ode to my roommates

Here's a post devoted to how much I miss my parents. It has been roughly 30 days since I have seen both Kimmie and Glen. I can count on one hand how many times that has happened...Oh wait. This is the first time. Yes. I'm a recent college grad and still sleeping in the basement of my parents' house. But I'll have you know, I get ALL the snacks I want FO FREE as well as any other amenity I could think of. 900 channels including HBO, DVR, an elliptical, and sometimes I even get to park good ol' Rex in the garage when it's cold. By living with them, I can save my money for other more important things, such as, school loan payments, songs on itunes, and an unacceptable amount of trips to my neighborhood Target.

So, as you can imagine, leaving all these wonderful things behind for a month was a little bit of a struggle. Tonight, I ate pasta with butter, half a loaf of bread, and three cookies for dinner. If there is one thing I'm looking forward to when I get home, it's an array of Kimberly's homecooked meals. I wouldn't be disappointed if G & K showed up at the airport with a tupperware full of mac and cheese, a Diet Coke, and an IV, just pump it right into my veins. Finding mac and cheese on the island was a Fail, with a capital F and I can't wait to my hands on it when I get home. 

Now let's talk about the time change, it's an 8 hour time difference between Greece and the loving land of Minnesota. Between that and the lack of internet connection in my room, I get to talk to my parents roughly never. iMessaging between my iPhone and the home iPad have been less than spectacular. The iPad seems to alert my parents of messages hours after I've sent them, meaning I'm probably already asleep. And the past few nights, I've rang and nobody has picked up. BUT, I get to see them on SATURDAY. 

It's been a mixture of emotions here on the island this last week. I would say that I am about 50/50 when it comes to the idea of going home. I miss my family and friends SO unbelievably much but I also know that there is something about this place that will forever have my heart. I've learned a lot about others as well as myself, while staying here and will probably never have the opportunity to return. I know that by Friday at departure time, I will have an overwhelming sadness while packing up my things. 1. For the fact that I actually have to pack and 2. Because this place, Studios Marios, Kamari Beach, the boardwalk, the gelato place on the corner with the Viking's colors, the people, the view of the mountains from the pool, the hotel dog... they will always hold a special place in my heart that I will never be able to explain to anyone except through the photos I bring home... So until Friday, I'm trying to keep my head in check, enjoying every last salty-aired minute and taking these last few days by storm.

We're headed on a hike from Fira to Oia tomorrow, a trip to the volcano on Thursday in nothing other than a pirate ship, and a final goodbye barbeque hosted by the lovely Marios, complete with a photography slideshow. The days are dwindling but the fun is not.

Love.