Three Quick Interesting Things About Greece

First, the perception that their culture is kinda lazy and people don't really like to work is true as far as I can see.  That is not to say that they are bad people.  The fact that the cafes, bars and restaurants are constantly filled throughout the day is a testament to the strength and the cohesiveness of their community.  However, I just want to yell at them, "DON'T YOU REALIZE WHY YOUR COUNTRY IS IN MASSIVE ECONOMIC RECESSION?!?"  They are remarkably carefree people but at some point they need to recognize that shutting down the entire city on Sundays and for three or four hours randomly on Mondays is not the best way to kickstart the economy.  And I guess I shouldn't say lazy since I just think they enjoy spending more time with their friends and family than they do working.  Really interesting to see from the scope of American culture in which I spent my entire life.

Second, dogs and cats wander the city.  Everywhere.  But they all have specific collars on to distinguish them from strays.  What makes them not strays you ask?  They are basically owned by the city.  Vans of people go around to make sure that the dogs and cats have the appropriate shots and whatnot and then they are allowed to roam the city.  I guess they survive on the scraps they can find and what people will give to them.  And given their size, I'm guessing not many people feed them for fear of their constant return to beg for food.

Third, we stand out.  Americans that is.  Thus far the Greeks have been fairly hesitant in approaching us, to the point where through three full days of class not a single Greek student had said anything to me.  But yesterday in my stats class, the professor cracked a joke in Greek and everyone laughed...but me.  The girl nexted to me laughed and goes "Do you speak Greek at all?"  We proceeded to have a nice conversation about what we were studying and blah blah blah.  It raised the question in my mind: if I were back at BC, would I approach someone who I knew was a study abroad student and ask them about how they liked it, where they were from, etc?  I would like to think yes but I'm not positive.  Sometimes human nature is to avoid all things different and stick to what is most comfortable, even if that thing is as simple as a small conversation with someone from another country.  It has given me a little more courage to step outside my comfort zone just a little bit further and see what else the world can offer me.

Oh, and the Greek language is really hard.  You try learning one alphabet and language for twenty years and then be asked to learn an entirely new alphabet where they have FOUR E'S and then tell me you don't feel like a kid in pre school.  It's impossible.  This Saturday we are off to Hydra so I just have to get through the week and make it to Saturday.  Missing the states but loving it here.

--Peter Sean