inauguration and orientation

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Well! The first few days in Athens (has really only been a few days?) have been a whirlwind of activity!

I have tried many tasty Greek treats and look forward to eating even more! The food is so incredible, it is like heaven in my mouth.

Orientation started yesterday (the 20th) with a flurry of business-y activities and a welcome speech in the evening. The speech was followed by a live viewing of Obama's inauguration with refreshments. The refreshments were more of a dinner... It was so nice to watch the inauguration and to know that Obama is finally president! All the Greeks are really happy to see him in office. Today orientation continued with an information session and a Q and A and each person who got up to talk said something about how great a day it was for the USA and for the world because Obama is now president. 😊

I am surprised at the handful of words I feel I have managed to pick up in the last three days! I certainly cannot say much, but I can say a few basic things and that makes me happy! This is likely mostly due to the emergency crash course on survival Greek language that I took yesterday and today... In any case, I look forward to being able to pick more up in the next four months.

I went out to a taverna this evening with a bunch of students and some professors and administrators from my program. We ate a ton of food and had a nice chance to get to know each other a little better! I have to admit that I am excited for the start of classes tomorrow!

I have made some really nice friends and we are already starting the preliminary discussions on various travel experiences we hope to be able to embark upon. We are thinking our first short excursion might be the weekend after this one! We have been walking around Athens together getting to know our neighborhood (Pangrati) and some of the surrounding areas (so far just Kolonaki where some CYA students are also staying). We have certainly gotten lost a few times, but we have been having fun and trying our best to communicate with people who cannot speak English!

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Comments

[Abbey]

yay!
Yay Dena! I'm glad your time has been so positive so far! I can't wait for all of your adventures. :)