Visitors

I had the pleasure this past week of having my best friend from home Amanda come visit me. The week flew by, I didn't even have time to post any pictures or write for the past week.  We rented a car and toured the island one day and we went for a long hike with my program saturday as well.   It was so good o have her here and have a taste of home.  Iwas sad to see the week fly by so quickly.

Reverence

For one of my classes I was assigned to visit the Church of 100 doors and reflect on my experience there.  Bellow are my initial reactions taken while at the church that better explains this magnificent space than I could retell.  The Church of 100 Doors is the oldest on Paros and has a lot of myths that accompany its creation.

" Walking into the courtyard, before even entering the church is awe-inspiring.  The beautiful garden envelopes my senses with brilliants colors and foliage.  It gives me a sense of the churches hospitality and open mindedness.  It is like even though I am not Greek Orthodox, the space here is open for all types of believers.  It is Sunday and once inside, the church is a party (even though there is a service going on).   Children scampering in and out of the exit are filled with impatience while blind to the disapproving looks of their parents.  My ears are then greeted with the sounds of prayer bellowing down the aisle and through the apse and nave.  Everyone around me is dressed in their Sunday best, a symbol I take to mark their reverence for both God and their neighbor.  Although I can’t understand the service, I can feel it.  There is both worship and enjoyment in the faces of those around me.  After the last versus are sung the service lets out and I am surrounded by Greek words of greeting and kisses because everyone seems to know one another.  The demure demeanor some kids managed to hold through the mass begins to slip away, and I can see their eyes plead with their mothers to let them run around again.  I sit removed from the bustling crowd exiting and I start to feel as if I am interrupting something.  I’m sure some of them are wondering what two American girls watching and writing are doing.  If I ever wondered where the Greeks are on Sunday’s, my answer is clear.  Here at the church of 100 doors the old and young converge, a community united for the purpose of prayer."

Exhilaration

Today my historical sites class went on the most amazing hike on Paros.  We climbed up the mountain to the site of the Paroikian  Acropolis.  After we followed the coast on the Western tip of the island up to a meadow were we munched on our sack lunches.  We then continued along the coast to an old lighthouse on the point and then finally back to an old monastery were we climbed on the roof for another wonderful site.  I honestly cannot express how beautiful this all was, and the pictures wont do it justice.  This all took about 5 hours and I am now energized and exhilarated despite being tired from the workout.

Exposure

For my photography class we had to do a triptych exploring exposure, shooting images that are under exposed, over exposed, and are balanced.  Here is a little sample of what I turned in (by popular demand).  I also had to explore depth of field (as evidenced by the first triptych).  Clearly I'm at the beginning of my digital photo education, and I hope my work gets better as I learn here.

Indescribable

I just had to post this picture of the best sunset i have seen since I arrived on Paros.  This was taken from the Barry's (the director of my program) house in the mountains where we had a group BBQ Saturday.  I hear the sunsets only get better and better, I can't imagine anything more beautiful than this.  My camera struggled to capture all the marvelous colors, and  still it failed to capture the brilliance of the reds, oranges, and yellows.  

Picking up speed

Time here is really flying by.  I am finally into all of my classes and I am starting to see that art school is a lot of work.  I have already finished one book and I have many readings and responses ahead of me.  My professors have begun to share some of their art with me and I am so impressed by how talented they all are.  I am getting used to the gorgeous sunsets every night.  I also am finding out that I am a cook.  I have been experimenting for the first time with providing for myself.  There is no chef like at the sorority house or my mom to make me dinners.  It's funny how you learn the things you can't live without.  I have walked 45 minutes to the international store for salsa and black beans (which come dry).  They will be put to good use because tonight we are making mexican food and crystal lite margaritas. Tomorrow we are taking out first hike up to my program directors house where we will be having a family barbecue.  As strange as such a small program is after CU, it really is like a family.  There are many opportunities to do things together and I am enjoying that while I am so far from home.  

Rainy days...

It's rainy and cold today on Paros.  Rain is something I've grown quite accustomed to in Europe and had hoped I would be leaving behind on the mainland.  However, it makes today wonderfully lazy.  I get to catch up on some reading (my literature class is asking I finish our first book by Friday) and blogging.  I even just got to try out the drink vending machine in the lobby (complete with cappuccinos, hot chocolate, beer, and snickers among other things).  If the weather holds up a few of us girls may try to catch a soccer game between some of the island teams.  I can't believe my first week in Greece has come and gone in the blink of an eye.  Things are starting to fall into place, and my days now have some semblance of order to them.  I don't seem to be busy but it seems that the only a few moments are I finish breakfast its already time for dinner.  Time here is a funny thing.   I'm sure it will be June before I know it and it pains me to know that my time here is going to pass by far too quickly.  

Yesterday half my school went on an island tour.  We got to see some of the other small towns and a bit of the country side.  This is a beautiful time in Paros.  The hills are green and the flowers are a to bloom.  I am told that in the summer everything is just dusty and the island is covered with marble dust.  It makes me appreciate the beauty of my surroundings even more.  We stopped by a small monastery outside of Lefkeys where they were celebrating their name day.  In Greece they don't really celebrate Birthdays, but rather name days as a tribute to their patron Saint.  This monastery invited us inside for a drink of Uzzo (Greek wine that tastes like black licorice) and some candied fruits.  It as interesting to see nuns in their traditional black garb.  They were so kind and welcoming as I have found everyone on the island.  It is the lowest time of the season on Paros and its almost lonely here.  The presence of our school gives the bars and cafes new and excited customers.  Everyone is thrilled we have arrived.  Danielle and I are going to later head back to Mojo, a cafe by the school.   The   owner promised us yesterday she would be making some of her famous chocolate cake for us to try.  That is tempting enough to brave the weather outside.  I a excited for the remaining 2 classes this week that I have not had yet.  Each day is continues to bring something new.

Paros

"Where you have more time to do more, or more time to do less"- Victoria, my Greek professor.  This quote pretty much sums up life in Paros.  I have only been able to but watch in awe these past few days and marvel at the life here.  Greek life here is so authentic and pure and genuine.  It is the end of my second day and I can only say I am blessed, privileged, and deliriously happy.  I just finished another long dinner with five other girls from my program where we nearly finished 3 bottles of wine.  I am finally settled in my beautiful studio apartment complete with 2 twin beds, a kitchenette, bathroom, desk, and balcony.  It is spacious and beautiful (bigger than my room in the sorority but it's a single!).  I signed up for my classes today.  I added classes that I wasn't planning on taking because they sounded so fantastic.  The teachers are passionate about their subjects and all of the students seem eager to learn.  I honestly can't wait to start classes tomorrow.   Last night there was a big welcome dinner with more amazing food.  I'm proud of myself already for branching out and trying new things (like chick peas) already.  From the rooftop cafe of our building you can see the water (we are only about a block away).  I just keep pinching myself because I can;t believe this is real.  Both days have been sunny and warm... it's picturesque.  I cannot wait for Amanda (my best friend) to arrive and eventually my parents because I want to share my good fortune with everyone.

From hotel dioskorous...

Hello from Athens!  So I am finally here in Greece and I am so excited I can hardly wait to make it to Paros.  First, a little recap of Amsterdam.  Amsterdam was a whirlwind of excitement and adventures with 6 others girls form Boulder.  We enjoyed exploring the beautiful city and all of its eccentricities.  I enjoyed the Heineken Brewing Factory and had an eye opening experience walking the red light district.  The final day we were there we went to the Anne Frank House and it was one of the most humbling and daunting experiences I have ever had.  Due to the serious and somber nature of the museum not pictures were allowed, but it was so incredible.  We also enjoyed lots of ethnic food from that international city.  It was probably some of the best Thai and Indian food I have ever had.  The entire town was so cute and everyone seemed to laid back and happy.  As an American I finally felt welcome (especially after Paris).  It was so good to see my friends from school, it was definitely a little taste of home being with them there.

So after a long day of travel I am finally in Greece.  I have started meeting some of the other students in my program.  I found out my program has 30 students (28 girls and 2 boys).  Everyone seems super nice.  They are from all over the US and are mostly art students this far which should be really fun.  We went out to dinner tonight and I got a first little taste of Greek food. We are all anxious and excited to get to our island though.  We will explore Athens a bit tomorrow and then Tuesday morning (early!) we take the boat to Paros.  My next update will finally be form my island.  I can't wait!