Greek Adventure: Part Two

 

Athens. I don’t really know what to think about it anymore… My friends and I laugh when we discuss the total disorganisation with anything that happens in Greece. The fact that barely any shops are open after 2pm and that it’s almost impossible to go to a bank, pharmacy or to get hold of the internet company ever, it’s a crazy place to be right now! 

The craziest experiences I have had, so far, are getting my ‘official’ documents. The IKA office I have now visited three times, and thankfully have finally got the numbers that I need. The third time was indeed the most eventful. It was the same woman as the previous times, the scariest Greek woman that I have encountered to date. She sits behind a glass window, continually eating sweets. When I first met her, I thought she was chewing gum, but no, it’s a pile of sweets either in her hand or next to her keyboard. She shouts Greek words at her desk, I have no idea to whom she is speaking to. But this time, it was the funniest, or craziest, however you want to look at it, experience. At IKA, you have to take a ticket with a number on, kind of like at the deli counters in supermarkets and wait your turn. But guess what, it’s Greece! This means nothing. I have a ticket and a number, but no one takes the slightest bit of notice. 

We waited for about 15 minutes and low and behold we are called to Blondie’s counter - why her again?! But this time, I am glad.

In comes this old Greek woman, who must be at least 70+. She shoves the young girl out of the way who is waiting patiently beside me, and even tries to get around me, even though I am being seen to - Greek women constantly push just about everyone out of the way. Here she stands, impatiently, holding the oldest paper book that I have ever seen. It is completely tattered and is taped together, barely. She’s also holding two pictures of who must be her, but at least 30 years ago. The photographs are in black and white, she has no wrinkles and black hair - it certainly does not resemble the lovely Greek woman standing next to me…

One thing leads to another, and she’s in a full blown argument with Blondie. I would not cross her, she has a look of death on her face as it is, now she is being forced away from her sweets to talk - not a good move granny! 

The crazy old Greek lady refuses to leave, but Blondie tells us, what I assume, is to wait a moment, shuts her blind and sits at the back of the office until crazy old Greek lady is gone. But, that’s not before they are banging the counter at each other and shouting at the tops of their voices. The crazy lady even tries to show me the pictures - please don’t get me involved, Blondie will definitely refuse me my numbers! I am not coming back here a fourth time! 

When she’s finally gone, Blondie gets back to her one finger typing and her constant consuming of sweets. Only, twenty minutes later, to find the crazy lady stood next to me once again. Why won’t she give up?! And please stop standing next to me, Blondie may take it out on me! 

The poor Greek lady, she actually thinks that these pictures look like her, now. I get it, it probably was her, at one point. But it’s like me showing a baby picture of myself and asking for it to be my passport photograph - not going to happen, even in Greece! 

So, I don’t have to go to IKA for at least another 3 months. Oh the joys of having to return to the cooperative office! 

Things have slowed down a bit now that I have all my papers. I’ve settled into work, had shopping sprees, and even made it to a Greek cinema - don’t try it. 

Greek life is pretty good. Until the strikes happen. Rubbish - is all I have to say. It absolutely stinks here. There’s some sort of rubbish collection strike and so the garbage will be on the streets for over 3 weeks - lovely! Why do they have to make life harder for themselves?! And apparently mid-October is thunderstorm season in Greece. Typically, it being Greece, the roads were not made well and when it rains they flood. Main roads are like rivers. So yes, sewage and rubbish floating around and I have to walk in it, just lovely! Sick days anyone?

I’ve settled into my job well and love the textbook that I am working on. But, I was asked one day to help out with Elementary work - why? It is loathsome. The hardest thing I have ever had to write. I was asked to write listening texts with no tenses. How is that even possible?! I was given two verbs, possessive adjectives and ‘can’ - generous, I know. The examples I was given used all tenses - how is that fair?! So yes, I think my work went straight in the bin. Maybe they’ll get the message and leave me on intermediate levels+ from now on…it’s for the best! Finally, I was able to carry on with the work that I was previously doing - hello historical background information - Oscar Wilde, American cities, The Victorian & Tudor periods - life could seriously not be better!

I have been to church, finally! I’ve been saying for a month that I was going to go to church. Now that I have been I feel so much more happy and relaxed. Although next week will be the Latin mass, not Greek! At least I can follow what’s going on better…

I have been eased into Greek life by my colleagues and employer well. Although nothing prepared me for the horrifying experience of getting my community card. I was told when I arrived that I needed one, not really understanding what it was - I am under the impression that it’s a residency permit, but still am none the wiser. So, four of us plus George (scooter man) meet at 6am and are at the police station 15 minutes later to obtain this card thing. 

It was still dark, the sun not having yet risen. Outside were 50+ immigrants, clinging to the bars of the station and generally scattered along the road. They all turned to watch us get out of the van. I’ve never been so scared in all my life. They probably would never harm anyone and it’s unfair to to say that I felt threatened, but I can’t help how I felt. 

I soon felt sorry for them when we were ushered forward by a police man on the gate checking passports. The white Europeans were to go in first, the others were to wait. No wonder they were staring hatefully at us, we’d go in whilst they queued outside. 

The day got worse as we waited 6 hours to get our cards, only for one of the girl’s to be screamed at by the most awful and incompetent man I have ever met. Her residency permit is not due up for another month, she has to go back and go through the whole process all over again. I know what I would say.

 I only half know what it feels like to be an immigrant in a foreign country. The way that I felt that morning, the way that the four of us felt, I’m glad we had each other to laugh it off with. But those poor people outside, who were still there when we left, they were being racially abused by officers, or what looked like they were. Greeks manage to speak a little English in some cases, but these people, they’d have no way of communicating if they didn’t have basic English. They must be more so much more terrified than I felt that day. I hope these things are different at home. 

But it has definitely opened up my eyes and given me a life learning experience, as my dad told me when I recalled the tale to him - no sympathy what so ever! I think it’s an even bigger shock for people, like me, who have never really had any difficulties in life. I come from a nice family, have everything I need, never thought about leaving school after getting my GCSE’s, and the plan for university was always there. There was never a time where I thought I wouldn’t go to university. I didn’t appreciate how lucky I was. I lived away from home for three years and went straight on to do my MA and then a TEFL course. Not many people can expect to do all that before they reach 23. I am one of the lucky few and am certainly feeling it now that I am living in Greece. Truthfully, the country is in a terrible way. You see the way that some people live, and although there’s a lot of places like it, and certainly worse places, for me, it being the first time I am really seeing these things close up, it’s a shock. 

I can’t wait to get home for the weekend at the end of October. I’m literally counting down the days. I’ve come to understand why my Granny always says to me that although I have dreams to live abroad, I have the only passport that I need. Being a British Citizen, I am extremely lucky and I am certainly cherishing the UK a whole lot more now that I am away from it. 

I guess it’s the same whatever you do. When I left for university, even though I’d been a home bird my entire life, I couldn’t wait to get away. I wanted to start a new life and meet new people. I loved it. Reading is a second home and it always will be. But, it made me appreciate home so much more. When I could travel home for holidays on the train and see ‘Casnewydd’ (Newport) the first Welsh sign, or be driving over the Seven Bridge and see the ‘Croseo I Cymru’ sign - there’s nothing like it! I’d know that I was home, finally. I’ll never take it for granted again. uUntil I’m there for a lengthy period and want to leave again… 

Travelling certainly teaches you life lessons and makes you appreciate where you come from. Britain, although it isn’t in the best state either at the moment, I’ve never felt so glad to be British in all my life. 

But, I’m sure I’d feel the same way if I was American too…I will end up there someday, it has to happen! 

Although I am devastated by the rugby result, I am still going home and am going to support New Zealand completely! Never mind, we’ll win the 2012 Grand Slam to make ourselves feel better! 

Chow for now ( my Greek is up to two words and I don’t know goodbye, although a lot of Greeks say this!).

 

• Greece
• athens
• travelling
• working