First Impressions...

Well lets start at the beginning of the trip...

We left home around 11 and arrived in Chicago. I checked in and then we waited. Then as if the clock couldn't move any faster it was time for me to say good bye and board my plane! [just in case you weren't aware, i've never flown before and it seemed like the clock was moving at mock 1] ANYWAYS...

The flight was interesting. It was weird because you are going so fast yet it feels like ur making no progress. When its cloudy it seems a lot slower because you cant see anything on the ground to justify that ur moving. Being above the clouds is breathtaking though and so is seeing a sunrise from in the sky [mmmm beautiful]. When I arrived in Athens I got to wait again [for four hours] after walking in circles for two hours [because I was SO sick of sitting] i sat down because people were looking at me like I was crazy ;) oh well. I finally boarded the plane to Thessaloiki at 6 pm. I finally fell asleep on my ONE hour flight...I couldn't fall asleep on my other two flights so after over 24 hours I finally took a nap [or a nani as they say here in Greece].

I arrived in Thessaloniki and was picked up by Katie [from EC] and Harry [from Greece]. We arrived at our apt. and its actually a pretty good size [its small but bigger than I was expecting]. Then we were told be need to meet with Kate [study abroad coordinator] to be told how to "use" our rooms. I hope ur thinking what i'm thinking... WHAT?!?! well apparently we have to turn hour hot water heater on for like 10 min before we can take a hot shower, and then we have to turn it off so we dont ruin it. And we have to turn the "kitchen" on....its funny! Haha. Then most importantly...due to small pipes in Greece u are not allowed, or rather shouldn't, flush ur toilet paper. U have to through ur toilet paper in the trash can [sanitary]. My room is on the 7th floor and we have a patio and the view is great! I'll post pictures as soon as I take some that turn out decent.

Well today Britney and I went to the bank and the supermarket. We planned on going to the computer store to buy an Ethernet cord but it was closed because they have weird hours here. The shops close at around 2 or 3 for siesta and then re-open at 5 on select days.

Tonight Britney, Stephania [my new roomie], and myself traveled downtown where we met up with Dewey and Katie to go out to a taverna, which is a place you eat but it's served in bigger portions so you order things for the whole table. We had french fries, fried zucchini, chicken suvalaki, and Greek salad and I've never tasted such GREAT food. It was full of flavor and just SOO GOOD!

[Just a side note my room-mate's family is Greek and so she knows some greek and i've never been SO THANKFUL...its great! So she ordered food for us and just gets us around [like when we took the taxi tonight]

We went out tonight to relax and talk [one of our friends arrived tonight so we went out]. we found a bar that had live music so we went and sat to listened. The manager there was really nice and gave us some free food and the music was really good.

all in all I LOVE GREECE. I dont know if you can love a place this soon but... yes i do. I feel at home here [I must have been Greek in another live] I can't understand anyone but...it's still ok. well its a lot and I feel like I haven't told you everything but.... things will come to me. We have orientation within the next few days so I'll learn more then.

Well good-bye for now...I hope all is well.

lots of love,

Sarah