the art of relaxation

ya sas! 

In the last week or so, I have been able recall why its called "the lazy days of summer."  I have been in Athens for almost a week now and while we have been going out into the city, doing some shopping, walking around different neighborhoods, we really have nothing pressing to do.  When I made plans to come here, I kind of just, bought the ticket.  I didn't really consider what the plans were.   Up until yesterday I was feeling really guilty that I wasn't doing anything "productive,"  but then I talked to my parents and I was reminded that for the rest of my life I will have something productive to do.  Never again (well, maybe when I retire, if there is such a thing as retirement when I get to be 60) will I be able to sit around for days on end, watch re-runs and movies from the 80s on TV and sleep til 11 am every day.  In Spain, I surely was spoiled and my life was more relaxed than it was in the US, but I still had papers to do, classes to go to and deadlines to meet.  But here in Greece this is like VAY-CAY-SHUN! Thus, the title of this album, the art of relaxation. That is, you really have to know how to do it to enjoy it.

Next week Tuesday I will be heading to Cairo! After writing in my Facebook status update Maria is "going to Cairo in a month" and after telling a few Egyptians that I would be in Cairo, I remembered what Egyptian culture is all about: hospitality, hospitality and more hospitality.   I got offers to be picked up from the airport, to be taken out to dinner, to stay at people's homes, to go out for coffee.  I'll be flying to Cairo by myself, but I have the idea that I won't be alone while I'm here.  

I am trying to plan a trip to Istanbul for late May/ early July, but I don't have a travel buddy for that trip. So at this point I am trying to contact the Turkish people I know there and see what I can conjure up.  

I would like to try to tell all about what's new and surprising in Greece, but to be honest, there's not a lot new and surprising.  I am not as "immersed" in Greek culture as I was in Spanish, and I am living with Georgia who is Greek, but also American,  so I do understand that I am not getting the full cultural experience.  But even if I was, I question how different things would be.  Yesterday, Georgia and I went downtown Halandri (the subburb that we live in) and found ourselves stopping by Hagen Daas to use the bathroom, then heading to Zara and Bershka to shop.  Zara and Bershka are found all over Europe and the prices are in Euros.  The music they played was by artists like India Arie and Chris Brown.  The names of the clothing articles are all in english (T-Shirt, Blouse, Bags, Jacket).  The only thing that reminded me that I was in another country was when a woman asked me something in Greek and I just stared at her dumbfoundedly.   

Something I realized since I came to Europe is that I always find myself with tons of change.  Very rarely do I just have bills in my wallet.  It has gotten worse since I came to Greece. This is why:  One of my weaknesses in the Spanish language is numbers. If someone says to me "that will be 45.87,"  I don't even try to process the rest of the number I just hear "cuarenta," round up, and give them a 50.  Thus, I end up with almost 5 euros in change. It was especially bad at the beginning because I couldn't tell the difference between Euro change.

Especially here in Greece where I can't understand a dang word (except for thank you, yes and no) I hope to GOd that there is a computer screen that will show the price and otherwise just hand over the biggest bill that I've got.  

By the way: way to go, Maria , for choosing to go to the only European country with non-latin alphabet.  Other than recalling what the lazy days of summer are (when at home relaxing in the apartment), I am also recalling my first few days (wait, no, the whole 6 weeks) that I was in Egypt. I am beginning to be able to recognize signs and words, but by no means can I read Greek.  For example, if you put the greek words for Pharmacy and Theater in front of me, I can discern them.  But if you told me to say what they are right now or spell them, not gonna happen.  

Much love yall, until next time.