Jan. 31 2008
Dear Everybody,
Dear Everybody,
I'm in Greece! Believe it or not, I really am. (And thank you to people who attended the multiple "going away" parties throughout the last few months. I'm so happy I got to spend some time with you!)
So, I arrived last Sunday to Athens with Arcadia University's study abroad program. I'll be here until May taking Greek, History, Economic and Anthropology classes. This week has been orientation so there have been a lot of "safety" meetings, ice breakers and some tours of the city. It's a pretty big program, 50 or 60 kids in total. I have found a couple who I really enjoy. My roommates are great. One girl, Erica, from Tuscon, AZ, one boy, Jake, from Ithaca, NY and another boy, Matt, from Hawaii. We live in a really spacious apartment. We each have our own room and there is a living room and nicely sized kitchen. The only bad things are that the heat in my room isn't working--I need to drain the radiator, or something--and there is no internet. Other than those things though I kind of wish I could take the apartment with me wherever I go next. Oh, it's also on this insanely steep hill (I suppose San Franciscans wouldn't be very intimidated, but it's extreme for me) so my thighs are going to be like rocks when I'm done with this. In the mean time, my lungs are still adjusting. I hadn't ever realized it before but Athens is mostly built on hills. Only down by the sea and the touristy areas are on flat land.
The weather has been really mixed the last few days. It goes from really pleasant (60s and sunny) to freezing cold and rainy/snowy. It's a little difficult to know how to dress considering it changes at the drop of a hat, but today it's quite beautiful. Hopefully I'll get a chance to warm up in the sun later on.
This morning my roommate Erica and I got up to go see the funeral procession of the Archbishop who died on Monday. It was quite a spectacle and most of Athens came out for it. All the priests were totally decked out in their robes and scepters and fancy emblems. There were lots of different sections of military personnel and the prime minister and president were there. I got some pretty good pictures, especially of the Archbishop who was being carried by a truck/tank in an open casket. Let me tell you, being dead for 4 days is not a very good look. Interesting to see though even though I"m a little queasy just thinking about it again.
Thanks to the funeral Athens is pretty much shut down today so Arcadia had to push back our end-of-orientation trip a day to Nafpoli. Athens being closed only matters because we students have to go get our TB tests read and chest x-rays back from the hospital so that we can apply for visa extensions, which we can't do now until tomorrow. It's actually pretty nice for us though because we finally have a free day and can just hang out and explore the city on our own. I think I"m hiking up Lykabettos Hill(sp?) tonight which is supposed to have an incredible view of Athens.
I'm really looking forward to classes starting next week. I'm taking Revolution, Catastrophe and Civil War: The Rise and Fall of the Modern Greek State, The Greek Economy, Contemporary Greek Culture, Greek Language (PS. There is only one other Greek American--well, there are two others who technically are but know very little about Greek culture or language--and she and I are apparently the most "advanced" in language and our going to be in a separate "intermediate" class together. I think it's SO funny. In case you don't know, I took Beginner Greek at NYU last semester and was in a class with pretty much all Greek American kids who were fluent, but who just couldn't write the language, so this is a MAJOR flip of the coin.) and a Greek Key class that has us volunteer with different organizations in Athens and get out and meet Greek people. I think it will all be really good preparation for my project and I'm excited to get started. I'm also excited to get into some sort of routine and make time to branch out of the program. I like the friends I've made, but I want to meet some locals too. If anyone has friends here, please send their numbers my way!
Endaksi (That means: alright. See I know SO MUCH Greek!), please keep in touch! I will try to update as frequently as I can and will be sure to let you know when I've established some sort of web domain.
Much love to all,
Be well,
A.
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