Ah, the joys of being in Greece. Like for example: waking up to find that your Sunday morning is over-run by millions of little 5 year olds excited about Christmas! This weekend Calvin and I on duty, and our director has a habit of not telling us when there are huge parties in the multi-purpose room in the dorm. Anyways as I gaze out of my office, I see two clowns (one with a polka-dotted hat), at least 30 small Christmas trees, and hear a dj blasting Christmas music.
Speaking of Christmas, I have never seen a town put up SO many Christmas decorations. Its like someone threw-up Christmas all over Thessaloniki. Practically EVERY store has Christmas decorations…to retaliate, I finally went to Kaballah Shabbat at temple (I’d been trying to go back since the first time but kept finding excuses not to go…). It was very lively, there were 50 American kids doing a “gap year” in between high school and college…they lived in Jerusalem, studying Torah and then visiting Jewish communities around the area. I thought that sounded pretty cool. I can’t imagine being 18 and living abroad for a year… I also talked with some members of the congregation, who are very nice, but I still feel a little…nervous around them. They keep asking me if I will be staying in Greece longer than a year…Im pretty sure they want to me stay here so I can have babies and make the Jewish community bigger (its shrinking). Its very interesting to think about a community surviving…I’ve never felt like part of my culture was going to die off…
And speaking of holidays, Thanksgiving here went well. I thought I might be homesick, but actually our Thanksgiving dinner was really fancy. Every year lots of faculty, alums and students come and we have a party. There was an art show and liquors and small truffles before dinner. It was a really fancy affair too…everyone had suits and ties and dressed on! Just think Turkey twice in one week (well one the country and one the food…)
So work this weekend has gone pretty well. I feel like I’ve finally relaxed into hanging out with the kids (I definitely felt timid at first). Last night we tried to play hide and go seek…it was me and two seventh graders. I kinda made two high schools play, and to retaliate they hid in a really good spot for an hour and I couldn’t find them…we had to stop playing because I couldn’t find them! I still have no idea where they were…
Well, back to working on my med school application in all this craziness….
~allie
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Turkey!
I LOVE Turkey...but not the Thanksgiving one (although thats okay too!)
Last weekend I took a 4-day trip to Istanbul (Constantinople)! Below is an outline of what I did and my thoughts!
Ok so first, I took a bus there with study abroad kids from Anatolia's college campus (ACT)...we got there and
-took a walking tour, visiting the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, and underground cisterns. All were architectural marvels and totally amazing to see! In the mosques we had to wear scarfs over our heads and remove shoes...
-had lunch with a friend, on the third floor of a cafe, with a beautiful view of the Blue Mosque.
-went to a hotel and had a lesson on "how to buy and look for the right carpet" (and not a piece of crap!)
-went to a Turkish bath....which is wear you lie on these huge stones that are warm and sit in a steam room...then you can pay to have someone give you a massage/wash your body. In old times, people in Turkey didn't own baths, and they all bathed together in community places. It was fun, but also interesting. I got a massage/scrub...it was very different from an American massage, and im not so sure i like someone else washing my body, although the bubbles were nice....
Saturday:
-We went to Topkaki palace, which was a palace of the sultans and very beautiful!
-Spent the afternoon at The Grand Bazaar! (the worlds oldest bazaar!)...and I also went to the spice bazaar...great time to buy Christmas gifts.
-In the evening we went to a twirling dirvishes concert...which is a show where you watch monks (well Muslim monks...Im not sure if thats what you call them), spin around in circles to music. They believe that this motion brings them represents and brings them closer to God and to love....
-We went out as a group for dinner, and then went to a hookah bar (which was so chill and nice, we had peach hookah!)
Sunday:
The others left, and I traveled on my own for two days! This was my first time ever traveling by myself, so it was fun/I was a little nervous. I spent all day walking around visiting sights I hadn't seen yet...a famous square, ped walk, Galata tower, a synagogue (that was bombed in 2003). Then around 4, I met the couple I was couch surfing with. They both spoke English (although Ferhat less so than Ekin)...there house was a little out of the city center, but they picked me up, cooked me dinner, and i had my own room! They were really lovely people and I cant get over how kind they were! I also met another couch surfer who was staying there...his name was Allen from England who was on his way to Africa!
Monday:
I went to visit Prince's islands, islands off the coast of Istanbul...they don't have any cars! Anyways, there are 4 of them accessible by ferry...I was trying to go to the one Lonely Planet recommends, but got of at the wrong time...something I didnt realize until I was trying to get back to the mainland and couldn't figure out while the ferry was so late! Oh well, it was beautiful anyways. Then I met a couple at the train station who had come to Anatolia last month, and we had dinner in a restaurant of the old Orient Express, which was a beautiful room! After that, I boarded my train, which made me feel lots like Harry Potter! It was a long train ride (14 hours...it was suppose to be 12)...but I had my own sleeping berth and slept most of the way.
I also spent lots of time while there reading about the history of Turkey and Greece and Istanbul, and just exploring everyday life. Its hard to write about all the amazing things...but this trip just really made me love travel!
Now Im back here...it was kinda sad to come back, just because vacation was so great. But tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we're having a dinner, so I guess to Turkeys in one week isn't so bad!
missing everyone!
love
allie
Last weekend I took a 4-day trip to Istanbul (Constantinople)! Below is an outline of what I did and my thoughts!
Ok so first, I took a bus there with study abroad kids from Anatolia's college campus (ACT)...we got there and
-took a walking tour, visiting the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, and underground cisterns. All were architectural marvels and totally amazing to see! In the mosques we had to wear scarfs over our heads and remove shoes...
-had lunch with a friend, on the third floor of a cafe, with a beautiful view of the Blue Mosque.
-went to a hotel and had a lesson on "how to buy and look for the right carpet" (and not a piece of crap!)
-went to a Turkish bath....which is wear you lie on these huge stones that are warm and sit in a steam room...then you can pay to have someone give you a massage/wash your body. In old times, people in Turkey didn't own baths, and they all bathed together in community places. It was fun, but also interesting. I got a massage/scrub...it was very different from an American massage, and im not so sure i like someone else washing my body, although the bubbles were nice....
Saturday:
-We went to Topkaki palace, which was a palace of the sultans and very beautiful!
-Spent the afternoon at The Grand Bazaar! (the worlds oldest bazaar!)...and I also went to the spice bazaar...great time to buy Christmas gifts.
-In the evening we went to a twirling dirvishes concert...which is a show where you watch monks (well Muslim monks...Im not sure if thats what you call them), spin around in circles to music. They believe that this motion brings them represents and brings them closer to God and to love....
-We went out as a group for dinner, and then went to a hookah bar (which was so chill and nice, we had peach hookah!)
Sunday:
The others left, and I traveled on my own for two days! This was my first time ever traveling by myself, so it was fun/I was a little nervous. I spent all day walking around visiting sights I hadn't seen yet...a famous square, ped walk, Galata tower, a synagogue (that was bombed in 2003). Then around 4, I met the couple I was couch surfing with. They both spoke English (although Ferhat less so than Ekin)...there house was a little out of the city center, but they picked me up, cooked me dinner, and i had my own room! They were really lovely people and I cant get over how kind they were! I also met another couch surfer who was staying there...his name was Allen from England who was on his way to Africa!
Monday:
I went to visit Prince's islands, islands off the coast of Istanbul...they don't have any cars! Anyways, there are 4 of them accessible by ferry...I was trying to go to the one Lonely Planet recommends, but got of at the wrong time...something I didnt realize until I was trying to get back to the mainland and couldn't figure out while the ferry was so late! Oh well, it was beautiful anyways. Then I met a couple at the train station who had come to Anatolia last month, and we had dinner in a restaurant of the old Orient Express, which was a beautiful room! After that, I boarded my train, which made me feel lots like Harry Potter! It was a long train ride (14 hours...it was suppose to be 12)...but I had my own sleeping berth and slept most of the way.
I also spent lots of time while there reading about the history of Turkey and Greece and Istanbul, and just exploring everyday life. Its hard to write about all the amazing things...but this trip just really made me love travel!
Now Im back here...it was kinda sad to come back, just because vacation was so great. But tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we're having a dinner, so I guess to Turkeys in one week isn't so bad!
missing everyone!
love
allie
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
meteora, swim alumni, and a life update!
I forgot I had a blog!!!
Life continues to be ever changing here. Two weekends ago I went to Meteora, which is an area with six monistaries on top of these huge cliffs...centuries ago monks were fleaing to live in caves in these rock formations when the Turks took over Greece and forced Islam as the major religion. Since then, the monks dragged rock to the top of these cliffs and formed beautiful churches....I can't explain how incredible they are (but I hope to attach pictures soon). If anyone comese to Greece, they should see Meteora...I think it should be one of the wonders of the world.
Last weekend was the Grinnell Swimming and Diving Alumni reunion. I was pretty bummed out that I was missing it...so at Calvin's idea we decided to recreate it....Greek style! We started by playing my old "conference mix" (complete with Brittany Spears, Avril Levine, and Spice Girls!), took pictures with my cap and goggles, and even went to the pool I swim at and took pictures there. Oh, and did I mention we drank a lot (in true swimmer haus style)...we ended up going to live music and staying out til 4 am...and Im still catching up on sleep as I worked the rest of the weekend.
In other news:
-I quit swimming with the swim team. They asked me to pay 43 Euro a month (which isn't all that bad) but I was only going twice a week and not really looking forward to it. I think I was swimming because it's what I've always done, and not because i was currently enjoying it. The practices were tedious and I didn't talk to a single person.... but they say when a door shuts a window opens... last night I went to wicked awesome power yoga class. and tonight i went to a gym nearby...i tried a dance class. which was funny because i can't really follow dance in English...and I looked like a FOOL trying to dance with Greek instructions. But maybe I could do a kick box class or something...Im not sure yet, I never thought of myself as one of those people who went to gym classes...I prefer pools and outdoor sports. I also might go to some waterpolo club practices....that would be cool.
-I FINALLY finished my residence permit and submitted it today. It was a bitch every bit of the way. I don't feel like explaining it but between going to the bank twice, the hospital three times, and all the other hoops i jumped through, im SO glad to have it done!
-Last night I went to my friend Amanda's house (she's an Intern at the American Farm School here) and we stayed up late and watched a chick flick. It was GREAT!
-And this has nothing to do with Greece but COURTNEY AND SEAN GOT ENGAGED!!! (my best friend from high school) I talked to them Sunday and Courtney asked me to be her maid of honor!!! im SO HONORED!!
All for now I think!
missing home but truely enjoying myself here,
Allie
Life continues to be ever changing here. Two weekends ago I went to Meteora, which is an area with six monistaries on top of these huge cliffs...centuries ago monks were fleaing to live in caves in these rock formations when the Turks took over Greece and forced Islam as the major religion. Since then, the monks dragged rock to the top of these cliffs and formed beautiful churches....I can't explain how incredible they are (but I hope to attach pictures soon). If anyone comese to Greece, they should see Meteora...I think it should be one of the wonders of the world.
Last weekend was the Grinnell Swimming and Diving Alumni reunion. I was pretty bummed out that I was missing it...so at Calvin's idea we decided to recreate it....Greek style! We started by playing my old "conference mix" (complete with Brittany Spears, Avril Levine, and Spice Girls!), took pictures with my cap and goggles, and even went to the pool I swim at and took pictures there. Oh, and did I mention we drank a lot (in true swimmer haus style)...we ended up going to live music and staying out til 4 am...and Im still catching up on sleep as I worked the rest of the weekend.
In other news:
-I quit swimming with the swim team. They asked me to pay 43 Euro a month (which isn't all that bad) but I was only going twice a week and not really looking forward to it. I think I was swimming because it's what I've always done, and not because i was currently enjoying it. The practices were tedious and I didn't talk to a single person.... but they say when a door shuts a window opens... last night I went to wicked awesome power yoga class. and tonight i went to a gym nearby...i tried a dance class. which was funny because i can't really follow dance in English...and I looked like a FOOL trying to dance with Greek instructions. But maybe I could do a kick box class or something...Im not sure yet, I never thought of myself as one of those people who went to gym classes...I prefer pools and outdoor sports. I also might go to some waterpolo club practices....that would be cool.
-I FINALLY finished my residence permit and submitted it today. It was a bitch every bit of the way. I don't feel like explaining it but between going to the bank twice, the hospital three times, and all the other hoops i jumped through, im SO glad to have it done!
-Last night I went to my friend Amanda's house (she's an Intern at the American Farm School here) and we stayed up late and watched a chick flick. It was GREAT!
-And this has nothing to do with Greece but COURTNEY AND SEAN GOT ENGAGED!!! (my best friend from high school) I talked to them Sunday and Courtney asked me to be her maid of honor!!! im SO HONORED!!
All for now I think!
missing home but truely enjoying myself here,
Allie
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