WE FOUND OUT TODAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO ISRAEL!!!! WOO HOO! WE ALL YELLED AND SCREAMED AND JUMPED UP AND DOWN! IT IS A GREAT DAY!
Other than that...I AM WELL!! I AM COMPLETELY BACK TO MY NORMAL SELF WITHOUT ALL THE GROSS STUFF! AND THE UNBEARABLE CRAMPS THAT FELT LIKE MY INTESTINES WERE TANGLED INTO A HUGE KNOT. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN SUCH PAIN. I FELT HORRIBLE. THE GREEKS SURE KNOW HOW TO GIVE A KID A TUMMY ACHE. BUT ALAS I AM WELL!
Today Meghan and Blake and I went to Athens. Blake is a very interesting Character. He seems different at first, but he is actually a wonderful funny guy! He was a great person to have with us in Athens today! I bought presents for everyone!!! They are great! and we ate gyros, and the guy that made mine flirted with me for the second time (cause it was the same place we went the first time we got gyros) but they were great. Then we went to buy sandals from the Poet shop. They are all hand made and wonderful! There are like 300 pairs. To say the least we were in there for forever. For one I can hardly make fast decision, for two Meghan is worse at making decisions than me. haha, and after spending like an hour in there she didn't get any. but she is going to sleep on it. I got some fantastic sandals! some for only 10euros. but after that we found this awesome little restaurant! we sat down in the tiny non smoking section. It was the most beautiful and romantic restaurant I have been in. Blake got a waffle with ice cream, and Meghan and I got a chocolate and strawberry crepe that was delicious! Oh it was so good! and ok Corey Mcentyre has this thing where he takes the menus from restaurants, he has hundreds. Some from all over the world. So I thought I had to bring Corey back a present from Greece, so we snuck one in our bag. I know I know mom it was probably not the most right thing to do, but hey you got to live a little! So I have a present for corey! It is a fabulous menu. It is leather. and the pages look really old. There is Greek and English in it, and it is really funny cause when they translated yogurt, they wrote yoghurt! hehe. We took a picture. We are such tourists. Oh well, they can already tell. It is strange somehow everyone knows we are Americans. It is like we have stamp on our foreheads that says AMERICANS! But it is funny because the older greek men are very nice to us. But anyways. I found some great stuff today! and now we are about to have lady tea time.
but first while i was sick, I went on a walk with a different group than I normally hang out with and I had a great time!
OH and Jodi I am reading Twilight! I am at the part where the tracker James has Bella's mom and Bella, Alice, and Jasper are headed to the airport!!! IT is a gripping part! I love it though! It took me a while though to get into it, but I love it now! and MAry beth has the second one here, and Meghan has the fourth one...maybe I can find the third somewhere! I love you! I got you something today...it is cool. I love you!
I love you all! I will write again soon. oh and I am going to a soccer game on sunday! It is the number one team vs. the number 4 team so it is suppose to be great! they are intense too. woo hoo! Today was a great day! I was in Athens all by myself. I felt adventurous!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Mars Hill, and The Parthenon...almost.
The Parthenon!
view from Mars Hill
The Parthenon!
Socrates cell where legend says he was killed by poison
video taping his wife on Mars Hill
On top of Mars Hill
Acropolis from Mars Hill
The gates were closed so we did not get to go up to the Acropolis....sad day.
The Agora..The ancient Marketplace
SANDALS!! Soon Calle will own a pair!
Eating our gyros!
This cute little kid was playing the accordion! He smiled was preciously.
DAD THIS ONE IS FOR YOU! MAKITA is even in GREECE!!
Obama in a far distant land.
The morning of the inauguration Fofie, our cook, walked in with her Greek magazine and there on the front was Michelle Obama. The inauguration was on every channel. Even on the Turkish news channel. Talking to the Greek preacher at our church was in lighting to how the America is viewed. He loves America. And said that we showed the rest of the world what is the purpose of freedom, liberty, and equality. He said America is a statement to the rest of the world that democracy can work. It is very interesting to see how the Greeks persieve us. Overall it is pleasent. One woman told Rebecca (one of the HUG directors) that we are pure and compassionate, and to keep us away from the Greeks cause they will take our pureness away from us. This was while we were on the metro. Other than that, we are loud, and smile alot. Meghan was trying to buy sunglasses at a little kiosk in the street in Athens, and was told to stop smiling. I think he thought she was making fun of him and his store. They do not smile when walking down the street. They are very catious to show their emotions it seems.
But there were only a few of us who watched the inauguration. It sort of made me disappointed in our group. I think there were more Greeks that watched it in Porto Rafti than Americans. Actually I know that to be true. It is hard for me to understand people not able to recongnize the gravity of that day. It almost makes me sad, that so many young people are so far removed from anything but their own life. Me included. but yesterday especially I find it hard to not escape my selfishness of being consumed with me. There were only 6 of us. out of 42. sigh. And just now I asked someone just casually to better understand, "hey why didn't you watch the inauguration?" and this person said "Why would i?" I didn't reply.
Anyway.
The day before we climbed the mountain across from the Artemis. It was ridiculous. There were so so mnay thorns and rocks. but it was awesome!! The view was spectacular. It was a very long hike though directly straight up the whole time. There were great rocks to climb though! Oh and one of the dogs that always follows us, followed us all the way up the mountain. This was not a hike for the light hearted though. It was insane. I have no idea how this dog did it. We couldn't stay at the top for long cause the sun was setting and we did not want to get caught on that mountain in the dark. We thought that was going to happen, but miraculously it didn't. We made it back, and I only had 5 thorns in my hand. and about 30 scrapes on my arms and legs. Well worth it though!
Oh and last night we had Lady Tea Time. it was fun! we prayed, and played I have never ever... It is where everyone holds up ten fingers and when it is your turn you have to say something you have never done and if the other people have done it they have to put a finger down. well the first one was I have never had a speeding ticket, so Calle had to put a finger down. and then the next one was I have never been in a wreck...and Calle had to put another one down. But then Me and Meghan had the great idea to say I have never ever has sex, because Dr. Jewell and Mrs. Rebecca were also playing and they would have to put a finger down! hahaha and so Meghan said it and everyone died laughing! It was so funny! Dr. Jewell was the funniest. I think she is in her 60's or 70's, she looked like she was a teenager again. It was precious. I think we have that once a week. I am looking forward to it.
Mainly because I am finding it hard to get to know people here. I don't know what it is. There are a lot of girls that are really different than me, which is not a bad thing, but hard to know how to start a relationship. Some of the girls are just really shy and a little socially awkard. Also I really want to get to know Dr. Jewell and Mrs. Rebecca, but has just been hard. It seems as though there are only a hand full of people who truly know who I am back home, so it is hard to open yourself up to brand new people so quickly, or even know how to. It seems as though Meghan and I are already branded as the rebels/ the ones who are always the last to arrive!! We do not know how it happens! we are always last. always. we do not mean to at all! oh well.
and it is hard here because you have adults around you all the time. At school I am never around adults. and not only are these just adults, but they are adults that like to take charge and tell us what to do. Like for instance, Dr. Jewell (Fred) told us that we could not drink coffee during chapel. Which is just annoying because chapel is so informal! and we are allowed to have coffee in chapel at Harding. There are some guys that are still bringing it to chapel, but I thought I already have enough stones stacked up to stone me. I really have not done anything though. I am just use to being able to do my own thing. But I am adjusting. I have to go to class now. Yall are all still asleep though.
OH!! and did I mention that I found out the girl that got the RA position over me, has a full ride to HARDING!!! I CRIED! IT UPSET ME SO MUCH! I DONT UNDERSTAND!!!! I AM STILL REALLY UPSET! I think when I get back to HArding I am going to met with Dr. Hopper and say that their needs to be an interview process, and that financial aid should be taked into consideration because that is ridiculous. It is free for her to be here and she gets and extra $1000. I cant talk about it anymore it makes me too upset.
But there were only a few of us who watched the inauguration. It sort of made me disappointed in our group. I think there were more Greeks that watched it in Porto Rafti than Americans. Actually I know that to be true. It is hard for me to understand people not able to recongnize the gravity of that day. It almost makes me sad, that so many young people are so far removed from anything but their own life. Me included. but yesterday especially I find it hard to not escape my selfishness of being consumed with me. There were only 6 of us. out of 42. sigh. And just now I asked someone just casually to better understand, "hey why didn't you watch the inauguration?" and this person said "Why would i?" I didn't reply.
Anyway.
The day before we climbed the mountain across from the Artemis. It was ridiculous. There were so so mnay thorns and rocks. but it was awesome!! The view was spectacular. It was a very long hike though directly straight up the whole time. There were great rocks to climb though! Oh and one of the dogs that always follows us, followed us all the way up the mountain. This was not a hike for the light hearted though. It was insane. I have no idea how this dog did it. We couldn't stay at the top for long cause the sun was setting and we did not want to get caught on that mountain in the dark. We thought that was going to happen, but miraculously it didn't. We made it back, and I only had 5 thorns in my hand. and about 30 scrapes on my arms and legs. Well worth it though!
Oh and last night we had Lady Tea Time. it was fun! we prayed, and played I have never ever... It is where everyone holds up ten fingers and when it is your turn you have to say something you have never done and if the other people have done it they have to put a finger down. well the first one was I have never had a speeding ticket, so Calle had to put a finger down. and then the next one was I have never been in a wreck...and Calle had to put another one down. But then Me and Meghan had the great idea to say I have never ever has sex, because Dr. Jewell and Mrs. Rebecca were also playing and they would have to put a finger down! hahaha and so Meghan said it and everyone died laughing! It was so funny! Dr. Jewell was the funniest. I think she is in her 60's or 70's, she looked like she was a teenager again. It was precious. I think we have that once a week. I am looking forward to it.
Mainly because I am finding it hard to get to know people here. I don't know what it is. There are a lot of girls that are really different than me, which is not a bad thing, but hard to know how to start a relationship. Some of the girls are just really shy and a little socially awkard. Also I really want to get to know Dr. Jewell and Mrs. Rebecca, but has just been hard. It seems as though there are only a hand full of people who truly know who I am back home, so it is hard to open yourself up to brand new people so quickly, or even know how to. It seems as though Meghan and I are already branded as the rebels/ the ones who are always the last to arrive!! We do not know how it happens! we are always last. always. we do not mean to at all! oh well.
and it is hard here because you have adults around you all the time. At school I am never around adults. and not only are these just adults, but they are adults that like to take charge and tell us what to do. Like for instance, Dr. Jewell (Fred) told us that we could not drink coffee during chapel. Which is just annoying because chapel is so informal! and we are allowed to have coffee in chapel at Harding. There are some guys that are still bringing it to chapel, but I thought I already have enough stones stacked up to stone me. I really have not done anything though. I am just use to being able to do my own thing. But I am adjusting. I have to go to class now. Yall are all still asleep though.
OH!! and did I mention that I found out the girl that got the RA position over me, has a full ride to HARDING!!! I CRIED! IT UPSET ME SO MUCH! I DONT UNDERSTAND!!!! I AM STILL REALLY UPSET! I think when I get back to HArding I am going to met with Dr. Hopper and say that their needs to be an interview process, and that financial aid should be taked into consideration because that is ridiculous. It is free for her to be here and she gets and extra $1000. I cant talk about it anymore it makes me too upset.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Greece. Greece. Greece.
Temple of Poseidon
I absolutely love the Greece Flag. It sums up Greece. Blue Seas, and white houses!
The amazing group that made the adventure happen!
This is the picture of our Greek friend when he was a soldier!
AND HERE IS THE FABULOUS GREEK MAN!
THE OCTOPUS HE WAS HITTING!There is a new blog under these pictures!
The weird coincidences of my life!
First off I uploaded pictures on facebook as of right now there are two albums!
ok so first off MOM AND JODI READ THIS!!! THIS IS AMAZING!
GUESS WHO I RAN INTO AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING!!!!!
THE ONLY GREEK PEOPLE WE HAVE EVER KNOWN HAPPEN TO BE AT THE RANDOM CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN ATHENS THAT OUR NEW DIRECTORS FOR HUG GO TOO!!!!
THE GIRL THAT CAME TO LIPSCOMB FOR A YEAR AND WAS FRIENDS WITH YOU JODI!!! AND HER MOM CAME AND VISITED ONCE OR TWICE!!! OH I CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME! BUT ANYWAYS! SO AT THE BEGINNING OF CHURCH I SAW THE MOM AND I THOUGHT THAT SHE LOOKED REALLY FAMILIAR BUT I WAS JUST LIKE THERE IS NO WAY THAT THAT IS HER CAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT PART OF GREECE SHE WAS FROM! AND IT WAS SO LONG AGO. BUT DURING CHURCH HER HUSBAND GOT UP AND TALKED ABOUT HOW THEIR DAUGHTER HAD FOUND A MAN AND HE WAS GREEK AND HIS FATHER WAS THERE AT CHURCH TODAY. SO AFTER CHURCH I WENT UP TO HER AND WAS LIKE HI DO YOU BY CHANCE HAVE A DAUGHTER? AND SHE SAID YES! AND I SAID DID SHE BE CHANCE GO TO LIPSCOMB HIGH SCHOOL FOR YEAR AND SHE SAID YES!!! AND I SAID OH MY GOODNESS MY SISTER WAS REALLY GOOD FRIENDS WITH HER AT LIPSCOMB AND I KNOW HER TOO!! AND I DONT THINK SHE RECOGNIZED THE NAME BUT I KNOW SHE WOULD REMEMBER YOU IF SHE SAW A PICTURE OF YOU JODI AND MOM!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT! AND SHE IS COMING TO THE ARTEMIS TO TEACH US HOW TO COOK THIS WEEK!!! OH MY GOODNESS I STILL CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED!
ok for the next weird coincidence...(this happened on Monday today for me)
there is this guy here named cabot. we have gotten to know each other well and he is just an all around great funny guy. and he has a twin that is going to florence this semester. anyways. so this morning i got dressed and decided to wear the holland shirt you gave me jodi with a sweater over it. and then I walk downstairs for breakfast and chapel, and during chapel I looked a cabot and noticed we had the same color shirt on. But then after chapel Cabot came up to me and was like uh Calle...we have the same shirt on! and Glory be we did! how weird that we 1. Both have this shirt cause it is from urban outfitters which is a store that is not in ethier of our hometowns. 2. that we both brought it to Greece
and 3. that we both wore it this morning!
anways more about yesterday!
church was pretty amazing. We had three languages going on because there were obviously Greeks there, and us Americans. But also there were Russians there too! So we sang in three different languages. There were some songs that we all knew and all sang in a different language. At one point we got to sing some Americans songs. one of the songs we sang was pierce my ear. Which i have never been a fan of because we sang it all the time in chapel at Lipscomb. but for some reason it was absolutely beautiful. And while we were singing the preacher(who spoke english) translated it into greek. Which was beautiful. There is just something moving about hearing the language that the Gospels were written in. I got chills. The church was small, but so close. You could tell they really were a community. It was beautiful.
After church we walked to another part of Athens, and shopped for glasses. and then we went to this little restuarant and I had my first gyros! It was deliciouis!! Then we walked around this part called the placa and shopped. I didn't buy anything though! mom you should be proud! and then we walked to the modern day market place! and saw the Ancient Agora! which is the market place dating back to Paul! It was magnificent. You could still see the walk ways and where the vendors set up their shops! After that we were going to make our way up to the Acropolis! which is the center of Athens and was the Fortress type thing back then. It also is where the Parthenon is! So we hiked up to the top, except when we got there we found out that it was closed. It had closed minutes before. So we walked a little ways back down and climbed to the top of Mars Hill!!! Which is where Paul preached his moving sermon to the city of Athens. and where the Aeropagus met for many years, which is like the modern day court. It was beautiful!! We sat and Tim the director of Harding in Greece (HUG), talked to us about the history of it all and then we read Paul's message that he preached here! AND then we sang. and let me tell you that we were not the only ones up there. There were a ton of Greeks and I even think there were a group from Egypt up there. It was glorious. There was a Greek couple that came and sat next to us and actually video taped us singing. Afterwards me and some people went up and talked to them and found out where they were from. They did speak some english. They thoguht we were all musicians, because they could not believe that we could sing so well and not be musicians. They were both musicians, she played the piano and he played the guitar. Mrs. Rebecca(Tim's wife) invited them to come play on the baby grand that we have here at the Artemis. So I think they are going to come here next sunday. And can I just say that they were both absolutely beautiful!! Man Greeks bread well!! haha! AFter that we walked up this other hill and could see the Parthenon from there. It was breath taking. I still can not believe I am here. I have seen with my own eyes the places that Paul visited, that people worshipped their Greek gods. I have walked where Paul walked. GLORY BE!
AFter that we just went back to the Artemis.
I have heard that the fighting has stopped in Isreal. So I am praying that our Israel trip might be rescheduled. Pray that it is. I know mom you are worried, but I promise we will be ok if we go. The guy that takes us around Israel is amazing, their is rumor that is is part of the Isrealian mofia or something. haha. Please pray that we get to go and that God protects us cause I really want to visit Jerusalem, and swim in the dead sea, and visit the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. I just got butterflies thinking about going there.
That is all! I am going to upload some more pictures! I love you!!!
ok so first off MOM AND JODI READ THIS!!! THIS IS AMAZING!
GUESS WHO I RAN INTO AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING!!!!!
THE ONLY GREEK PEOPLE WE HAVE EVER KNOWN HAPPEN TO BE AT THE RANDOM CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN ATHENS THAT OUR NEW DIRECTORS FOR HUG GO TOO!!!!
THE GIRL THAT CAME TO LIPSCOMB FOR A YEAR AND WAS FRIENDS WITH YOU JODI!!! AND HER MOM CAME AND VISITED ONCE OR TWICE!!! OH I CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME! BUT ANYWAYS! SO AT THE BEGINNING OF CHURCH I SAW THE MOM AND I THOUGHT THAT SHE LOOKED REALLY FAMILIAR BUT I WAS JUST LIKE THERE IS NO WAY THAT THAT IS HER CAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT PART OF GREECE SHE WAS FROM! AND IT WAS SO LONG AGO. BUT DURING CHURCH HER HUSBAND GOT UP AND TALKED ABOUT HOW THEIR DAUGHTER HAD FOUND A MAN AND HE WAS GREEK AND HIS FATHER WAS THERE AT CHURCH TODAY. SO AFTER CHURCH I WENT UP TO HER AND WAS LIKE HI DO YOU BY CHANCE HAVE A DAUGHTER? AND SHE SAID YES! AND I SAID DID SHE BE CHANCE GO TO LIPSCOMB HIGH SCHOOL FOR YEAR AND SHE SAID YES!!! AND I SAID OH MY GOODNESS MY SISTER WAS REALLY GOOD FRIENDS WITH HER AT LIPSCOMB AND I KNOW HER TOO!! AND I DONT THINK SHE RECOGNIZED THE NAME BUT I KNOW SHE WOULD REMEMBER YOU IF SHE SAW A PICTURE OF YOU JODI AND MOM!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT! AND SHE IS COMING TO THE ARTEMIS TO TEACH US HOW TO COOK THIS WEEK!!! OH MY GOODNESS I STILL CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED!
ok for the next weird coincidence...(this happened on Monday today for me)
there is this guy here named cabot. we have gotten to know each other well and he is just an all around great funny guy. and he has a twin that is going to florence this semester. anyways. so this morning i got dressed and decided to wear the holland shirt you gave me jodi with a sweater over it. and then I walk downstairs for breakfast and chapel, and during chapel I looked a cabot and noticed we had the same color shirt on. But then after chapel Cabot came up to me and was like uh Calle...we have the same shirt on! and Glory be we did! how weird that we 1. Both have this shirt cause it is from urban outfitters which is a store that is not in ethier of our hometowns. 2. that we both brought it to Greece
and 3. that we both wore it this morning!
anways more about yesterday!
church was pretty amazing. We had three languages going on because there were obviously Greeks there, and us Americans. But also there were Russians there too! So we sang in three different languages. There were some songs that we all knew and all sang in a different language. At one point we got to sing some Americans songs. one of the songs we sang was pierce my ear. Which i have never been a fan of because we sang it all the time in chapel at Lipscomb. but for some reason it was absolutely beautiful. And while we were singing the preacher(who spoke english) translated it into greek. Which was beautiful. There is just something moving about hearing the language that the Gospels were written in. I got chills. The church was small, but so close. You could tell they really were a community. It was beautiful.
After church we walked to another part of Athens, and shopped for glasses. and then we went to this little restuarant and I had my first gyros! It was deliciouis!! Then we walked around this part called the placa and shopped. I didn't buy anything though! mom you should be proud! and then we walked to the modern day market place! and saw the Ancient Agora! which is the market place dating back to Paul! It was magnificent. You could still see the walk ways and where the vendors set up their shops! After that we were going to make our way up to the Acropolis! which is the center of Athens and was the Fortress type thing back then. It also is where the Parthenon is! So we hiked up to the top, except when we got there we found out that it was closed. It had closed minutes before. So we walked a little ways back down and climbed to the top of Mars Hill!!! Which is where Paul preached his moving sermon to the city of Athens. and where the Aeropagus met for many years, which is like the modern day court. It was beautiful!! We sat and Tim the director of Harding in Greece (HUG), talked to us about the history of it all and then we read Paul's message that he preached here! AND then we sang. and let me tell you that we were not the only ones up there. There were a ton of Greeks and I even think there were a group from Egypt up there. It was glorious. There was a Greek couple that came and sat next to us and actually video taped us singing. Afterwards me and some people went up and talked to them and found out where they were from. They did speak some english. They thoguht we were all musicians, because they could not believe that we could sing so well and not be musicians. They were both musicians, she played the piano and he played the guitar. Mrs. Rebecca(Tim's wife) invited them to come play on the baby grand that we have here at the Artemis. So I think they are going to come here next sunday. And can I just say that they were both absolutely beautiful!! Man Greeks bread well!! haha! AFter that we walked up this other hill and could see the Parthenon from there. It was breath taking. I still can not believe I am here. I have seen with my own eyes the places that Paul visited, that people worshipped their Greek gods. I have walked where Paul walked. GLORY BE!
AFter that we just went back to the Artemis.
I have heard that the fighting has stopped in Isreal. So I am praying that our Israel trip might be rescheduled. Pray that it is. I know mom you are worried, but I promise we will be ok if we go. The guy that takes us around Israel is amazing, their is rumor that is is part of the Isrealian mofia or something. haha. Please pray that we get to go and that God protects us cause I really want to visit Jerusalem, and swim in the dead sea, and visit the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. I just got butterflies thinking about going there.
That is all! I am going to upload some more pictures! I love you!!!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
