Parents Come to Greece!

I am taking a break from finishing up my 5 page paper to do some blogging. Its been a while kids. Ive been a busy girl not on the computer much the past week or so. My parents came last week and it was great.

They arrived last Saturday (or two Saturdays ago) and I had told them I was going to meet them at Syntagma at 11 (thats where the metro from the airport takes you) but I knew that even waking up at 7 am wouldnt stop me from going to the airport to get them. I was too excited and anxious. This is Greece, my country and I wanted to show it to them. and I guess that meant even from the airport to Syntagma. It was so nice, I can even explain. To feel so at home with two people who know me best. To show them these things that I love and these places that excite me. To show them what I have learned. I hadn't planned on skipping out completely on school, but the lack of real class/assignments influenced me to play hooky all week. It was nice to sleep in a comfy hotel bed, watch some tv and talk for days on end to my parents.

We went to Delphi on Sunday and rented a car to drive there. It was hilarious and hectic seeing as Athenian driving is ridiculous (I would say almost on Israels level of insanity, but then mixed with New York traffic). And the only car we could get was a stick shift. But no stalls occurred and we made it to Delphi safely. I couldnt believe how beautiful the area was. Delphi is situated in the ski mountains of Greece. The whole time I kept thinking oh Ben would love it here!! I felt kinda bad him and I hadnt gone when he visited but maybe one day. During the week we explored to our leisure. Athens is such a leisurely city I feel like it would be hard to be a tourist here. Athenians dont have the run run run see as much as possible feel in them. They see the Agora for a half an hour, then sit for coffee for two. I had to teach my parents the Greek way of life that means you sit and relax and talk your time. It is hard to adjust to, I know that well. But it certainly has brought my stress levels down overall.

Life is so calm here and relaxing. and things dont work (ever I may add), but you dont stress. It will be okay. I keep telling myself that.

I cannot believe tomorrow is December. December is going to be the most amazing month in history of my life I think. I can feel it. On Thursday Melissa, Jayna and I jetset for Milan. I was there 6 years ago so dont remember it well but it should be great. The three of us are all really really excited for Italian food. I warned them I may get gnocchi for ever meal. We are trying to figure out taking a day trip to Lack Como too. It is suppose to be absolutely amazing.

Then I get to spend my last few weeks in Athens. We are making a bucketlist of things to do before we leave. So much has to be done!

Finally on the 17th I am flying to Paris and meeting up with my Dad to do the Taylor-Mother-Son/ Father-Daughter journey through Belgium and the Netherlands. Paris, Bruges and Amsterdam are on our itinerary. I then fly home Christmas eve where my mom and may will pick me up from the airport. I am so excited for this month. It is amazing.

Also did you realize the decade is coming to a close? I just realize that. I have lived through my second decade (I dont remember that much of the first) but isnt that cool? I think so anyway.

Food for Thought: Okay remember the movie Godzilla with Matthew Broderick made in like 1998? It makes no sense. Why could Godzilla swim all the way from the French Polynesian islands in the South Pacific all the way to New York City. Honestly it just doesnt make sense. Did he go around the tip of South America? or through the Panama Canal? LA is on the West Coast! that would have made so much more sense. Then again there is nothing like movies that destroy NYC.

A Day of Protest in Greece

I had some time before class so I thought I would update on the happenings of the past few days. Its been a nice week. We had visitors from some universities in the US visit so we had to be on good behavior and open to talk a lot about our experience. I can spin things well. Leave the negative out, really emphasize the good. But when I do it I am always thinking that what I am saying is true, but it doesn't feel like the truth. Anyway we got free lunch both days. We ravaged it like a pack of wolves. I kinda think study abroad is sorta like being homeless except you have a nice place to sleep. Its just hard to put that next meal on your table.

Yesterday, the 17th is the day that Greece commemorates..well a lot of things to be honest. In 1973, Greece was under a military dictatorship. Clearly things weren't good (they never are in dictatorships) so the students of the Athens Polytechnic University staged a huge sit in. This sit in was similar to the ones of Berkeley in the 60's but I think even large. For 3 days they took shifts, sitting, eating, sleeping, refusing to leave the building. But of course dealing with a junta it ended with tanks, guns, and teargas. I think about 30 students were killed and the country was devastated. A few months later the junta fell and Greece went back to a democracy. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Polytechnic_uprising)

But now 36 years later November 17th is the day that Greece commemorates those who were kinda martyred for their beliefs. Any of course 36 years later that message is..kinda pretty much lost. Okay I wouldnt say completely lost, there are plenty of people who marched yesterday with Greek flags and some with candles, families of those who died. But of thousands of marchers, I'd say the day takes on a whole new meaning. This day has become a day to protest (something the Greeks are already pretty damn good at) for students and adults like. The passionate individuals, usually of the far left parties take to the street outside the Polytechnion and march together armed with banners, chants, and flags. But when you look at the flag you see a ripped piece of fabric attached carelessly to a long big wooden plank. The flag is not the point, the weapon it can become is. The Greeks chant and drum and shout against Imperialism, America, and the Anarchists of course chant against government! They march about 2 miles to the American Embassy where people say it gets a little crazy.

We went with some of the administrators to watch and were advised not to bring cameras (Ben, my brother learned at the the hard way during his recording of a riot in Pangrati) or dress in ultra-American clothing. They knew we would go by ourselves and figured they should be there just in case and to help translate and explain the different groups.

I was like a kid on Christmas morning. The chance of seeing a huge full blown riot! Teargas! Molotov cocktails!! How fun!! We stood waiting for a few hours until the show came down the boulevard we were stationed at. Lots of Greeks came out to watch also. Show support and just watch the happening I guess. There were lots of radicals and lots of college kids, arms linked, faces flushed with shouting. It was beautiful really. The anarchists (the actually scary ones) were dressed completely in black with fabric over their mouths in case of teargas. As they marched the biggest men stood on the outside walking sideways to protect those within and to show the riot police (um who lined the sidewalk behind me) that they must pass through them to get to the crowd. Many many communists came out to march, they represent about 10% of the Greek population. I thought that was really cool of course too.

Anyway the march at our end, ended up being pretty peaceful. There were moments when it was a little scary, but nothing more then heart racing fear without any real escalations. It was very cool though. Great experience. Great day.

After Jayna Melissa and I saw Paranormal Activity. We all love scary movies but cant find lots of people in the US to see them with us so it was perfect. We screamed like little girls (me especially) but we loved it.

Have to go to class. Have a 5 page paper to write before the rents come at the end of this week. Very excited to ditch out on life next week!

Glorious Week

Monday I barely got any sleep. Up at 7 to go to the immigration office and get my extended visa approved. Greece I tell ya. The girls and I enjoyed ourselves while observing the wonders of a government office in Greece. It looked kinda like a dirty, florescent version of basically no government office in the United States.
After our visas were approved (yes can stay for longer then 90 days now!!) Jayna and I trekked it to the Acropolis Metro for our Greek Key walk. Our Greek key class is a really cool class that isnt really a class? its more of a freshmen (or freshmen in greece) seminar. Anyway we hate on it all the time because it is very horribly organized. Only meets once every three weeks or so, random assignments due without explanation, and no comment if you never show up or turn anything in. But they are really cool walks around different neighborhoods and areas of Athens. Anyway it was only 4 of us and Maria and we climbed the Philoppapos Hill and sat up there and talked about maps and memories and other things. It was awesome. Then I got pooped on by a bird.

After I showered and napped before class. In Aegean we were suppose to do stuff, but 3 of the 6 students didnt show up and Demetra started talking to us and we kinda forgot to start class. It was the best class I've had since coming to Athens. We talked about history and anthropology and the humanities and what archaeology tells us. We talked about how being from America changes how we look at the generalizations that archaeology makes. It is a concept I have such a hard time understanding. How can one clue mean everyone was the same? I come from a culture of billions of thoughts, expressions, religions and attitudes, it is hard to imagine a society where everybody is practically the same. It gives me the motivation to look deeper into the society at hand. We talked about the importance of a well rounded education and how even if we never do anything again with archaeology or history, it had aided in our global education. "Even coming here to Greece," she said. We then got lost in the tangent of living abroad. Demetra lived in Edinburgh for 6 years while getting her Masters and PHD so she understands the difficulties and adventures of living in a place so unlike your home. We talked about that tiny stress sometimes on your shoulders where you dont get "it", the code or way of life because you are essentially not quite a tourist, but not a native. We talked about the idea of home and how nothing gives you a feeling quite like it. The way it envelops you and makes you feel whole. But how as young adults, we search for other things besides this feeling. Adventure, knowledge, wisdom, ourselves. We live and all the things we learn about a place teach us more and more about ourselves. We talked about everything is seems. Everything relevant, everything that matters.

After class I had to study for 2 midterms and finally passed out late, but I was so satisfied. Complete and happy. I thought this morning about how Demetra said its not liking something, or disliking something, its understanding it, understanding ourselves, others, cultures, societies and places. Its not about loving a place, its about loving what it teaches you, how you leave it, and what you see when you return home. Its about loving the change that surrounds you. I love the change. I love everything.

I left my heart in ΝΑΥΠΛΙΟ

sometimes you dont realize the best days are going to be the best days. you just dive into them, or if you're me, you wake up with every intention of continuing sleep, until you muster the courage to drag yourself out of bed after just two ours of tummy-aching sleep, and into the cold rainy darkness outside. but umbrella in hand I brave it, with a confidence in my step and an excitement in the pit of me. my lungs are invigorated the second the cold gets in. and I'm in it. the moment. one hundred percent completely.

I came here for days like today. hopping from place to place with a smile on my face. and a fall on my bum and fall around me. rain and cold becomes sun on the Aegean. and I'm independent, and I walk slow, and I smile because I am happy. and I am away from everyone and everything in the world that I love, but I fall in love with each step and somehow its mine and its theirs all together.

It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you

I cant stop listening to Africa by Toto today. It was stuck in my head when I woke up. It reminds me Scrubs when JD sings it in the bath. I think that is Jane's favorite episode? or my own. I cant remember.

I realize I've taken a hiatus from this but Im back again I think. My room feels like a cave. In Athens they have these weird shutters on the windows that you can lower to shut out the light or the cold so the window in my room and the balcony doors have the light blocked out so even though its only about 3 in the afternoon I feel like it could be 3 am.

I am staring at the huge pile of laundry on my floor. I should really do it soon. But the concept doesnt really make sense cause to dry things in Greece (as with many southern Mediterranean countries)you just hang the outside. But its so cold!! I dont know why but I dont feel like when I wash my clothes they actually get clean. I feel like my Dad is the only one who can actually CLEAN my clothes. I feel like I just get them wet and then let them dry but the stains, dirt, sweat is still buried in there! Even at school where I have a dryer I cant wait to have my Dad do it for me I feel like my clothes are actually clean! I suck at being an adult.

Our flight to Paris was canceled this weekend.(Annoying) So after a while of searching we found that we could go to Milan that weekend for even less money. So we booked it. I was in Milan in the start of August 2003 with my family, only for a day before our flight left for the US but I remember loving it. I had the best pizza of my life there. Fresh mozzarella, basil, sliced tomatoes! I also remember seeing the Last Supper by Da Vinci with my family and having my Dad explain all of Dan Browns theories from the Da Vinci code (which he had just read at the time). I also remember this AMAZING boutique I found during that afternoon with these amazing cool clothes. I think it was comparable in style to Urban Outfitters but at the time I was like OMG THIS IS THE COOLEST PLACE EVER!!! I also found out there is a football (soccer) match there that weekend. AC Milan I am told is one of the best teams in Europe (Beckham played there during a break from the Galaxy last year, god I know my celeb gossip). But the tickets are from 50 Euros and up so we might just have to find a nice pub with crazy fans and go a little nuts. I really have missed the rowdiness of OSU football games. My last mirror lake jump will be next year. That is crazy. Anyway Im excited! even though we arent going until December.

I couldnt get dressed this morning because all I wanted to wear were my brown Uggs and i dont have them with me. I did something stupid by not bringing any boots. I didnt realize it was gonna be like 45 degrees starting November 1st!! Every website said it doesnt get cold until December! What happened to global warming man! Also every woman here wears boots and skinny jeans or leggings so i wouldnt even look weird with them! booo.

Going back to class after a week off is really hard. I honestly dont think I paid attention for more then 15 minutes in class last night or in Athens on site today. Byzantine I forced myself to take a lot of notes but I cant say I was really into it. Now I have Greek lang next and I havent had real class for about 2 weeks so im kinda dreading it. I do like languages, but the fact that I kinda suck at them makes me never wanna go to class.

The cold makes me want to stay in and cuddle under my covers. But I am only here for a few more months and I cannot waste that time, just gotta bundle up and get out.

The Actual Start of Fall in Greece

I realized that the title of my blog is ultra ironic because there is no Autumn in Athens. Although I have a park across from my house the leaves are not changing. And living in a city, I am forgetting what it looked like, that favorite season of mine. I was telling Melissa when we were in Mieza, at the ruins of the School of Aristotle, that the way I view fall is so different from its original purpose. Fall symbolizes the death coming to nature. The changing color mean the leaves are dying and the cold brings the end of the summer’s sun to the plants craving some photosynthesis. But the world has changed this, and the way I see it. I look at fall as the rebirth. I see the green lush striped away to see the colors changing underneath. And the false hope that the sun brings disappears and we all must prepare for winter. When the trees go naked, but we cannot. We wake up colder and must prepare ourselves for the day. Fall isn’t easy and neither is happiness. Loving and being need work. And I wake up fall mornings with energy, because I have to have it. To pry myself out of my warm covers and into the freezing shower and onto the sidewalk and into the fresh air. But once out there, I realize how great it is. The cold on my lungs and I feel like a fish finally back in water after a brush with death. We went up north this past week and there is fall there. Autumn in full bloom. A chill in the air. And I loved it. Loved every second of autumn around me. Anyway. This southern city does not experience fall like the north or at home. And I miss it.
We watched Gran Torino on the way home and I loved it. And I watched Away We Go on the ride there. I loved it too.
Our apartment is Freezinggggg. I wonder how it will actually be in December. I think I’m royally screwed.
I started to forget things this weekend. That I am a student, that I am old, that I am so far away from home. I felt like a child exploring the creek behind my house. Even though I was an almost 21 year old exploring Thessaloniki. There was one point when I was staring out my window and I felt that feeling people describe of the ocean or space, when you have been moving in different directions so much you lose track of which way is up and which way is down. Except for me I wasn’t sure where home was, or where I was?