Cucina italiano e Ελληνική αγόρια: Oh, Paros...

Today

Well, going to bed at 11:30 and waking up at 4:15 was a bit rough but definitely worth it. We were the second group on the ferry and got a booth/table, in which I was able to lay out and sleep for a majority of the ride.

Getting off the boat was relatively surreal. I can't believe this is my home for the next month.

I took some time unpacking, then went for lunch with a few friends and explored the city on my own. I found the supermarket, post office and beaches (all within walking distance of my room and very important).

Our class will be held at the Aegean Center for Fine Arts which is a two-minute walk from my room. The teacher is the wife of my teacher from Athens and the course sounds like it is going to be fantastic. It is titled "Service Learning and Anthropology on the Island of Paros" and will focus on understanding modern Greece, cross-cultural awareness and interaction with the Greek community of Paros. There will be more class time than in Athens but I'm really excited about everything I will learn.

The island itself is amazing. We are living at the Hotel Aegean Village in Pariaka, the port of Paros. I can't help but be happy here: it is so calm, pleasant and beautiful; I finally feel as if I can breathe again and I am ecstatic to be out of Athens. There are a total of 16 students in the course, 11 of which were in my class in Athens. There are 3 new students from Indiana University, 1 from Purdue and one from Wellesley College

After our orientation we got a brief tour of the surrounding area and then went to an incredible seaside dinner at sunset. This was by far the best meal I've had in Greece. We had two different kinds of salad, tomato croquettes, eggplant in some delicious cheese stuff, fried zucchini, keftedes, fried anchovies and fried calamari. NOM. I sat next to Susan, our teacher, and the two owners of the Aegean Center for Fine Arts. The two owners have lived on Paros for the past 28 years but both grew up in the States. One is a photographer and the other is a musician (I think). It was so interesting to talk to them about the current state of Greece and how they feel it (or don't) on the island.

It seems like we will talk a lot in class about the current economic crisis in Greece and I'm looking forward to knowing more about modern Greek life and what is going on here. Wednesday, Parliament is voting on the austerity measure issued by the EU. If they veto the EU's bailout plan, they will go back to the drachma as their currency which would be excellent for me!

I am so happy and excited to be here on Paros. I can't wait to immerse myself in the island culture and learn all about it!

Lesson of the Day

I don't like cities. The island atmosphere is incredible.

Photos of the Day

I can't believe this is my home for the next 4 weeks...