Yassas and happy thanksgiving friends! As I am writing this my contribution to the little “friendsgiving” I am attending is simmering on the stove. Me and the one other American friend I have here are hosting a thanksgiving dinner for all of our international friends.
It doesn’t quite feel like a holiday, however. This is the first major holiday I have spent away from home. Even last year, when I was on my exchange program in Australia, I flew home the day before Thanksgiving and ate dinner with my family while so jet lagged I could barely keep my eyes open.
That being said, even though it doesn’t feel like a holiday, there are still many things I am grateful for. I am grateful for the Lumos Grant and the opportunity to be here. I am grateful for the beautiful community that surrounds me every day. I am grateful for my health, that I can hike and climb and travel with ease. I am grateful to have a family that I dearly miss on this holiday. And I am grateful for the friends I have here that are making sure Ella and I have a proper Thanksgiving even though they don’t normally celebrate.
Now that my holiday reflections are over... lets talk about what I’ve been up to these past couple of weeks.
Christmas Preparation
Screen prints
On December 5th, my NGO will be hosting a Christmas Bazaar, so the past two weeks have been filled with lots of preparation for the festivities. This includes screen printing dozens of bags, promoting on social media and in the NGO circle on Lesvos, and lots of fun workshops making the gifts.
In addition to this, we had a cute little Christmas tree decorating party at Safe Passage (and they made ornaments with everyone’s face on it).
Additionally, on the day of the Bazaar I will be leading a screen printing workshop, which I am nervous-excited for.
12 Mile Hike – Oh my!
Some of the hiking views
On Sunday I signed up for an 8am hike thinking it would be a nice morning walk. Plot twist... it was not. My nice morning walk turned out to be a 12-mile hike, mostly uphill, that spanned over 6 hours... yes I am not kidding.
Nevertheless, the views were beautiful, the company was beautiful, and I had some good laughs (and forced everyone to listen to The Climb by Miley Cyrus… oops).
Birthday Celebrations
In addition to this, my roommate celebrated her birthday this week, so the crew from Safe Passage took her to a taverna for dinner. We ordered wayyyyy too much food (as you do at a taverna) but it was a night of lovely conversation, lovely company, and incredible food.
And of course… here is the playlist
Nostalgia’s Lie by Sam Fender
Beep by Flipturn
Home Sweet Home by the Favors