Christmas Wishes from Greece

Korrin B.

December 25, 2008 - 11:17 PM

It is a wonderful feeling to know that you have family. On Christmas Day, I woke up and found that I not only had my family around me, but that I also had family all over the world. There is something incredibly special about text messages from Greece. Coming home is one of the most difficult parts of studying abroad. It's not that you're not happy to be home and to see everyone again, but it's just the realization that you've returned from this incredible experience and you're not sure when you'll make it back again. It's the fear that one day you may wake up and forget it. It's the thought that the people you met on your travels will forget you once you leave. I met some very special people on my journey and Christmas Day reassured to me that they will forever be a part of my life.

When I awoke on Christmas Day, I checked my cell phone. It had been going off periodically since about 6:30am. It kept waking me up and I was getting flustered, but all of those feelings went away when I looked in my inbox and saw a line of text messages from Greece. Each message was from a different person who had meant so much to me while I was living there. Each person is so unique. Each has his or her own story. Each message reminded me of what I love about each person.

The first message I had received was from Maria. Of course it was from Maria. Maria was my adopted mother while I was over there. I worked with her in the reception desk at the hotel I was employed at. Maria took me to a Mixalis Hatzigiannis concert while I was there. It was so much fun! I went with her and a flock of kids from her village, including her own two adorable children, Andreas and Antonia. Maria and I always had amazing conversations, the type that I'm pretty sure only we could understand. "Merry Christmas louloudi moy (my flower), ask your mom to give you a mummy hug for me. Love you lots, mom."

The next message I received was from Thanos. Thanos is the best hair stylist in all of Kefalonia, Greece. The day I got my hair cut, he picked me up on his scooter and took me to the salon. I swear there had to have been about seven different people all working on my hair. Thanos made sure that I had the special treatment. He's an amazingly sweet guy and I think I might need to fly out there just to get my hair cut by him again. "Korrin, kala christougenna! Merry Christmas! Wish you all the best!"

My third message came from Katerina. Katerina was my best friend in Greece. We went out together every night. She always watched out for me and introduced me to everyone. She is possibly the most fun girl in the entire world. She's crazy and spontaneous and such a free spirit. I could never forget how sweet she is. "Agapi mou (my love)! Kala christougenna! Love, health, and happiness may always be in your life! My wishes to your family too! I love you! Filakia (kisses)! xxx."

Next was a message from Dimitris. He is a really great guy. He came to be a real representation to me of the beauty of Kefalonia. How could I ever forget a moonlit walk in Argostoli around the bay of the Ionian Sea? "Merry Christmas...I'm in Kefalonia, I wish you were here too...kisses."

My final message was from Niko. Niko worked at the hotel with me. He was kind of the handyman, do it all guy there. Niko was Bulgarian and only spoke Bulgarian and Greek, so needless to say it was a little difficult for us to communicate. However, Niko and I didn't need many words. Niko made me feel like I'd always have a friend to laugh with in Skala. It was fun trying to find ways to explain to each other what we were trying to say. "Kala christougenna Korrin."

I was filled with joy reading these messages. I feel so lucky to have met so many amazing people while in Greece and those are only five of them! I needed these messages to remind me that it did happen. I needed them to remind me that I will go back someday. I have to go back someday because I have family there.