My Solo Trip Abroad

Chapter 1

Tsura Westgate. That's my name.

College life is being a bust for me. Every morning is the same: the struggle to get up early, get my face situated and hit the coffee shop then slog into class. I attend classes three days a week and work three days, only having one day off. Thankfully it's nearing the end of the year. I have almost made it through my second year of college.

As I sit in the back of the auditorium, I listen on and off to the professors lecture. She's a Greek woman with a thick accent. She wears a long skirt and thick glasses, donning kinky curly hair. She moves with extreme enthusiasm, waving her hands and smiling like crazy as she mentions opportunity to travel to the places we've learned of.

I perk up a bit. Going somewhere besides this drab place would be a dream, especially when it comes to Greece. As a student majoring in Archaeology and minoring in Anthropology AND Greek language, I would die if I got the opportunity to Vacation where the professor speaks of.

"....a new program in which the student pays a fee that saves the spot in itinerary... Greece...You don't have to pay out of pocket, you pay it off after you venture there. ...pay a monthly fee without interest!!...10 nights visiting Thira on the Island of Santorini located on one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea..." I zone in and out as particular words interest my ears.

I continue my listening process until the end of class. When she is finished talking, she passes back some foldables to those who are interested. I jump up and grab one from the hands of some guy I fail to remember the name of. I make my way down to the professor to talk to her personally about the trip.

"Professor Stathopoulou, I am so glad you mentioned this opportunity. I've been looking for something like this for a while!!"

"Tsura, I'm completely over the moon about this new program!! The trip is perfect for a student such as yourself, agapitós(dear). Sas efcharistó gia na kollísei gyro (Thank you for sticking around). Most students do not stick with Greek language and studies. They find it too hard."

I laugh, then "Parakaló (You're welcome). There's just something about it that draws me in."