Adapting and feeling more normal

Went to local bakery with other girls at 8:45. Got a delicious pastry croissant chocolate thing.

Class started at 9:30. I’m excited for the class. Did just little drawing exercises mainly. Some where you don’t even look at the paper you’re drawing on. Also looks like Alora will be in our class now since she was the ONLY language student. Our teacher’s name is Judy (I can’t remember her last name right now and can’t find it on any piece of paper). Anyhow, she’s great. Super nice. She’s from Maine and lives there half the year, teaching at a university August-December/Januaryish. Then she comes to Greece for half the year. She lived in Greece for 20 years (her husband is Greek) and for the past 10 years she’s been doing the half and half thing.

Class got out at 1:30. Went to local supermarket and got some food. I got a six pack can of Coke (I was in need), cereal, soymilk (of course, duh), croissants, meat and cheese for little sandwiches, breakfast bars, nutella. Came back and ate. Yum!

Left apartment around 4 and went to Varnava Square (where that bakery is); it’s very close to our lodgings. I bought shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and laundry soap. I only brought enough of the shower stuff for a couple of days. Then we went to Plastiba Square and I bought a cheap pair of flipflops to wear to the beach. Will probably go on Wednesday.

Went back to the apartment for a bit. Met at Athens Center at 7:30 and walked to Christopher’s apartment (he’s the guy subbing for two days in the poetry course). He gave us a Greek cooking lesson. He’s from the U.S. but lived in Greece for a couple of years during grad school. His friend, Cory, was with him… they’re touring around, adventuring since they both left the wives and kids at home. Haha. Cory is from Michigan and Christopher from Wisconsin. We all got along well since we have the whole Midwesterner thing in common.

There, we made lots of delicious, yet simple, dishes (I have the recipes!). Very appetizer like—often how the Greeks eat. Called meza or metza or something, rather than “appetizers.” We made tzatziki, chtipiti, melitzana salad, “Chariatiki” Greek country salad with watercress and capers, and a pasta that was shrimp, tomato, feta, onion, and ouzo sauce. For dessert we had Greek yogurt with honey on top with fresh oranges, melon, and strawberries. All the fruit and vegetables here are amazing! Tomatoes and cherry tomatoes were great again! J

Drank a few glasses of wine (so good here!) and a bit of ouzo. Ouzo is so gross. It tastes like black licorice and is quite potent. It seems hard to drunk here with all this heat, therefore sweating, and tons of great food. Though I haven’t really tried to get drunk, so maybe that’s also why it seems difficult. Haha.

Dinner in Greece is a huge meal. Usually not eaten until 10 p.m. or later. Breakfast and lunch are pretty small. Siestas are taken in the afternoon. Although it’s now not as common with work schedules, but you can definitely tell the pace of life slows down during the afternoon. Numerous businesses close, though, for a couple of hours.

Kalinita everyone. It is time to head toward bed now; it's after midnight.