Body and Soul

Anonymous When you travel, you enter a new world. You encounter tastes, scents, people and ideas unlike anything you've ever experienced. Your entire being is bombarded with a whole new set of sensations you never even knew existed.

As I write this blog, I've now been in Greece for nearly 3 weeks. That's a long time to be away from the comforts and familiarities of your past life. My days in Greece have been filled with incredible new people, foods, and learning experiences. I've come to realize a lot about myself - how I function with a group of total strangers, how I react to problems with the language barrier, how I deal with the stress and insecurity of being in a new land. I know now that I can be thrust into a group of 20 people I've never met and quickly make friends and enjoy their company. I know I stutter and stumble when trying to connect in a foreign language in highly pressurized circumstances, like in busy restaurants or shops. I also know the stuttering and stumbling goes away as you become more sure of yourself and learn how to make yourself understood.

I know Greeks are fast and pushy and touchy, while I like to stay out of people's way and apologize when I bump into strangers in a crowd. I know Greeks can also move slowly and in a nonchalant manner, while I am tapping my foot waiting for the bill. I know half the time you order chicken souvlaki in Athens, the lady behind the counter will smile and say, "No chicken, pork." It's not that the restaurant is out of chicken, she just thinks you need to try the pork. I know to take these moments for what they are: brief yet intimate relationships with "a beautiful city and a brilliant people", people who want to make a human connection, just like anyone else in the world.

Why am I telling you this? The topic of tonight's blog is "Body and Soul". To me, this means when you travel to Greece, you need to experience this country with everything you have - body and soul. It's not enough to walk up to the Acropolis and eat some souvlaki and take some pictures. No. Every atom, every thought, every feeling, fiber, and nerve of your being must be in touch with the situation. There are no casual observers. Greece has taught me that life experiences must be experienced with all of our senses, emotions, body, and soul.