It's time to lose some weight...

Hello my faithful readers:

This morning I'm sitting here on the patio of my bungalow and realizing that my life is pretty freaking amazing. I wake up pinching myself everyday that I've the opportunity to travel and see the world when so many are suffering right now. I'm currently in Paros and I think this will be a laid-back place for us after the frenetic sightseeing in Athens and the festive party atmosphere of Mykonos.

So far Greece has treated me well - all of our accommodations have been solid. Our room in Athens wasn't as spectacular as I'd hoped, but if that's the worst thing we'll experience then it was still fine –I loved the hospitality I was given there.

I'm also starting to feel much better now that I'm kicking the cold or bug I started getting in Athens. Yesterday I got a little over heated (too much time in the sun) and I started to break out in hives again, but today I'm clinging to the shade, avoiding direct sunlight and covering up my skin so that I don't melt like the vampires in "True Blood."

I’m also learning a lot about not getting so attached to my material things on this trip – at every location I’m leaving something behind simply because I have way too much luggage for all of the moving around we’re doing. We have been lucky with our transfers from the ferries in Mykonos and Paros, because our hotels picked us up and dropped us off for free. If I had to carry all of my luggage on public transportation - it would be absolutely horrendous.

The motivation behind the shedding of my seemingly unnecessary belongings is my superstitious hope is that if I leave something behind, eventually I’ll return. I’m mostly happy that all of the things I’ve left behind have been on purpose (I’m known to leave very important things unintentionally).

Now the only thing I have to do now is make sure I don’t weigh a million pounds by the time I leave Greece. So far the food has been good and I’m making my way through all the Greek desserts as well. I'll have fun trying them all though. It's worth every pound I'll gain. :)

Mwuah,

Georgia Peach

Spending the holidays abroad

Hello my faithful readers:

It has been quite a while since I've blogged on this particular page (my own) since I began blogging for the FT.com MBA Blog. Never fear - this blog still lives.

There's a lot going on for me lately. This week is finals week for me and I just completed the first of three finals today in Financial Accounting. You'll read more about my thoughts on that in my FT blog later this week. Now I'd like to share a few random thoughts about celebrating the holidays here in Belgium.

Thanksgiving here in Belgium was an interesting experience for me mainly because they don't celebrate it here. On the actual day I had classes and I felt a lot of homesickness on the actual holiday. Much more than I expected to feel.

Normally my family gets together to cook, laugh and talk before the big day and it was tough not being there to take part in the preparation ritual. Never fear - I spent Thanksgiving night touring the Stella Artois brewery here in Leuven with some of my classmates. I ended the night with a late night dinner with a couple of my American friends and classmates.

We had a special "international potluck" Thanksgiving celebration on the Sunday after the actual holiday and it was a nice opportunity to taste traditional dishes from all over the world. I had a great time that day and ate just as much as if I were at home for the holiday.

This year I'm not planning to go home for Christmas. It will be the first time in my 31 years on this earth that I haven't spent the holiday with my family. Instead I'll be in Vienna on Christmas day because during my winter break - I'm planning to travel to Prague, Vienna and Budapest with two classmates and one of my friends from America.

I know that this holiday season is going to be tough for me as well as my mom because Christmas is her absolute favorite holiday. She's like a little kid again at this time and she decorates the inside of the house with a zeal that makes me think I might be adopted. She even has an animatronic Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Shocking right? Most of you who know me well realize that I have never (EVER) set my own tree up or decorated my apartment(s) for Christmas in the nine years that I've lived away from home. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for decorating at the holidays I will miss the ritual of waking up in the morning to exchange gifts with my immediate family (mom, dad and baby sis). We have a giant stocking that we stuff with little gifts and stocking stuffers that is presented to one immediate family member each year; it's funny now I can't remember who gets it this year.

After the exchange of gifts and a special breakfast at home (complete with the hot apple cider that my mom loves) then we head over to my Dad's side of the family for Christmas lunch and gift exchange. Then after spending a few hours there we head across town to spend time with my mother's huge family for another meal and round of gift exchanges. At the end of the long day after all of the food, fun and laughter then we head home (if it isn't at our house) and talk a little bit before going to bed.

I'll miss the tradition this year for the first time ever. It's a special time of the year for my family but I will be there with them celebrating in spirit. I made the decision not to go home this year because I wanted to use my only break this year to see a little more of Europe. Hopefully I'll find some new traditions to bring home with me for next Christmas while I'm here in Belgium.

Mwuah,

Georgia Peach