Better Late Than Never...
I was inspired by a fellow coworker to start a little newsletter while living abroad, and after two months of navigating my work-life routine, i’m ready to dive in to this little side project!
It has officially been over two months of living in Greece! While two months is not very long, so much has happened… So…
Let me catch you up through some old journal entries I have….
WEEK 1 — 2
“I can’t believe I’m here. I don’t know how to feel. I’m in slight disbelief and denial honestly. I must keep reminding myself that this is a BIG new chapter in my life — its okay to be afraid and scared and freaked out…”
“So I went to the beach Sunday and it was really fun and relaxing. I need to remind myself to unplug from my phone during the day….”
“Ok so apparently, turns out that Nino flew here just to see me! I had no idea, I legit thought he coincidentally came here. We got coffee Monday and Tuesday, which was so lovely — he was so sweet. He asked me to stay longer and even sleep over… like I can be DTF but honestly, I’m trying to hold myself to a higher standard. If I don’t want to do X I don’t have to…”
“Everything has really been working out for me too — manifesting is real…”
WEEKS 3 — 5
“Daily Highlights so far
I’m grateful for the rush of energy I get after my morning pilates — and the fact that I get to do it. This type of morning movement is helping me realize that I really can do anything w/ an aligned mind-body connection — MIND OVER MATTER…”
“ I love peeling the burnt shells off my overcooked microwave-oven eggs. I feel like a geologist, or like the fate of my enjoyment of the egg depends on how I peel it…”
“ I love how students value my guidance. I can see them grow and mature through their writing…”
“ I feel whole from the connections i’ve made here… a little less alone, a little less lonely…”
“ I am so thankful to be in Greece. In this moment, i’m by the rock-sandy beach, digesting the most amazing lunch I could have ever imagninged thus far, sipping coffee, and enjoying the company of coworkers turning to friends….”
“Living slow is sexy. There doesn’t NEED to be a crazy rush 24/7…”
“Today (9/11) is the first day of school! It is so nice to be surrounded by kids and youthful energy. The language barrier is a bit overwhelming and isolating at times, but I am going to be patients (patients = virtue). I’m still waiting to fully figure out my role on campus, but again, I must be patients and enjoy the moment I am in. It’s hard not to feel hopeless right now, but staying positive and proactive is helping a lot…”
“ Today (9/11) is also the first day of Shut up and Write, a time to just write… thats all. This is my time test my ability + ambition to “do” things; not wait around for direction, but take initiative on my own…”
“I WILL POOP TODAY I WILL POOP TODAY I WILL POOP TODAY…”
“Ok. I’ve been here for just over a month… already had some highs + lows, but as I sit in my room recovering from being sick, I’m looking forward and reflecting on all the amazing things i’ve done so far…”
WEEKS 6 — 8
“ 2:45 Having solo lunch @Tiffany’s 1905
Beautiful grilled filet of white fish, lemon emulsion and satueed greens — CHEFFS KISS!”
“This week i’m going to reconnect myself, reground myself. I think i’m trying to force myself to do too much…”
“Today is a good day. I feel it. I am free — no more micro planning — I plan for experiences…”
“There is something nostalgic about the smell of freshly brewed coffee on a crisp fall day. The air is dry, sun warming the surface is beams down on, while the shaded crannies of the kitchen remain cold — trapping the wind that snuck in.
Freshly brewed coffee alone is not my cup of tea, but I enjoy it from a distance.
This morning, while trudging on the side of the winding road to work, I felt “meh”. When I got to school though I felt better; the sun filled me on my walk and warmed my soul. I like widen my eyes in the sunlight because it makes me feel like a magical creature.
I proceeded to the school kitchen where I was met with a friendly smell of freshly brewed coffee. It reminds me of morning in the Adirondecks; waking up with the sun, dew still drying on the plush grass, Grandpa making soft-boiled eggs as I let me feet dangel off the counter, watching him carefully place and remove the eggs — all while my Grandma pours herself a freshly brewed cup of coffee…”
“ Woah, a lot of crazy stuff to tell! I went ot crete with Katie and TEss over the long weekend. All I can say is NOT RESTFUL, but SO FUN — the most spontaneous weekend i’ve ever had in my life…”
“Friday we did the touristy stuff I really wanted to do; hop-on/off buss, museums, and an amazing cafe called Cooking with Love. The cafe owners brought us in their kitchen to let us pick what our meal was going to be. In the evening we grabbed drinks at a bar called Domes.
I thought it would be fun to meet up with some guys I matched with on Hinge… so we did. This is where the weekend gets crazy…
Katie, Tess, and I met these two boys, from Montana; 21 yrs old, unshowered-golden retrievers, kind, and homeless (not actually but also kind of). We let them stay with us for the remaining three nights. Katie and I went on a wild and romantic advecutre with them the next day to Matala (Hippie Land) — went cliff jumping, swam in the sea, watched the sunset, kissed…
I felt like I was living in a Sundance Movie. It was so fantastical yet scary — i’ve never done anything like that before. I am so proud of myself for leaning into the unknown. And the boy I met, Sam, is such a kind-amazing human :)
Also side note Pasta (for privacy purposes this will be someones name) and I are going on a date when I get back from break and I asked him out … eeeeek!
“Happy Halloween! A favorite holiday of mine, but Greece doesn’t really celebrate it… I’m dressed as a cowboy for the kids today ( a little American flare). Today will be spooky for sure… The Montana boys are coming to visit Katie and me…
“The parents are here! I’m so happy they are here – I need to sit in that feeling and not anxiety. I don’t need to over plan, just enjoy their company….”
A FEW OTHER NOTABLE THINGS …
Ran a 5k // Art Gala with Grandparents // Ergon Agora (market) // beaching with Joanna // Wine + Cheese Night // Thrift Market // Germany Expo // Little-Big Diner
Now we're all caught up … sort of!