packing & moving

We all know how much I hate packing.  And how much more I despise moving.

And I've had to hurriedly do both twice in the span of 18 hours.

Yesterday, Phyllinga and I struggled to fill our luggage fast enough to get out of this apartment by dark.  We had been hasseled all day about our slow progress, but as I was also dealing with intern stuff and half our group leaving, packing really wasn't a priority.  Also, we were all operating on about 3 hours of sleep, so nothing was too important.

We drug all of our crap up the street to a smaller apartment.  An apartment that was like paradise compared to our cramped and inadequately furnished quarters here on Iperidou.  We could see the Parthenon from the balcony of our new apartment, and actually appreciate the beauty of it in the peace and quiet of our two-person abode.

I woke up this morning to stabbing abdominal pain and three hours of bathroom bound intestinal drama.  Our late night dinner in Monastiraki had given me a mild case of food poisoning, so I spent the morning curled up on the couch watching Scrubs online.  My peace was disturbed by angry phone calls from the school demanding to know why we were in that apartment---even though we'd been directed there by the same person.  An hour later, we were ordered out of the apartment, and given only an hour to regroup our stuff and haul it back to this blasted apartment.

Now Phyllinga and I are sequestered in the back bedroom, which is barely big enough for both of us to stand up in with all of our luggage inside.  I have a sinking feeling that the same lovely school employee, who will remain nameless, will be calling again tomorrow wondering why we are still gracing university property with our presence.

I am now exhausted, angry, and ready - more than ever- to just leave.

Despite and excusing all of the school related drama, the last few days have actually been quite lovely.  A fantastic blend of outdoor dinners, late night excursions in Psirri, and lots of laughter, it was a good farewell for the group.  I'm in need of some relaxation though, and I'm hoping tonight and tomorrow will provide that opportunity.  I want to curl up with a book tonight and then tomorrow maybe visit a museum around the corner with an exhibit of Contemporary European Painting.  I'm not anticipating a repeat of last year's tear drenched last day in Athens, but this year my mentality has changed.  I now feel with certainty that Athens has not seen the last of me-that this will be the setting for even more amazing times in my life.

~RLM