Update

Hey guys!  I hope everyone is ready for the holidays!  I know I am!  As you know Thanksgiving isn't a holiday here in Europe, but because I am at an American school we still get a 4 1/2 day weekend!!  So, some of my American friends and I are heading over to Vienna for the holiday!!!  I am looking forward to being in a new country and getting to spend some quality time with my new friends.  While in Athens, I don't really get to see too many of them on a daily basis, so it is nice when we go on vacation because then we can relax and just chill.

At the beginning of the month I was able to go to England with the cross country team and it was a great experience!  Although it rained the day of the meet, the kids were great and just went with it.  They were also excited for a new and different opportunity (since we hadn't had much rain in Greece until now...).  We also got to tour around London and also go to Windsor Castle.  It's like I am living a dream...oh wait I am.  I am living my dream.  :)

The other day as I was waking (I do a lot of that since I don't have a car) I was reflecting upon my life here in Greece and how content I am.  Although I left all of my friends and family in America, I feel as though I have a fantastic group of people in my life here.  I just feel so fortunate and so lucky for the life that I live and I thank all of you for being a part of it.  So far in every stage of life I have had such awesome friends and awesome opportunities that have made me into the person that I am today.  I thank you all for that.  My Punahou friends, my Willamette friends, my Utah friends, and my Hawaii friends, you all have been such an important part of my life and I would not be the person I am today if you weren't a part of my life. So in the season of Thanksgiving, THANK YOU!!!

Arachova, Greece.  This is a quaint town in Greece.  The school organized a trip so my friend Aryn and I hopped on the bus and saw the country side of Greece.

Aryn, Mariren, and Marios in Arachova, Greece

The cross country team in front of Windsor Castle, England.  A fun group of kids!

Me and Windsor Castle :)

One of those days...

Hey, So this will just be a short entry (hopefully) but today I just had one of those days....  Things seem to be so busy over here....all the time!  I feel as though I have so much to do and not nearly enough time to get it done.  Things are good here but SO busy...I feel as though I don't have a life outside of school and even my training is taking a hit--that's when I get really upset!!!!  I don't have any races coming up, but I want to have a strong base to build off of for the season. I just need to keep reminding my self that all will be okay...and I know it will be, but I just get into these moods where I just feel so overwhelmed...

On a positive note, I am going to London for a business trip on Friday!  I have always wanted to say 'business trip'!!  As you know, I am coaching cross country and we have a meet this Saturday in London. I am so excited to go and experience London for 3 days.  The weather is going to be cold and rainy-but that will remind me of Oregon and maybe Utah.

I think it may be that it is snowing in Utah...and that makes me a little sad :( To be honest, I am surprised that I liked Utah so much and how much I miss it there.  I miss the environment and my friends so much.  But luckily I have made a lot of good friends here too.

This weekend is also the Athens Classic Marathon, but sadly I cannot run it because I will be in London.  However, I am still going to pick up my race packet and go to the marathon expo-which I am really excited for (probably too much so!!!)

Okay, back to school work.  I think that is what bothers me the most is when I have to bring school work home.  I was at school till 6:20 today and I still have more to do at home!  It'll be okay...(I need to be reminded about that :) )  Miss you guys!!!

The cross country team.  Go owlancers!!!

What I made for the Halloween party!

An ipad and a cereal killer :)  This was Halloween night.  There were maybe 20 people out of the 300 I saw that were dressed up 

The Oxi Day Parade. A little different than the Kailua 4th of July Parade. :)

The student's parade in Thessaloniki, Greece.

One of the ruins (and Kevin) in Thessaloniki, Greece.