Mid April - Mid May

This month has definitely been the best so far. Not because of the places I visited, though they were amazing but rather because of what I did.

I was lucky enough to be able to tag along on the third year students class trip to Greece. Because of the European Union, traveling within the Euro Zone does not require any kind of identification and so there was no problem with Visas. There were 3 classes, 3 teachers, and I totaling 41 people on the trip. Now with each of these classes I have either one or two hours a week so I had already met everyone but not had time to really make friendships with but a few.

I fell completely in love with Greece. But not because of the country itself. As anyone who pays any attention to the news knows, Greece is a country in crisis and it shows. I fell in love with Greece because it gave me a sense of purpose amongst the Italians that before I'd never had. Since Italians speak relatively no English compared with other European Nations and the world in general, commutation is typically hard for them once they leave the country. Unless they happen to have a native English speaker traveling with them. So naturally I became an important prize. Whoever traveled with me, could get me to translate whatever they wished and make sure they never got lost. Suddenly, I was not just the tag-a-long, but important. And so suddenly, people started working much harder to include me amongst friends that I kind of already had but wasn't really a part of. That was the biggest and most wonderful difference. But there were a lot of other little things that made me really enjoy Greece. For one, American TV is all in English with Greek subtitles and American news channels such as CNN were available. Plus, Greek food is AMAZING! I still love Italian food and cannot complain even the tiniest bit about it, but it would good to get some variety in my diet. Just a lot of really nice things that I had missed for so long came back.

On the first day we traveled to Bari and from there took a ferry to Greece over night. As it turned out there were two Americans on board who were backpacking across Europe having just finished South America. They were really interesting and nice and fun to talk to. By the end of the night there was probably 20 some Italians all surrounding us and speaking as well as they could.

The second day was mostly just getting to Athens. We arrived in Greece at about 2 in the afternoon and then we took a 3 our bus ride to Athens. Then we got situated in the rooms (I watched some TV while my roommate did some other stuff) and then we went down to dinner for some amazing Greek food. Then we all took a walk to "Hard Rock Cafe: Athens" and it was up to me to translate/get directions. We probably spent more time walking there (let alone back) than we did at Hard Rock but it was still fun. And so then I took a shower, washed my hair, and went to bed.

On the third day, we started out with an "American Breakfast" at the hotel. That means eggs, sausage, and bacon! Having such foods in the morning is practically death to many Italians, but those who did try it, enjoyed it. Then we were off to the Acropolis which was nice but very crowded and with little to really see and nothing more than in pictures. Although, that's really how I feel about most of the trip, but that may very well be because the guide was speaking Italian and I had to work much harder to understand anything. Then we went to one of the larger museums and how I wish I would have been able to tour it on my clock because we never stopped for long at the history I'm interested in and spent hours on things that I wasn't. At least all the explanations were in Greek and English. Then we went to lunch and afterwards we were given free time to tour central Athens. Now on an American school trip we would have to have an adult with us at all times and an official group but with Italians free time is truly free. No area we can't go past or adult we have to check in with, just free time. I spent it searching for the Athenian Starbucks with various Italians. After touring (at a very fast walk) most of the city, we failed and turned back. And it actually turns out that one day later where we had free time was where the crazy riots were =O! Then we headed to the docks and got on a different boat for another night ferry to Crete.

The next morning we woke up at 5:00 (most of us having gone to bed at some time around 3-3:30) to get off the ferry and from there drove to the hotel about 20 minutes away. We were given two hours for rest, but I don't think any of us slept. I took a quick shower before writing in my diary/watching CNN (just in time to here about the almost car bombing in NYC) and then we all started off. We visited various old sites along Crete and it was cool but not terribly interesting (though like I said, I believe that has to do with it not being in my language and therefore difficult to follow) Then we went to lunch before returning to the hotel and from there walking to the beach for an afternoon of fun in the sun. I remember thinking about how that weekend I had missed Cleveland's prom and how I wouldn't have traded the two moments for anything. Then we all went back, took showers, had dinner, and then had an interesting night. We wanted to go to some club in the area but everything was too far, so the hotel said they would play modern music, but they just took our money and so it resulted in us going back to the rooms and then doing various line dancing outside. haha.

The next morning we went to visit more ruins on Crete and then in the afternoon we went to lunch and then were given free time in the town we had lunch. There was a really beautiful beach there and I FINALLY got myself a Greek Gyro! But it was truly a beautiful beach and I think we all would have gone swimming if we had time (some did anyways but I think they regretted it after =D ) Then we made one more stop at ruins before returning to the ferry to take us back to main Greece. Most of the evening we just kind of hung out around the boat doing various things and then everyone went to bed around 3. Only I'd been having some problems with my roommates and had therefore been avoiding sleeping in the room with them for the past several days not because they aren't wonderful (they are) but because they like to talk all night at just too high to let me sleep but not high enough for me to listen all night and I couldn't find another room. So I went downstairs and I called home and Jessica for the remaining 3 hours of the night since Skype won't work at my host family's home.

When I hung up at six I went and got breakfast instead of bothering sleeping until 7. I ate with calm and ease before going up to my room at 6:45 and getting my stuff and going down at 7 to the meeting point. Even though some were late, most of us were down and ready at 7...but the teachers decided to go get breakfast while we waited. So we left at 8 (putting us 3 hours behind schedule because the ferry started 2 hours late). So we rushed through this museum and then drove two hours (i took some naps) to an old Greek/Roman theater (took pics and then left after 5 minutes) and then drove another 2 hours to another old Greek site and just took pictures out front. Most people were mow begging for lunch and so we went even though the teachers didn't want to because we were late and then we drove another 2 hours to the ferry to return home. And on that ferry was a group of EXCHANGE STUDENTS!!! They are the Rotary kids staying in Eastern Europe and most of them were actually Americans. We just started talking and then we all went down to the main deck and met some Italian friends and I worked very hard as a translator (my brain was friend from so little sleep) and then one of my Italian friends got out his guitar and one of the Americans got theirs out and we all had an international sing a long. First we did American songs such as "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley (even if technically it is Canadian) and then "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz (and I do know that is Australian) and then the Italians sang some Italian songs with the help of the other Italian school on board and then the exchange students sang some. It was really really cool. Then I went to take a shower and let the Italians try on their own in English. When I came back down there was still a big group and I would have joined them if i didn't hear that the restaurant was closing soon and I had a free food ticket. So I went with a Canadian guy only I lost him and ended up sitting with a group of Americans playing cards. It might seem silly to bother talking about this but I do have a point. As I was sitting with them, someone did something stupid that I don't remember and one guy made the comment, "Way to make and impression on the girl." In just the few hours I had known them, they accepted me as one of them. I've spent months trying to get that same "in" feeling with the Italians as I had in a few hours with the Americans. Now granted, i could talk to them in my language and they were also exchange students so they understood me more than most people could, but still. It really made me realize the difference in friendships among countries. I'd heard before that Americans are quick to make/forget friends whereas Europeans are the opposite but that really put it into perspective for me. I think this has to do with the fact that Europeans tend to all live in the same towns they grew up in with the same people for all their lives. Whereas Americans tend to move a great deal more and have to start over/make new friends much more often. I just remember how much of a shock it was for me. I felt REALLY accepted for the first time in a long time with the Americans, but the next morning they left and moved on. It took me a while to figure it out, but I like my Italian friends more. I mean, i knew it, but it was hard to see at first. Spending one day with the Americans was amazing, but it's my Italian friends that I would want to keep. I had to work hard to become their friend and so it means so much more.

And then the next day was a Latin competition in my little town with people from all over Italy and a few students from other countries around Europe. So there were several foreign students in my town and we just got along amazing and had so much fun. I literally spent the entire day with these 2 girls from Belgium and various other time with kids from Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria, and various other countries. They were just really silly and funny and nice and one of the girls from Austria even went to the US as an exchange student with AFS. We went into this Chinese store and tried on random sunglasses and hats and then bought the ugliest earrings of all time for 1 euro as a joke. We had so much fun and when it was time for me to go home at 12 I was very tired (but wanted to stay longer.) And then we met up the next morning before they all left. Them leaving was very very sad. But for different reasons than saying goodbye to the Americans. I don't really know how to explain it, only to say that it was and I still text them and whatnot.

So now my year is drawing to a close and I recently found out I will be moving again. My host family is unfortunately unable to complete the 6 months because of problems having to do with my host mom's job and so I will have to move once again for the final month and a half. It's so frustrating to know that I FINALLY really made friends here and I will have to move again and there is no hast families in my town and it seems in the area. So right now it looks like I will spend my final month in the home of another exchange student a few hours away from where I am now. And she is really cool and I'm really excited to get to spend my last month with her, but I am still really upset that all these months work will also be for nothing. Well not nothing, I DID finally make friends and I will always have the memories (my week in Greece was definitely the highlight of my year) but all the same, moving again is not something I'm thrilled about.

But thats all I'm going to say for this month, though I'm sure there is more I would like to talk about. I realize I have several teachers on the list and with school ending you won't be able to receive my final 2 entries (next month and one for after I return) but if you would like, send me other email addresses so you can receive them. Thanks as always for reading (and putting up with the hundreds of errors I'm sure I made) =)