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.
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