After the last exam I was lead back to the study room by what must have been muscle memory. I set up at my normal work station and then realized we were finally free. I could feel that a weight had been lifted from the group and big smiles started to stretch over everyone's faces. Within five minutes the jubilation had taken hold and we were running around the room making paper airplanes like a bunch of preschoolers strung out on Fun Dip. In a state of elation we left the campus of the University of Patras for the last time and headed downtown for further celebration. Our first and only stop for the night was the bozoukia for a real Greek farewell. We all had a great time watching the live music and getting on the stage to dance. I think the bozoukia really epitomizes the Greek experience. It is all about getting together with a big group of your friends, watching the world go by, and staying out way way too late.
The Greeks like to do a really "heavy" dance.
The next morning I woke up to a telephone call from Enrique. He was on the bus leaving Patras and realized he had packed everything except for his passport; apparently these things are necessary for international travel. After pleading with the driver he said he finally got the bus to pull over on the side of the highway. I quickly got a cab and tried my best to explain to the driver that we were going to get on the highway to find a bus. After reassuring him several times that I knew what I was doing and exactly what I was saying we found the bus sitting on the shoulder of the road. I knew it was the right one because I heard people yelling and then saw Enrique pop his head out of the door. This event basically epitomized the stressful pace of the last month in Greece.
When I got back to the house I realized I only had about fourteen hours before I had to leave. I flew around the house trying to clean up as best I could and get everything packed. I went downtown to buy my bus ticket and walk around for the last time. The sun was just starting to set over the sea. The cruise ships were all lit up and everything was decorated for carnival. It was a really beautiful sight and I could have sat there for hours just soaking it all in, but knew I should be going. As I was leaving I saw Tamara and Sanja and we stopped for one last Greek coffee. We sat and talked about the events of the last month and our upcoming trip to Italy. The time had absolutely flown by and I think Sanja summed it up best when she said that it felt like we were escaping rather leaving.
That night everyone got together for dinner at one of our favorite tavernas. Keeping with the Greek tradition for we were seated at 8, appetizers at 9, and I had to leave the table early at 11. We ate plates and plates of delicious Greek food telling stories and cracking jokes. I was sad to say goodbye to my Greek friends, but equally as thankful for having the opportunity to meet them and study in such an amazing place. I learned a lot about myself through my experience in Greece and can tell that I have become a more well rounded person, more tolerant and knowledgeable about other cultures as well as more curious about what else this world has to offer. I am really happy with everything that I accomplished while in Patras and all the traveling that I got to do. As the plane left Athens I could see the many ships lined up at the port of Piraeus and know there is a warm spot in my heart for this beautiful place. I still have many things that I want to see in Greece and know that I will be back, not as a stranger but a friend.
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