the final countdown.

it's done. i sent in my last philosophy paper, a thrown-together slapdash discussion of the "parable of the cave" in plato's republic which will probably earn me an A- if my last 3 thrown-together slapdash essays in this class are any indication, and my work for the semester is finished. i am a senior in college, a position in life i can only associate with the following images: short-haircut felicitaaay talking into a tape recorder, all-nighters working on thesis while inexplicably wearing unflattering and uncomfortable turtleneck sweaters,  and either a calm understanding that i'm supposed to actually BE grown this time or sheer panic and confusion when i'm booted out of bates college come may 2010, finally faced with reality, rent and dating outside of frye street house parties. 

i keep coming face-to-face with reminders of indianapolis, things like discovering the publisher of my copy of republic is in the one and only naptown (largest non-port city, represent!) also i've been downloading the series "parks and recreation" for a number of reasons, most of them centered around amy poehler and aziz ansari, but also because the show manages to create humor in one of the most mundane jobs imaginable, the department of parks and recreation in pawnee, indiana. coincidentally, it also mirrors my last summer, though mine was composed of far fewer madcap hijinx and a much higher level of disgust with bureaucracy, local government, and the rednecks i called co-workers/superiors. 

i've also been having dreams that i'm already home, though it is usually a mashup of maine and indiana, with my house now part farm. it's jarring to wake up to athens, but relieving in some sense; i haven't wasted my chance, i still have time to absorb as much as i can from just being here. i know i'll be sad to leave greece, regardless of how much i get done in these last five days, but there's so much at home that i can't wait to do again. even just driving around indianapolis sounds comforting. it will be nice to have a few days in the green house before embarking on the next phase, living and working in new york. 

i think what worries me most about leaving school next year is eventually running out of things to be this excited about, running out of opportunities like this and getting bored. i don't think this is an uncommon or unique fear among near-graduates, but that isn't much of a comfort to be perfectly honest. all i can do is keep pushing myself, embracing the changes that come and taking full advantage of my youth as it dwindles. that or give up and learn to play golf (sorry frank. seriously, consider another hobby. golf blows.) 

love, 

kg.

green ladies do crete.

so sorry for the delay in updating; i could pretend i'm very busy and important but really it's just laziness and sunshine-induced procrastination. 

i officially leave greece in nine days. what. is. that. right now i'm in a lull of school work between end of the semester insanity with papers and presentations, and the dreaded finals period... which actually won't be that bad: oral/written modern greek test friday, myth test on saturday, 5 page philosophy paper due wednesday. business.

in the meantime though i've been making lists of things i have to do before i go. i definitely want to check out the 2004 olympic stadium... we've been living pretty much on top of the marble stadium, but athens worked its booty off to get the other one ready for the olympics (typical of greece, they were still working on it two weeks before the opening ceremonies... hilarious)... also i think it's funny that they insist on continuing to hock olympics-related souvenirs at outrageous prices, so this needs to happen.

there are a number of lasts to take care of, like the last taverna dinner, last run through athens, last frappe from cute old man in the kafenio across the street... things i have categorized as "sorority girl shit" as we have all found ourselves whining "you guyyys, this is the last time we'll ever [insert mundane activity] in aaaaathens" which just screams sorority girl to me, even more so than VS PINK sweatsuits coupled with uggs and walk-of-shame hair.

on another note, it was a dream having beej and big megs here over the weekend... beej, i still don't know how you're going to fully justify a spontaneous four-day trip to GREECE, but i support you in that endeavor. after a long day of travel, both safely arrived in athens on thursday. maria and anna, you'll be pleased to know they both stayed at the HOTEL ELECTRA (i just lost.) we left for crete friday morning and pretty much spent our time there eating, drinking wine and shopping, which i think we can all agree is an ideal vacation. i made them try a number of amazing greek foods and raki, the aftermeal liquor served in crete... they were big, big fans.... n't! 

on sunday we wandered around athens, accidentally ending up at the acropolis. beej and meghan were both troopers when it came to hiking up to the top, and both agreed it was worth the trek. on monday meghan flew off to stuttgart to start work there for the summer and beej headed home, with an extra bag full of crap i didn't feel like dealing with come next saturday. aaaah next saturday! i can't believe that.

i am still in the process of finding an apartment in nyc for this summer, which is a pain, but an exciting pain... i just hope i can work something out soon and maybe not live on the street this summer? sounds like a plan.

love,

kg