Kelly Meets Mt. Olympus

My time here in Athens is coming to a close, meaning that the past week has been filled with studying for final exams, writing final papers and soaking up as much of Greece as I can before it's time to leave. After a somewhat stressful week of cramming (er... I mean, studying,) this past Friday I found myself on the footsteps of Mt. Olympus. Yep, that's right, I decided to spend my final weekend in Greece hiking up its tallest mountain. Let me enlighten you on this experience...

Friday morning myself and 26 other Bennies and Johnnies departed for Mt. Olympus, a six hour bus ride from our home in Athens. While this long bus ride probably seems pretty awful, it was actually very welcome as it provided us sleep-deprived college kids a chance to catch some zzz's and study for our upcoming exams. By five o'clock (three hours after we were supposed to arrive.... I don't really know why we go there so late) we found ourselves in the mountains and ready to hike.

Pre-hike smiles! If you look closely you can see the hidden terror in my eyes.

For the next three and a half hours we walked and walked, and then walked some more. Our guide didn't know how far our hike was or how high we climbed (shouldn't a guide have this kind of information?) but according to the information I found on the handy dandy internet, the path we took was about 4 miles long. For someone who doesn't exercise as regularly as she probably should, the hike was no doubt a challenge, but the path sure was beautiful. The Mt. Olympus air was crisp and cool, and for the first time since my trip to Munich a few weeks ago, I was able to experience that beloved fall weather.

Fall colors!!!

By the last hour of our trip, the sun had set and we found ourselves hiking in the dark. Since our itinerary had us getting to Mt. Olympus at 2 o'clock instead of 5 o'clock, I don't really thinking hiking in the dark was part of the plan. Luckily our iPhones saved the day and served has flashlights for this unplanned night hike. And people say technology is a bad thing!

Finally by around 8:30pm we had arrived at the refuge where we would be spending the night. At the entrance we were greeted by some adorable mountain dogs... can you think of a better welcome? I expected the shelter to be small and that we would be tenting, but it was actually very cozy. The main building served warm meals and drinks and was heated nicely. The rooms we spent the night in had electricity, running water and a space heater that (partially) worked. While I didn't particularly enjoy the fact that the only toilets were literally holes in the ground, I really can't complain about the accommodations, and after a long day of hiking I was ready for a good night's sleep... Sike! I woke up at 2AM with a case of altitude sickness. It turns out I can't breathe too well at high elevations. For that reason, the next morning when our group was ready to hike one more hour to the summit of the mountain, I decided to stay back, figuring that if I had trouble breathing while just sitting it probably wasn't wise to climb even higher. I was disappointed I had made it so far and couldn't quite make it to the top, but I know it was the right decision for me. I was also luckily not the only one on my trip to make the same decision, so I wasn't left alone at the shelter and we got to enjoy each others company instead of waiting for the rest of the group alone. Although I didn't go to the summit, I did get to sip on hot chocolate while enjoying the beautiful views that surrounded me, which isn't the worst way to spend a Saturday.

Enjoying the views from the shelter, where I was quite literally alive but barely breathing.

By afternoon, the entire group had returned to the shelter from the summit and we were all ready to head back to Athens. The descent down the mountain was a piece of cake compared to the hike up, although there were lots of loose rocks that made us all lose our balance a few times. Only one person fell on the descent, and shocker, it was me, but luckily the only injury I suffered was some minor embarrassment. I also sent my water bottle down the mountain when I took a tumble, but one of my fellow Greco-Romaners literally slid down the side of the mountain to retrieve it for me. Thanks, Jolson!

This past weekend was challenging but also so rewarding. Things didn't go as planned for me. At some points on my journey, I was exhausted. I hadn't expected to climb in the dark or to get altitude sickness and not make it to the top of Mt. Olympus. As someone who prides themselves on organization and never quitting, there were times this past weekend that I was frustrated and angry with myself. One of the lessons I learned most from studying abroad is that while it's a good thing to have a plan, sometimes things just don't work out like you expect them to. It's important to look on the bright side of things and to just go with the flow. I could have let my dissappointment and frustration ruin my weekend, but instead I focused on what I did accomplish, stayed positive and made the best out of a not-so-great situation, and I had a great time! When you are traveling with other people and you're in a bad mood, you can inadvertently make them feel bad too, and I would never want to ruin someone else's experience because of my own negativity. Even though I am not even half way through my study abroad program, I can see how this experience is changing who I am. Now more than ever, I have learned how to be optimistic and calm. I always rolled my eyes when people would say that studying abroad provides you with self discovery like nothing else can, but I have seen firsthand, in myself and in those I am traveling with, how this experience makes you a better person. So, to anyone who doubts the educational opportunities that studying abroad can provide, I'm here to tell you that it really is no joke, and I cannot express my gratitude for this experience and all that it has taught me.