I’m honestly not sure what to write about this time; I’ve had such grand adventures, filled with excitement and danger, rewards a plenty, and even mournful sorrow, that I don’t quite know where to begin. It’s been so long that I’ve been here and yet not long enough as I soon must take my leave. And what a sad day that will be.
One of my favorite things to do in Paros, or on this entire trip for that matter, has been exploration and travel. My journey has allowed me to see so many gorgeous views from atop mountains or out by sea side; I’ve never been lucky enough to go beyond what most of my classmates have seen due to my ambition and drive for adventure. Since I arrived on Paros, my sleep schedule has adjusted to allow me to wake up before sunrise in order to go on hikes or bike rides around the island. I’ve traveled far beyond the touristy parts of town and been able to see the true culture of Greece. After this trip, I’ll forever cherish these several sunrises with Thomas and Autumn.
Another rewarding bit about being in Greece has been the friends and people I’ve met along the way. Everyone has a story to tell and our group is filled with such a diverse cast of character which keeps everyday entertaining. Coming here has allowed me to break out of my shell for even just a moment to meet such talented people that I’m continuously bonding with. And outside of the group, we’ve been honored to meet interesting people of Greece. The sweetest lady in the world, Fortini, Marcos with his words of wisdom, an expert in self-defense who is also a tattoo artist named Mario, and even a disgusting, yet charming cat we call Blepp; these are just some of the people and creatures we’ve encountered along the way, but there are much more. Every day has led to new and more powerful experiences.
However, this trip hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. As with any group, unexpected problems arise such as arguments between group members, unfortunate accidents, interview cancellations, and anything else you could possibly think of. This trip has been a weird one with all sorts of ups and downs for all of us. There have been days where the mood is low and you can only make little efforts to try to bring it up.
Overall, this trip has been amazing. Our work on making documentaries, or preserving history in other ways has been going well, and I’m sad to think my time here is almost over. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and I hope to maybe one day return the Paros or stay in touch with many of the wonderful people I’ve met.
So to everyone involved in my travels
Thanks for the good times!
~ Korey, The Bowler