I'm alive!

& I am back at home. I've been home for almost a week now. Sorry I haven't written. I couldn't find internet on the islands I was on. I know most of you are thinking "NO! How could she come back after a week & a half!" Well, I was so miserable that I had to. I had a total of 3 conversations when I was there and one was with a dog. I mastered getting around & finding places to stay & trying to eat, but I couldn't get over being in my head for days at a time with no one to talk to. There weren't any English speaking people. If there was, they were couples & the conversation usually went "Were are you from. Oh nice. Ok have fun bye."

The hatred of Americans was overwhelming. It would change if I told them I was Greek, but most conversations didn't get that far. Greeks are naturally abrupt & rude (in our standards) so after so much negative human contact, I couldn't take it anymore. I know, most people say "tell them you are from Canada", but I am not. Sure my government embarrasses me, but I am American & my grandparents & great grandparents went through hell to get here and start a better life. I will not be ashamed of my country. I was overcharged, almost took a wrong ferry & just general made to feel like caca after someone found out I was American. It sucked. If I wasn't by myself, I am sure I would've let it roll off me, but this was the only human contact I was getting & it was wearing me down. I was followed by weird guys on 2 occasions. While I didn't feel scared, because I was pissed, it still didn't help the situation out any. Thank gawd, "FUCK OFF" is universal. I got sick of the pointing & the staring at my Tattoos. You may be speaking in a different language, but if you are looking at me & whispering, I am pretty sure you are talking about me.

We also had a death in the family & I was able to make it back home in time for the funeral. There were times where I would have a mild anxiety attack because something didn't feel right & I needed to get home. After I got back & saw my family at the funeral, most of them told me that they were really glad that I was home because they had a funny feeling. I feel so much better now that I am home. I've decided to not work until January & spend some time with my family. I am going to help my grandma clean out her house & spend some time with her. Also if anyone needs any help with doing anything, let me know. I got all the time in the world.

Here are the highlights from my trip; In Syros, I turned a wrong way walking to my hotel & got lost for an hour, even though my room was a block from the harbor. See, Syros used to have a pretty bad pirate problem & so there streets are made confusing on purpose. Also in Syros, there are restuarants set up all along the harbor, very beautiful. A huge yaht docked right in the middle & a fat old man got off, stripped down & proceeded to wash his body with a hose about 6 feet from lots of people eating & drinking. This included his ass & balls. That same day I was followed all around by some weird guy until I told him to f-off. I left Syros & went to Naxos after a couple of days. I stayed in a place right accross the street from the beach. Very nice beach, but full of old leathery naked people. I've seen so much old scrot & saggy titties that I will never work in a old persons home. After I reread my books for the tenth time, I would try to find food & go back to my room & sleep. This was my 4 days is Naxos. I got a really good tan, though.

Now I am home & happy about it. I left because something didn't feel right & I didn't want to start hating a place or places that I love or might love. I still want to see the world, but not by myself. I am happy that I tried to do it. I don't regret any of my decisions. I am just really happy to be home!

Day 3... I think.

Well I feel a bit better. I spent the last hour trying to find the tourist information office in Syntagma but couldn't find it so I guess I will just lug my big ole bag & myself down to Piraeus & wait for the next ferry. Hopefully I won't be down there for hours. Feeling alot better, but just a bit frustrated. Talking to Drummergirl & hearing how she went throught the same thing when she went to Budapest made me feel a whole lot better. Well, I will write when I get to Syros or the next ferry I can catch to somewhere...

Yassas!

I am feeling much better today & the anxiety attack I was having is done with. I went to the Acropolis today & that was fun. I am taking a ferry to Syros tomorrow to start on my Island adventures. I'll blog when I get there. Thanks for the words of confindence, Mockula. I heart you & miss you!

Back in the motha land!

Well I am in Athens. The flight sucked major d*ck the only highlite was that there was an old man with a huge tumor or cyst on the back of his neck & he grew his hair out over it like a comb-over/mullet. Very strange. I am jet-lagged & exhausted because I couldn't sleep on the plane. I am very bummed that the dollar sucks right now. Everything is so expensive. I am also feeling extremely freaked out, alone & overwhelmed right now. Tomorrow I will attempt to venture more than 2 blocks from my hotel. I think I will feel better as soon as I get outta Athens & onto an island where I can chill on the beach. It's strange because I am usually a very confident traveler & I think I am pretty good at it, but right now I just feel lost & wanna go home & crawl under my covers. I think it's because I am by myself. Getting lost isn't fun unless you are with a buddy. I gotta give props for all you who have been overseas by yourselves. Any pointers? It's strange because I haven't had a conversation with anyone today. I am in a city of millions & feel so isolated. The good thing is that I can brush off pan handlers easily because I can't understand a word they are saying. I forgot about all the gypsies here. I also forgot how much it smells like B-O. Stinky old man B-O everywhere I go. Well hopefully I will be writing a more positive blog tomorrow but for now I am going to go crawl under my covers & try to convince myself that I didn't make a huge mistake....