Hey everybody,
After our first week of classes, everyone was ready for a little catch up day.
I woke up this morning and walked over to the Friday Street Market to get some fresh produce with my roommate Gretchen. Its incredibly cheap and the colors are so appetizing I couldn't resist a little photo op with the fruits and veggies.
After the market we came back and caught up on some reading and homework for class. Again, I tried to do some laundry in the bathtub.
Not so successful.
There aren't any dryers here, so I'm still waiting for my clothes to fully dry out on the balcony 5 hours later.
I'll back up a little bit and talk about my week. This week I've been trying really hard to notice the biggest differences between Greece and the U.S.
Here's a few of my new observations:
1. "Waving hello" is bad. Its a not-so-nice word in Greece, and its usually a really bad gesture when thanking someone for letting you cross the street. Keep your fingers together and its okay.
2. In church, or in front of elderly or important people, never cross your legs. Never cross your ankles either. It's disrespectful.
3. People here bless themselves and give themselves the sign of the cross at any moment during the day. I see it everywhere. Whenever people think of something worth prayer or blessing they make the motion. Also, its the opposite direction of the Roman Catholic blessing.
4. Upon greeting a close friend or relative, people kiss each other on both cheeks. Sometimes, women will hold each others hands while chatting.
5. Motorcycles, Mopeds, and bicycles are very common. So common that if you order a dominoes pizza, your order will arrive on the back of a bike!
6. Stray cats and dogs are everywhere. Last night, we went to a movie across town, and four friendly strays followed us all the way home. They chased and barked at anyone who came too close to us. They don't jay-walk either! The dogs knew when it was safe to cross, and they wait patiently at lights with everyone else.
Dogs with collars mean that they have been checked by police for any diseases and they are clean. Often times, people buy dog and cat food and leave it outside their doors for the strays, so there are very few shabby looking stray animals.
7. No flushing toilet paper. Or else.
8. Lots of people smoke. Even at the market with all the fresh, beautiful produce. The vendors sit there with cigarette in hand and barter with you over fresh nectarines!
That's all I have for now. I'm sure I will think of more later.
I am the only person in our whole program who isn't taking the art history class. However, they let me come along on all of the field trips when I want to. Wednesday, the class went to the Athens Archaeological Museum to talk about a little bit of Ancient Greek Art.
Luckily for me, I didn't have to take any notes. Only pictures :)
From what I remember, the Ancient Greek art was heavily influenced by the Egyptians. Lots of time spent looking at funeral Kouros and a few other artifacts.
Everyone waiting outside the museum for the class to start
Here are two discs used by the original long jumpers of Greece. They ran with them and dropped them right before they took off on their jump.
Tomorrow we leave for our first island excursion. Aegina is the country's number one producer of pistachios, and home to the Temple of Aphaia (Named for one of Zeus' daughters, and has been there since 490 BC). Should be a blast!
Talk soon,
Kirsten
After our first week of classes, everyone was ready for a little catch up day.
I woke up this morning and walked over to the Friday Street Market to get some fresh produce with my roommate Gretchen. Its incredibly cheap and the colors are so appetizing I couldn't resist a little photo op with the fruits and veggies.
(Here's one of my friends Megan and Megan last week at the same market)
After the market we came back and caught up on some reading and homework for class. Again, I tried to do some laundry in the bathtub.
Not so successful.
There aren't any dryers here, so I'm still waiting for my clothes to fully dry out on the balcony 5 hours later.
I'll back up a little bit and talk about my week. This week I've been trying really hard to notice the biggest differences between Greece and the U.S.
Here's a few of my new observations:
1. "Waving hello" is bad. Its a not-so-nice word in Greece, and its usually a really bad gesture when thanking someone for letting you cross the street. Keep your fingers together and its okay.
2. In church, or in front of elderly or important people, never cross your legs. Never cross your ankles either. It's disrespectful.
3. People here bless themselves and give themselves the sign of the cross at any moment during the day. I see it everywhere. Whenever people think of something worth prayer or blessing they make the motion. Also, its the opposite direction of the Roman Catholic blessing.
4. Upon greeting a close friend or relative, people kiss each other on both cheeks. Sometimes, women will hold each others hands while chatting.
5. Motorcycles, Mopeds, and bicycles are very common. So common that if you order a dominoes pizza, your order will arrive on the back of a bike!
6. Stray cats and dogs are everywhere. Last night, we went to a movie across town, and four friendly strays followed us all the way home. They chased and barked at anyone who came too close to us. They don't jay-walk either! The dogs knew when it was safe to cross, and they wait patiently at lights with everyone else.
Dogs with collars mean that they have been checked by police for any diseases and they are clean. Often times, people buy dog and cat food and leave it outside their doors for the strays, so there are very few shabby looking stray animals.
7. No flushing toilet paper. Or else.
8. Lots of people smoke. Even at the market with all the fresh, beautiful produce. The vendors sit there with cigarette in hand and barter with you over fresh nectarines!
That's all I have for now. I'm sure I will think of more later.
I am the only person in our whole program who isn't taking the art history class. However, they let me come along on all of the field trips when I want to. Wednesday, the class went to the Athens Archaeological Museum to talk about a little bit of Ancient Greek Art.
Luckily for me, I didn't have to take any notes. Only pictures :)
From what I remember, the Ancient Greek art was heavily influenced by the Egyptians. Lots of time spent looking at funeral Kouros and a few other artifacts.
Everyone waiting outside the museum for the class to start
One of the Greek honorary funeral sculptures. The lines and geometric patterns are a trademark of Greek art.
The people displayed are mourners.
Here are two discs used by the original long jumpers of Greece. They ran with them and dropped them right before they took off on their jump.
Tomorrow we leave for our first island excursion. Aegina is the country's number one producer of pistachios, and home to the Temple of Aphaia (Named for one of Zeus' daughters, and has been there since 490 BC). Should be a blast!
Talk soon,
Kirsten
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