Feb. 4—Looking for food.

So today will be the day I actually buy some food and pots and start my greek culinary experience. I am quite excited and nervous. It would be nice to have someone that speaks greek to come with…but at the moment, it is not possible. I’ll just have to buy food and do what I can with it.

It is 4:30 in the afternoon. Greek time is o-so-real right now. Alex, a girl that was here last semester, invited everyone to Caaza, a dance club, for her birthday. I have not really been to a place like this. It is what I imagined though. Just a bunch of people “dressed up”, sitting around, sipping drinks. Around 2:30, lights get dimmer and the flashing lights begin and then people begin to nod their heads to the music. Some people dance, but it isn’t like the dance parties we throw down at 205 N. Frances St, Mendota Court or 1224 Spring St. I miss those. Anyways, we ended up leaving that club around 4, so I got to bed around 5, which led me to wake up around 2 in the afternoon. This is my morning…again bringing Greek time into light.

I am getting to know some new students as they arrive. Petro has not arrived yet though. I’m looking forward to that. Paul, the resident father in the group, has turned out to be a riot. He just has one of those suttle personalities but always funny. He is also the nicest guy. He is willing to show anyone around the city and offer up any help he can. The rest of the students are very nice. It is at that stage where everyone wants everyone to like them so I am interested to really get to know everyone…if that makes sense.

I am doing my best to avoid all of the second hand smoke. Smoking is ridiculous here. Everyone smokes…and chains them as well. You can smoke anywhere and the second hand is horrible.

I have got a couple of free days here before orientation. I plan on just getting out and seeing the city. Oh, speaking of seeing the city…we went to the Saturday open market. This was a market about three times the size of Madison’s farmers market. You can buy clothes, cleaning/bathroom supplies, produce, meat, olive oil, wine, cookware, spices, pasts…everything. I was a little intimidated at first and wasn’t exactly sure what I all needed. I did buy some pasta. So I got that going for me, which is nice. I plan on making more use of the market next Saturday, as well as Tuesday. A smaller version of the market travels to different parts of the city each day. It comes around here Tuesday.

I am off to see more of the city and see if I can find a couple essential purchases (i.e. soccer ball)…take care and wish me good adventures.