Home Is Where The Heart Is

Last night I had a dream that reinforced how much this trip means to me. I don't remember most of the details, which is usual with dreams. But basically I was back in Jacksonville and the trip was over. Somehow I knew that I had missed the last two weeks of this Greece trip and woken up and had to fly home. I had taken a cab and was dropped off at the entrance of my apartment complex. Standing in the night with my suitcase in hand, I felt an overwhelming sense of loss. I had missed the rest of the trip. The once in a lifetime experience had slipped away from me while I slept. I vaguely remember crying in my dream without being able to recall what caused it. But when I woke up this morning a tear leaked from my eye. The emotion I felt in my dream had burst to the surface and forced its way out. 

I believe that our subconscious is incredibly powerful. Dreams are full of meanings that we can't always understand, but they are strong subconscious messages nonetheless. From what I remember of my dream, I can tell just how strongly I feel about this trip deep down. And that's where the title of my post fits in. The niche we have carved out for ourselves here in Athens feels like home. Looking out from our balcony and seeing mountains in the distance feels natural. Our neighborhood is familiar now and I feel confident when walking the streets near the dorms. I rarely feel lost anymore, and even when I do I feel calm and can find my way. The Greek people we come in to contact with often now say hello in the informal way. Everything seems to be fitting together in a way that has made this experience feel homey. Whether its my conscious or subconscious, I know where my heart is right now. If home is where the heart is, I may never leave Greece!