Saving Euros and my Breakfast Discovery

Over the course of this trip I have spent quite a few Euros.

I have reached the point where I am trying to spend less than 5 Euros per day in an attempt to maximize my savings for the rest of this trip. I also need to find the bank that will not charge me ridiculous fees for withdrawing money from my American account, but that will wait until another day. For now, I am concerned with saving.

Luckily, I've found a place to get a delicious breakfast for only 2 Euro. On the way to Deree there is a little bakery that sells meat and cheese pies, pastries, bread, and a variety of other delicious morsels. One such morsel that I have discovered is two hotdogs baked into bread with (wait for it)....CHEESE. It's super delicious, and although it may not be the healthiest, I don't feel too bad about eating it because I burn a lot of calories walking here. Between trips to campus and down Iyouyannu for groceries/meals/etc I'm sure that I walk at least a couple of miles each day.

I'm actually really enjoying the exercise that I'm getting here, and I find it really nice to be able to walk to school and get a cheap breakfast on the way there. I also have a place that I stop at on the way back for a κοτοπουλο (kotopoulo or chicken) wrap that is less than 2 Euro. Hopefully I will get to know the owners better before the end of this trip, as I'm sure that I will be getting food their often.

Before you close out of the blog be sure to listen to this catchy Greek song that our language teacher showed us in class. Also be sure to appreciate the high quality of the music video.

First Week of Class, Dancing, and Crepes

I must say that I am really enjoying the classes that I have taken so far. In our language class we practiced the Greek alphabet, which was very helpful for me since I have really been trying to be able to read the Greek language. I'm looking forward to taking the class again on Friday so that I can work on some other common Greek phrases that I will be using over the course of my stay.

After the language class, I attended my modern Greek history class, which covers everything from the early 1900s to the 1980s in Greek history. I am actually really loving this class because I'm learning things that I had no idea about before starting. When I thought of Greece I only used to think of it in the context of Ancient Greece, but I never thought about it's modern history, which is actually very rich with events. This is one of those classes where I take a bunch of notes and learn a lot, and I'm excited to go back to it today.

In addition to the classes, there has also been a considerable amount of dancing this week. On Tuesday night we had an unplanned dance party on the first floor (or floor 0 as they say here) lobby and it was pretty awesome. We danced for a couple hours, or at least that's what it felt like. I'm sure the kids from the other college think that we are absolutely nuts, but that's okay. To quote Zorba: "A man needs a little madness, or else he never dares cut the rope and be free". I think I've found that madness, that Kefi, that the Greeks speak of, and I must say that it's pretty awesome.

Yesterday, Wednesday, we also had the pleasure of learning some traditional Greek dances in a dance class at Deree. Well, I tried to learn the dances, but I messed up quite a bit. It was still a pretty fun experience though, and even though I probably looked like a fool, I got a good amount of exercise. It was also interesting to hear our instructor talk about these traditional dances and how old they are, and even the differences between island dances and mainland dances.

After dancing and classes yesterday, I took a short walk through the neighborhood and got some absolutely delicious crepes with my friends here. If you ever wondered whether there was such thing as a chicken nugget crepe then your answer is YES. They are wonderful. One of the best dinners that I've had since I've been here. I was sure to burn off the calories afterwards by going to the gym, which is in the basement of our dorm complex, and lifting weights and running. All in all it was a pretty great day.

Now, as I'm finishing up this post, I can't help but look forward to the adventures that today will hold. What will I learn in my classes? What will I eat tonight? How much research can I get done before the day is over?  WILL I EVER FIND AN ADAPTER?!

ALL OF THIS AND MORE IN THE NEXT EPISODE OF: AN AMERICAN STUDENT IN GREECE

Credits:
~Jimmy Everett as Himself

And special thanks to Nicole Thue for allowing me to use her adapter!

Ya sas! (Goodbye!)

Delphi and The Athenian Acropolis

Well, you may have noticed that it has been a few days since I have posted my latest blog update, and that is with good reason. Unfortunately, I do not have a functioning adapter for the power outlets here in Greece, so I have had to borrow adapters from friends when I plan on logging onto my computer. The last time I had the opportunity to log on I actually attempted to make a video blog where I talked about my experiences over the last several days, to get everyone caught up, but that did not upload either. It has been a little frustrating.

It seems like wherever I go there are no power adapters. I have even been to two or three electronic stores in the area, and none of them carried a power adapter. In fact, they told me that the other store would have it. None of them did though, so my search for an adapter continues. Until then, my blog updates will be whenever I get a chance to borrow an adapter from my friends, or whenever I am using the computer lab at Deree, the college that I am attending in Greece.

Onto more exciting stuff....

This past weekend I have had the opportunity to go to some amazing historical sites. On Saturday we took a trip to Delphi, the site of the Temple of the Apollon and the oracle, which is located near the top of Mount Parnassus. The drive up Parnassus was absolutely beautiful, and the view that I could see from the top of the mountain cannot be captured in words or in pictures. It was amazing. Once we arrived at the site it was even more amazing. To be able to stand in the same spot that the ancient Greeks had once worshiped in, and received prophecies from the oracle, was so surreal. From the temple itself, to the ancient Greek inscriptions that covered the ruins surrounding it, the whole trip was just awesome.

We finished off the day with a trip through a small town right outside a Delphi that was like something out of a movie. We had delicious food there, and I was able to purchase some more statues for my Greek god collection. After the lunch we went to a beautiful monastery on the mountain side that had been there since the Byzantine empire. The whole day was just surreal.

On Sunday we went to another important historical site, the Acropolis of Athens, which is home to the famous Parthenon. I must say that the Parthenon truly is awe-inspiring. To think that people were able to build this massive structure thousands of years ago is just insane. Unfortunately there were quite a few people there, and the experience wasn't as quiet as Delphi, but it was still amazing to see such a historical structure up close. There were also several other temples around the Parthenon that I was able to photograph and visit. I am sure that I will have to be going back to the Acropolis at some point to continue my research on Pericles, as he was responsible for many of the building projects in Athens during his time period, including some of the structures at the Acropolis.

Learning Arabic

A couple of days ago I had the interesting experience of being thrown out of my lingual comfort zone once again. Now, I have been quite used to having to practice my Greek, as a lot of people here do not speak English, but never did I expect that I would be trying to communicate in Arabic.

We were on the ferry ride back to Athens from Rhodes. I was sitting at a small table on the outside dining deck with Nicole and Mary, eating a sandwich, when suddenly I see a man from another table motioning for me to come over. I left my table hesitantly, unsure of why he needed me to come to his table. As I approached I noticed that he was sitting across from his friend, and he began talking to me in a language that I did not recognize. Being that I was in Greece, I assumed that he was seeking Greek, and responded with the typical "milate Anglika?" Asking if he spoke English... He didn't. But as I continued to try to communicate, I realized that he wasn't speaking Greek either. No, he was speaking Arabic, a language that I was COMPLETELY unfamiliar with; unfortunately just as unfamiliar as they were with English.

I don't know exactly why he called me over. Maybe they assumed that I was an Arab? I mean, I don't think I look like an Arab, but who knows? Maybe I just look someone who is a master at languages...

Anyways...

It was actually quite a funny experience, trying to communicate with someone without a common language, and next thing you know I was sitting with these men for two or three hours trying to learn Arabic and teach English all at once. Eventually another one of their friends joined them and through a good amount of pointing, hand motions, and country names, I was able to get a decent understanding of their story.

The man who had called me over, Barzan, was a Kurdish immigrant from Iraq who was trying to escape persecution. He made a lot of motions like he was whipped and beaten by the police in Iraq and Turkey. His friends who were with him, Zacharia and Muhamed Ahsmat, were Syrians who had also fled Syria, and seemed to have some negative feelings towards their president (can't blame them). Somehow they had all ended up together, travelling to Athens to seek better lives away from their home countries. This is what I gathered from them at least, it was difficult trying to understand everything that they were saying.

Other important things that I noticed:
-They really liked Barack Obama and the United States
-They thought that Hilary Clinton was beautiful
-They said that tattoos are illegal in their home countries
-They think that Greece is just "okay" but not good
-They offered me cigarettes very often, and seemed surprised when I motioned that I didn't smoke

I also learned a few words and phrases in Arabic, but I won't type up all of them. All I can say was that it was a very interesting experience, and both myself and my new Arab/Kurdish friends found it quite humorous and educational.

I actually feel like I was able to improvise and communicate fairly well for someone who spoke no Arabic at all. I'm starting to realize how much I really enjoy learning and practicing foreign languages.

From Athens to Rhodes, and back again.

It has been about a week since I embarked on my journey to Greece, and I must say that it has been quite the adventure. Due to technological difficulties I have been unable to update my blog on a daily basis, but now, as I sit here in the cool air conditioned room of the Deree College in Athens, I can think of no better time to update any followers that I may have of my adventures thus far. If my adventures are not entertaining enough to read, just know that I am well and having a wonderful, adventurous, time in the country known as Hellas.

June 14th: Saying goodbye, flying, and trying to sleep. 

Thursday was an exciting day. As I prepared myself for my journey I found my mind wandering as I imagined all of the beautiful things that I would see in Athens. It was so strange to think that I would finally be going to another country that was thousands of miles away from my home.  After the initial bitter-sweet moment of saying goodbye to my parents before my journey, I was overcome with a sense of excitement. As the plane took off from Orlando to Philly, from Philly to Greece, my excitement continued to grow. But then disaster struck in the form of a nine hour plane ride...

Exhibit A: Sleep Deprived Jimmy. Note the look of madness in his eyes.

Nine hours is a very long time. Had it not been for the friends that were flying with me, and the occasional on-plane movie, I surely would have succumbed to madness. Reading was a good way to occupy my time, and I made a little bit of progress into the Odyssey, but for most of the flight my mind was stuck in a strange sort of limbo between awake and asleep, which prevented me from focusing on my book. But enough about that. After 9 hours of flying, and 0 minutes of sleeping, we had finally arrived in Athens.

A beautiful view of Hellas from the airplane. 

June 15th: Athens, the Greek language, and the ordering food.

The landscape of Athens was a stark contrast to the flatland of Florida. Although the weather was just as hot, it was not nearly as humid, and sweating was not a big issue. We took a short bus ride to the American College of Greece, where I am currently living, and I was sure to soak in all of the sights along the way. To save time I will condense the things that I initially noticed about Athens into a list:
- The fields and olive trees are beautiful.
- The mountains are beautiful.
- The breeze is beautiful (and much cooler than Florida's).
- There is A LOT of graffiti (most likely due to politics regarding the economic crisis).
- Driving is absolutely chaotic in comparison to the U.S.....by a lot.
- I have no idea how to read the Greek alphabet.

A tired but anxious Jimmy points at the camera. I believe Turkey is in the background.

I was eager to change the final point, and also to practice my "Ellinika" (Greek). After arriving at the College, and going on a short tour of the neighborhood I began to read through my Greek handbook and practice the alphabet. Within about an hour of studying I actually had a fairly decent grasp on the alphabet, which has only gotten better with practice from reading street signs and all-Greek menus. My linguistic skills have also been fairly useful in communicating with locals, and for at least the past few days I have been somewhat of the designated food order-er? Although I did have some difficulty communicating, I really enjoyed the challenge. On one occasion in the Ferry's diner, I think I was actually able to order food well enough to where the cashier thought that I was Greek! Unfortunately he tried talking to me in Greek, which made me seem like a fool since my vocabulary was basically limited to ordering food, saying hello, and asking where the bathroom is.

Nonetheless, after a good meal on the Ferry, and talking with friends, I retreated to my small cabin and let the ocean rock me to sleep. I had no idea what Rhodes would be like, but I knew that I would be finding out tomorrow.

June 16th: Rhodes, Lindos, and Shady Street:

The Temple of Athene on the Akropolis at Lindos. As a Greek mythology fan, and lover of history, this was exciting.

Navigating the busy winding streets of Lindos. 

Rodos (Rhodes) is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. To try to describe it completely in a post is nearly impossible, so I will attempt to post some pictures of this beautiful island, and the beautiful town of Lindos. Our journey involved a walk through the curving streets of Lindos to the town's Akropolis, which was home to ancient ruins. As someone who loves history and Greek mythology I was thrilled to see the temple of Athene, and the other beautiful structures at the top of the hill.


On the way back we had a delicious lunch on the roof of a scenic restaurant before continuing our exploration of the town. The view was amazing.

A view of Lindos from the roof of the restaurant. 

After exploring Lindos we took a bus to the hotel that we would be staying at on Rodos, and it was also quite beautiful. Not long after arriving, I took my first swim in the Mediterranean, which was directly across from our hotel. After a good amount of recreation, a group of us went out for dinner (which was delicious) and then began our journey to a sports bar to watch the Russia vs Greece football (soccer) game. Our journey was a perilous one, that took us down a dangerous road that I like to call....

*dramatic music*

SHADY STREET

It was chaotic. As you walk down the brightly lit road of Shady Street you are bombarded left and right by loud voices, beckoning you to come into their bars. The voices, masked by sweaty smiling faces, tempt you with free alcohol, free food, and friendship, and all they want in return is for you to come and sit down. You cannot stop though, unless you wish to risk being sucked into one of these seedy looking establishments; their flashing lights and loud noises calling out to you. Amidst the chaos small Romani children circle you, crying out to you, pleading for you to buy their bracelets. One girl grabs your arm, tears in her eyes as she yells, "only 10 cents, only 10 cents!". Still, you push forward, dragging the wailing figure behind you, steadfast in your quest to find a less shady looking establishment; you yearn for an escape from the chaos and the begging. And then finally, you find it. A sports bar that is quiet, removed, in which you can peacefully watch the soccer game. The noise of Shady Streets dies out as you sit and enjoy the game.

Greece wins.

June 17th: Finding my Kefi....


I cannot contain all of the amazing events of Sunday in this post. What I can do, however, is attempt to explain one sensation that was the pinnacle of the day, and my entire stay in Hellas thus-far. I am talking, of course, about the concept of Kefi. Although it does not have a literal translation, it is more or less the Greek word for "spirit". Talking about it is one thing, but experiencing it is something else altogether...

Sunday night is the night that I experience Kefi. It wasn't something that I was expecting, or even searching for actively, but it happened. It started with a trip to a restaurant. I believe the restaurant was called the "Blue Lagoon" and it was a pirate themed authentic Greek cuisine with live Greek music.

Everything started off normally, with food, drink, and group discussion, but there was something different about this place. The music. The band was playing fast-paced live Greek music with their "bazooki" (a traditional Greek guitar-like instrument), keyboard, and voices. It was enough to get my foot tapping, but never did I think that I would go on stage and dance in front of everyone in the restaurant. But as the music continued I kept feeling the desire to dance, and when some friends from my group went up on the stage to dance to the music I finally conquered my self-consciousness and joined them on the stage. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was loving it. I didn't really need to know what I was doing, I just had to feel it. As most of the other left the stage, I found myself still up there dancing uncontrollably, consumed by the Kefi that I had been told about.

Everything was so alive, the cheers of the crowd, of my group, and the music! Oh the music, it was becoming part of my being. I ceased to be a self-conscious entity, and became a euphoric dancing machine that moved uncontrollably with the beat of the song. I was alive. Probably more alive than I have ever really felt. My hands clapping, my feet stomping, my body twisting and turning, and my heart racing. I didn't care what anyone thought of me, all I cared about was that I WAS. I was living, I was existing, I was truly and unmistakably alive. I had found my Kefi.

This isn't real.

One week left and it the fact that I will be flying to Greece in a little over a week still hasn't quite hit me yet. Despite my hours of reading, talking, and thinking about being in Greece, it still doesn't seem like something that is going to be reality. In the mean time, while my mind tries to wrap itself around the idea of being in one of the most historically rich countries in the world, I figured I would get started on this blog so that I can document my feelings before, after, and during the trip.

And by "get started on this blog" I mean: Try to figure out how blogging works. I've already spent about twenty minutes trying to figure out how to post this, and even now I'm not 100% sure that it will work. For all that my technologically-challenged mind knows I could just be typing this up in a word document that no one will ever read. But, in my heart there are people reading it, so I guess that's what really matters.

.....Seriously though, I really hope that I'm actually doing this right. I'm sure blogging will make more sense as I get used to it.

ANYWAYS

I feel that the time is drawing near. With just over a week left, I suppose things will start to get a little frantic around the house. It will start with my mom telling me that I need to pack, which in my mind will translate to: "Jimmy, there are still like 8 days left until you go to Greece, you have plenty of time so you should probably wait to pack until the night before you leave." Of course, I will listen to her advice and put off packing. After all,  packing is the least of my worries. I mean, I'm only going to be thousands and thousands of miles from home, in a foreign country that I've never been to, for over a month. Yeah, I can just pack in a couple of days.

In the meantime, between work and studying, my pre-Greece time will be well-spent....

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects about this trip is the realization that I will be able to stand in some of the same spots that incredible historical figures such as Cleisthenes, Themistocles, and Pericles, stood over 2000 years ago. I mean, the people who laid the foundations for democracy, who contributed so much to western civilization....I will be standing were they stood. I don't know why, but something about that is incredible to me, and I can't wait. Until then, I will continue to enjoy my readings, and await the revelation that this trip is actually going to become a reality.

καληνύχτα!