My first Journey

2008-01-28, Athens, Greece

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I went to Greece a long time ago about 5 years ago. I want to write about it because it was my first real trip without my parents.

I remember the first day I heard of the oppertunity to go to Greece. I was in 8th grade say about five years ago. The teacher I had at the time was my English teacher and she had been taking a small group of kids on these trips to Europe. She passed out these flyers and sad the trip is first come first serve. I immediately ran home after school to tell my mom. I dont know if anyone has ever gotten that really excited feeling but this was it. I have always wanted to go to Europe and this was my chance. My mother agreed that I should go so we put down our deposit. I waited months but felt like years. Finally in june it was time.

As soon as i knew it i was at the air port with a group of kids that I didnt really know too well. I felt a little bit shy because going to a foreign country with a group of people you dont know is hard. I had to make friends.

I'm on this plane and this is probably the first time i had been on one except one i went on when i went to mexico. I was so excited I couldnt stand it. I talked to some kids that were going on the trip too and we became quick friends. It was pretty cool. I also felt real cool because they were a year older than me and in high school. It made me feel good because I was going to high school in the fall. I felt like i had made friends for high school. So im on this plane and as soon as I know it were in Germany on this five hour layover which I didnt even sweat. When we got off the plane we had to walk to the terminal and let me tell you being from houston and stepping out of a plane in Germany is different it was cold! hah I didnt have any idea. I slept most of the layover except for when we first arrived. The boys on the trip thought it was really funny that they sold porn in the air port. I just thought it was funny that they rode bikes. It made everything seem so playful.

Then we get on the plane to Greece and this is just a two hour flight so it wasnt very long. I sat next to my teachers "guy" friend, who was actually a pretty attractive guy and he was really nice to me the whole time. He let me sit next to the window and look at the medditerranean as we were flying there. When we get there the air is hot but not humid like it is here in Houston. It was dry and hot. We exchanged all of our money and got on this bus. ai remember the first thing i saw was the sun and this big Shell station sign which reminded me of my mom for some reason and let me know that she was letting me go. It felt good. We get to the hotel and Athens looks different its loud and crowded all of the buildings look old and at the top of everything you see that acropolis which is pretty amazing. Its a mix of old and new. Oh yes and lots of smart cars and scooter which you dont see here in texas. The hotel didnt look at all like its picture it was not as nice and i had to sleep on a cot. The air was controlled by a counterweight which didnt matter because it was hott as fuck anyway. I went swimming when i first got there because all we were going to do that day was eat and hang outat the hotel. In my family i guess i think it was normal to have fun! I mean by drinking. I was only 14 but i mean to a 14 year old going up to the hotel bar and buying a beer is one of the coolest things. I thought i was so badass. I drank a beer which was gross. I was happy though. The next days would be followed by smirnoff bottle bowling, ouzo daquris, and those little mini bar bottles of alcohol... oh yes and boats.... lots