Getting started...

Hello everyone!! Sorry that it took me so long to start this blog. I have been busy exploring Thessaloniki and getting to know all the new people that I am meeting! I will try and make this recapping post short. For starters, traveling to Greece was not easy! Because of late flights, I missed 2 of my own. Which meant that I had to not only get on two different flights, but I also had to buy a new ticket and figure out where my baggage was located. It was not an easy process, but I survived. Luckily everything worked out and I made it safely to my current home: 5 Panepistimiou Street. Our apartment is pretty small, but a small apartment in Greece is better than a lot of places I could be! There are 8 other Americans staying in my apartment building and so far we are all getting along. I am very happy with where I am living. We are about a 10-15 minute walk from downtown and the Agean Sea. It is beautiful! On a clear day you can look across the bay and see Mount Olympus. Downtown is always busy and there is always something to see!

Last week was the start of the Greek Carnivale and it was crazy downtown. It seemed like Halloween! Everyone was dressed in costumes and going crazy. We felt out of place and mostly just watched everything that was going on, such as people lighting Roman Candles in the middle of the streets!! The Greek people are always out at night. They like to get together, eat and drink, and stay out until daylight. We have not yet done this, but maybe soon!! Besides the exciting nightlife, there is plenty to do around the city. We have already visited the town of Vergina, where the tomb of Phillip II is located. It was very interesting to see that part of Ancient Greek culture. We have some other trips planned to places like Athens and a field trip to climb Mount Olympus!

School started this week and everything seems to be going well. I think I will really enjoy my classes. I am taking Gender, Power and Politics, Art History, Modern Greek History, and Modern Greek Language. I am most excited for my Greek class. I have already started reading Greek after only two classes! It is a great feeling, especially since I am beginning to get really frustrated with the lack of communication between the Greek locals and myself! I have also decided to join ACT's varsity volleyball team. I am under the impression that it is mostly for fun, and I hope that is true. We also get to play a tournament in Athens, so that is very exciting! I am also hopefully going to be joining a Greek dance club. I have already learned a few dances and I love them!

I am starting to feel the culture shock that everyone explained would happen. It is really frustrating day after day to not understand the language and the customs of Thessaloniki, Greece. We are doing out best to respect Greek people and remain comfortable, but it getting harder. I think this feeling will pass soon, and I can not wait! One good thing about being in this unfamiliar place is that everyday you experience a small victory that encourages you to continue! For example, going to the grocery store is a lot harder that I expected. Just doing something like buying sliced meat was a huge challenge. But when you finally get what you want and everyone is happy, it is a great feeling!

Well, Happy Valentine's Day to everyone and have a great week! I will be posting some pictures on here so you can see some of what I am seeing!