Since the start of September, I’ve had the immense privilege of being able to spend my fall in Athens, Greece. Studying abroad is something I’ve dreamt of doing for many years, and it was a possibility first introduced to me during elementary school. When attending a youth STEM fair at UT Austin in the fourth or fifth grade, my mom and I ended up making the rounds to some of the club and organization tables. I was instantly drawn to one which boasted sending countless students to destinations all around the world, all while being able to take classes. I grabbed nearly every pamphlet they had, and probably learned more about studying abroad than I did math or science that day!

I didn’t really know what being in college exactly entailed, but I knew it was something I would have to do at some point. However, wherever I went and whatever career path I selected, studying abroad was non-negotiable. This desire persisted throughout the following years, especially as my knowledge of other cultures expanded, and international travel began to seem like more and more of a possibility. Additionally, discovering Anthony Bourdain and his philosophies on food, humans, and travel was incredibly inspiring. Once TLU became part of my experience, finding the right destination and program fell together seamlessly (thank you, Charla Bailey!). Before I knew it, I was applying for my passport and Greek visa, buying new luggage, and making the last of my summer plans with my friends.

Since getting here, every day has genuinely felt like an adventure, and I could not be more grateful for this period in my life. Aside from the best tomatoes I’ve ever eaten and the beautiful views I’ve been blessed to see, Greece has done so much more for me at a very personal (and almost spiritual) level. Some of the experiences I’ve had and people I’ve met have truly made this chapter feel like a very serious turning point. So, I wanted to share some of my favorite takeaways that I’ve reflected on now that we’re halfway through the semester! While I could probably put together a long, unabridged anthology of these last weeks, I’ve narrowed my thoughts down to eight brief lessons:

1. You don’t always need a plan for things to work out beautifully…

Anyone who knows me would likely agree that I’m a bit of a perfectionist and tend to be hyper-organized with just about everything. While it’s done me plenty of good in the past, it also tends to create a lot of anxiety in my life and becomes burn-out toward the end of a semester. Aside from just school and work plans, I’m usually thinking about hobbies and leisure in a very structured, rigid way. If I have free time or I’m on a vacation, I want to make sure I “do it right,” in a sense. Of course, this takes away from the fun of these things, and my time abroad has shined a light on this fact. I’ve learned to let go and truly just let things happen. The best way to travel “correctly” is to simply be and soak up every minute of the day, even during the in-between moments. Some of my favorite memories here have been the result of last minute plans, being flexible to changes, and allowing things to go wrong (but having a better experience because of it!). 

2. …but it’s important to make plans and be intentional with your time

To build off of the previous point, it’s still important to find a balance between planning and going with the flow. And this doesn’t just have to be the case when we’re somewhere new! Now that I’ve been in Greece for a while, I can recognize that it would be easy to just fall into my routine if I wasn’t planning other trips and making plans in the area often. Especially if this was my permanent home, I’m sure my routine would eventually not deviate too far from the one I have in Seguin. When we’re on a trip, it’s common to have a sense of urgency to do as many bucket list items and activities as possible. Yet, the touristy things in our own states and cities feel like they’re kind of “just there” for the most part. In the way that it might seem silly that people flock to the Riverwalk downtown, the Acropolis in Athens is simply a sight on the daily commute for the people who live and work here. For a newcomer, however, it’s absolutely magnificent. We get so used to where we are that it’s easy to forget how unique our spots on the map are in terms of culture and history. All of my little outings here have inspired me to do more day trips in Texas, attend local events, and make it a point to discover hidden gems. 

3. Talk to strangers

Obviously, this is something one should always be careful about doing! This may just come down to cultural differences and/or my own internal shifts, but it’s become a lot easier to fall into random conversation with others. Waiting in lines, sitting in taxis, and everything in between has put me in unique positions to share about my experiences and learn from the experiences of others. This has given me plenty of food for thought about my life in Texas and my own future plans. We’re not as different from each other as we think we are, and we all have so much to offer in terms of what is gained from the places we call home.

4. Walk more

While public transportation is amazing here, I usually get everywhere by foot. It’s a mile walk to and from class, and I have yet to get bored of my route. I love how, even though it’s not that great a distance, the buildings and atmosphere change so much at each point in the journey. It’s a great way to observe fashion, see how people interact, and get some fresh air. If I’m not feeling very motivated for class, the walk alone always lifts my mood and helps me feel prepared to learn by the time I arrive. Being active has always been an important part of my life, especially having done long-distance running for nearly a decade. However, I’ve truly underestimated what a joy long walks are, and I will be doing a lot more of them when I’m home! 

5. Buy & use less

Because I could only bring so much with me to Greece, I’ve really had to take a step back and realize that I don’t need or genuinely like as many things as I previously believed. With respect to clothing, I love that I only brought pieces I either truly needed or cared about. In the case of groceries, I can really only get as much as I can carry or wheel home. These things have oddly made my life feel a little less overwhelming, and I look forward to re-evaluating my consumer decisions in the future. 

6. Never forget that you have free will

In my first weeks here, I would put off walking into places that intrigued me because I “wanted to save time” or “could just do it another day.” But I’ve realized that I do in fact have time, and have unfortunately gotten so used to being in a constant state of hurry. Looking ahead, I want to rush less and take those detours when possible, because that’s living! I will be extremely intentional about maintaining this mindset once this semester ends. This can (and should) be done everywhere, not just in new and exciting places. 

7. “Home” can be found anywhere

I never could have expected that my small apartment and two roommates, previously strangers I would’ve never met otherwise, would mean as much to me as they currently do. Along with the community I’ve found in a local church, I previously believed that the feeling of “being home” would have to be put off until Christmas break. Yet, with each passing day, I find this feeling in these people and the places that they occupy. I have always believed in the idea of fate and that people are placed into our lives for specific reasons, and my time here has only confirmed this.

8. There’s no such thing as a perfect place

Growing up, I spent a lot of time dreaming about getting away, only to learn that most everybody, everywhere, wants to do the same thing. While Greece is practically paradise to me just because it’s new and beautiful, many of the people my age who live here feel as stuck as I was feeling during middle and high school. Visiting and staying somewhere for a long time are two very different things, and what I’ve learned about the current state of Greece has helped me to better appreciate the opportunities I have back home. Our happiness comes down to perspective, and nowhere is perfect. It’s a matter of making the most of what we have and doing what we can to rise above the challenges we are presented with. And, above that, it’s the people that make somewhere feel as close to perfect as possible. As many wonderful experiences as I’ve had, I know how much better they would be if I had my friends and family with me!

Final Thoughts

Should it have taken this much time and being on the other side of the world to consider these ideas? Perhaps not, but I’m glad that they are the result of living out my study abroad dream and immersing myself in a life very different from the one I previously knew. The closer I got to this experience, the more I realized how desperately I needed it. Especially since starting college, I’ve been living in a state of box-checking and rushing from one thing to the next for the sake of making my career goals happen. While there is a great deal of value in this, and I do not regret it in the slightest, having this reset and perspective change was long overdue. It’s been the challenge of this journey, rather than the destination itself, that has given me the space to reconsider what is most important and identify the ways in which I want to spend the precious time that I have.