How to pick just one memory?! One of my favorite memories was on a study abroad trip in Greece, and as a Greek-classics major, this was a trip of a lifetime for me. It was the Fourth of July, Independence Day for us Americans, and being in a different country we didn’t really celebrate it in the traditional way - we couldn't pass up a perfectly legitimate opportunity to celebrate.
We were in Kapetaniana on the island of Crete, and after a big Greek breakfast, we set out on a five-mile hike down to the beach. Now, this hike was not for the faint of heart. Even though it was all downhill, it comprised of switchbacks on the side of a mountain, so not only was it pretty steep, it was also super windy! Dust and dirt were kicked up into the air, sticking to our sweaty skin and matting our hair while we pressed against the wind! At one point, a bee got tangled up in my dirty, windblown hair, and even though my friends desperately tried to get it out, the poor thing ended up stinging my head in fright.
While it was a difficult hike, our spirits were kept high by singing ridiculously out of tune, being chased by goats and taking in the gorgeous views over the Libyan Sea! When we finally reached the beach at the bottom, we were rewarded with refreshing, crystal clear blue waters with rocks to explore and jump off of.
After we were done, we thankfully had cars come and drive us back up to the top (which was just as equally terrifying, if not more so, on the switchbacks!) where we had a massive Greek buffet laid out for us! So even though there were no fireworks or barbeque to celebrate with, it was the best Independence Day I have ever had!