TICKETS, PLEASE: Opa!

Over winter break, I went on an adventure. Destination: Athens, Greece. It was actually my second time there, but I was happy to go back and experience the city as a young adult (Yay, 18 year-old drinking age!). Everytime I travel to Europe, I fall deeper in love with the continent, the people, and the lifestyle. I could go on and on about all of my experiences while in Greece, but in an effort not to bore you all, I have something else to share. A list. While sipping a cappuccino in a restaurant during my long layover in London, I made a list of the things I learned on my journey

1. Knowing more than one language is power. After being immersed for a week in a language I couldn't understand, I didn't realize how great of a feeling it would be to hear English again on my way home during my connection in London. I didn't feel small anymore. It's not until I heard my beloved language that I realized how much more powerful I felt when I could comprehend. Perhaps if I could have understood the Greek language, I would have been able to connect more with the people.

2. People are not staring at me because I'm black. "Have they never seen someone with dark skin before?!" is a question I continuously asked myself during my first few days in Greece. "Self-conscious" is a word that described how I felt when eyes, like little daggers, always seemed on me. But after a few days of feeling uneasy, I realized something. The locals stare at everyone, not just at me. Greek people are rumored to be curious. If they like the way you look, they stare, if they don't like the way you look, they stare, if you seem interesting, they stare. It is nothing personal.

Rain and lanterns on a backstreet

3. PDA is healthy. Sitting in the bustling, lively Greek squares, I people watched for hours. Relationships are so easily visible. Mothers and daughters walking hand-in-hand (regardless of age), men walking with their arms around one other, friends walking with linked arms. It was so beautiful the way displays of relationships were so visible and public. Displays of happiness without of fear judgement.

My favorite place in Athens thus far- Plaka

4. "Personal space" is completely, utterly an American concept. This is pretty much self-explanatory.

5. Europeans dress. Being a self-proclaimed lover of all things style, to say I adore European style is an understatement. Women dress so femininely and with no shame. Bell skirts, platform heels, clean lines, leather handbags- so beautiful. Men looked as though they'd stepped straight off of the pages of GQ Magazine.

NYE Party in Athens

6. Airports can be enjoyable after-all. My favorite thing about airports is imagining how many people other than yourself are embarking on adventures. I found myself watching people and wondering about where they are going, how they are feeling, and about their entire life story, basically. Is that weird?

7. Challenge yourself. Eat new foods, attempt to communicate with the locals, be a sponge. You will find that this will make your journey much more rewarding.