I need for good closure with friends, work, etc. I've felt twinges of sadness here and there, knowing I'll miss this place (and especially these people), but I'm ready. Some GREAT friends have helped me with the packing and cleaning, and since I am leaving my furniture for the couple who will be moving in next month, it's a pretty easy move logistically.

I'm trying to mentally prepare myself to go through the process all over again of learning my new surroundings and making friends. I was prepared when I came to Greece; I'm feeling a little less ambitious about it this time. It will be nice having Andrew there; here's to hoping I don't drive him crazy with my temporary dependence. ;)

Anyway, somehow weeks have turned into days and suddenly I'm staring my departure in the face. I alternate between confidence, freaking out, and excitement, and sometimes it's a little too much so I completely ignore it all. :) It works for me. I'll hit the ground running there with IT stuff, so it may be November before I can sit and process and make decisions. Stay tuned, I guess ... that's what I'm doing!

...and what I'm most looking forward to

These are the things that are going to make me feel right at home in the next few months!

English! - there might be an accent and they might say funny things, but I'll take it. Shopping in English, church in English, eavesdropping in English, instruction manuals in English, customer service in English...THANK YOU!!!!!

Driving - even if it's on the wrong side of the road. It means I am free to come and go as I please. I am not at the mercy of striking transportation workers, I don't have to carry 12 bags of groceries on the long walk home, and I can leave the perimeters of the city center WHENEVER I WANT!

Real grocery stores - big, beautiful, and almost anything I want. I can't even imagine.

English - it's a really big deal.

Restaurant variety - Thai, Indian, attempted Mexican, even Greek if I need it ... I want it all!!

And, well...
:)

3, 2, 1, blastoff

Ready for shipment! 2010

I've got a week to go, but my stuff does not! Stacie came over a few times this week and I am indebted to her for life as she basically packed all my belongings for me. Haha. I did help. :) Thank the Lord for friends who love packing and organizing! Two days and we knocked it out; tomorrow these babies are headed south.

Greece-bound, 2008

I came to Greece two years ago with three suitcases plus a carry on and a backpack (see photo). I'm leaving with five suitcases and the backpack. No matter how much stuff you get rid of, it still seems to grow!

Speaking of getting rid of, all my other belongings are sorted and designated as 1) pack (in my one remaining suitcase), 2) give away, or 3) throw away. Two (skinny) girls came and took most of the clothes I got rid of (YAY for being able to clothe my friends and YAY for my clothes fitting skinny people!). (Hopefully my clothes will still fit ME after this last week of eating all my favorite foods!) The throwaways have been thrown, the give aways are being given, and my worldly possessions are dwindling...until we meet again.

Top 10 things I'll miss about Greece

Since everyone keeps asking, and "my friends" doesn't seem to satisfy as an answer ...

10. constant excitement - You're always on your toes here, with strikes, demonstrations, and just a general unconventional way of going about things. Never a dull moment! (And, on second thought, I really won't miss this at all.) :)
9. language - Greek is hard. But there is something satisfying about learning and being able to communicate in another language that you never get to experience as a tourist.

8. periptera - I will miss these kiosks!

7. sandal man - There is this guy in Plaka from whom I buy these great Greek-made sandals. They aren't the most flashy, but they're made for lots of walking and they have gotten me and my bad feet through two summers. There is definitely a price to pay (usually in the form of nasty attempted kisses), so I suppose it's not the sandal man that I'll miss, but the sandals themselves!
6. fresh produce - Who doesn't love the weekly neighborhood λαϊκή (farmer's market)?
5. close proximity to Europe and elsewhere - In less than two weeks I'll be located at the bottom of the earth. Really wishing I could have gotten to more of the amazing cultural destinations that Europe (and beyond!) has to offer while I was so close, but so thankful for those I saw!
4. public transportation - Visiting other cities I've paid $4 or more to ride the metro, trains, and buses. In Athens, 1 euro will get you 90 minutes on any combination of the metro, buses, and trams. Since I live centrally, getting around is really easy here. Even when I can't get to my destination by public transportation, a taxi usually isn't more than 3-5 euros wherever I need to go.

3. Greek food and the taverna experience - I love sitting in a Greek restaurant (taverna) with a group of friends, ordering the familiar dishes, and sharing everything family-style. This doesn't always fly everywhere you go. The combination of the great food and the ambiance and being with friends is one of the things I'll miss the most.
2. beach & islands - I think this is self explanatory! Though my job isn't pretty, I tried to escape to the beach or a close by island on free weekends to get out of the city. I discovered that I love swimming in the warm Mediterranean! What a blessing to live in a country with such beautiful places.

1. my friends. They will still top the list. I have old ones, and I will make new ones, but these ones have shared much and been the highlight of my two years here.

gratitude

Ever since Australia became an option, even before it was a sure thing, I started to stress out about my apartment. Breaking my lease early, paying fees to turn off the phone/internet, and worse, selling or getting rid of all my furniture and house stuff! Gah! Greeks don't buy used items; they throw them away. (Lots of my friends have scored awesome things out of dumpsters...if you can get past the whole dumpster thing.) Sometimes you can sell stuff to expats, if your departure happens to correspond with another's arrival.

So I began to pray for someone to be able to move into my house and buy all my furniture. A long shot, so I started to mentally prepare myself for the chore of packing up, itemizing, pricing, selling, and vacating my beloved apartment. I knew there was one couple possibly coming with another organization in January, but that wasn't for sure, and that still left two months' rent to pay to hold the place for them. They never responded to an email. But I kept praying for that solution, maybe as the easy way out or the least-stress option - which seemed like an ok thing to hope for!

The day I got back from Australia a couple weeks ago, I heard that a couple that has been thinking of coming to work with Nea Zoi for awhile was in fact coming, in January. I thought I'd write to them and just see if they were interested. I knew they loved my neighborhood when they were here last year and would obviously need a place to live.

What has ensued has been exactly what I prayed for - in fact, even better than what I prayed for. The couple is now coming in November - the month after I leave. They are going to buy all my furniture (!) - so I just need to pack up the stuff I'm taking with me and leave. My landlord was not only fine with them moving in, but told me not to pay October rent (I paid first and last month's rent when I moved in) and she is giving me my deposit back. I had thought that I'd have to work this out with the couple coming, but it's all completely arranged - better than I even dreamed it could turn out!!!!

I keep saying WOW!! I can't believe it has worked out this way, EXACTLY as I hoped and prayed. Further confirmation to me that it's time to move on, but also just a major blessing and stress reliever. I'm SO GRATEFUL to not have to deal with stressful logistics. (Instead I can focus on the psychological stress of a second cross-continental move in two years, ha.) I'm just a bit blown away when I think about it. It really cuts down on the number of things I need to do before I leave, and allows me to spend that time with friends and enjoying my last weeks here.

Wow. :)

The beginning of the end

I'm sitting on my couch ... a familiar place, one where I spend entirely too much time sometimes ... thinking how three weeks from this moment I'll be on a plane somewhere over the Middle East, feeling who-knows-what and undoubtedly thinking entirely too much.

I spent this morning writing budgets and filling out renewal applications for support, writing my prayer letter making my "big announcement," and scheduling appointments with people on the other side of the world, in that country down there, the one with kangaroos and koalas and stuff. Because, you know, three weeks from today, I'm leaving Greece and moving to Australia.

This afternoon was a great meeting, a sort of debrief from our summer intern program, now that everyone is back and heads are collected from summer breaks. (It takes awhile to get things rolling again in the fall around here.) What we learned, what worked, what to do better next time. And should there be a next time, I've decided that I'll be back here next summer to teach it again. That's exciting. It also makes leaving a bit easier...I'll be back.

And tonight, a wonderful night with some great girlfriends. As my time here comes to an end, I don't want to be wishing that I spent more time with friends. So tonight after our meeting we sat for hours at the pub, laughing hysterically and sorting through life's problems. Dinner is best followed by good dessert, so we moved along to the cafe down the street from my place, with the best chocolate souffle in town (I'm biased; everything is better when it only takes two minutes to walk home afterward). I'm so thankful for good friends here, and this will definitely be the hardest part about leaving.

So begins the end...............

What I'd miss* about Athens... the Periptero!!!

*Potentially, possibly, if, when, etc. etc. etc. Don't freak out.

It's really hot. I bought all these cute fall clothes while I was in the States, none of which I have worn, as it's 9 million degrees. Today I was sitting in the post office waiting my turn and felt the sweat trickling down my back. My face is a continual shining beacon, lighting the way for lost travelers.

Anyway, I am thinking of all these great things that I'll miss about this place if I end up leaving. There are many, so I'll dive right in.

#1- the corner periptero, or kiosk.

These little structures are on any and every street corner. I pass three on my three minute walk to my neighborhood metro station. Here you can buy newspapers and magazines ... water, soda, juice, beer, milk & yogurt (if you're lucky) ... bus & metro tickets ... cigarettes, pain killers, gum ... candy, chips, cookies ... phone cards, postcards ... ice cream ... batteries ...Some really decked out ones have sunglasses (where do you think my fabulous shades below came from?!), T-shirts, watches, backpacks, magnets, suitcases.....

So many times I have run out to the kiosk to pick something up or stopped on the way to a destination to arrive with a snack or drink in hand. Oh so convenient, oh so quick. A Moldovan friend who lives in Greece was in the States once and they needed some ibuprofen and she said, "Can we just go out to the kiosk?" Of course, they looked at her strangely. This is one thing that Greece has on the US! It's brilliant, really.

[somewhat disjointed] thoughts on leaving

I didn't go running tonight, like I was (noncommittally) thinking about doing. I sat on my couch reading blogs, in the dark, and ate. Chocolate. A whole freaking bar of chocolate. And a small plate of nachos. That little salad with carrots and beets and a little grilled chicken and balsamic vinegar? Never saw the light of day.

I feel like I haven't blogged in a long time. Like, really blogged. Wrote about feelings and thoughts and stuff. Which is fine; most of those things don't necessarily need to be for public consumption. I guess I wrote a post a few below about indifference vs. passion and things like that, in which I included an obligatory "but I'm a missionary" happy, moral ending. Good for me.

So, anyway, I might leave Athens. Not sure on the if/when, but it's something I'm beginning to process and understand more the more I feel I'm settling back in here. Like yesterday I had to call the phone company and ask why my phone/internet weren't working. The girl didn't speak English so I got the whole thing done in Greek. Ok, so I didn't understand half the words she said, but I got the drift, and we figured it out, and today it's all back and functional. And I'm having a good time with my friends here. It feels like home more than anywhere else does at the moment, I'm learning to get around (though that's not without its frustrations, still), and I have good relationships. Also, have you seen Greek beaches??

But those aren't the reason I'm here ... it's the work. And it's the work part that might be moving me on. Exciting, new opportunities, ones that might possibly reignite my passion somehow and be a better fit for my skills, etc., but ones that aren't here. Of course, there are a lot of pieces to this puzzle, and that will all come out over the next couple months, but for now I'm still sitting on my couch in Greece surrounded by my own crap (stuff! books, mail, bags, nail polish, half empty glasses, papers, that chocolate wrapper, a stuffed kangaroo ... what crap were you thinking about?) pondering how quickly life can change and what it could mean to start life over ... again ... in a third country...

I have melted chocolate on my arm. Awesome. And I thought it was all gone.