Archive for month: December, 2024

Choosing what to write about this week was very exciting. And it just so happened that the day before this, some of my roommates and I were having fun chatting and making a list of some of the things we missed about life in the U.S and some of the other goofy or serious differences we have noticed throughout the semester. I have decided to share some of these differences with you guys!

I’ll start with some of the silly things.

• One of the first things we all noticed when we arrived and were attempting to move in while being seriously jet-lagged was that there is no such thing as fitted sheets here. You know the ones with the cinched corners that always make you feel like you’re trying to put a shower cap on a refrigerator when trying to make your bed? Yeah, they don’t have those here! A blessing you would think, but no! What we wouldn’t give for a fitted sheet. You have to tuck a regular sheet on the mattress and let me tell you, it comes untucked almost every night.
• Another silly difference is the use of sidewalks. And roads for that matter. We were informed when we got here that pedestrians have no rights. And it’s true! Walking outside is sometimes a war-zone. You have to act confident and just move and hope that cars don’t hit you because they will not slow down or stop even if you’re there first. Also, people park wherever they want to. On the sidewalk? Yep. In the middle of an intersection? Believe it or not, yes. In front of you while you’re walking….yes that too. You get used to it. It’s a little comical. Another thing to look out for while walking on the sidewalk is other foot traffic. Greeks don’t move over for you. If you are on the sidewalk and they are on the sidewalk, they will run you over if you do not move. The same goes for the Greek pigeons. These pigeons have Greek attitudes and they also will not move for you. The trickiest is when you are trapped by a Greek pedestrian on one side, and a Greek pigeon on the other…then you have to choose between getting mowed down by a person or stepping on a pigeon. Choose wisely. (it’s a harder decision than you would think!)
• Ah! This is a big one. You cannot flush toilet paper here. Ancient pipes? I’m not really sure. But in the dorms, in public, at school, anywhere…no flushing allowed. It’s a little gross. One of my favorite Christmas presents will be American toilets. No joke!
• Next is a theory that my roommates and I came up with early in our time here. It was stifling hot when we arrived and all throughout September, October, and most of November, you would be drenched in sweat immediately after you stepped outside. But not the Greeks! I do not remember seeing any sweaty Greeks. It was very confusing. Especially since we all looked like we hopped in a lake. So the theory we came up with, tied to another observation, was this: Greeks exclusively drink only coffee (this was an observation. Exaggerated a bit.) No water whatsoever. So they are in a state of perpetual dehydration which is why they don’t sweat. They have nothing to sweat! We figured this is also why there are no public drinking fountains and approximately 2 total public restrooms. (All an exaggeration of course hehe:) But it seemed accurate.
• Next up. The accordion child. Yes, the instrument. There is ALWAYS a child with an accordion on the metro. With a little cup for coins. It’s very impressive in all honesty. I can barely play the piano.

 

Moving on to some differences concerning college age Greeks to American college age kids!

• Restrooms on campus are seemingly just for chatting, and doing makeup.
• Everyone is always talking on the phone. In between classes, waiting in Iine for lunch, eating lunch…it always seems very important too. Hmmm.
• There’s more PDA here…they really don’t care haha! Very awkward.
• They dress WELL. No backpacks…Prada purses, designer sunglasses, slacks…all name brand things. I wear jeans a lot and feel like I’m from a farm.
• They come to class and leave class whenever they so please with just their phone, a coffee, and a pack of cigarettes!

And lastly just some other differences!

• Daylight savings time ends a week earlier and the clocks move back at 4am instead of 2am. (Also no one told us when this happened so that was a confusing day hah!)
• All businesses except for a few restaurant are closed on Sundays.
• Lots of power outages.
• Sometimes the Metro just stops and the lights turn off for a few terrifying minutes. But then everything is fine again.
• Random American businesses: TGI Fridays, KFC, Cinnabon…it’s a little bit weird not knowing any of the names of restaurants and stores and then a random TGI Fridays pops up.

 

Our list is much longer, but those are few of the bigger differences that I have gathered with my roommates while on this adventure! Some things I miss about home, and some things I’ll definitely miss about being here as the end of my trip gets closer and closer:) I’m very thankful for every second of it so far.

Here are some pictures from my latest adventures! Including a Friendsgiving that my apartment put together:)