Today marks my final day in Greece, and it is not enough to say that it was an experience. In my time at the University of Alabama this may have been one of the best things I can do with my time. The lectures were fun and interesting, the food was cheap and flavorful, and the people reminded me of home in a somewhat esoteric way.
It is an odd feeling, saying goodbye. For a short time, this has been my home. We’ve dodge from hotel to hotel, bus ride to bus ride, before ending at the small town of Pefkohori. It’s not that I don’t want to go home truly, not even that I’m not ready to leave. It’s been three weeks and I’m ready to see my family, but it’s still a bitter sweet goodbye. I’m going to miss souvlaki but I deeply wish for sweet tea and barbecue. I will have withdrawals from midday siestas, but we must return home at some point. It took a while to figure why I had such complicated feelings regarding this departure.
After long hours contemplating at the nearby Irish pub, I eventually figured why I was so mixed up about leaving. It’s the feeling of no return. For all we’ve seen, there is still more we’ve wished to see. For all we’ve done, we haven’t scratched the surface. We’ve made unbreakable bonds and everlasting memories. Walking the boardwalk, we discussed that it would be easier if we could just go home for a few weeks and return when we wished. Not only such, but our desire for wanderlust has been reignited, wishing to see more of the world outside our door (and borders). Thus, we’ve decided that this will not be goodbye, but rather a see you soon.
