As I woke up to my alarm this morning, the sound of drizzling rain and peaceful rumbles of thunder greeted me “good morning”. While this was a much different welcome into the day than the past sunny mornings here in Paros, there was something special about it. Even though rainy days can be rare here in Paros, we have had our fair share of them the past few days. However, there were little moments and memories that truly made this day filled with warmth. 
The first stop of the day for many of our group was a local coffee shop and bakery on our way to class. I ordered a delicious veggie and feta (two things I have had an exorbitant amount of here in Greece) sandwich to save for our lunch break. Others ordered delicious treats such as croissants and coffee drinks. The rich scents of freshly-baked bread that swirled through the air drowned out the rain-filled scent outside, which was an excellent way to start our morning commute. Once we reached the classroom, the group met and we had a great discussion about ways we can create tasks lists and we reviewed our progress. After we discussed where each group was in the production pipeline, we also talked about how to be flexible as a team. Then, we truly did practice our flexibility with some yoga, which is generally accompanied by some giggling and backrubs. Once we were all loosened up, we had a productive work period into the afternoon hours, whether we were working on video, research, audio, editing, 3D, or of course, brewing coffee.
Another aspect of my day which truly brightened it up, despite the gloomy weather, was the realization of just how magical the work my peers and I are doing. This 3D work is unique. I thought to myself, “These artifacts were sculpted so many years ago, now here we are sculpting them but in a completely new way.” This thought gave me chills and I instantly felt even more connected to this project and the culture we are supporting. With this consuming my thoughts, I stepped outside and overlooked our patio. Even though the day was foggy and the mountains were hard to make-out under the mysterious mist, I still felt a connection to the mountains and the sun that was hiding behind the foggy veil. Even though the past may seem distant and unclear, we can still be connected and inspired by what we do know about it.
-Mandy Packnett