Things have been hectic around here; as such, I apologize for not updating in about a week. Friday my parents left, I came home, moved back into my apartment since I stayed with them all week, and took a nap before spending the rest of the weekend catching up from a week of missing class. It was well worth it though as being able to travel abroad with my parents was a great experience. One of the nights we sat around talking about the experience and what not and my parents commented about how they felt they never would have been abroad had I not studied here. I reflected on that and how this has been a learning experience for my whole family as we've learned lessons in distance, life outside the US, and even a bit of traveling knowledge. Atop that, the sites we saw together left us at with a sense of awe and an appreciation for the classical world.

     Thursday afternoon, I found myself standing atop what used to be Plato's academy. It was for my art and archaeology class, but found myself in a state of euphora walking on the same foot paths the ancient thinkers did. We've started Plato's dialogues in my philosophy class and I am hooked. I am going to try to read the entire selection of works we have before the semesters end. After reading Crito and the Apology, standing on the site of Plato's school really sort of hit me and added a lot to the drama. Reflecting on putting a societies most intelligent man to death for constantly questioning and man's desire for power crashed about my head. On top of that it was a rainy day and really left me in a reflective mood. Right: Plato's Academy

      Tuesday a friend from back home at Wabash College and rhyne brother, Matt Scheller, made his way to Athens from Rome. He was on break and it was good to see a familiar face and share some laughs abroad. He brought with him 3 friends from his program who found Wabash men humorous; not in any mocking sense, but in a sort of respectful lack of understanding for our bond and day to day lives. Several times throughout the night, I found myself and Matt either engaged in heavy laughter and something or in the act of some silly thing only to have his buddies comment, "Those Wabash." It's definitely a unique place that takes a unique man.

     Tomorrow I'm catching a day trip to Corinth to meet with the head of excavations for an informative afternoon. I don't have too much more going on this week other than studying for a Latin midterm and reading some Plato. We leave for Thessaloniki next Tuesday and I am very much looking forward to that. 15 days until the Marathon.