When telling people about my study abroad plans, without fail, someone would always say, "Make sure you tell them you're from Canada."
I nodded and laughed but dismissed the thought in my mind.
But when strolling through the Athenian streets or trying to purchase something from the grocery store or even attempting to read a sign- I feel like a huge burden. I'm learning a little Greek- just the basics. But let's be real for a second...how annoying would it be for some random tourist coming into your shop not speaking your language, not familiar with your money expecting service?
This experience is all the more reason to fully immerse myself in Greece. I want to learn the language and the culture. I want to stop being a tourist.
On Tuesday night I learned how to say 'what's your name?' For those curious, it's 'Πώς σας λένε;' pronounced pos se lene. I decided to try it out on the grocer who lives down the street from me. I spoke English with my friend as we entered but when we got to the cash register I tried to speak Greek. The complete visible difference in the man's face was incredible. He perked up; he smiled. He served us with a totally different attitude than when we entered the store.
I could tell just how appreciative he was of us trying to learn their language. It's all about respect- this is not my country, culture, or language, it's theirs. So if you study abroad, you need to recognize that. You're not entitled to English speakers, you're not entitled to someone catering to you- you've got to put in the work.
With that little anecdote out of the way, let's talk about my first few days in Athens.
It's beautiful. On the same street you'll see an ancient monument to the left and politically charged graffiti to the right. The people are so kind and friendly. The city is vibrant and alive and welcoming (well, except for the hours between 2 pm and 5 pm because of the siesta).
But, and this is a big but, the jet lag is absolutely horrible. I don't think I've ever been this exhausted for this long in my entire life. My body feels entirely too out of whack and I find myself falling asleep mid-sentence. For this, I can offer no advice other than to just wait it out.
With most of the administrative tasks complete, I'm looking forward to exploring and experiencing the beautiful city that is Athens.
