Travel : Greece

Yes … I know it’s about time I finally wrote this post. It’s been almost 7 months since I left for this trip. Lol! Part of me doesn’t even know where to begin at this point, but another part of me is really glad I waited this long. Writing about this after 6 months has put things in a new perspective of how I see the trip now. Things have changed. I as a person have changed. And I’m gonna talk about that. So if you’re here for it, feel free to continue.

Greece was truly a dream come true, but I also learned some very valuable life lessons - both while I was there and after I have returned, even 6 months later. So, here are three things I learned from my time in Greece.

The Food!!

If I’m being honest here, sometimes I struggle with eating healthy here in the US. Especially during the academic semesters while I’m at college. My college’s cafeteria recently almost got shut down after their last inspection rating … so yeah my campus meal plan is a no go. I always thought I just didn’t like healthy food until I arrived in Israel, Turkey, and Greece.

What I’m about to say applies to all three countries from my trip, but I am specifically talking about Greece. I have never eaten so healthy in my entire life. Lol! And it was so easy and delicious! I was pretty much on a mediterranean diet for a month, and it changed my perspective a lot on healthy eating habits. Don’t get me wrong, I was still happily enjoying all things chocolate cake, gelato, and tiramisu in Greece. I don’t want to turn this into a health & wellness blog because I’m definitely not an expert, but I noticed some big differences in my lifestyle from this minor diet change.

The first major change I noticed was my skin. I’m not lying when I say it had never looked better. I had a natural glow and not a pimple or rough patch in sight. It was glorious. I know that may contribute to a number of things, but I’m pretty convinced a large part of that was my diet. As soon as I came back to the US, I started breaking out like I normally do again.

That also leads to the second biggest difference I noticed. My adjustment to food back in the US was a little harder than expected. As soon as we landed in Chicago, our food choices were suddenly completely different. McDonalds, Chinese food, burgers, Auntie Annes, and pizza pretty much. During our long layover, I ate Chinese food, Auntie Anne’s cinnamon sugar pretzels, and a Dr. Pepper. I learned pretty quickly that was a bad decision lol. I couldn’t really eat anything in the US that I normally eat for a few days without a stomach ache.

So as I’m writing this post … in my dorm room … ironically with pizza bagels in one hand and skinny pop in the other … suddenly craving a gyro and taziki … my point in saying this is not to be degrading about anything concerning food. It’s to simply share what I’ve learned to those who also might be struggling with this lie - the fact that eating healthy food can be enjoyable! It’s just not always as easy in the US. Our options are a lot more limited, so it’s nothing to feel bad about as long as we’re trying to keep some kind of balance. Here at my college, I only have access to a microwave, so sometimes “balance” means picking between risking food poisoning at the caf or heating up frozen foods. And that’s ok.

Yes, it’s important to take care of your body. Our bodies are a temple and we should glorify God with it. But our purpose here on earth is not to always eat the healthiest or to get on the right diet to have the most perfect looking body. Our purpose is to be a light for Christ and lead others to Him. And if that sometimes involves the infamous college diet of pizza bagels and popcorn, that’s ok.

Anyways, if you ever find yourself in Athens, I highly recommend the restaurant Greco’s Project. We ate there three times out of the four days we were there :)

I hiked Delphi.

That statement may not seem like a big deal at first glance, but it’s a big deal to me. Let me tell you why.

The last few years of my life have been a long healing journey from something called Long Covid. I won’t get much into the details of what it is because that’s not the point of this blog post, but I can tell you it’s a very real thing that has negatively impacted so many people from all over the world. In my personal experience, it has negatively impacted my lungs to the point where it’s still not easy to be very active. Long story short, I was never really sure if I would be physically able to go on a study abroad trip like this, but by the grace of God I got to a point last spring to where I could finally say yes to something like this.

Was it risky? A little. Was I scared? Heck yes. But I did it anyways.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned this year is that sometimes the things God wants you to do are risky and can be terrifying to think about. But if you say yes to his plans, he will protect you and allow you to grow in ways you cannot even imagine. With me, it all started with thinking, “I’m only a freshman, but I have this strange gut feeling that I should do this now. I guess it couldn’t hurt to apply,” which led to a “yes” that led to me hiking a beautiful mountain in Greece. The Megan two years ago would be mindblown. And not only did I hike a mountain, but I flourished in my faith and learned so many other things. You can find those in my other blog posts about Turkey and Israel :)

Will I ever get 100% better? I still don’t know. But God has brought me a long way with my health journey in two years. The fact that God still used it for my faith story and His glory is something I will forever be thankful for. So I trust that he will continue to do so. And he can do that with your life, too.

Delphi is a town a few hours outside of Athens with beautiful mountain views. You can find the photos in the gallery section of this website. Delphi is also a town known for its corruption during the Biblical times, which leads me to my next point!

From Israel to Greece: Then and Now

Looking back six months later, after everything that has happened with the world in Israel, it was interesting to go from a place where Jesus was literally present (in human form) to a place that was infamously known for its destruction and corruption in the Bible.

But in that transition, and also while looking back now, I have realized this: God is still present in the midst of destruction and corruption. With Israel and Palestine being the face of destruction and corruption right now, I know it can be especially hard to see God’s presence. But I can tell you right now, from someone who has recently been there, I have seen for myself that God has always been present there, even if he’s not there as a human anymore. And he’s still present now.

Even though this situation is far from comforting, I think we can have peace with the fact that prophecy is being fulfilled. God is keeping his promises. He knows exactly what he’s doing. It will all turn out for His good in the end. Our job as Christians right now is to help in any way we can. Even if it may not feel like much, like a simple prayer, anything is still something.

Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”

I’m glad to have waited this long so that I could have time to reflect on our country’s changes and the changes in my perspective on things. If you made it this far, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed and learned something. If you have any questions about anything, any prayer requests, or anything else, my messages are always open. I would love to hear from you <3

For more pictures and information about each location, visit my “travel gallery” page or view my photography instagram account @salt.light.nashville