Blog: a UConn student’s study abroad trip in Greece

My name is Lauren Samaha. I'm from Prospect, CT and am currently a junior at the University of Connecticut. Right now I'm studying abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece (the second largest city in Greece!). It was the perfect program to help with my major in Communications, as well as a great excuse to travel Europe! My blog is meant to tell everyone about my excursions and adventures in Greece. I hope you all enjoy and look forward to some crazy posts!
Here is what has been going since I arrived on January 30th.

February 1st, 2010

Hey Everyone! So I arrived in Athens, Greece safely, and officially have had my first full day here. We were greeted at the airport by the one and only Ilias (director of the program) and then traveled to the Helinis Hotel. Everyone in the program is amazing and so super nice, so it was a relief that we got along so well so fast and wanted to start doing things immediately. We went to a cafe before dinner where I tried DELICIOUS ice cream. It’s so much richer here, which makes it taste even better. We ate dinner in the hotel, and the Greek salad was the only thing worth mentioning. Such fresh FETA CHEESE and TOMATOES! And of course what better way than to celebrate your first night in Greece than tearing up the town?! After a metro ride, a long walk, and crazy stray dogs following/protecting us while walking, we wound up at a really cozy bar.

Today we started a lengthy but GORGEOUS tour led by none other, Ilias, at 8AM. The tour around Athens included the Parthenon, the Acropolis, 2 ancient theaters, the Parliament, University of Athens, Olympic stadium, the President’s house, the Tomb of Zeus, and so many countless other monuments and ruins. The view from all of these places is tremendous and the amount of detail that goes into each of their pieces of architecture is so meticulous. The Parthenon was definitely my favorite. The view from there looked over the Tomb of Zeus and an array of houses. The Parliament was interesting, because it is a fallen soldier’s tomb still guarded by the military. The men guarding this tomb are dressed in white tights, a skirt, and crazy shoes with a large pompom on them. Ilias said this was a way of showing liberation from the war they fought in the 1800s. We finally got back from the tour around 7:30PM and after walking all day I couldn’t wait to just lie down. Taking a shower was quite a challenge after that though. The shower head has no support so you need to hold it, there isn’t a shower curtain, and it’s the smallest place possible. Oh well. Tomorrow we are going around a little more of Athens and then heading to Sparta! I’ll blog as soon as I can. Welcome to my GREEK life.

February 4th, 2010
Hi! So this week is going by SO FAST! Yesterday we visited a lot of different places including Olympia and Delphi. It was really cool and we actually got to stand in the original Olympia stadium where men use to compete in competitions. We just got to Metorea now and well stay here for the night. Showers are so different in Greece. They only have the shower head and it’s not connected to the actual shower. So when you go to use it water gets everywhere. It’s definitely a real cool experience, just the lack of hair straighteners, cell phones, and internet at all times is definitely roughing it. I’ll be able to blog more when I get to Thessaloniki hopefully. We just get so tired when we get back from the whole day! Talk to you all soon!

February 7th, 2010
So this has been an amazing experience and it’s only been a week. Yesterday we got settled in our apartment in Thessaloniki. There are six of us in our apartment. Nikki and I share a room (LaureNikki room). Georgia and Jeannie are in another room and Amy and a girl we have yet to meet are in the last room. When we first got here we were definitely in culture shock. The apartment that we thought was going to be super furnished consisted of mattresses, gross looking blankets and pillows, a dirty bathroom, and a minimal kitchen. We all complained, moaned, and were in a horrible mood the first half of the day, but once we put all our stuff away and started to make it our own, we got back in high spirits.

Ilias took us to see the two Universities we will be going to. They are Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Macedonia University. Based on the classes I am taking, I’ll only be going to Aristotle, which is nice. The only thing is the cafeteria is located in Macedonia which is another ten minute walk. Their food is very limited in the cafeteria. You have an option of three entrees (chicken, meatballs, or fish) and then they give you potatoes, rice, salad, and a small desert with your meal. Who would have ever thought I’d miss the UCONN dining hall (shout out to Towers and my buddy Tractor Joe). It was torrential rain after we left the dining hall, and we went on an excursion with Ilias to find sheets for some of the girls and toilet paper. Once we got back to the apartment Nikki and I decided we sure as heck weren’t going to take the 15/20 minute walk back to the cafeteria for dinner. So we stopped into the convenience store across the street and met the owner named Leftatees. He’s so nice and started telling us about everything that is around here and offered to show us around if we need help. He also told us about an amazing restaurant only a few blocks away where I had my first Greek lamb gyro. It was DELICIOUS. It was really inexpensive too (4 € for the gyro and a soda). We stopped at the Petit Gateau, a bakery shop a block away from our apartment, on the way home. Of course I picked up a variety of pastries because deserts are my weakness. I tasted tested them all and I can say I will be making many visits there.

It’s still raining today which kind of stinks because no one wants to go out and explore in the rain. Plus all stores besides bakeries, restaurants, and convenience stores are closed on Sundays. The rain also made us lose the internet we were stealing from some neighbor, so hopefully that turns back on soon. We’re meeting Ilias at 4PM for an orientation and then I think we’re planning on finding somewhere to watch the super bowl, although I doubt that will happen. Oh yea, and the Greek people are either extremely nice or extremely rude. There is absolutely no in between. They don’t look where they are walking, and if they bump into you, they think it’s your fault. I definitely am in a culture shock, and not being able to speak or read Greek is kind of taking a toll (thank the lord I have Nikki), but once I start classes and get the hang of things I’ll be fine. I haven’t really been going out much either because I’ve had a cold all week, so hopefully that will change soon because I need to show Thessaloniki a little bit of Storrs, CT. Alright, I miss everyone so much! Yiasas, Lauren

February 8th, 2010
So last night we met a few girls at the University cafeteria, and they were nice enough to show us around the city. We went to a super high roller club (10 euro cover and 11 euro drinks). You have to pay to have certain tables and couches. We seemed to keep getting in trouble for going to certain places because we didn’t know the difference. Eventually this group of guys invited us to their VIP couch area which was pretty cool. It was so nice of those girls to show us around. I’ve noticed that people here either LOVE or ABSOLUTELY DESPISE Americans (most lean towards despise). I think that’s making me a little home sick; only because it’s a completely different culture and attitude than I’m accustomed too.

Today we went to an orientation for Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (aka a 15 minute disorganized meeting). They still aren’t sure our course schedule and our classes start next week. They are pretty laid back about things and everything is usually on “Greek Time” which means a large delay and a lack of answers. But I must say the sales that are going on right now are so legit. I got a heavy dressy coat to wear going out for 15 euro. After the meeting one of my roommates, Amy and I went around the city. We found a bank, super market, zaras, h&m, mac, and a bunch of other stores. It was nice because I think we finally are figuring out our way around (esp. when it comes to finding the delicious bakeries!).

Nikki, Jeannie, and I are at the internet cafe down the street from us now since our internet isn’t working. This seems to be the hang out for a lot of Greek people our age; except for the nerdy guys in the corner playing Pokémon cards. 1. I didn’t know those were still a hot item and 2. I didn’t know it was socially acceptable to play them in public. I should try to sell them my old lot. Alright well I’m going to go.

February 10th, 2010
So yesterday I went to the White Tower, a well-known landmark in Thessaloniki. It looks like a stone cave inside and when you climb it to the top you get a BEAUTIFUL view of the ocean and the city. A bunch of us also went shopping around the city and went to the marketplace, where you can buy fresh olives, feta, pita, etc. I got some grape leaves, olives, and pita and it was delicious! The cafeteria food is disgusting so it was definitely nice to be able to buy some stuff to bring back to the apartment. I bought two really cute pairs of boots. That’s all the Greek girls where here, so I felt like they could spot me a mile away in my UCONN attire: North face and Uggs. They were 20 euro each which was amazing. One is heeled black leather and the other is flat tan suede; definitely a necessary purchase.

Albert, Katie, and I left the bar we were at really early last night because it was starting to rain. When all the rest of my roommates got home, Kara got a phone call that someone had broken into their apartment. I guess Katie was asleep and felt really cold so she looked at the door and the balcony door was open and a guy was standing there staring at her and as soon as he noticed she was awake he ran and jumped onto a different balcony. They said when they called the cops they didn’t really do much. Just looked around and left. It’s definitely an alert for some of the people on my trip. People don’t really get drunk in Greece. I mean since there’s no age limit to buy alcohol; they’ve been there, done that when they were like 14. So getting drunk here definitely makes you noticed by the foreigners. So it was completely scary when we heard that and we’ve all been even more cautious than we have been.

Today I went to my first meeting with our Greek professor. He doesn’t speak English very well (which seems very ironic) and made us buy our textbook and it’s all in Greek. I only know how to say hello so I’m not too sure how that will work out. After the meeting Kara, Katie, and I went to a make your own salad place which was SO SO SO good! Now we’re at an internet cafe across the street and I’m absolutely dreading leaving. Its crazy weather out: my umbrella broke, the rain is so hard, the wind is ruthless, and we STILL have no water in our apartment. I guess it’s just going to take some more getting use to. I really miss home and the technology there. Like the plumbing systems here suck and they don’t have internet everywhere which is kind of lame. But I did just book some of my spring break trips which will be fun. So far I’m going to Rome and Paris! We’re trying to figure out Egypt as well.