Have no fear Britney and I documented our first day of school in Greece!
Monday, February 9, 2009
While u were sleeping....
Today, after having been here a week, we finally started school.I had my management class today and a marketing class. It was a pretty typical first day of school... attendance, passing out of the syllabus, and releasing of the class. There may be some small talk [as in my marketing class] about similarities between the US and Greece when it comes to marketing. He also asked us where we were all from and most of us were from Wisconsin and his wife is from Wisconsin and he lived there for awhile! so small world. But tomorrow I have Art and Greek so i'll let you know how those goes!
Have no fear Britney and I documented our first day of school in Greece!
Have no fear Britney and I documented our first day of school in Greece!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Address and phone number
my address here in Greece is...
Sarah Frost
c/o Ms. Kate Diedrick
Anatolia College/ACT
PO Box 21021
Avenue Kennedy
Pylea 55510
Thessaloniki, Greece
Cell phone number:
country code is 30
full number to dial (30)6934559916
Friday, February 6, 2009
Orientation Activities
Dewey and I jumping in Aristotle Square. Behind us is the Aegean Sea.
This is Agious Dimitrios, the first church was built on top of an old Roman public bath. Its dedicated to the patron saint of Thessaloniki, St. Demetrious.
This is the White Tower. It used to be used to protect the City's harbor and now it has been adopted as the symbol of the city.
This is the old forum. A forum is always the Center of a city. To the right of this forum [and across the busy street] is Agios Dimitrios.
This is a shot looking up Aristotle Square to the city. There are shops lining this sqare on the right and left. They are all of the first floor and the other floors are all apt. buildings.
Overlooking Thessaloniki
Section of the wall that used to protect Thessaloniki.
Wall Again...
Video that over looks Thessaloniki. Above is Annie, myself, Dewey, Britney, and my roomate Stephani looking out at the Agean sea.
After touring the campus we returned a second day to sit in the small room and be talked at some more. Things like computers and english and dealing with emotions that come with studying abroad. We were able to ask questions about Greek life [that was nice because there are certain things that are different in each country. Example: they don't/cant flush their toilet paper here in Greece. Also you know when crossing the street and a car stops for you, so while crossing the street you raise your had as to say thank you?!?! that is offensive here in Greece. It's like giving someone the finger in the US] Following lunch with the president of the school we went to our next session entitled Survival Greek. The Greek teacher came and taught us some everyday words that could help us communicate with the locals. after this activity we rode the bus to the middle of town and were dropped off for a scavenger hunt [at first we kind of groaned about it but we got to see the city... here is some Thessaloniki History!
This is Agious Dimitrios, the first church was built on top of an old Roman public bath. Its dedicated to the patron saint of Thessaloniki, St. Demetrious.
This is the White Tower. It used to be used to protect the City's harbor and now it has been adopted as the symbol of the city.
This is the old forum. A forum is always the Center of a city. To the right of this forum [and across the busy street] is Agios Dimitrios.
This is a shot looking up Aristotle Square to the city. There are shops lining this sqare on the right and left. They are all of the first floor and the other floors are all apt. buildings.
After the scavenger hunt we went to see a "rock band". They sang American Classic Rock [in English because there aren't very many Greek Rock Bands] which was nice because it reminded me of home.
Today we set out for Vergina [said like Ver-hei-na]. Its the sight of King Phillip II tomb. It was discovered by a professor and was perfectly intact [no one had broken in and stolen anything] The tomb's door was still sealed and we of course were not allowed in nor were we allowed to take any pictures in the museum. It was beautiful and they were able to recover alot of pieces [gold crowns, gold wreathes, swards, bronze jewelry and dishes, a beautiful painting, the ivory and glass pieces that were put in the bed frames put in the tombs, and the boxes the bones were kept in]. The dead were cremated and their remaining bones were put in boxes, Phillip II and the wife buried with him had gold boxes. It was awesome to see all of these pieces because they were from the 3rd and 4th century BC. They've been around a long time, just chilling under the ground waiting to be discovered and now they are perfectly preserved.
After the tour we went to a local taverna and ate. They served us pasta, salad, pork steak potatoes and rice, and dessert [theres ALWAYS dessert]. By the time we were done we were stuffed. We left Vergina and headed back to Thessaloniki to take a tour of the city with a tour guide. She showed us remains that are around Thessaloniki and told us what they used to be. Thessaloniki used to have a wall around it and some pieces of the wall are still standing. We followed the wall up to the point were the city stopped. They stopped so we could get out to take a look at mostly the ENTIRE city of Thessaloiki. Here are some pictures and video if I can get it to work =) I took a video because I couldn't fit the entire shot into one screen! The video may be at the end of this blog [I hope it works for you because its breath taking]. The church were the shot starts is the official Church of the Apostle Paul.
Overlooking Thessaloniki
Section of the wall that used to protect Thessaloniki.
Wall Again...
Then tonight the school took us to ANOTHER taverna where they gave us SO much food. I was sad because we couldn't eat it. We tried a little bit of everything but there was just SO much food. We had bread [always], salad [again always], fried zucchini, mozzarella sticks, some hot feta with peppers, pork souvlaki, and chicken with potatoes and veggies, and DESSERT [that was really good] it was fried dough with syrup [they like to use syrup on their desserts] and ice cream [their ice cream tastes funny tho!]. Then Britney, Annie, Steph and I took a walk and walked down by the Aegean. We found a really cool fountain and the statue of Alexander the Great [King Phillip II son]. Also some history for you... The city is named after Alexander the Greats half sister Thessaloniki.
Video that over looks Thessaloniki. Above is Annie, myself, Dewey, Britney, and my roomate Stephani looking out at the Agean sea.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
CRAZY DRIVERS!
So I know that I wrote this afternoon already but I made a comment about the crazy driving and parking that takes place here in Thessaloniki.... WELL I have my own story.
Tonight Britney and I had to go and pick up some items from a girl in another dorm. [background: there are three apt. buildings that study abroad students stay in and two are nearer to the 'downtown' area and mine is a couple of miles away, so you have to take the taxi or bus there] WELL.... my roomie has a Greek background and can speak some Greek so whenever we take a cab she usually does all of the talking. Tonight Britney and I had to do it on our own. I wrote down and practiced the words that I needed to know to make sure we arrived at our destination. So we went to the main road and hailed a cab [its actually really fun to do... if ur not used to it] anyways... we arrived at our destination, retrieved our things from Katie, and set out to find another cab to take us home. While riding in our taxi home [all of the taxi's are Mercedes, BMW, or Sabbs just so everyone knows....very nice cars] we came to a round about. Everyone sneaks there cars in where they can and doesn't really stop until last min. Well one car snuck in front of us, which was fine, but then another car tried to cut us off [we had the right of way] and the cabbie almost squished him. Its a big thing to HONK here [like if u were in a big city like Chicago] so the cabbie honked and started yelling in Greek. The other guy rolled down his window and they started arguing...right there in the street! Britney and I were a little scared [not even going to lie about it]. but we started moving again. Finally 5 Euros later we arrived at our apt.
But really people park on the sidewalks and double park on the street .... its crazy and they dont get a ticket or towed for it. Here's and example!
The red car in front of the Jeep is ALSO parked!
Anyways later, after Britney and I returned, a few of us went to the pastry shop down the road to get dessert. They all looked so amazing. We all picked one and returned to our apt. to share them. Some were REALLY good and others were meh.. [ok]... Heres a picture of them!
Tonight Britney and I had to go and pick up some items from a girl in another dorm. [background: there are three apt. buildings that study abroad students stay in and two are nearer to the 'downtown' area and mine is a couple of miles away, so you have to take the taxi or bus there] WELL.... my roomie has a Greek background and can speak some Greek so whenever we take a cab she usually does all of the talking. Tonight Britney and I had to do it on our own. I wrote down and practiced the words that I needed to know to make sure we arrived at our destination. So we went to the main road and hailed a cab [its actually really fun to do... if ur not used to it] anyways... we arrived at our destination, retrieved our things from Katie, and set out to find another cab to take us home. While riding in our taxi home [all of the taxi's are Mercedes, BMW, or Sabbs just so everyone knows....very nice cars] we came to a round about. Everyone sneaks there cars in where they can and doesn't really stop until last min. Well one car snuck in front of us, which was fine, but then another car tried to cut us off [we had the right of way] and the cabbie almost squished him. Its a big thing to HONK here [like if u were in a big city like Chicago] so the cabbie honked and started yelling in Greek. The other guy rolled down his window and they started arguing...right there in the street! Britney and I were a little scared [not even going to lie about it]. but we started moving again. Finally 5 Euros later we arrived at our apt.
But really people park on the sidewalks and double park on the street .... its crazy and they dont get a ticket or towed for it. Here's and example!
The red car in front of the Jeep is ALSO parked!
Anyways later, after Britney and I returned, a few of us went to the pastry shop down the road to get dessert. They all looked so amazing. We all picked one and returned to our apt. to share them. Some were REALLY good and others were meh.. [ok]... Heres a picture of them!
well I think thats going to be all for today ;) but we will talk again soon.
xoxo
Sarah
xoxo
Sarah
My new school....
Pretty Roses in the Beautiful sun on campus.
Campus Buildings. There is a main building [only two floors] and the library [which has some computer labs and math and science classes]. 
Its was really foggy in the morning but it cleared up!
Its was really foggy in the morning but it cleared up!
Well last night a few of us went downtown to meet up with a friend. From there we wondered until we found a restaurant to sit and socialize and some of us hadn't eaten yet. We found this place that was like a knock off of Hard Rock Cafe. We found out that it had just opened not too long before and it was really nice. After than we wondered around a bit more and caught a taxi home.
Today we had to wake up early so we could get to the school for orientation. We had to do some paperwork and take a picture for student ID's then we went on a campus tour, which didn't take long because our school is not very big; i attached some pictures so you could see the campus. However, right before our tour the sun came out and it got really nice [probably like between 55 and 60] it was too warm for coats. There is no snow here in Thessaloniki [and i actually miss it a little] but with the way they drive and park here i guess its a good thing! There is no snow but there are flowers in bloom so i guess i can't complain too much. The next couple of days we have orientation so I'll be out and about. They are giving us a tour of the city sometime soon and one of the people involved in planning our program has gotten us into a 'concert' tomorrow. Its just a live band and they are EVERYWHERE here but the singers are really good. We've had the pleasure of listening to two in just the few day i've been here. Thessaloniki is known for its music. I'll let u know how the concert goes and i'll post more pictures of the city after the tour.
lots of love,
Sarah
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
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
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
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