I had my first classes yesterday and I think I’m really going to like them. Greek was really hard for me at first because of the alphabet but I’m starting to get the hang of it and I’m actually able to read the Greek words now even though I have no idea what they mean. I think it’s going to be a useful class. I also think I’m really going to enjoy my political science class on international relations in the Mediterranean. On Wednesday Greece’s prime minister called for an election that will happen on October 4^th. So I think it will be interesting to see all the demonstrations and everything that goes on in Greece before an election. The professor for this class (who is Greek) also seems really nice and funny. He already told us how much he hates George Bush, thinks Bill Clinton is the best recent president we’ve had, and that he loves Hillary and Beyonce. I’m also taking a class about the culture of Athens and our big project is to interview Greeks about a particular part of their culture. I don’t know how I feel about interviewing a complete stranger especially when we don’t speak the same language, but it doesn’t seem like a very hard class. I’m also taking a class about the sites and monuments of Greece (which we mostly have at the sites themselves) and a comparative religions class.

I’ve only been in Athens for less than a week but I think I’m starting to become a pro at crossing the street. The drivers here are so crazy that crossing the street is very intimidating. There also aren’t many pedestrian cross walks and even if there are the green walk signals only stay lit for a couple of seconds. Basically, if you want to cross the street you have to wait for a break in traffic and run across the road. Usually I just wait for a Greek to come by and follow them. One of my professors said this morning said that she has at least one student every semester who is bumped by a car.

I think I’ve also finally figured out the shower situation in Athens. The first couple of days I was here, I took freezing cold showers until my roommate informed me that before you take a shower you have to turn on the hot water switch. Even with the hot water on the showers are still a little cold and the hot water runs out very fast. I’m not sure if I’m ever going to get used to showering here.

I'm still not used to all of the ancient ruins that are here in the city. The old olympic stadium is right next to our academic center and earlier today I was studying on the third floor of the school and looked up and had a perfect view of the acropolis. There are old ruins like that everywhere, even in the middle of busy shopping areas. Tomorrow we have our field trip to some archaeological sites so I’ll get to see more ancient sites and will finally get to see more of Greece than just Athens.