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Published: February 26th 2007
random statue
Just a random garden in Athens. This little garden was squashed between two office buildings, and I thought it was unique that they left this little niche to the statue.It has been a whirlwind since my plane first landed here. This last week has blown by. Literally, in one ferocious gust another one of my weeks in Greece is gone. I have met and made friends, ate new foods every night, moved into a new home, discovered a new city, toured all of the Peloponnese, spent 14 hours on train, started classes, learned how to say key phrases (thank you/ I'm sorry) in Greek, and watched the sun set on the Mediterranean. I’ve seen so much in the last two weeks that the memory has morphed into a conglomerate mass of marble. I have visited Athens, Delphi, Corinth, Nafpaktos, Nemea, Olympia, and Sparta all in 10 days, I have enjoyed all of it. The whole trip was marvelous, and when I have a little more time I will write and post pictures of all the places and ruins I have seen.
I have been busy lately with my classes. They are all very interesting, and I am exciting to be learning things of the past in a place where that history can still be seen today! In my Ancient Greek Philosophy class, for example, while studying Aristotle we will
Acropolis
This is a veiw from the Acropolis of modern day Athens. You can see a little of the theater in the bottom. be taking a day to visit the place where Aristotle tutored Alexander the Great.
While everything is going well for me, there have been some interesting events in the political realm here in Greece. Currently the Greek government is in the process of privatizing the universities (so I have been told). This has made major conflictions within the universities especially so with Aristotle University the largest in Thessaloniki and the one I attend here. They actually voted within the universities to form a sort of bill to pass on to the government, and because of this there have been major conflictions between the political student groups. The democratic and communist groups have been known to come to blows. As a reaction the acts of the government the students have taken over the campus. Literally it is under student occupation. Classes have halted or continue secretly. None of this however effects my classes, although I have had to do I little sneaking around myself. So things are a little tense. Riots do happen, but so far they have been more like giant parties (wine and the grill included). The day before the vote was the largest so far. They blocked the entire road! Egnatia once the famous road of the Romans and now a main 6 lane road was blocked. Some fencing was torn down, banners unfurled, a stage was set up, and a band played to accompany the sentiments of the students. I am not really sure what is happening now, but things seem to have gotten a bit more peaceful.
So here I am, looking out the window occasionally at cyprus trees and terrocotta roofs. I can see the sea from my seat here, but it is hazy because of the rain. I can't believe how blessed I am to be here. I am really happy. Thank you all for your coments and emails that I got. I would love to answer them all (hopefully I will still) but right now I am trying to juggle quite a bit; I love to hear from you all though. Thank you so much!
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Anita
non-member comment
I am seeing through your eyes
Dear Carolyn, Thank you for blogging your adventures. Wish i could be there to enjoy the food and sights with you, notice Aunt Nita puts food first! Please be safe, but enjoy! All is well in North Carolina. Glen, your grandaddy has had a terrible cold but says he is better. Snow has pounded the northeast, we have had some low temps and high winds. I love you, Aunt Nita