Greece

I promised some photos. These are not absolutely, stunningly beautiful photos. These are my daily life photos. Be assured I am not basking on beautiful Mediterranean beaches on a daily basis. I am here to learn both about the culture, the language, and the history. Let’s start with the daily culture. The Greek people are very community oriented. People are always on the street chatting, shopping, or drinking coffee. It seems like nobody, not even the children are wasting their days away watching television or playing video games. It is refreshing.

The neighborhood I live in is a working to middle class neighborhood. There are people of all ages here. I’m guessing a school must be just over on the other block since I can hear children playing loudly as I sit here. I didn’t expect to see as many cars as I do. The streets are full. I’m guessing each family only has one car since street parking is the only option. What I’m pleased to see, although not surprised, is a large number of these:

The Smart Car.

It’s tiny. I suspect most Americans would turn their noses up at the minuteness of it. They would feel unsafe. I’ve been here for almost 5 days, in a very busy part of the city and I’ve not seen or heard one accident. I’ve also not seen one oversized SUV. I think Americans could learn a lot from the Europeans to be honest. In addition to Smart cars there are a lot of motorcycles and scooters. Water heaters are turned on only when needed. People walk when they can. There is no AC in most living spaces and even in many stores. People shop locally. Neighborhoods seem like true communities. I like that.

Ok, admittedly the apartment living is something to get use to. The bathroom and kitchen are small.

The bedrooms are a good size though and once the nights cool off a bit more I think I will sleep better.

At least there is a balcony door. It's either a blessing or a curse depending on how you look at it. It lets in a wonderful breeze and daylight. With that breeze comes noise and the streetlight at night.

A window too!

Storage is not so great, but I’m only here for 3 months. There are no screens on the windows, something we would never dream of in the US because of insects. I’ve so far only seen one mosquito and very few flies. Thankfully the pigeons have not tried to come in.

What I love best so far is the yogurt I mentioned. I think I could live in it the rest of my life.

Lastly, I just had to post this photo. Only in Europe would you find someone playing accordion music at McDonalds.

I'm not sure what is going on with me.

I've been in Athens for a full 4 days now and I have hardly taken a photo. I think it could be because I realize I have so much time here. It seems there is plenty of time for photos. But what if I missed that one photographic opportunity? Actually, I don't think I have missed the photographic opportunity but I have missed several. Like the dog jumping into the fountain today, the hospital we visited for our TB tests, a few skinny cats I've seen walking the streets, and numerous other insignificant things I would probably have loved to document.

Oh well, I can't win them all. Trying to adjust to a new environment has been enough. Lugging my camera around the streets of Athens would have just made me even more tired I'd guess.

Don't fret. Photos will come. You know me.

Now, speaking of that hospital, that was quite interesting. I felt as if I was being inducted into the military. Hurry up and wait. Wait some more. Now wait some more. In all it took about 2 hours just to get a TB test and a chest x-ray. The TB test wasn't bad. I felt nothing. The doctor told me to not be afraid. I wasn't. Luckily I got a woman technician for my chest x-ray. "You have baby?" she said as she patted my belly. "No baby," I said. So she proceeded. I wonder if she asked everyone that or if I just looked pregnant with my little pudge! Once we were finished with the hospital business we took the trolley back to the neighborhood. I stopped at a little market just down from my apartment and bought tomatoes and feta. Some of the best tomatoes and feta I have ever had. Did I say some? No, the best feta I have ever had. I'm sure even better can be found here!

(Speaking of the best of food, the yogurt is the most amazing stuff I have ever had. I have been having it each morning with some apricot jam. So creamy. So smooth. It's almost like dessert!)

Following a mandatory contract meeting two other students and I took a the trolley to a plaza we found yesterday and walked around checking out shops, people watching, and dog watching. We finally made our way to Syntagma square and then on to the National Gardens. Walking through the National Gardens was a nice break from the busy streets of Athens. An uphill walk to our apartments brought me home just in time to change shoes, grab my notebook and head to Greek language classes. I'm feeling a bit frustrated that I am not picking up the Greek as well as I'd like. On a positive note, several of us went to dinner tonight and managed to read several things on the menu as well as order our dinner in Greek. Now that's progress! It was a nice relaxing evening. Sitting in the sidewalk cafe watching people go by and just chatting. One important lesson we did learn - two appetizers and a 50cm pizza is too much for 6 people. Delicious though it was we couldn't finish the pizza. It was a bargain at 38 euros for 6 of us to eat and get full!

It is a beautiful night in Athens. Many more should follow.

I can now blame US Airways. Yes, I totally forgot to look for it, but even if I had it wouldn't have been there. My tripod has been lost in the black hole of lost luggage. Thank goodness it was only my tripod and not my clothes!

I hope they find it because I really don't want to buy a new one. I guess those night time photo ops will just have to wait.

One night down.
103 more to go.

I hope that I will either get use to the incessant noise or the nights will cool off enough so I can close the windows! I slept, but not soundly. When I did get to sleep a loud motorcycle, the heat, or a car horn inevitably awakened me. I’m sure the time change adjustment did not help. I can’t wait until I’ve adjusted and can start thorough enjoying myself. I can see a big difference between this and the trip I took to Turkiye in January. In Turkiye I was kept busy the entire time. It wasn’t just me, alone, among a sea of people I did not know. I know. I didn’t have to adjust to living there. I was a tourist plain and simple. Here, not matter how you spin it I am not a tourist. I am a temporary resident who doesn’t speak the language or know my way around. It can be daunting if I dwell on it, which I’ve chosen not to.

We went to the market today and it’s only about a 5-minute walk from our apartment. Shopping was not too difficult of a task. Not to difficult when buying items off the shelf that have pictures on them. Ordering from the deli is a different task however. I am really going to have to learn how to order that yogurt. It’s going to be essential to my stay here. Bargains can be found if one looks closely. The disparity between brand pricing is pretty big it seems. I’m sticking to simple meals at home – pasta, lentils, bread and cheese, olives – and will use eating out to experience the full range of Greek cuisine. I have yet to delve into good local cuisine. We stopped at a place called Ciao and had lunch. Yes, Ciao. In the middle of Athens. But the food was good and not expensive. A feta and tomato sandwich was only 2,40 Euros. Not bad at all.

Tonight we had our first Greek lesson. Daunting? I little, but with perseverance I think I can pick it up. Following our lesson, which was 3 long hours, a small group of us walked to a neat taverna a few blocks from the center for dinner. I chose not the have the rabbit lemonato and opted for a safer chicken dish. I have yet to encounter what I consider traditional Greek food, but it won’t be long I’m sure. After dinner we took a stroll to the Olympic Stadium. Yes the original Olympic Stadium built in 1896. Some modern history near all the ancient stuff! It is kept lit up at night so I hope to get down one night to take some good photos with my tripod. Speaking of tripod, did I tell you I left mine at the airport? Yes. Left it. On the luggage conveyor. Never even noticed until last night. It should be in lost and found but I have to figure out how to get to the airport and not spend 30 euros.

We also saw the Temple of Zeus and the Parthenon from afar tonight. More great nighttime photo ops!

Meanwhile here is a photo of the Olympic Stadium. Not the best quality but it will have to do.

I stayed out rather late tonight. It’s already 1:15 AM. I’m not tired so I guess I’m still adjusting to the time change. I think I’m adjusting to being here though.

Until classes start.

Then I’ll stress.

For now, Αντιο! (good bye..I think)

Here I am! I made it and none worse for the wear. The flights were a bit bumpy due to tropical storm Hannah, but nothing to make me white knuckled. I can’t say that about a few other passengers I took note of.

So here begins the beginning of a new journey in life. The overwhelm is, well, looming large. After arriving to the airport I got my bags with no trouble. There were two other students on the same flight with me, so I wasn’t entirely alone. We made a phone call to let the director of the program know we were here and we heading toward our apartments. It was then into a cab and on the way to my apartment. I was utterly alone in that endeavor! I’ll have to say the cab ride was not nearly as interesting as an Istanbul cab ride and only cost me 35 Euros. I guess 35 Euros is worth it to get me to my destination safe and sound. Unfortunately there was nobody here to let me in. I rang. No answer. I rang again. No answer. I forgot to write down the country code for Greece before I left so calling someone at the center was out. Thank goodness my dear husband answered the phone at home and looked up the code for me. It was only about 3 AM back in the states. He is truly a gem. I was then able to call the center and get someone to head over to let me in. My welcome was warm and comforting after sitting out front, bags in tow, passing time reading a book, trying to look normal and not feeling so normal.

A view from my room

I’ve since had a shower, discovered Greek plumbing is an interesting thing, opened all the windows, learned of the Greek “quiet time” between 2:30and 5:30 that isn’t always so quiet, been reluctant to venture out, read some more of my book, pondered over the sign in the toilet that says “Please do not flush any toilet paper or hygiene products down the toilet, overheard a few loud conversations in Greek, wondered just how many scooters and motorcycles there are in this city, hoped a pigeon wouldn't fly into my open window, took a second nap, got confused over the time change, wondered what the heck I was doing here, and pretty much loved every minute of it!

A second view from my room

I am now waiting for my roommates to arrive and the center will serve us dinner at 8. Seems the Greek people rarely eat dinner before 8. I wonder what all those American gastroenterologists would say about that. I wonder if the Greeks have less trouble with acid reflux. I wonder if the 2:30-5:30 quiet time should be implemented in the US and if we would all be healthier for doing it.
That is the first half of my first day in Athens. This should be an interesting experience!