Greece – you have my heart. 🫶

Instagram @leamnl

I can’t believe I’m saying this but – it’s halftime already. I’ve been living in this beautiful country for almost five months now and I got around five to go. Saying this feels weird and writing this makes me really emotional (love being a cancer). However, since I’m trying to shift my focus into a more positive direction, this will be a greece appreciation post only. (Well, almost. I’ll always find a little something to complain.)

First of all, I’m still surprised how much Thessaloniki feels like home to me. I didn’t expect this at all since Greece, especially not the mainland, was ever on my list of all the places I wanted to live. So I was just coming to study. But I found so much more. Don’t get me wrong, most days feel ordinary. You have your routine, your everyday life. It’s not like every day is super extraordinary. (Even tho it might look like this on my Instagram stories.) All the days are special here, but also pretty normal. And maybe this is exactly why it feels like home. Because it feels so normal. In a good way.

Greece is just a really beautiful country. And when I say this, I don’t just mean the islands and beaches. I mean the cities, the people, the culture, the food – a lot of things. Most people I came across here are just so kind and always make sure to teach you about their culture and history they are so proud of. They have a story for everything and they always make sure you feel comfortable. Besides all of that, greek people just have a beautiful way of living.

“Don’t worry, it’s just life.” (We call it the greek way, but that sounds better.) In all seriousness tho, I don’t think any place ever had such a positive influence on me as this one here does. Everyone is just way more relaxed and less stressed about everything. And for me, who is a really stressed person since ever, it changed me to become a little less worried and way more aware of the important things in life. Like time, traveling and experiences. I do think overall they are a little closer to the secret of a happy life in Greece than anywhere else.

@private

Now, that all being said, it’s not just all rainbows and unicorns. This attitude also still annoys me sometimes. Like not really organized classes or the fact that you can just get hit by a scooter walking on the pavement. Also the fact that I’m just not a spontaneous person and like to plan ahead in every part of my life which you just can’t here if it involves other people. Also, nobody is on time like ever. But I mean you do get used to all of that. (It’s really not bad, I just wanna mention it cause otherwise this wouldn’t be a post by me.)

If I could tell myself from summer last year that all those worries she had were unnecessary, I could. Because there wasn’t one day I regretted my decision to come here. I wasn’t homesick like ever. Maybe that is based on the fact that I’m really close to Germand. I got to go home for christmas which I didn’t do while I was in States. And while I loved it I also loved coming back here. I’m just more certain about my choices here. Of course I doubt myself sometimes but living here has changed my way of thinking and helped me to become the person I want to be. It still continues to do so.

Instagram @sarcasm_only

My guess for my mental state when I’ll have to go back home will not be amazing but also not as bad as five years ago. I can always come back here and I know this will be just another sunset season of my life. A season of change. But whenever I’m anxious I just remind myself that I was also anxious before coming here. And it turned out so much better than I ever imagined.

And while I’m sad its already halftime, I am also trying to stay in this moment. Because this means I have almost five more months to create amazing memories and experiences, meet great people and eat too much greek food. To be honest, part of why I like it here so much is cause I know this life I’m currently living won’t last forever. So I’m trying to be more present and less sad, but happy about the time that’s still left.

Because in the end, it’s just life. Don’t worry so much.

Love, Lea. ♡