Home!

My journeys have come to an end.  I'm finally home safe and sound.  As lame as it sounds, besides seeing everyone again, I am most excited to have clean laundry again!  Seriously, my suitcase was not smelling so good...I've been sleeping, trying to get on the right time zone, as well as readjusting myself to a different lifestyle.  For example, I've had to throw my toilet paper in a trashbin for 3 months, so now it's weird for me to flush it down the toilet.  I no longer need power adaptors to plug things in.  It was also weird, walking through the Chicago airport, being able to understand everyone around me.  Handling US money is awkward too.  Lyra and euros are fatter and shorter than US bills, and I'm used to having one and two lyra/euro coins instead of one dollar bills.  There are different mind sets about money too that I have to get used to again.  Talking to Yannis, a friend in Greece, he said that Americans like to save.  We're worried about the future and seem to always be concerned with bills and maintaining a certain lifestyle.  Overseas, they're more relaxed with their money.  They don't have large bank accounts~if they make money, they spend it.  Yannis said they don't have large houses or save up for fancy things, they go out and have a good time with what they've got.  From siestas to leisurely meals, I'll definitely miss the pace of life, not to mention the amazing food.

Well, if I think of any more cultural observations, I'll probably blog about them some other time.  If there's ever an opportunity to study abroad, I reccomend you take the chance.  It's a life-changing experience, and you'll learn way more than you ever would in a class room.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask~I'd love to share my adventure with you!