Sara (Greece) - GOATS

So, considering it’s been a ridiculous amount of time since my last post, I figured I’d hop on this thing and update! And, for the time being, I’m going to disregard the fact that I start with that exact same sentence almost every post! Wow. Anyway, back to business I suppose.
I don’t really know where to start actually. The last I wrote was right before spring break, so I guess that’s as good a place as any! Spring break was amazing. It was a month ago, but it was still the best time I’ve had here all semester. My family and Derek trekked over to Athens and for about 8 days and we tore up the country! Well, alright, not tore exactly, but you get the picture. We were in Athens for a few days, and then went to Nafplio, Mycenae, Corinth and the Isthmus. My two brothers left for London, and we continued to hike up into the mountains to this ridiculously charming mountain town called Zaklarou! Some of the most amazing pictures I have taken happened during that trip. And…AND I saw goats. AND SHEEP! Not only did I see them, there were huge herds of them way up in the mountains. They had bells around their necks and a legit herder with a little beagle. They were all over the mountain roads and the trails. We must have seen upwards of 6 groups. Crazy.
So, after about 8 days, Derek and my parents left; which left me about 9 weeks of Greece before I had to head home. Since then, I’ve dropped a class, written a bunch of papers and gone to Olympia and Delphi with my class. That in itself was amazing. I got to run a stade (ancient Olympic running event) in the first every Olympic stadium! And Delphi was just awe inspiring in itself, as you will be hard pressed to read any ancient text and not find over 200 references to the oracle at Delphi in the first 3 chapters! Going back to Beloit, and studying Classics will never be the same, as I can now attest to everything that ancient writers are describing in their accounts of the land. Not only can I attest to it, I can picture it. Amazing.
And that’s about it so far. After spring break, things have been pretty relaxed around here. However, this is my last weekend before a crazy 3-week filled time of trips, and so far, its been wonderful. Two nights ago, I went with 6 other girls and we found an Irish Pub in Athens (Weird, I know) where we drank excellent beer and sang raucously to a bunch of iconic American songs until a ridiculously early time in the morning. Last night, I met up with my roommate Danielle and another girl named Danielle and we made burritos…sort of. Apparently, Greece is devoid of sour cream, tortilla shells, tortilla chips, cilantro, beans and ripe avocadoes. Though, one thing Greece has taught me is to improvise at all costs! We had rice with “Mexican Sauce,” basically glorified ketchup. We found canned red kidney beans and combined some tomatoes and onions to make salsa! And finally, we used pita for the tortillas. It actually turned our pretty decent!
Next week, I have a Mt. Olympus trip planned, where, yes, I will be climbing Mt. Olympus! The weekend after is Greek Easter. Cue Danielle, Erin and me going to Crete to see Knossos and hike an 8 hour gorge! The weekend after I will be Santorini with Danielle and Erin again, where we will go tanning and snorkeling! Finally, I come back to Athens to perform the play (Antigone) I’m in. One more weekend after and I’m home. That leaves 5 weeks and I’m back in the states for good! I really can’t believe that my experience here is almost done! There have for sure been ups and downs to the trip, but it just seemed to go so fast. It’s weird to think I won’t be able to look out of the classroom window and see the Acropolis or Lykovitos Hill anymore. Hmm. But I suppose all good things have to come to an end sometime! Well, that’s it. Missing everyone at home and abroad tons, and I think about you guys often! I’ll see you all soon!!