My First Greek Week

Saturday was spent in an exhausted stupor. We were so tired for traveling, but we did manage to get out of the apartment to go grocery shopping. TALK ABOUT STRESS! Everything was in Greek and no one spoke english. I never thought finding milk and cereal would give me such a headache! We also managed to grab souvlakis (apparently what we have been calling gyros all week).

I think I found a good gelato replacement 

On Sunday we had Orientation. Jean organized a photo scavenger hunt so we could explore the city in a unique way. Dan, Kelly, Charlie, Sarah and I were on a team. We had to run around and take pictures of us next to different things in the City (Parliament, the Flea Market, Tower of the Winds) and take pictures of different random things (biggest pile of trash, most stray animals, best view of the city). Unfortunately my group didn’t win the prize of a goody bag from the bakery, but it was a unique way of getting to know the city. (We did get the best view of the city, most stray animals in one picture).

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There's are 6 cats in this picture (one is kind of hiding) but there were more on the other side of the street.

Monday morning we had Orientation at campus (CYA-College Year in Athens). We met the staff, learned about campus life, and jumped right into our first class of the day: Greek Culture and Language. Our fabulous professor Lida (she's super enthusiastic) took us around the neighborhood pointing out bakeries, restaurants, and grocery stores. We then went back to school and started learning Greek. As Lida put it: my "brain was boiling." Ps are pronounced like Rs, Hs like Is, Bs like Vs... My head was pounding and Lida did not go slow. It will be a challenge to say the least. After her class was Art History and Literature with Anne Stewart. She's great. Super passionate about everything from painted pots to the Iliad. I think I will like her- she's a lot tamer than Paolo and Carmella.

Monday night, my roommates and I dressed like the guys from the apartment below us for Halloween. We had night class and took everyone by surprise. I dressed like Alex, who just so happened to be wearing the exact outfit I had planned! It was fabulous! We then had a Halloween party after class. Since we hadn't had any time to get costumes in Greece, we made our costumes with random stuff (The costumes in our apartment ranged from maps, post- its, an old suitcase, paper plates/cups, and garbage bags.) It was nice bringing a little American Halloween spirit to Greece.

Me as Alex, Kate as Bill, Jessica as Garrett, Michelle as Andrew, and Shannon as Dan. 

Happy Halloween! 

Tuesday- Thursday was simply filled will our new classes. More Greek with Lida, a trip to the National Museum for Art and best of all meeting our new Theology professor Stefanos Alexopoulos. He is FABULOUS! He is the polar opposite of Father Gunther's terrifying personality. He is funny, understanding, and really wants us to speak our minds. It is going to be a fascinating class learning about the Eastern Churches. I can't wait for more!

Wednesday night Michelle and I watched Disney's Hercules to get us even more pumped for living in Greece. It definitely did the job, although the pottery we're studying in Art History would be slightly more interesting if the characters on them came to life and sang catching songs. It's nothing like actual Greek mythology, but it is so good!

Anne probably would have a thing or two to say about the inaccuracies... oh well 

Today Michelle and I walked around a shopping area near Parliament. Other than being depressed by Athen's lack of short-length jeans, it was a fun trip. It was made even more interesting when a protest on its way to parliment passed us by while we were entering the GAP. Lots of chanting, flag waving, and police accompanied. Even shopping is an experience here! I think it will be an interesting semester to say the least.

I assume this will be the first of many protests seen here.