My Moment in Greece

My moment in Greece wasn't at an Acropolis, it wasn't on an island, it wasn't climbing a mountain, it happened to be at last nights dinner. Don't worry, I have truly valued and reflected spiritually at the surrounding beauty, but it cannot compare to the feelings that came over me at dinner. Why it was at dinner, I'm not sure. I've eaten meals with my colleges plenty of times, but yesterday struck a nerve.

Last night we dressed up and had a delicious and filling five-course meal. Throughout our dinner, we listened and laughed with Momma Fin as she shared stories of her young life. As I listened to her story, I looked around all the faces of my friends, the strangers who became family, and reflected on the story we have written. This is when my moment hit me. Our time here in Greece was coming to a close, and I had to fathom the thought of leaving my new-found world. These people are the explorers who walked alongside me in the journey of self-discovery. The architects who built a home amongst the unfamiliar and the counselors who listened in times of pain.

This moment felt like hours. I was overcome with the feeling of love, appreciation and heartbreak. In an instant, thousands of memories flashed before me and my eyes began to fill with tears.

Words cannot define the feelings I have for Greece and the friends who were here to share it. Because of this experience, I know who Katie Fisher is. I found her by answering questions I faced in classroom discussions and living amongst Greek culture. This trip has challenged me mentally, and spiritually and I would not have been able to conquer these obstacles if my classmates weren't beside me. For that, I am eternally grateful.
My moment ended at the sound of roaring laughter. I quickly dried my eyes and became engaged in the conversation. After all, I have the whole plane ride to cry. With the final day approaching, I will cherish every moment I have left.

Live Free, Die Hard

Today I wore green pants. Why? Because I could. Now that I've been immersed in Greek culture and thrived, I decided to spice things up a bit. On one rainy afternoon, following a delightful latte with friends, Christine and I decided to explore and found an H&M. Some of you may be wondering why I went shopping in a store that I can find in any mall? The answer is simple; in Greece everything is better. Here, I found a pair of green pants. For some reason they called to me, and I bought them. I refuse to leave this country with regrets.

One of the many things this trip has taught me is to cherish the moment. Every second that goes by is another one lost; it can never be relived. In class today, we discussed Josephus, and read "For whatever the soul touches lives and blossoms, whatever it deserts withers and dies; so abundant is her immortality." Josephus believes that a soul is life; as long as you are alive, your surroundings are alive. After reading this quote, it encouraged me to question if I am truly alive.

In Greece, I flourish. I'm climbing mountains, exploring side-streets, running on the beach, talking to locals, making long-lasting friends and getting no sleep. This is easy to do when you're taking a class in another country, but what happens when I come back to Parkland? When I'm in class, d I value my education? When I practice, do I enjoy what I'm doing? When I'm working, do I appreciate the learning experience? Unfortunately, the answer isn't always yes, and it needs to change.

This semester is my last semester before student teaching. I only have four months left with the professors and colleges that positively impact my life. Reading in Josephus illuminated how I need to change my viewpoint on life. Yes, I am alive, but is my soul alive? Is it lighting up the world around me? When I return home, this will be my goal. I will think of life as more than a routine or chore and value every minute. By doing so, I will finish my undergrad with a happy heart and prosperous soul.
Life is a choice; live free, die hard. Wear green pants.

Body and Soul

“Now my heart stumbles on things I don’t know. My weakness I feel I must finally show”

This line from, Awake my Soul by Mumford and Sons, constantly rings in my head. There are many times where my emotions push me to a point of weakness. Sometimes this is not a bad thing, but there are some circumstances where I wish I had more control over my emotions.

Yesterday in class, we read 4^th Maccabees and discussed this very topic. Here, the author believes that reason is the master of emotions and supported his thesis by telling stories of people who survive unfathomable pain to stain true to their religion. How did the Jewish people bear the torture without giving in to Antiochus IV? These people had reason, a choice of life and wisdom, which gave them the knowledge of the divine.

I chose to apply this concept to running. Currently I am training for the Tacoma Half Marathon and it is physically and mentally painful. The longest race I've competed in has been a 5K and jumping from 3.1 miles to 13.5 is incredibly daunting. In order to succeed, I need to master my emotions by knowing the reason behind my running. For me, running is not a way to keep the calories down, it is a form of therapy and provides an outlet for me to escape from a stressful world. I am only young once, and I want to push my body to be the best it can be. This will only happen if I overcome the pain and focus on my goal.

After class, I was so inspired that I went on long run on the boardwalk. There were several times when I wanted to stop, but I overcame my screaming muscles and aching lungs by trumping my emotions. Yesterdays class provided a tool to ignore my body's physical pain and focus on the reason running helps my soul.

Choose Wisdom

When I came to Greece, I was a lost and dazed tourist. For the first week my eyes were wide and full of shock as I tried to comprehend where I was and what I was doing. After gaining experiential wisdom by trying new things and getting a feel for the culture I began searching for something more; a different type of wisdom.

In class we've been reading The Wisdom of Solomon and identifying how people view spiritual wisdom. This type of wisdom comes from God directly. In order to receive it, you have to search for it, and once you do, you will fall in love with it. While in Greece, I have been pursing this wisdom in order to have a romantic relationship with the country. Each day, my love for Greece has continued to grow because I stopped looking through a camera lens and started appreciating its natural beauty.
While in pursuit of this wisdom, your soul is eternal; the sea is more than the sea, the mountain is more than the mountain. It allows me to think outside the box and attempt to know the world in deeper, more meaningful way. Conquering my shocked and confused tourist stage has illustrated Greece's natural artistry and spiritually charged my soul. Now that I have been exposed to this wisdom, I will continue chase it and thrive.

Greece is no longer a tourist stop. The impact its made on my life has been monumental to my development as a human being. I search for more than the obvious and value what has been created before me. The next time you watch a sunset or climb a mountain, look for more than the perfect photograph; seek the wisdom behind it.

Katie the Greek

Before I came on this trip I didn’t know anyone, and they didn’t know me. For all they knew, I could be an angry person with a Russian accent. This fresh start gave me the opportunity to find out who I am without my Parkland bubble. As a result, I have learned a lot about myself.

I’ve learned that I love making small talk with every person I meet. Whenever I go to the store or restaurant, I’ll ask the waiter or clerk what their favorite is and purchase that item. At home, I’m usually very indecisive and stare at the menu for hours, trying to figure out what I want. In Greece, I’ve learned to solve that problem by talking to locals and asking what I should buy.

With my mom and Kylie being half way around the world, I’ve learned that I’m pretty adventurous. Whenever a mountain needs to be climbed or a trail that needs to be explored, I’m always up for it. Yes, there is a faint voice in my head telling me that this probably isn’t the smartest thing to do, but I’m only in Greece once and I want to experience everything.

Fun fact; I’m afraid of stairs. Not completely petrified, but I’ve fallen down enough of them to be cautious. In Greece, the only way around is by climbing stairs. If I want to get around anywhere, or keep up with the group, I need to face my fear. I am happy to say that my fear has been conquered.

I have also learned that I’m very outgoing. I think being surrounded by music majors for the last four years has made me feel like I have a pretty mellow personality. Wrong. In this group, my personality stands out. I had no idea how loud and crazy I really am. I guess that’s good to know.

Not only has Greece been a great academic learning experience, but it has helped me find out who I am, without my American influences. Watch out, America. Katie the Greek is here to stay.

The Good Life

On Sunday, our first full day in Rhodes, we went to visit the small island of Symi. The only way to get there was by a ferry known for being extremely rocky. For some of our class, this was the deciding factor not to go, but I have ridden ferries many times before, and I knew I wouldn't have a problem. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

It was a particularly windy day in Rhodes. You could see more white caps than blue ocean, but we already had our tickets and decided there was no turning back. Once we were settled safely in our seats and made it out of the harbor the captain stepped on the gas; thats when the fun began. The first five minutes of our trip was quite exhilarating. Our boat would get four seconds of air time before it crashed back in the water. Up and down, up and down our bodies were swaying or sometimes even jolting. After ten minutes, I wanted to get off of this Tony Hawk simulator. I decided to close my eyes and try to calm down. This worked for about five minutes, but then I had to rest my head on my knees. From that position I had to start humming 'Let it Be' by John Lennon in attempt of focus on something else, but nothing seemed to help. I was in a downward spiral into uncontrollable dizziness.

I never thought a boat ride could make me feel so helpless. My body was too heavy to move and I was completely disoriented. No matter how hard I tried, my hearty, hotel breakfast was going to make an appearance. Because I had no strength to walk to the bathroom, I knew I was going to throw-up in front of all of my friends. I slowly reached for the 'feel better' bag in the seat pocket, pleading with my body to be composed. The last words I heard were Austin telling me, "Don't worry, Katie. You got this" but it was too late. Seconds later the deed was done. My dignity gone. Markelle walked me to the bathroom and I decided to stay there for the rest of the ride.

I decided to share my story under this title because the boat ride showed me how lucky really I am. Even though I was completely embarrassed, my friends first concern was how I was feeling. After seeing their reactions, I quickly got over my pride and was able to enjoy the rest of the day. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by caring and compassionate people.

On the ride home I decided to stay on the top deck so I could breathe the fresh air and avoid getting sick. My friends bundled me up with coats and gloves, gave me ginger, stocked my purse with 'feel better' bags and frequently climbed the stairs to check on me. Austin was even nice enough to stay in the cold and keep me company the entire trip back. These people are the reason why I have a good life. Without their help, my horrible ferry ride would have defined my trip. Instead, I explored the beautiful island of Symi with kindhearted and strong-stomached friends.

I can see Turkey from my window!

Hello from Rhodes! Christine and I are currently sitting in our hotel room listening to the waves crash against the sand. How did we get from busy Athens streets, to a calm paradise? I’ll tell you.

This morning was bittersweet. Saying goodbye to the apartment wasn’t easy. Today we left the city I feel the most comfortable in. Because of all our walks and adventures, I know how to get around Athens much better than I do Seattle or Portland, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to leave something I’d become so attached to. I quickly got over my sadness when I realized that we were spending a week in a five star hotel on island. Bummer.

After a short plane ride we landed in Rhodes, and as expected, it is very quiet and peaceful be. I haven’t heard one car horn since we’ve been here! Because it’s January, half of the businesses and restaurants closed for the off-season and there are only two hotels open. After a delightful lunch, I took the opportunity to get to know the island and its beauty by going on a run.

Running on the boardwalk, parallel to the Aegean is something everyone should put on their bucket list. Today I ran on a golden gravel trail that wound through giant boulders with waves crashing up against them. On one side of the trail was lush moss and wildflowers that covered each boulder while the other brought the fresh air of invigorating saltwater. Every person I saw smiled and greeted me on my path, and it made me feel very welcome. Out of all of the runs I have been on, this is the one I have enjoyed the most. I felt like I was connecting to the natural beauty around me and appreciating the vast blue sea.

My run only ended because my body was tired. If I had my choice, I would still be running. Thankfully, I have time to go on many more throughout our visit. Oh yeah, did I mention that I can see Turkey out my window? You can't really see it in this picture, but I promise there will be more to come!
P.S. Hi mom... sorry its been a few days. I've been busy the past few days.

This is SPARTA!

Today was an average day in Greece. Dr. Finitsis lead us on another long excursion up and down the breathtaking (literally and figuratively) hills of Mystras. After we finished exploring, we went and had lunch in Sparta. Yes, Sparta. It was incredibly disappointing. For lunch we were greeted by two kind shop owners who made us a delicious meal. Then we sat down and ate with forks, knives and napkins. Wait, in Sparta? To make matters worse, we went and got gelato and daintily ate it with cute, tiny spoons. Sparta, what happened?!! Where are your shields, your armor and spears? Currently, the most violent thing in Sparta is a toddler running through pigeons... No.


Fear not 300 fans. Passion for glory and honor still lives in Greece today, but instead of Sparta, in the Olympic Stadium. Last night six of us went to a European football game to cheer on Panathinaikos, Athens' team. That game is a testament that Leonidas is not dead;he lives in the heart of every Greek football fan.
I've been to plenty of sporting events in my lifetime, but this was the most enthusiastic stadium I had been a part of. Like other soccer games, singing and drumming go on for the full ninety minutes. To add excitement, Greeks also throw water bottles at security, light flares and small explosions. Let me inform you that winning this game had no impact on either team, the stadium was almost empty, and it was a Wednesday.

The game itself was a rowdy one. Several players were hurt, nobody liked the refs and Athens' was not dominating a team they were predicted to destroy. In the 88th minute, tension was high; both teams had yet to score. All of a sudden, Athens' made a goal out of nowhere and the crowd explodes. Full grown men started leaping over seats, running to get as close to the field as possible. Booms from explosions started echoing throughout the stadium, fire filled the air and the roar was deafening. I have never been involved in something so epic. If my words do not convince you, follow this link to watch the video Z took right before and after the game determining goal. You need to see it to believe it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB1qEFKp8R0&feature=youtu.be

Even though the spirit of Sparta is no longer is Sparta, stop by and enjoy the gelato. Afterwards, make sure you see a football game, you'll find the warriors there.

Children of the Light

Today, our class visited the first cemetery in Athens. This cemetery was unlike any I had visited before. There were no tombstones, but in their place were elaborate statues or even a building that would hold families for generations. Walking through the cemetery was a very sobering experience. It was a reminder that our life on earth will one day end; the clock is ticking.

As I walked through, I thought about the Wild Hope Project and "what I will do with my one wild and precious life." One thing I've learned on this trip is how small I really am. How can I make the world a better place? Its hard to image how one person can make a difference in a world so vast, but it can be done. My goal? To help improve the public education system and promote music advocacy around the globe. How can I accomplish this? By taking charge and applying myself in order to succeed.

My story is one of many on this trip. We all have goals that will change the world and have the drive to reach them. Our knowledge gained from PLU can be used as a light to shine on the world in hopes of impacting and inspiring others to do the same. Knowledge is a gift; once you have received it, there is little time to share the light in a world of darkness.

Waiting for a Bus

Our Free Day journey began by waiting for an orange bus; not yellow, not blue, but orange. It was the only way to get to the Temple of Poseidon and unfortunately, came only once every hour. Our group got to the bus station on demonstration day at ten to make sure we caught the 10:30 bus. Well, 10:30 turned into 10:40 and when 10:50 rolled around there was still no bus. Thankfully a bus of police officers were preparing for the demonstration inches away from our stop and called to make sure the buses were still running, and sure enough the bus picked us up at 11. Once we got on the bus, we played the question game; a game where the group answers thought-provoking questions in order to get to know each other better and become even closer than we are.Once we got off the bus, we ate our lunch. Where? The most beautiful spot in the whole world. My group actually didn't even end up going to visit the temple because we were captivated by our view of the massive ocean. After lunch was in our bellies, we decided to explore the rest of the rock. This was a very good decision. Not only was the view gorgeous, but it made our group closer. We worked as a team in order to get up and down the mountain and its an experience that we'll be able to share together. Once we made it back to the top, we had to wait for another bus, and this time, it got there instantaneously. We had to walk slowly in order for people to make it who were still running down the hill.

We got off the bus not much later and lounged on the beach. The group sat there quietly and watched the waves come drifting in, and once again, stopped to appreciate the natural beauty before us. Words cannot describe and cameras cannot capture how stunning the coast of Greece is; it is a life changing experience. Once everyone was done with their nap or journal entry, we found a local cafe, and after enjoying our coffee, went out to the bus stop. For a bus that comes once an hour it makes you nervous if you've been waiting for longer than that, but thankfully we had each others company and a sunset to keep us entertained until the orange bus finally came into view.
This blog post is not about the trip itself, but the memories and friends that have been made. In ten days, eighteen strangers have now become a trusting unit that shares memories together. I'm looking forward to even more memories on this trip and they will begin by waiting for a bus.

Mixing Wine with Water

On Saturday night, three friends and I made the decision to take a taxi to the apartments instead of walking in the dark. That decision and cab ride inspired a story that will forever be remembered.

The beginning of our ride was like any other cab ride. George, our driver was very approachable and answered all of our questions about life living in Athens. All of a sudden, he received a text message, laughed, turned the us and said, "now you'll really experience the city." George immediately stepped on the gas, and started driving in the opposite direction. Dropping us off in Pangrati was no longer on his agenda.

Screaming filled the cab. We pleaded with him to let us out, but he wouldn't listen. A calm and eerie smile crossed his face at the expense of our terror. Seconds passed by like hours. I had no idea how long we were in the cab, but when we finally stopped we had no idea where we were or how to get back home.

When we got out of the cab, we were greeted by hundreds of protestors, with passion-filled eyes. We stood there, speechless, our feet frozen to the ground. We didn't know what was going on, where we were, what to do, or if George was going to give us a refund. Our decision was made when we heard police coming our way. Their blue lights and shouting were coming closer and closer and we did the only thing we could do; run.

Our group took off down the street, George included. He must have been scared too, apparently. The streets were wet with rain and our feet were constantly slipping through the streets, dodging cars and mopeds all the way. We ran for miles, and our lungs screaming, hearts pounding. The blue lights of police cars seemed to always find us even through our path of alley ways and market shops, so we continued to run. When we finally collapsed there were no police in sight. After we were able to stand, we looked up and saw the original Olympic Stadium, which is two blocks from our apartment. George, to our surprise was still with us. He turned to us, laughed, shook our hands and walked away. I was dumbfounded, why didn't I punch him in the face? Why did he find this enjoyable? But as his shadow slowly faded from the lamplight, I knew that I wouldn't trade this story for anything; my friends felt the same.

The next morning we met our class out by the stadium. The four of us looked at each other with knowing eyes, anxious for the story of our next cab ride.

Coffee In Greece

Today we watched A Touch of Spice, a Greek film focusing on a family deported from Constantinople in the late 50s. In the movie, the family had a hard time becoming acculturated in the Greek culture and struggled to find their identity in a world where the "Turks sent them away as Greeks and Greeks received them as Turks". Fanis, the main character and talented chef, learned to find his identity through food. The movie also focused on talking about the things you can't see. This can be taken in a literal sense by discussing the spices that go into a meal, or in a metaphorical sense of acknowledging what goes on behind the scene. During my stay in Greece, I have greatly enjoyed my dining experience as well as the individuals who impacted my journey.

Those of you who know me know I'm an avid coffee drinker; soy mocha to be precise. After realizing that mochas do not exist in Greece, I had to find a option B. One day, in search of lunch, Christine and I walked past a small, very dim coffee shop, filled with smoke all coming from a cranky looking, old man. In retrospect, I have no idea why we went inside. There were several things, including a shady, red-neon sign that should have told us that this was not a stereotypical cute and quaint coffee shop. When we were inside I told the man hiding behind a smoke cloud to surprise me with coffee. He smiled, and laughed at the thought of surprising me with coffee, and did his best to dress up a standard cup. That moment was what beginning of our relationship. Now every time I pass his shop we wave and I'm planning to back soon for another cup. This cup of coffee tasted very good, but that wasn't what made it memorable. It was my new friend, the smoky, old barista is what I value most. Each coffee run makes for another memorable experience. Our conversation usually starts after I embarrass myself. Whether its not being able to open the door or not realizing who the waiter is has always seemed to break the ice. I'm very fortunate to get to know the invisible barista behind every cup; that memory lasts longer than the coffee.

From Parkland to Pangrati

Over the past week I have noticed several differences between my house on Yakima Avenue to my apartment on Pangrati. One key difference I have noticed is the music and sounds that fill the city, and as a music education major, I am happy to share my musical experience while in Athens.

As you know, Athens is a very crowded city, filled with busy roads and vocal drivers. Drivers in Athens express every sense of displeasure with a car horn. I swear there isn't thirty seconds that go by without hearing someone honking their horn. Sometimes, when drivers are very angry three or four horns will go off at once and create either diminished or crunchy cluster chords. What? Don't judge me for using my ear training skills. Athens is a very loud city, you can always hear a dog parking or someone yelling. I don't mind it though. Its nice to hear something other than cars without mufflers or booming bass systems that rattle windows.In order to be prepared for upcoming recitals, concerts and juries my new practice room has become our kitchen. When I play, the birds play with me. Sometimes I feel bad for my neighbors because if I'm not loud enough, the neighborhood birds sure seem to make up for it. Like all of Athens the kitchen has great acoustics. Because marble makes up most streets, sidewalks and buildings, street musicians can be heard for blocks. I have seen everything from talented violin players to an equally talented one-man-band extraordinaire. As you can see, Greece is filled with sounds that preserve its culture.

In class, while learning about religion, I've also learned about correlating musical aspects of Greece. Yesterday, while on the island of Corfu, I saw the Corfu Conservatory, one of the best music schools in Greece. The conservatory is located on the island's old fortress and overlooks the Ionian Sea; perfect for all you music nerds out there. I also saw statues of Greek muses including the goddess of music. Its interesting to note how long the Greeks have valued music and still play culturally defining instruments in festivals throughout the year. Maybe I should bring that up in my next fight for music advocacy...

Last but not least, I saw one of the first musical instruments ever made at the Delphi museum. This flute is one of the first instruments that music majors learn about in their music history courses, and I walked on the cite of where it was recovered. SO COOL!!!

In order wrap up this very nerdy and geeky blog post, Greece has a very extensive musical history. In the past week I have been able to appreciate the music surrounding me by making connections to what I learn in Mary Baker Russell Music Center to my trip here in Athens.

Headless and Content

One week ago today, I was sitting in the airport with 19 people I barely new. Standard questions like "what is your major?" or "what year are you?" were our fall-backs to fill the awkward silence. Thankfully, after one week of pure thrill and insanity, we no longer have that problem. When you drop twenty people in the middle of Athens, friendships are a guarantee.


Now that we've been here for one week, its hard for me to wrap my head around what has actually happened. Is this a dream? Am I really here? How can one day seem so long, but yet so short at the same time? Wait, I'm a tourist and a student at the same time? What time is it?! These are only some of the questions constantly going through my head.

Being the problem solvers that we are, my roommate Christine and I decided to take a picture to document each day by holding it up on our fingers. I'm not sure what will happen when we run out of fingers, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Knowing the time is no longer an issue because I have accepted that I live in a time where cellphones are the new pocket-watch. Now that my cellphone is turned off, I carry around a portable alarm clock in my bag... Its fine, trust me. These solutions have solved many problems, but I still have yet to acknowledge what I'm seeing is actually a reality.

Today, day seven, eleven new friends and I went to the beach. This excursion included a 40 minutes tram ride (perfect for people watchers), getting confused by Greek gates, running through the sand, and watching the sun set. On a perfect day like today, I was able to reflect on how truly thankful I am to be on this trip and share memories with 19 amazing people. Watching yellow and orange slowly pain the sky is something that no money can buy and I had the privilege of sharing it with my classmates. I'm not sure if I'll ever accept that this trip is real because it has been the perfect dream. It has caused me to lose my head in a sea of beauty, history and wonder and I am fine with that. I am headless and content.

Visions Past and Present

Over the past few days, our class discussions have focused around prophetic visions of the past and how they shaped the future generations of the Hebrew Bible. This concept allowed me to have my own visions about the people of Athens and the defining culture of past and present generations.

Today, our class visited the Acropolis Museum and were mesmerized by three floors of artifacts found on the Acropolis hill. Marble statues and pottery art depicted what people valued thousands of years ago and captured a culture long before our time. Even though this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, architectural ruins are littered throughout Athens. Each artifact and ruin seen in Athens serves as a frozen moment in time that allows us to envision people of the past and what their life was like.


Today's museum experience is not the only way to define Athens' people; each street has a different story to tell. On the way to the city center you will find beautiful, elaborate buildings on one side of the street and spray paint and graffiti on the other. This may surprise you, but both of these are equally important. Just like marble ruins, both of these contrasting buildings encapsulates Athens' history and culture. Without them, we could not accurately portray people of the past or present.







Identifying and appreciating different architecture and art from different generations allows spectators to visualize the changing culture. From ancient ruins to spattered graffiti, the people of Athens have written many stories and have many more left to tell.

The Walking Experience

Athens is a beautiful city. I can also say the same for Portland, Seattle and many other cities I've been in. They all have busy streets, friendly people, and delicious food, but somehow Athens is different. When I experience the culture of a city, I visit coffee shops, parks and markets by driving or taking a bus to different destinations across the city. Never again will I make this mistake.
In Athens I am still experiencing the culture by visiting the coffee shops, parks and markets but I'm doing so in a much more intimate way. Walking EVERYWHERE has been the most illuminating and rewarding part of my time in Athens. Why? Because I can visually see and appreciate each cobble stone in my path, dodge every pigeon, apply Frogger knowledge to every crosswalk and be surrounded be the life and energy that defines the city of Athens.

Last night, our class took a long walk to to Lycabettus hill, the highest point in Athens, to have coffee and overlook the city. This hill is perfect for anyone in need of ambiance and a work out, but the getting there is the hard part. Once you reach the base of the hill, you now have to climb up a never-ending staircase (Seriously, I have never climbed that many stairs in my life). When you have miraculously climbed the last step, you have the choice to walk up the rest of the mountain, or take a gondola up to the top. When asked who wants to climb the mountain, the class was silent. Our quads and calfs were already sore from the last staircase, and we weren't sure if we were up for another. After no reply, Dr. Finitsis looked me and said, "Katie, would you like to climb the mountain?" At this moment, I decided to ignore my complaining legs and apply my newly acquired knowledge of experiencing the city of Athens and decided to walk.

Four other friends joined me in the climb and we all agreed that it was a good decision. Every step we took was more beautiful than the next and finally led us to the top of the Lycabettus. I have never seen so many city lights coming from all directions. The view was simply breathtaking and could not have been fully experienced in a gondola. Once again, walking proved to be the best decision.

After walking throughout the city for the last four days, I have gained a new perspective on experiencing city life. I now know that if you want to truly get to know a city, walk every chance you get. You won't regret it.

Helpful Strangers

For the purposes of this blog, I will convey a few secrets that I discovered throughout my eventful and memorable day.

Today on our venture to the heart of the city, four colleagues and I were temporarily misplaced from the rest of our class. This does not mean we were lost, we were just frazzled for approximately an hour. Even though this might sound scary, I wouldn't have traded this hour for anything because I learned so much.This shop was the reason for our separation. Look interesting? That's because it was. The five of us couldn't look away, so naturally we went inside and continued to be captivated by four stories of random tiny thing.

When we came out of the shop, we realized that the rest of our group was out of sight. So, we decided to walk speedily in the general direction of where our class was headed. Unfortunately, we did not find them any time soon. If only there weren't four possible directions to turn at each corner, we would have found them much faster.

On this journey, I uncovered many secrets about Athens. One, and probably the most important, is that the people of Athens are incredibly kind and helpful. I felt comfortable asking people if they had seen a large group of enthusiastic Americans carrying cameras. Even though they had no idea where our class was, I felt very welcomed knowing that each shopkeeper could and would be willing to help us find our way home. Sadly, the only thing Americans know about Greeks is their financial situation and the riots that accompany it. What they don't know is how caring and positive each person can be, even when it comes to helping wandering college students.

One slightly less sentimental secret is that the crosswalks in Greece are only viewed as a suggestion. Seriously. People do not wait for the walk signal. Instead, herds of people eagerly peer down the street and wait for the slightest break in traffic so they can all cross at once and make the cars, buses and mopeds slow down and inch through the mob of people illegally crossing the street. Unfortunately, when pedestrians have the right-of-way, drivers are no better. They will continue to drive through the intersection because, after all, they have places to go.
After reading this blog, you now have a deeper understanding the Athens and how the people function throughout the city. Know that if you get lost, many people will be willing to help you, and if you're able to make it safely across the street, you too will have a satisfying day.

Apartment Life

Even though I've only been here for two nights, I am sold on this whole apartment thing. If you ever want to have an apartment in Athens, here is what you need to know:

Once you actually arrive in Greece, make sure you know how to say, "Will you please help me unlock the door?"
As you can see, there are three keys; one to unlock the main door to your building, one to unlock the main lock on your apartment door and the large (Gringotts-like) key is known as the safety key which unlocks a three-prong deadbolt. In order to open your door, you have to turn the large key approximately four times and the smaller key twice while pushing and pulling at the same time? I don't know. Christine always does it for me. Thanks Christine!

The bathroom is pretty normal. Just make sure you turn on the hot water twenty minutes before you'd like to take a shower. This may seem strange, but I think the Greeks are onto something. As someone who has to pay a light an water bill, not using electricity to heat water while you sleep sounds like a wonderful idea!

Notice anything different about the toilet? Well you can't really tell in this picture, but there is no flush handle. In order to properly dispose of certain materials, one must pull down the white button on the bottom of the bowl hanging on the wall. Don't ask me why, just thank me later.

The pictures below show the rest of my apartment including the kitchen, bedroom and roommate. Jessica and Maddie share another room, but are not featured in this blog, but will be in blogs to come.