A Day in my World

These are just my thoughts for the day as I have a nice glass of red wine. This morning I am awoken at 5:30am to this siren sound that happens about once a minute. When I finally got up at 6:45 I walked out to my patio in the front and the siren sound was fainter so I went to the back patio and there it was loud and clear coming from the mountain on my left. I didn’t see anyone panicking so went back inside. At 7, my fuse box does its major click – like a fuse pops. This is when the light in the fuse box goes off and doesn’t go back on until 11pm. When the light is on it is a cheaper time to use electricity! I walk into the kitchen and turn on the coffee maker then go back to the fuse box and open the glass door and switch on the fuse for the microwave/oven, the bathroom water and the kitchen water. This I do daily and turn the fuses off before I go to work or to bed. The weather was looking quite wet (not raining but wet) and therefore my laundry which has been hanging on the line since Tuesday was damp again.
As I walk down the hill towards the plateia (a big square where the church is, a playground, taverna seating and other brick areas where kids skateboard all the time and decorate with graffiti!) I notice everything is really wet so I just thought it rained last night. I treated myself to another coffee – Starbucks! And walk on to school, however, when I got to school the ground is completely dry, so I asked the guard if it rained here last night because Agia Paraskevi (where I live) was soaking wet. He said it was dew!
The day was as exhausting and disorganized as ever. Our human resource person sent us an email that it will still be a long wait until we receive our tax ID# and that we need to come to her office at 4pm today. So we all went over there to find out she had done some research about internet and phone and low and behold WE can get internet and phone without the ID#. So we are all signing up for it tomorrow, however, it will take one month to get installed, of course! But she asked us to get a phone number of someone in our building. I told her that no one in my building speaks English – plus there are really hardly anyone in my building, so I had her write out what I wanted in Greek.
On my way home, I stopped by Jumbo the kids store – one floor is like Toys ‘R Us and the other floor is like a school supply store. As I carry too many things up to the plateia, I decide to break the law a tad. I get on the bus which goes up the hill I live on – two stops- without paying! It’s only two stops but it is up a big hill! I think I need to buy one of those granny carts on wheels!
So I ring the bell of the woman who I pay the condo rent to – she speaks limited English, so I hand her the note! She continues to tell me her father has died and she brings me chocolates and then tells me to come around 6pm tomorrow. I am so confused. So on my way to the gourmet coffee bean store, I pop my head into the Benetton store that sells lingerie and chats to my new friend Julie who speaks English – she just laughed at me and said she has no idea why the woman gave me chocolates!
And that’s my life!

Visitors?

Okay, so anyone planning to come visit in 2009? All are welcome! I would love to know when so I can plan some trips too. So just let me know!

Island #2 - Spetses

Well my friends and I ventured to another island this past weekend (Oct. 24-26). Our ferry was about 3 hours and we arrived about 9pm on the island of Spetses. A larger island than Hydra but still with limited vehicles. Mostly scooters, motopeds, horse and buggy and bikes! We were being quite venturous to not pre-book our ferries or accomomdations. However, we had forgotten it was like a long weekend. Tuesday was a holiday - more to come.... So we had to pay for business class there and economy on the way home. The waves were large on the way and the trip there was very queasy for all of us (Kate, Dwain, Miah and myself). However, we did find a great "hotel" called Villa Christina Hotel and since it was the end of the season, we only had to pay 35 Euros a night and since Kate I shared, only 35 Euros for the weekend.

Saturday morning we poked around the stores and then rented bikes and biked around the coast of the island. Not all the way but for about 5 miles until we came to somewhat of a path, where we walked our bikes part way down and then walked the rest of the way down. There was a tree with a rope tied around it to help us lower ourselves further down the hill. And finally we landed at a secluded rocky/pebble beach. I was the first one in the Mediterranean Sea! It was great! Saturday night we met Christina (a first grade teacher) on the island as she was visiting a friend - Christain. Believe it or not, he was Greek-Canadian. I can't tell you how many Canadians I have met here! Sunday we biked a little more to the 'old' harbor where there were all these metal sculptures.

We caught our ferry back to Athens at 2:30 pm. And then took the metro and then I took my bus and was home by 6:45.

Yesterday (Monday) I worked then went to IKEA to buy the remainder of the furniture I need. I successfully took the bus home ! I was quite proud of my accomoplishment. I had bought the special bus ticket on the way to work. A colleague drove me out there. I found the bus stop and took the bus home (about 25 minutes).

Today is Oxi Day (pronounced Ohe - means No) (aside - oxi means no and nai means yes - like I am ever going to learn this language). This is the day in 1944 when Greece said NO to Mussolini as the Italians wanted to take over Greece. It's a national holiday. So this morning I put more effort into unpacking and putting away my belongings which arrived over a week ago. Cleaned - did 2 loads of laundry and now down here at the smoky internet cafe.

THE BOAT HAS ARRIVED....

Well ladies and gentlemen,

The wait is finally over - the deliver men delivered my goods this morning! Here I am at school and I should be home unpacking! I can't wait! Books and resources! A pillow! Warmer clothes! Dishes! Oh my! Yahoo!!!!!!

I also got my absentee ballot in the mail yesterday and voted and sent it off this morning.

You know, you more appreciate the place you lived, once you don't live there anymore!

Three Things Today- Tuesday!!!!

Okay, it's Tuesday. I had a pretty uneventful weekend because I caught the cold everyone else has - so I laid low, slept a lot and did laundry! But I did start my Greek lessons on Monday, so there is hope.....

But it's Tuesday and already I have news: First, last night I was fast asleep and around 4:30-5 am, I am awaken by my bed moving and me myself shaking. We had an earthquake this morning! They said it was about a 5.6 on the Ricter (sp?) scale.

Secondly, I booked my flight home for the Christmas holidays! So, I hope to see many of you. I am leaving Athens on Dec. 20 and arriving at Dulles at 7:15pm. I will stay at the hotel out there and catch a flight on Sun. morning for Savannah, GA. I am planning to leave Savannah around Dec. 29 or so and come to DC. I depart Dulles at 10:30pm on Jan. 3 and arrive in Athens on Jan. 4. So let's make plans......

The third thing is that the moving company confirmed my stuff will be delivered THIS Thursday! Yeah!!!!!!

Well that's all my news and it's only Tuesday - and oh i believe we turn the clocks back an hour soon - but then again so do you - well that means we are still 7 hours difference.

I don't want to forget to mention that my first and only friend called me this Sunday morning - great to chat with you Stefanie from OK!

Loved to hear from you even if it's just a short email. Hope everyone is well!

Free Cruise and Concerts

On Tuesday, I went to the Athens Concert Hall to see a free performance of the ancient Thai puppet show - this technique was developed in the 11th century. It is a marionette puppet moved by 3 people who are also mimicing the puppets feelings and movements. One of my students is from Thailand.

I was quite busy this weekend. On Friday I went to The Mall - quite large. I went to a movie - fortunately the movies are in English with Greek subtitles. I saw Tropic Thunder - I can imagine my guy friends liking it better than my gal friends but that's just my opinion. The ticket prices are just like home but you get to reserve your seat when you get your ticket!

Saturday is my daily activity of cleaning and doing errands and going out for lunch in my neighborhood. Then the school (or a board member) hosted a free cruise to nowhere - basically a cocktail party on a boat. Similar to taking a cruise on the Potomac. Here I finally met Matt Barrett and his wife - he is this guy whose website I found when I first googled Greece. It is full of helpful hints and facts. He and his wife are ACS graduates and decided to send their daughter to ACS this year for 10the grade. We all went out for pizza after the cruise - which meant I was eating dinner at 2am - quite the Greek way!!!!

On Sunday, my friend Flynn (curly brown hair) and Dave (other photo) went to the original "modern" Olympic stadium (built in 1896 or 98) made completely out of marble to see see a free concert. Dave, who has lived in Athens for 8 years, said they have never had a concert here and it was free to boot! We saw many artists including Kaiser Chiefs and R. E. M.! R.E.M. was the real reason I went! It was really cool!

The Oven

Well on Monday, September 29 I got the call at work that my new oven would be delivered between 11:15-2:15 - so I walked home and waited. And low and behold at 1:30 it was delivered. So then I walked back to school. Then I had the electrician come around 6pm and hook it up. And now I have an oven/stove! And believe it or not have only cooked on it once. I have limited pans since the boat hasn't arrived - but they say it should be coming this weekend - I won't hold my breath! And these are some of the views from my apartment. The red terracota roof is Applebee's!