An Array of Activities

Yep. The story behind this is below.

Weekend Activities:

Friday night after creating a Greek salad/sausage feast for ourselves, we got all dressed up with clothes from the “Whitney Store” (how she was able to bring that much clothes blows my mind) and then made our way out on the town. We went to the bars in Psiri. First bar we went to was pretty snazzy. We went to the back where there were velvety couches and chairs and these magnificent artistically painted paper lanterns. I forced Mandee to take a picture because I will make those one day. Super simple, super cheap, super cool! Per usual we began dancing in the bar while no one else did but soon Greg was able to round up some troops to dance as well. He has a way of wooing Greeks and other foreigners into conversations and into dancing as well. This skill I will work on. Second bar we went to was TOTALLY empty, yet we stayed anyway. They had a section of the floor lit up from underneath so I am going to say that it the real reason we stayed. I have to admit, its pretty fun to have a whole bar to yourselves. We could just dance and run all over the floor. Soon enough these other foreigners came into the bar. Man #1: Australian, long shaggy blonde hair, button up shit with only the bottom button done, jeans. This man did the scissor dance move ALL NIGHT. He was lovin that light up floor fo’ sure. If you got in his way you would have definitely been punched in the face by accident. Throughout the night his shirt went from one button, to no buttons. (At that point you should probably just take your shirt off so its not flapping around everywhere.) Man #2: forget pretty much everything about him other than he was either from Jersey or had lived there at one point. Anyway, bar #2 was fun and upon leaving we searched for the closest food stop. Luckily it was literally across the street. We got the biggest sandwiches of all time. Huge roll, some kind of ham spread, some other spread, some spicy spread, tomato, chicken, lettuce, onion, carrot, french fries and god knows what else... it was soooooo goooooood! The next day Jimmy goes on to tell me that he wasn’t hungry and that’s why he didn’t get one. I proceed to remind him that he didn’t get one because he ate half of mine by pulling off piece by piece with his grimy fingers. Let’s be honest, probably... and by probably I mean definitely, would have regretted eating that entire thing.

Saturday we went to the beach in Athens. This beach was only about 3 stops down from the beautiful one we had gone to before, except it was wayyyy shittier. The beach was made up of stones rather than sand, we were swimming in legit trash and poop, and people seemed to be stalking us in the water. Other than that, oh, and the mashed potato woman the beach was good. Ok, so this was not in any way a nude beach. As Whitney and I move in the water we notice that a woman who’s back is turned to us in the water is wearing a thong bathing suit. At this moment we also notice that she is not wearing a top. As she leaves the water her ass becomes exposed and looks nothing like what we were prepared for. This woman is very large and we decided that mashed potatoes kind of describes the sight. Don’t get me wrong, I love here that most people are comfortable showing off their bodies. It is very different than America in that way, but this woman took that liberty too far with what she did next. As she laid in her lounge chair, legs spread butterfly style in her little thong, with her arms behind her head I couldn’t even find the words for such a thing. Luckily I was around the back of her chair at this time, but seriously... she had to be tanning the inside of her vagina in this position. No joke. I didn’t go look because that would have been the end of my life as I know it, but the poor guy who’s lounge chair was directly below hers probably got a fantastic view of it. Gets worse. She doesn’t feel comfortable enough in this position and so she proceeds to put her one leg vertical in the air to rest against an umbrella stand. ahhhmmm. WHATTTT! We decided that this woman had to at one point be a prostitute or something with the amount of show boating that she was trying to achieve. She would get out of her chair now and again, walk a few feet down the beach, stand there for a minute and then return to her posish in the chair. Never seen anything like this spectacle in my life. First time for everything I guess.

Later that night, drinks, then Eleni and I crash a 10 year alumni reunion on campus, get some free drinks, eat as much free food as we can, grab the best piece of cake ever in the world and then get kicked out of the party. So to recap, in the last two weeks I have crashed two different private parties and have gotten free cake at both. Boy can I get used to this life or what...

Next day: Festiki Festival (Pistachio Festival) on Aegina Island. An hour ferry ride and we are there. The main street of the Island is lined with little booths selling scrumptious looking goodies made out of pistachios, venders selling T-shirts, and handcrafted jewelry and art. LOVE IT! I bought a few cute pieces of jewelry that will come with the memory of the festival! The Island was very quaint. Horse drawn carriages were being ridden down the main street along the festival tents, people were eating at cafes along the waterfront, the alley ways were colorful and crowded. In my rushed morning pull-together I neglected to bring anything for an island and came only with my camera and money. So, I had to go on a bathing suit search. Here is where I found the most beautiful swim suit I have ever seen. Seeing as most European bathing suits are quite skimpy I decided that I could go one of two ways. A.) I could get so skimpy bathing suit that barely covered my large ass that I would probably never wear again, or B.) I could get a swim suit that would always be remembered and cherished as fucking weird. I chose the latter. I found a one-piece that was only considered a one-piece because of the 3 metal rings that held together the top and bottom of the suit. On top of this, the suit was created with every animal print imaginable and then some. I will provide the picture for full affect. Absolutely absurd and nothing I would buy for real, but at the time it seemed like a sound investment.

Tuesday: My Bday. Welp, as my main Birthday present I received the flu. That morning I woke up with the chills and hot flashes like non-other. All throughout the day at work my head was on fire. Upon getting home at 4:30pm I had a 102.5 degree fever. Fucking shit. Isn’t 103 like when you’re dying!? Awesome. So instead of raging on my Birthday, I slept. I am sure that I will make up for it at some point. The teachers at school were adorable and got me a cake and sang to me during the staff meeting :) I love my boss. She is the best! It was a chocolate cake with cherry middle, vanilla cream type stuff. The presentation was gorgeous. The cake was topped with heaps of shaved chocolate. mmmm mmmm was it good. My fellow fellows made me TP (‘toilet paper’ for those of you that don’t know) signs on my door for my bday and wrote me a cute note. Chris got me some black TP (cool right) and Greg came up big with some green tea and little cakes that night seeing as I couldn’t quite move. They are the best! Anyway, here I am, in bed. Day three of my body slowly crumbling. Hopefully I will be back in action tomorrow. Going to Vienna the first week in October. Gots to be ready for that!!!!!

And the stories ensue

Ridiculous series of events:

1.) So the other day we went to get a gyro at 12 in the afternoon. Upon choosing some outdoor eating I looked behind Jimmy to find a child, yes A CHILD, with his choice of drinks being a can of beer. Now this is where you would picture a 9 year old boozing amongst his peers, trying to be all badass and such. Alas, this was not the case. He was meerly haveing lunch and some brews with his father and younger brother. Ohhh what a tragedy. I mean I know that they start drinking at an earlier age in Europe but having a straight up beer for yourself when you're nine is madness. I am in a while new world...

2.) While visiting Hydra we made our way to the bar after eating at a Taverna. Of course the bar was a ghost town because no one goes out in Greece until at least 1am. Seeing as we were there and ready to drink at 11pm wwe made the bar our own personal dance club and this is where the madness began to unfold. First of all, our Savina (our savior) puppy from dinner followed us into the bar and was grooving with us on the dance floor. I was legit dancing with a dog in a bar (first time experience, Otis don't get too jealous I still love you the most). It was fan-fuckin-tastic. Despite the fact that we were dancing with a dog, every person that walked by stopped and stared into the bar probably remarking on the ridiculous Americans that are trying to take over their island. So bar is completely empty at 11pm, and then sometime around 2 or 3pm I look around and the place is fucking packed.... when did this happen??? Where did all of these people come from? And when did they get here? All the more solid proof that I literally must have my eyes closed when I am drunk and dancing. Anyway, amongst the late night (or technically early morning) folks that are now inhabiting the bar is A CHILD. What are with these people and their children. Would you bring your 9 year old to a bar/club at 3am?? I mean, I would hope not. At this point I am just flabbergasted. Gets better. Not only was this little girl there basking in the black light coolness and listening to the bumpin music but this girl was gettin down. She was busting a move on the dance floor. At this point I just felt too awkward to be groovin next to an infant in a bar and so retired to the waters edge. But come on now. Dog in a bar-cool. Child in a bar-not so cool.


3.) Its all Greek to me. So, weird but a classroom list comes in Greek. As I get more and more immersed into the Greek educational system I am realizing how shit out of luck I am that I don't know Greek. No, I'll be fine. But really though, it would be fantastic if I could learn some and learn it FAST~ I can't help but feel useless when a First Grader attempts to ask me a question and I can do nothing but laugh at the fact that I have NO idea what they are asking me. I flat out cannot understand these chillens and their Greek. Two days ago in our dining hall (yes we eat at long tables with the kiddies and kind of serve them) a worker came up to me and just started throwing Greek at me. Uhhhhh......nothing. Not even a clue what she was talking about. As I am trying to tell this women that I have no idea what's going on, while meanwhile getting all red and embarrassed and kind of laughing, a 4th grader at my table translates the message for me. "She is asking you if you want food." ohhhh.... well that makes sense. Not everyday that I get saved by a 4th grader. And yet somehow it feels super backwards that she just had to help me out. I believe I am supposed to be the teacher and I can't understand a simple questions like, do you want food. That's awkward. Oh well. I guess I know what it feels like to be an infant again. Pretty lame...

4.) First day of school. I eat cereal at home. Get to school. Go to cantina and get a bangin apple pastry. An hour later in the Teacher's lounge. Someone had twins and brought in homemade spanakopita, other pastries, cake and a honking jug of wine. FUCK YEA. Of course I eat all of that. Someone else's birthday. Brought in huge chocolates. Can't help myself, eat that as well. Sitting on the couches in teacher's lounge. Want to sleep and maybe throw up. Overall first day of work = a success. Day two: pretty much followed the same guidelines. Let's just say good thing its hilly around here because I might weigh 7,000 lbs when I return if I don't work my ass out.




That's all for now.

Food, Beach, Love

Ok so last night, after making a banging stirfry dinner again at our friends apt. where they provided fantastic vegetarian appetizers! We went out to some bars. People are out here until 7am. The night doesn't start until approximately 2am. Its nutssss. So we venture upstairs to this awesome rooftop with a gorgeous open view of the sky, music bumping, blah blah. As we stand there and attempt to kind of dance (no Greeks dance, they just stand around) a waitress comes around with fucking plates of cake. Naturally we snag 2 pieces and it was the best damn cake in the world. So I am in a rooftop bar with a fantastic breeze blowing through my hair, looking up at the gorgeous night sky, eating a piece of FREE chocolate cake, with cookie crumbles and vanilla icing. Could this scenario get any better??? I literally yelled that we must be in heaven. Needless to say after we devoured the cake we pretty much got kicked off of the roof because apparently it was a private party and we didn't look like we belonged. hahaha. yep. awesomeeeeee. We then proceeded to take over the downstairs with our dancing. Which turned into dancing on couches and chairs, which turned into Clair shattering a glass which was pretttttty embarrassing. That is such a typical case of "ughhh stupid Americans again. Fucking things up." Anyway, the night ended around 5am. Needless to say I am quite tired as I sip freshly squeezed OJ in my bed.

We went to a beach on Friday with Mandee, Whit and Jimmy. It was so lovely and relaxing. Took an awesome beach nap and woke up to the sunsetting over the water. I strolled down the beach by myself looking for pieces of sea glass. Walking down the beach is my favorite time in the whole world. I just feel so alive next to the waves washing in and the sand between my toes. As I strolled back I was about to pass a small wrinkly old man in his black speedo but when I looked up he was holding a beautiful shell out for me. Clearly we didn't speak the same language so I tried to motion if he was just showing me or if he wanted me to take it. Eventually we figured it out and I took the shell from him as he gave me a little smile. It was the most honest, adorable thing I have ever experienced. I will keep that shell forever as I feel like it will remind me of all of the good in the world. It was a universal sign of kindness and care.

The older people that we have come upon have been more than kind. Our hotel owner in Hydra was the sweetest older woman. She kept telling us we were beautiful and that we needed to be careful. She showed us the way to get to and from the hotel because god knows that entire place looking the same. Winding alleys with steep cobblestone stairways, white washed houses with the same gorgeous pink flowers bursting out of their roofs. That night coming back from the bar on the water Eleni, Mandee and I got lost for a solid half hour. I rarely ever can't figure out my surroundings but I have to say if I had been by myself I NEVER would have made it back to the hotel. I couldn't recognize a single familiar thing in the dark. Our "Savina" or savior puppy, followed us home, warding off the hoards of stray cats, as well as, making sure to terrify a few on the way up. Eventually we found our way and made it back to our quaint little hotel which had air conditioning yeaaaaa. That morning, Mandee and I got up and went for an explanation. We hiked up and up and up and eventually made it to the other side of the island. The views were breathtaking. The island was made mostly of the cobble stone and of dirt. Greece has a minimal amount of grass. I have found that to be something that I am missing dearly. Their "parks" and "forests" are barren areas, full of stones and dead weeds. Its just so dry here that nothing can grow besides pines and certain flowering plants.

I am slowly but surely learning some Greek. To be honest though after I am told a word it goes in one ear and out the other. I need to repeat repeat repeat. I have to initiate my own learning in this area because our Greek lessons don't start until October. So I have to start making sure I learn a few words each day. I asked where the bathroom was in Greek the other day, only to have him spew back multiple directions in Greek. Dammit. Well, I am half way there... Pointing got the job done directionally.

Yesterday we were going to go on a trip to hot springs and a lake. We got started so late and the weather looked ominous so we eventually decided to just explore Athens. We walked the streets in the pouring rain, waded through murky street waters with our blistered feet, threw grapes at one another, ate popcorn under a street venders umbrella, watched an old woman demand that a stray dog stay under a covering so that he did not get cold and wet, and almost got robbed. As we walked out of the metro a couple behind me attempted to open my backpack, which I have to be honest is not easy to open... my neighbor (yeetoeneesamou) had my back though and screamed at them. Cursed them out in English, Greek, Spanish, pretty much anything available at the time. The couple pretty much bolted under their scarf. No reaction or apology so we decided that, yes, they were definitely trying to rob me. Wake up call for sure. Sometimes I get lazy about holding my backpack in front of me because I feel like its difficult to get into, but now I know.

Anyway, work starts tomorrow. I am excited and nervous. I hope that they use me well in their classrooms. I do not want to be stuck doing bitch work the entire time or sitting bored at my desk either. I want to have jobs and projects and certain kids to work with. Nothing bothers me more than sitting around when I could be doing something useful. Tomorrow is apparently a lot of ceremonial stuff and not so much in the classroom. I apparently sit and observe for a week or two in the beginning and then am introduced into the classroom after that. I'll let ya know how that goes!

I met up with Dora, our family friends Greek cousin this week! It was a lot of fun and she is a very sweet girl. She said that she can speak German better than English, but I had no German to offer her. So we sat and chatted for about 3 hours at this gorgeous and awesome bar/cafe. This place was in the middle of a park that had trees and grass (yes grass!). It was a gigantic place with table outside in the grass, on wooden decks, spot lighting, music blaring, canopies hanging in the trees. It was just such a different place than I have ever been to. I am definitely going back there. I am hoping to learn some Greek with her. Sitting and speaking in Greek, forcing me to use it or struggle through it will help. I want to assimilate myself more than I was able to in Ghana. I want to be able to speak to some Greek people. Pick their brains. Its not going to come easily or quickly and I am sure that it is going to be frustrating. Annnnnyway, must get up and moving for the day. More to come soon. Miss you guys at home!

xoxo

p.s.- food wise... had the most bangin crepes and gyros EVER this week. Crepe full of Nutella, caramel and cookie crumbs. Gyro from Grill and Pita. Biggest and best. mmmm, mmmmmm. Also went to Taverna with a 10 Euro student deal. All you can eat. The dishes just overflow your table one after another.