#reg year

[extemporaneousmusings]

23/4/20

Pictured: me, after taking a bite of a (very delicious) lemon Evan procured for me off a tree at Haleis//the famous bridge in Arta//a very amusing van I saw by the school//a street by my Athenian apartment at sunset//a leaf I liked on a Lykavittos walk//one of many bowls of Sunday chili//some Sonke street art in Exarchia//me, on top of Agios Nikolaos in Central Euboea//lead votive figures from the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia in Laconia

Our final trip of the program, a tour along the western coast of Turkey, was supposed to start today, so I’ve been reminiscing on the whole year. Nobody tagged me in the 9 photos thing, but I thought I’d go through my camera roll and choose a selection from the reg year that I haven’t posted online. I kind of struggled to find a balance between taking photos and just allowing myself to experience the whole thing. Now that it’s over I’m wishing I had been a bit more diligent about taking photos. I still have lots, though, and going through them even now brings back so many memories. I think I’ll probably print a book out of my favorite ones, just to have something physical as a reminder of all the places I visited this year. 

[extemporaneousmusings]

18/12/19

Pictured: Temple of Aphaia on Aegina

We finished up fall term programming today with a trip across the gulf to Aegina, which is always a lovely place to visit.

Tomorrow is my last day here and I’ve got to clean and pack and also get some work in, so it’s gonna be hectic. But! I am very excited to get to VA to see fam, and even more excited to see E and MY BEAUTIFUL DOG on Monday.

[extemporaneousmusings]

19/3/20

Alright. My final day in Athens is complete. This morning was really stressful scrambling to try and change my flights and I’m still anxious, but that’s just to be expected at this point. I walked over to the school to hand in my ID, and the walk was of course very helpful in terms of calming me down and getting my mind away from all the logistical concerns swimming around in my overstimulated brain. 

I packed--I don’t know how, I haven’t purchased anything and brought literally 3 items back from winter break, but my shit was not fitting the way it did on the way over...of course. Luckily I had a duffle I’ve been using on the trips that I had packed in the big suitcase on the way over, so I just expanded into that and now have another piece of luggage. Whatever. I think I’m allowed two checked bags on my flight but if not, I’ll pay. 

Evan and Becky came over for a final dinner. H is still in Boeotia so I won’t see her before I leave which is a bummer. Saying goodbye to Ev was really hard, he’s been my rock here and we’ve been planning and looking forward to this year in Athens together for 4 years, so for it to come to an end so abruptly is tough for both of us. I’m so grateful for the time we’ve had together, though, and I will always remember this time in my life with him as so important to me. He’s going to try and visit me in Cincy this summer when he’s back in the states, so hopefully I’ll be able to see him then. 

That’s all for today. Hopefully the next thing I post will be from home in Cincy. Send me good vibes pls <3 

[extemporaneousmusings]

25/2/20

Pictured: some of the crew, myself included, in the bed of a pickup truck, heading back to the village after seeing a Byzantine church

We hit Messene this morning and then made our way to the little village of Konstantini for some incredible hospitality. Some of the town elders and the mayor had organized a (massive) lunch for us and I’m still so full that I’m probably going to skip dinner. After a report on some spolia they all took us up in various cars to the Byzantine church and we got to explore some before heading to Sparta for the night.

[extemporaneousmusings]

27/2/20

Pictured: verdant alley with winding steps leading to the upper town of Monemvasia//view of Monemvasia from the upper town

Penultimate day of the trip done! Lots of bus time today, but it was totally worth it for the views. Tomorrow I’m giving my report on Mantineia and we’re headed back up to Athens

[extemporaneousmusings]

14/3/20

Pictured: view of an outcrop seen through the crumbling walls of an Ottoman house at Voila

Fuck. Everything is changing so rapidly. Yesterday I was upset because Ian probably wasn’t going to be able to visit me as planned in April. Today it’s looking like I’ll probably be going home in the next week or so.

We got word today that the school is terminating the program once we get back from Crete on Monday, closing the library for an indefinite amount of time, and recommending that we return to the states. For now my library in Cincy is still open, and with the help of some department friends + Ian, I could get several dozen books from my desk to the apartment, which would mean I’d be able to get more work done there than I could here.

I just really don’t know what to do. All of these plans that I’ve spent years concocting are unraveling in front of me overnight. The situation in the states honestly seems more chaotic, but if I’m going to have to spend the next month plus in relative isolation I’d rather do it with Ian and Macy than here, and in a place I could be more productive. I’m hoping I’ll feel more calm and levelheaded when I’m back in Athens, and I can start actively planning my exit strategy from there.

[extemporaneousmusings]

17/1/19

Pictured: the jewel of Boeotia, Livadeia//another landscape shot bc I just can’t help myself

Today we visited an oracle, a super weird temple, the site of a famous battle, and had two decent hikes up to Phocian acropoleis.

[extemporaneousmusings]

8/2/20

Pictured: view over Lake Stymphalia//interior of a 13th c Cistercian church

We left the Argolid today and made our way to Corinth, where we’ll be for the next four nights.