A cultural glimpse.

Γειά σου| Geiá sou | Hello

A land of crumpling buildings painted in pastel, rich in fruit trees and frequent views of the Mediterranean Sea makes Greece unique in beauty. The tattered condition of structural exteriors and warn faces of the elderly artistically contrast with the natural environment to create beautiful cities. Throughout this country the general lifestyle also differs notably from others I have experienced in various ways.

• The days fully begin late morning around 10 or 11 which is when the store doors open and breakfast is made. Lunch time is around 2 usually followed by a snack at about 5 to hold you over until dinner sometime in-between 8 and 10. Streets are filled late into the evening and even the post office was still open at 8 last night. I will be working as an English teacher for children while here in Patras and my shifts will usually start after 6pm.

• There is an abundance of cats and dogs. Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether or not the animals are strays because they are fairly friendly, especially the dogs. Scattered along the side streets are food dishes, kitty beds, and even old carriers for the animals to sleep in. On more than one occasion I have seen open bags of kitty food tucked behind checkout counters which I believe is for the shop's adopted strays. The dogs here act extremely entitled and walk down the middle of the road in little pooch posses. When I visited Patras University the other day a large and very beautiful German Shepard/sheepdog cross walked up and down the aisles of the packed cafeteria. He happily paraded through the students, stopping here and there for some loves and the occasional "dropped" piece of bread.   

• The amount of people who smoke cigarettes is significantly higher than any other country I’ve visited. Walking down the streets I am constantly shocked at the sight of citizens sitting at their desk in a law firm or on a stool in a produce shop just puffing away. Most cafes and restaurants also provide “outdoor” seating areas which are usually totally enclosed in glass or clear tarp where customers can enjoy their coffee or meal with a smoke.

• The crossing signals mean NOTHING here. Pedestrians and drivers alike pay absolutely no attention to who has the “right of way” and go whenever there is a gap in traffic. I have hardly used my headphones since arriving in Greece in order to hear vehicles racing around the corners. Generally, I feel very safe in Patras; aside from when I am trying to cross the street.

• The public transportation in Patras is crazy confusing. Bus lines aren’t listed in google maps, you need to buy certain tickets depending on the destination and only from specific man-run kiosks, there are usually no time schedules posted at the stops and most stops aren’t even labeled with a sign at all. Thankfully, the weather here is mild and I live within 30 minutes from all the places I need to go so I can generally avoid taking the bus all together.

Over the next 6 weeks I hope to learn as much about this unique country as possible while simultaneously growing as a person. I aim to explore Greece’s nooks and crannies, opening my eyes wider with something new and noteworthy every day. I am downright delighted with my decision to come to Patras for my AIESEC destination and am thankful for the Greek friends already made through the program who graciously show me around their home.

#AIESEC #livetheexperience