A few of you have asked for my mailing address. Here it is:
Noelle Easterday
c/o DIKEMES
5 Plateia Stadiou
Athens, GR-116 35
GREECE
Monday, January 31, 2005
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Cute orthodox boy
Katie's actively trying to locate "a nice orthodox boy" to bring with us to Istanbul. She currently has her sights on a specific one in our Byzantine class. We have yet to learn his name. So far she's managed a semi-awkward conversation with him that went a little like this:
Noelle's account, pieced together by Katie's first-hand account and a little deduction on my part.
*Katie leaves classroom building, stops dead in her tracks, and swings around (in order to wait for Noelle). Seeing "cute orthodox boy" right behind her she smiles.
*Cute orthodox boy most likely assumes Katie is brazingly attempting to establish personal contact with him.
Katie: Hello (in a tone only Katie could produce suggesting both confidence and insanity)
Cute orthodox boy: Hhhi (hesitantly) How are you today?
Katie: I'm fantastic! *smiles widely, nods head, and gestures with hands* How are you today?
Cute orthodox boy: I'm doing fine. *smiles a little nervously, mentally notes all available escape routes*
Katie: (thinks to herself) Wait for it...
Cute orthodox boy: (thinks to himself) I could drop my books to gain a little speed and create some obstacles behind me...
Katie: (thinks to herself) Well, this is awkward...
Cute orthodox boy: Well, have a good rest of the day. *congratulates himself on solving this situation diplomatically and without further incident.
Katie: Thanks! You too! *all the while planning a future "further incident".
Here's Katie's account of what happened:
In other news, but not really different, I have recently scoped out the guyshere on the program, and I have arrived at a conclusion as to which non-native boy is the most adorable. I don't know his name yet, but he is Greek Orthodox and seems very sweet. He's in my Byzantine Art & Architecture class, and we almost had a moment this morning, except that my brain quit working and then, surprisingly, my mouth shut itself (this was, in all likelihood, a very good thing). See, I was standing outside the door waiting for Noelle, and out he came, and he smiled and said hello. It dawned on me that he probably thought I was waiting for him, and so I very wittily said, "Hello. How's it going?" and he said,"Good, and you?" and I said, "Fantastic!" That's when things got awkward. I just stood there, grinning like a lunatic, because he is in fact very adorable, and he just stood there looking confused for a minute. I don't really know what happened then because my brain kind of lurched into superthought mode, in that I was piecing together that he was Greek Orthodox and that maybe I could use this as an excuse to have him come with me and Noelle to Istanbul sometime and look at all the artwork there. I don't know how that was connecting to Noelle's and my need for a guy when we go to Romania, but somehow it was, which was when I got a little freaked out because that seemed like quite a string of potential commitments I would be trying to trick this guy into involving himself in, and it dawned on me that I didn't even know his name. That's when my brain just shut off. I mean, it was like a TV remote had sapped me from somewhere, and I really have no idea how the two of us managed to escape from that moment, but there I was, speaking to Noelle in incoherent sentences a few minutes later. I am completely and utterly socially inept, and the worst part is that I think it's funny.
Poor kid. He has no idea what's in store for him.
Noelle's account, pieced together by Katie's first-hand account and a little deduction on my part.
*Katie leaves classroom building, stops dead in her tracks, and swings around (in order to wait for Noelle). Seeing "cute orthodox boy" right behind her she smiles.
*Cute orthodox boy most likely assumes Katie is brazingly attempting to establish personal contact with him.
Katie: Hello (in a tone only Katie could produce suggesting both confidence and insanity)
Cute orthodox boy: Hhhi (hesitantly) How are you today?
Katie: I'm fantastic! *smiles widely, nods head, and gestures with hands* How are you today?
Cute orthodox boy: I'm doing fine. *smiles a little nervously, mentally notes all available escape routes*
Katie: (thinks to herself) Wait for it...
Cute orthodox boy: (thinks to himself) I could drop my books to gain a little speed and create some obstacles behind me...
Katie: (thinks to herself) Well, this is awkward...
Cute orthodox boy: Well, have a good rest of the day. *congratulates himself on solving this situation diplomatically and without further incident.
Katie: Thanks! You too! *all the while planning a future "further incident".
Here's Katie's account of what happened:
In other news, but not really different, I have recently scoped out the guyshere on the program, and I have arrived at a conclusion as to which non-native boy is the most adorable. I don't know his name yet, but he is Greek Orthodox and seems very sweet. He's in my Byzantine Art & Architecture class, and we almost had a moment this morning, except that my brain quit working and then, surprisingly, my mouth shut itself (this was, in all likelihood, a very good thing). See, I was standing outside the door waiting for Noelle, and out he came, and he smiled and said hello. It dawned on me that he probably thought I was waiting for him, and so I very wittily said, "Hello. How's it going?" and he said,"Good, and you?" and I said, "Fantastic!" That's when things got awkward. I just stood there, grinning like a lunatic, because he is in fact very adorable, and he just stood there looking confused for a minute. I don't really know what happened then because my brain kind of lurched into superthought mode, in that I was piecing together that he was Greek Orthodox and that maybe I could use this as an excuse to have him come with me and Noelle to Istanbul sometime and look at all the artwork there. I don't know how that was connecting to Noelle's and my need for a guy when we go to Romania, but somehow it was, which was when I got a little freaked out because that seemed like quite a string of potential commitments I would be trying to trick this guy into involving himself in, and it dawned on me that I didn't even know his name. That's when my brain just shut off. I mean, it was like a TV remote had sapped me from somewhere, and I really have no idea how the two of us managed to escape from that moment, but there I was, speaking to Noelle in incoherent sentences a few minutes later. I am completely and utterly socially inept, and the worst part is that I think it's funny.
Poor kid. He has no idea what's in store for him.
Second Day of Classes
So the second day of classes went as well as the first.
Byzantine Art & Architecture:
Prof. Coulson
quote, "You will be able to give walking tours of the churches when you're done with this class."
Although there is a lot of reading, the main focus of this course is visual. Everyday we'll be viewing lots of slides so we can see what we're studying. Also, this course has three field trips to amazing churches, museums, and monasteries.
Attic Tragedy:
Prof. Anna Lamari
quote, "The word tragedy means 'chorus of men singing together, dressed up like goats.'"
(I'm not kidding, that's an actual quote.)
This is by far the biggest class I have, with only ~25 people. We'll be studying the plays of Oedipus written by Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides. Rumor has it we'll also be performing one of them. I just hope I won't have to play Antigone.
The male to female student ration here is 1:2.7 I think it adds an interesting dynamic to our classes. (This is especially the case with Gender & Sexuality because there are only two guys in a room full of 15 women.)
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Siesta
Next to the Olympics, olive oil, and ouzo, very fews things are revered more than siesta in Greece. From 2-5 PM, the entire city of Athens quiets down. Most small shops close up and our professors have instructed us to NOT call during those hours.
Yesterday, Katie and I had a wonderful siesta of our own. After our orientation, we discussed going to a grocery store in our neighborhood. I didn't want to wander around with my bag full of orientation stuff, so we decided to go back to the apartment. Upon arriving, I sat on my bed and we discussed whether the grocery store would be open during siesta. The previous night I had only 4 hours of non-continuous sleep and siesta sounded pretty tempting. So, we had a siesta of our own. We wanted to leave at around 5 PM, but slept through that. Then Katie rolled out of bed and said, "Ok Noelle, I'm going to the store. You have fun sleeping." I, of course, thought, "I WILL have fun sleeping." Katie went off to explore Kolonaki street, and I slept...it was wonderful and perhaps one of the most Greek things I've done yet.
Later that night, Katie returned with groceries and she made wonderful spaghetti. We met upstairs with the other CYA students in our building in the fourth floor apartment. It was an ice-breaker type gathering. I met up Sam, Kasha, Elizabeth, and Laura from apartment 1A. As for the other, I don't remember their names. Later on, we climbed to the top of the building and took in the magnificent view. I'm going to try to upload some pictures because it really is spectacular.
Yesterday, Katie and I had a wonderful siesta of our own. After our orientation, we discussed going to a grocery store in our neighborhood. I didn't want to wander around with my bag full of orientation stuff, so we decided to go back to the apartment. Upon arriving, I sat on my bed and we discussed whether the grocery store would be open during siesta. The previous night I had only 4 hours of non-continuous sleep and siesta sounded pretty tempting. So, we had a siesta of our own. We wanted to leave at around 5 PM, but slept through that. Then Katie rolled out of bed and said, "Ok Noelle, I'm going to the store. You have fun sleeping." I, of course, thought, "I WILL have fun sleeping." Katie went off to explore Kolonaki street, and I slept...it was wonderful and perhaps one of the most Greek things I've done yet.
Later that night, Katie returned with groceries and she made wonderful spaghetti. We met upstairs with the other CYA students in our building in the fourth floor apartment. It was an ice-breaker type gathering. I met up Sam, Kasha, Elizabeth, and Laura from apartment 1A. As for the other, I don't remember their names. Later on, we climbed to the top of the building and took in the magnificent view. I'm going to try to upload some pictures because it really is spectacular.
First Day of Classes
The first day of school is always exciting...well, maybe only in Greece because I was truly excited to go to school today. My first class started at 8:30 AM.
Ancient Aegean Art and Archaeology:
Prof. Diamant-native of Indiana
quote, "I have no answers for any questions."
Around half of our meetings will take place at the Acropolis, Agora, or Museum of Archaeology. Prof. Diamant is one of the kind of lecturer that I would sit-in on for fun.
Gender & Sexuality in Modern Greece:
Prof. Aimee Placas (we're to call her Aimee)
quote, "You may call me Aimee, but come the end of May I will require everyone to address me as Doctor."
Aimee is an anthropology Grad. student at Rice University. She has been teaching at CYA for three years while researching for her doctrate. Being an anthro major, I am really excited to soak up some of her skill.
This class has really good information for cultural behaviors in Greece that are very practical to know.
Modern Greek 101:
Marienetta, a really wonderful Greek woman is my professor.
quote, "Greeks, we are not perfect, and we love it."
I am SO intimidated by this language. First of all, the Greek alphabet is really hard for me to read because it uses letters in the Roman alphabet, only with different sounds. For example:
Μενw - pronounced MEH-no, "to live, stay"
Mια χαρα - pronounced mee-ah ha-RAH, "I'm fine."
The first day of class consisted of Marienetta saying Greek phrases with exaggerated gestures and the students doing the same thing back. She says, "Put some life into your words. You are not dead." For her it is just as important to have the proper body languange and tone. This is because it is much easier for others to interpret your meaning when you're not speaking correctly.
Ancient Aegean Art and Archaeology:
Prof. Diamant-native of Indiana
quote, "I have no answers for any questions."
Around half of our meetings will take place at the Acropolis, Agora, or Museum of Archaeology. Prof. Diamant is one of the kind of lecturer that I would sit-in on for fun.
Gender & Sexuality in Modern Greece:
Prof. Aimee Placas (we're to call her Aimee)
quote, "You may call me Aimee, but come the end of May I will require everyone to address me as Doctor."
Aimee is an anthropology Grad. student at Rice University. She has been teaching at CYA for three years while researching for her doctrate. Being an anthro major, I am really excited to soak up some of her skill.
This class has really good information for cultural behaviors in Greece that are very practical to know.
Modern Greek 101:
Marienetta, a really wonderful Greek woman is my professor.
quote, "Greeks, we are not perfect, and we love it."
I am SO intimidated by this language. First of all, the Greek alphabet is really hard for me to read because it uses letters in the Roman alphabet, only with different sounds. For example:
Μενw - pronounced MEH-no, "to live, stay"
Mια χαρα - pronounced mee-ah ha-RAH, "I'm fine."
The first day of class consisted of Marienetta saying Greek phrases with exaggerated gestures and the students doing the same thing back. She says, "Put some life into your words. You are not dead." For her it is just as important to have the proper body languange and tone. This is because it is much easier for others to interpret your meaning when you're not speaking correctly.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
The joys of meeting new people...
41 Alopekis
1st floor, door b
That's our apartment number. Residents include, yours truly, Katie, Rachel, Hilary, Emily, and Sarah. Rachel and Hilary are rooming up front, while Emily and Sarah are rooming next to us.
I find it interesting how different people our age can be. For example, last night we had an orientation meeting at 6:30 PM. Rachel and Hilary asked if we wanted to walk to the Academic Center with them. Katie and I, of course said, "yes." So, 6:00 rolls by, and we get up to go, but the other girls went upstairs to pick up students on the 4th floor. So, we waited...then a group came down, and we went down to the front steps...and we waited, apparently for two other girls who just didn't think it was a big deal.
By this time, I'm a little worried because the last thing I want to do is be late for our first orienation meeting. We finally started to walk toward the AC, when the other girls took a short-cut. They said it was only a 15 minute walk that way. Katie and I told them we hadn't gone that way before. I managed to overhear quite a few conversations, some more hilarious than the next. For example, a girl referring to the magazine said, "People is like my bible. I don't know what I'm gonna do without it here....that, and my miniskirt." The other girl said, "Just have your parents send it to you." It was this matter-of-fact manner that I found most amusing. Why in the world would any parent waste money to send superfluous magazines overseas just so their child wouldn't have to live without them? Apparently, it is not so uncommon with the girls we were walking with last night.
We got split up halfway to the AC because everyone else practically ran through traffic to reach the other side. Katie and I valued our lives too much to try that, so we waited patiently for the signal to change...the rest of the group did not wait. At the time, I was miffed. We told them we didn't know that route, and they either chose to forget about us, or simply didn't think about us. Anyway, Katie and I found our way there just fine. Katie managed to laugh at my "miffness" and I got over it once I realized I didn't have to listen to pointless conversations about fashion, magazines, and boys.
At the orientation, we met a really nice girl named Regina. She's from Villanova and seems very down-to-earth. She laughed and rolled her eyes when I told her about the People conversation and said something along the lines of, "She's going to be having a hellofa lot more problems here in a foreign country if she's worried about something like that." Now THAT'S my kind of peer.
Lucianna (from ND) finally arrived. Her flight from JFK airport was delayed by a day. She was tired, but happy to be here. She's a really sweet girl and is working off a budget like Katie and I. Also, she lives in 39 Alopekis, so hopefully we'll see alot of each other.
Last night, after orientation, Katie and I went back to an empty apartment. We stayed up until around 1 AM, reading packets, unpacking, and talking. Sarah came home at around midnight. At 3:30 AM, our roomies announced their arrival with loud noises, talking, and laughing. It immediately woke me up, and I hoped they would just go to bed. Ten minutes later, there was still noise, and Katie woke up. Now, those of you who've met Katie know she's a deep sleeper, so when girls at the other end of the apartment are making enough noise to wake her up, you know it's loud. I didn't mind that they woke us up so much as I thought it was careless to be so loud in an apartment where Athenians live. We have neighbors that are not students and were given strict instructions to be quiet after 11 PM. I didn't want our entire room to anger the locals before I've even met them. So I got up and asked them to quiet down. Rachel was washing wine out of her shirt. They seemed apologetic, but I sincerely doubt they would have quieted themselves for the sake of others had no one asked them directly.
Today, I talked to Sam (living next door) and she said she heard people talking on the balcony all night. So apparently, after I asked them to be quiet, the girls went out on the balcony to talk...for an extended period of time. I doubt anyone near a balcony in the entire building would NOT have heard them. We learned that the Alopekis apartments are the ones that have had trouble in the past, so the neighbors may not be so kind to us. I hope last night didn't ruin any chances of getting to know our Greek neighbors. I'm making it a point to introduce myself to them. Perhaps then they'll understand that just because we live together doesn't mean we are like-minded.
1st floor, door b
That's our apartment number. Residents include, yours truly, Katie, Rachel, Hilary, Emily, and Sarah. Rachel and Hilary are rooming up front, while Emily and Sarah are rooming next to us.
I find it interesting how different people our age can be. For example, last night we had an orientation meeting at 6:30 PM. Rachel and Hilary asked if we wanted to walk to the Academic Center with them. Katie and I, of course said, "yes." So, 6:00 rolls by, and we get up to go, but the other girls went upstairs to pick up students on the 4th floor. So, we waited...then a group came down, and we went down to the front steps...and we waited, apparently for two other girls who just didn't think it was a big deal.
By this time, I'm a little worried because the last thing I want to do is be late for our first orienation meeting. We finally started to walk toward the AC, when the other girls took a short-cut. They said it was only a 15 minute walk that way. Katie and I told them we hadn't gone that way before. I managed to overhear quite a few conversations, some more hilarious than the next. For example, a girl referring to the magazine said, "People is like my bible. I don't know what I'm gonna do without it here....that, and my miniskirt." The other girl said, "Just have your parents send it to you." It was this matter-of-fact manner that I found most amusing. Why in the world would any parent waste money to send superfluous magazines overseas just so their child wouldn't have to live without them? Apparently, it is not so uncommon with the girls we were walking with last night.
We got split up halfway to the AC because everyone else practically ran through traffic to reach the other side. Katie and I valued our lives too much to try that, so we waited patiently for the signal to change...the rest of the group did not wait. At the time, I was miffed. We told them we didn't know that route, and they either chose to forget about us, or simply didn't think about us. Anyway, Katie and I found our way there just fine. Katie managed to laugh at my "miffness" and I got over it once I realized I didn't have to listen to pointless conversations about fashion, magazines, and boys.
At the orientation, we met a really nice girl named Regina. She's from Villanova and seems very down-to-earth. She laughed and rolled her eyes when I told her about the People conversation and said something along the lines of, "She's going to be having a hellofa lot more problems here in a foreign country if she's worried about something like that." Now THAT'S my kind of peer.
Lucianna (from ND) finally arrived. Her flight from JFK airport was delayed by a day. She was tired, but happy to be here. She's a really sweet girl and is working off a budget like Katie and I. Also, she lives in 39 Alopekis, so hopefully we'll see alot of each other.
Last night, after orientation, Katie and I went back to an empty apartment. We stayed up until around 1 AM, reading packets, unpacking, and talking. Sarah came home at around midnight. At 3:30 AM, our roomies announced their arrival with loud noises, talking, and laughing. It immediately woke me up, and I hoped they would just go to bed. Ten minutes later, there was still noise, and Katie woke up. Now, those of you who've met Katie know she's a deep sleeper, so when girls at the other end of the apartment are making enough noise to wake her up, you know it's loud. I didn't mind that they woke us up so much as I thought it was careless to be so loud in an apartment where Athenians live. We have neighbors that are not students and were given strict instructions to be quiet after 11 PM. I didn't want our entire room to anger the locals before I've even met them. So I got up and asked them to quiet down. Rachel was washing wine out of her shirt. They seemed apologetic, but I sincerely doubt they would have quieted themselves for the sake of others had no one asked them directly.
Today, I talked to Sam (living next door) and she said she heard people talking on the balcony all night. So apparently, after I asked them to be quiet, the girls went out on the balcony to talk...for an extended period of time. I doubt anyone near a balcony in the entire building would NOT have heard them. We learned that the Alopekis apartments are the ones that have had trouble in the past, so the neighbors may not be so kind to us. I hope last night didn't ruin any chances of getting to know our Greek neighbors. I'm making it a point to introduce myself to them. Perhaps then they'll understand that just because we live together doesn't mean we are like-minded.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
CYA
Good afternoon.
Katie and I awoke at noon today. We were both shocked we had slept so long...even being college students. Our lunchtime slot was from 12:55-13:35, so we had to hustle to the Academic Center.
Academic Center-located right next to the Olympic Stadium used during the first modern olympics. We walk right in front of it to get to the building. The first three floors are used by CYA. Another classroom building is next door. The staff are extremely nice and helpful.
Lunch-Tons of really, really good Greek food. Today we had some type of spaghetti, salad with feta, yummy bread, chocolate mousse, and some of the sweetest oranges I've tasted. It was all topped off by really good water. I was extremely dehydrated, so I had six or so glasses.
Books-I picked up my books today. We only have to pay for the Modern Greek materials (40 Euro). I have more books than I ever had at Notre Dame.
Classes-I'm not sure if I'm going to keep drop a class or not. Nadia (who gave us our orientation materials) was shocked I was taking 16 credits. If I were to drop a class, it would be Byzantine Art & Architecture. However, that class has three field trips, so I'm holding off until I sit in a few.
This afternoon Katie and I are going to find a grocery store and buy breakfast food. There are two closeby, but everyone may be having their siesta right now. After fourteen hours of sleep I don't think I could take a nap, even if I tried. Katie, however...she's all for it.
Katie and I awoke at noon today. We were both shocked we had slept so long...even being college students. Our lunchtime slot was from 12:55-13:35, so we had to hustle to the Academic Center.
Academic Center-located right next to the Olympic Stadium used during the first modern olympics. We walk right in front of it to get to the building. The first three floors are used by CYA. Another classroom building is next door. The staff are extremely nice and helpful.
Lunch-Tons of really, really good Greek food. Today we had some type of spaghetti, salad with feta, yummy bread, chocolate mousse, and some of the sweetest oranges I've tasted. It was all topped off by really good water. I was extremely dehydrated, so I had six or so glasses.
Books-I picked up my books today. We only have to pay for the Modern Greek materials (40 Euro). I have more books than I ever had at Notre Dame.
Classes-I'm not sure if I'm going to keep drop a class or not. Nadia (who gave us our orientation materials) was shocked I was taking 16 credits. If I were to drop a class, it would be Byzantine Art & Architecture. However, that class has three field trips, so I'm holding off until I sit in a few.
This afternoon Katie and I are going to find a grocery store and buy breakfast food. There are two closeby, but everyone may be having their siesta right now. After fourteen hours of sleep I don't think I could take a nap, even if I tried. Katie, however...she's all for it.
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