Gobble Gobble!

 Amsterdam = euphoria. End of story.

Now, for the important stuff…

It’s that time of year again folks and it is quickly approaching. For those who don’t know – specifically, all of Greece since you don’t celebrate it – Thursday is Thanksgiving! Personally my favorite holiday, this is the one day a year where we are allowed to ignore our annoying diets, the only thing acceptable to watch on T.V is football and John gets sent home with enough leftovers to feed himself along with another family for the next two weeks (exception, this year that will not be happening, sorry appetite). Sounds like a great holiday in my book but it seems I’m missing something from my list. Something that seems to be missing from everyone else’s list as well. Can you guess it? No, it’s not the sweet potatoes with marshmallows or pot full of greens, nor is it the breaking of the wishbone (something I look forward to every year). Okay if you haven’t guessed it, I was aiming at family! It seems to me – and maybe this Thanksgiving post just favors my personal experiences but I can imagine there are some people who share the same attitude – every year our families dispute on a variety of issues pertaining to the planning and build up to Thanksgiving Day. These complications include and are not limited to the following: Who’s cooking what? Who’s bringing the board/card games? Is your T.V big enough for the game? Whose house gets to play host? Who gets to clean up after all the hoodlums? Who’s coming? Oh, those people will be there? And as a result, the scrambling outcome typically one night before the big day is… Well I think our ‘family’ will just share our own Thanksgiving dinner at home because everyone isn’t happy on the final decision. While dissecting the preparation for Thanksgiving like it’s the Last Supper, our intentions and motivations get lost amid the unnecessary chaos. Instead of planning far ahead of time, we wait until the last moment in order to avoid the awkwardness associated with making decisions and sitting on them for a considerable amount of time, scared our final say might be challenged or altered by another’s interests. Rather than softening our hearts during a time of year that calls for us to give thanks – ‘hints the name’ – to everyone and everything who has ever meant anything to us, we decide to hold petty grudges and isolate our immediate family from the rest of the ‘family’. Whether that family is an in-law, distant cousin, great uncle or your own brother and sister no bitterness should replace the warmth and love that’s to be shared on Thanksgiving Day. This year change the way things operate. Start a new or add to an existing tradition. Open your hearts, smash the beef, kick the pride and invite those family members (or a complete stranger because this is about community more than anything else) who have been out of the picture for far too long. Damn, at the very least do it for the kids! I bet you’d rather share a meal on Thanksgiving than add to your already overpopulated Christmas list. No one really cares about whose bringing what or whose house gets to play host. If there’s a bird in the oven and football on T.V, I don’t care if you bring cereal (frosted flakes and cinnamon toast crunch please). As long as ‘family’ can come together in one place for one meal, I’d be a happy camper along with everyone else. So, until someone becomes the bigger man who wouldn’t mind taking the initiative as well as some humility along the way, continue to wrap everything your thankful for into that one big THANKS during the prayer prior to the dinner that isn’t being shared with the right people. In the meantime, you can always wait until John Sharp has his own place because you’re all invited! God Bless and HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of my friends and family! And enjoy this video for a Thanksgiving shout out from yours truly...

ps: go donate a coat or that t-shirt you got to wear only once because it shrunk after the first wash






If anyone would like to send me mail, the address is...

John Sharp
City University, Syntagma
Athens, 10561, Greece

and if you do decide to send anything make sure to only do it how Stevie would...

                                               Signed, Sealed and Delivered


All other pictures are posted on my Facebook profile.


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Yay for 1973!


Ya sas world! My dearest apologies for not updating this “stalk the life of John Sharp” blog recently.  Have some pity for me though because I’ve been busy knocking out research papers and earning my respect in the world of Greek language, with an A on my first Greek quiz. My next quiz is tomorrow. You can wish me luck but I’m not going to need it. Other than keeping myself busy with schoolwork, I had the chance to do some traveling since the last post. The weekend of November 4th all the roommates and I indulged ourselves in the Barcelona experience. My 4 favorite aspects about Barcelona, Spain: beaches, Olympic Par, Guadi architecture, and the Dow Jones Bar. Of course there are plenty of more favorites I discovered in the city I’ll call home in the future and you should just ask if you’d like to know!


Dow Jones bar works like this - live Beer prices according to supply & demand = BRILLIANT!

4 dislikes about Barcelona: metro prices, club bouncers, illegal immigrants on the beach at night and sharing a shower with 8 other people. I enjoyed my first “true” hostel experience in Barcelona. I’m talking about dormitory style rooms with 9 beds, one bathroom and shower, no towels, sandy floors and quiet hours. However, don’t think I’m complaining! The hostel was on the beach and offered a complimentary breakfast as well as Wi-Fi! In my book a hostel is a safe place for me to keep my things. Sleep isn’t necessary nor is it recommended on trips like these! The pope made an appearance during our stay in Barcelona to lead the very first mass at the cathedral. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to see him on Sunday because our flight left too early. All in all, the Barcelona experience treated me very good!

La Sagrada Cathedral by Gaudi...still not finished!

I told you so!...Pope

and the award for best sand sculpture goes to...


spare some change?

Yea, Dumbo could fly but can he do a trunk stand?!

Classes for today got canceled! Currently, I’m in Starbucks (dislike) working on a paper because today is basically a national holiday for Greece. November 17 is the anniversary date of the1973 protests against the then-ruling junta aka group of military officers. In the past, some demonstrations were violent and included the destruction of property. So I guess we are advised to stay away from these demonstrations and seek shelter. HAHA! Okay, in all seriousness a girl from our group just walked into Starbucks saying that the police will not allow her to go home because they just dropped tear gas on the street in front of her apartment. Another friend experienced the tear gas first-hand a few moments ago and supposedly it hurts. I should probably head home or go walk the streets; hmmm I like the later of the two.



I’m leaving for Amsterdam on Friday! Wish me luck I’m going to need it. HA!
Alright, a herd of police motorcycles just passed, I have to get out of this Starbucks and go play Curious George!

ps: Thanksgiving is next week!

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I LOVE MY LIFE!



Kalimera! Ti Kaneis? Hopefully everyone back home enjoyed their 2010 Halloween. If I run across one more Jersey Shore costume in a Facebook album, I’m calling it quits on my career pursuit! I think I’d rather workout 7 days a week, feel better about myself after I get 40 spray tans and fist pump all night with DJ Pauly D on the 1’s and 2’s. Yeahhh, sounds much easier and more fun than getting an education! MTV has really let me down on this one. But of course it’s not their fault because the more viewers who consistently return every week determine a show’s lifespan and in that case, thank you America for proving how easily we are entertained. Most importantly, thank you MTV for bringing us “Snooki”, the greatest thing to laugh at since the downfall of Britney Spears.

This past week consisted of making the most from my shambles of last minute planning that fell a few fries short of a Happy Meal (see previous blog post). After accepting the bright side of this disaster – 1. saved lots of money 2. got a head start on two papers and 3. continue reading – a few other members from la familia and I began trying to figure out what the heck we do with all this free time on our hands. Our solution? Watch too many movies (Wall-E, We Were Soldiers, At Enemy Gates, Remember the Titans and Armageddon), prepare a feast AKA a 10 year old kid’s dream meal that comprised of multiple pizzas, spaghetti, chicken nuggets, apple slices with Nutella and ice cream, then complete our free time with the main event, bright side #3.

As I emphasized in my previous post, extra cash in my pockets as a result of not traveling during our extended weekend means that the possibility of bungee jumping into the Corinth Canal had made a quick comeback onto the forecast of my agenda. This time around the weather man’s forecast was dead on. On Saturday, Larrisa, Amy and me made the best decision or dumbest in some opinions, of our young lives. Bungee jumping is one of those ventures you see on most bucket lists. Why hesitate crossing it from the list when the stunt at hand means plunging head first into the famous Corinth Canal, the 3rd highest bungee jump in the world? Zulu Bungy


After having a group of Greeks and Americans tease myself and scare the girls into almost backing out by watching their jumps ahead of ours, it was finally our turn. We signed our lives away, Larissa and I gave Amy a last minute pep-talk and the three of us ready or not, made our walk directly below the bridge to the launching pad.


I chose to go first in attempt to do one of two things. One, set an example for these young ladies and keep up my “act” of being as calm as possible so that they would have the courage to follow with a bungee of their own. Or two, be an example on how to fail at bungee jumping. Luckily for me the millions of rubber bands dangling from my feet decided on the former of the two. Everyone insisted on saying “make sure you don’t look down prior to jumping”, I looked down. Leaping from the edge of that platform was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The moment my body went into full swan dive mode and I realized it was me one on one with the Corinth Canal, every bit of fear or worry released from my body, my mind went blank and for that instant nothing else in the world mattered. HOLD ON! Why am I trying to put this experience into words? For the sake of me not getting carpal tunnel, help yourself to this short promo video and be sure to listen closely. (I LOVE MY LIFEEEEE!)

(you can thank my camerawoman for the sideways view)

To Larissa here is your SHOUT OUT! About 2 weeks ago you asked for one, so there it is, better late than never. While I’m at it, I’ll answer the question you asked me on our unsuccessful search for a taxi following the best decision of our immature lives since I never truly gave you a serious answer to your thought provoking question that seemed to be asked in a serious-minded tone. "What is nervous to you?"

Nervous to me – besides people talking about my momma and walking to Armuni by myself, a place you won’t find on any “Top Places to Visit in Greece” list – is the uneasy feeling I get when close friends go away to fight in a war that I don’t exactly believe in. Largely in part because the very government who request the services of these men, lie about their motives behind these wars. War should never be an option, never fight fire with fire. Nervous to me is living under that same government who decides to cut funds for education and healthcare. Nervous to me is a world that assumes natural resources continue indefinitely. We are currently consuming in one year what the planet produces in one year and three months. Scary thing is, transnational interests propose we continue as before but paint the machine green: “continue with growth, irrational consumerism and inequality in order to generate more and more profits.” Hopefully my peers from Gen Y and other members from this global household can join me in thinking outside the box and beyond the “there is no alternative” they call capitalism. Yeah I guess I get nervous and you should too when I begin agreeing with statements made by both Fredric Jameson and Slavoj Zizek that “it is easier to imagine the end of the world than to imagine the end of capitalism”. Forming the above anxieties into two broad but not so broad categories –our governing class and our narrow minds – the only other thing that defines nervous for me is trying to love like the God I love. Then again, I pray and continue to live the life I live.

Larissa, I hope my reply satisfies you. To everyone else I hope you enjoyed the video and I encourage you to return next week for my blog following a visit to Barcelona, Spain! Kalineekta!







If anyone would like to send me mail, the address is...

John Sharp
City University, Syntagma
Athens, 10561, Greece

and if you do decide to send anything make sure to only do it how Stevie would...

                                               Signed, Sealed and Delivered


All other pictures are posted on my Facebook profile.




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Boxer Brief

Starting where I ended with last week’s post, I have a confession and apology to make. I stated the travel agenda for my remaining time while studying abroad and it isn’t exactly going to happen according to plan. On the other hand, life doesn’t happen according to plan. If it did, Greg Oden wouldn’t be the biggest waste of a #1 pick in the NBA and LeBron James would still be wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey. This past weekend (Oct. 21st-24th) should have consisted of me chillaxing on the island of Zakynthos swimming through ship wreck bay. For now, we’ll just say that plans fell through due to weather, period. Thus, some scrilla was saved as a result of “Zakynthos weekend” turning into the Homerun Derby failing to live up to its hype (steroids). I apologize for not supplying my newest post with some fresh photos, denying you the opportunity to continue vicariously experiencing Greece. However, I’m not the U.S. economy so don’t lose faith in me.

Since the failure of travel plans seems to be the theme of this post, shall we continue? On short notice, I was informed that my upcoming Thursday class would be canceled. This sparked the impulses. My weekend had suddenly become a 5-day weekend and a trip to Germany shot into its planning stages. Only one thing could keep me from uniting with the 3rd place finishers of this year’s World Cup, miraculously finding a plane ticket. After two days of absolute failure, I finally found one at a decent price (as you may be aware of, trying to book a last minute plane ticket means paying double or triple the normal price you’d pay months in advance). Nonetheless, I attempted to purchase the ticket and to no surprise it didn't work because European airlines are a bunch of bologna – not even fried bologna, just plain raw rubbery bologna, no cheese.

While my roommate enjoys an extended weekend getaway to Rome and Switzerland, I find myself writing a new blog post, discussing what could of, should have been but wasn't. On the bright side, I saved some dough and got a head start on two papers, a 4-5 pg. paper for Global Marketing, the other an 8 pg. paper for International Relations. Bungee jumping into the famous Corinth Canal was out of the question as a way to budget for other trips but has now re-entered the weekend forecast for Saturday. As you all may know, Sunday is Halloween. As you all may not know, Greece does not celebrate Halloween – can’t believe I’m missing out on Trick – or – Treating. However, the housemates (who aren’t in Rome currently!) have something up our sleeves to bring a taste of Halloween to Greece. Until that next post that so many of you look forward to every week…adio sas!

PS: you can thank the weather and European airlines for a "Boxer Brief" post.


If anyone would like to send me mail, the address is...

John Sharp
City University, Syntagma
Athens, 10561, Greece

and if you do decide to send anything make sure to only do it how Stevie would...

                                               Signed, Sealed and Delivered


All other pictures are posted on my Facebook profile.

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Don't Read This! I Repeat, Do Not Read!


Kalimera! Ti Kaneis? Me Kalo. You’re impressed I know. After the first week of class (Greek Language on Monday & Thursday) I can not only say hi, ask how you are and tell you how I am doing in Greek but I can also speak about a paragraph worth of introduction. For example,my name is, where I’m from, where I live, what I do and what I want, etc. Do I want a cookie? Not now because I’m in Greece and the cookie would obviously be stale by the time it arrived here in the mail. However, when I land on U.S. soil December 18th I expect that cookie to be fresh from the oven with the chocolate chips melting and keep the milk cold, efharisto!

With regard to everyone who loves worrying about my coursework, let’s get the boring yet most important out of our way first. My first week sampling a taste of European education went something like this. Greek Language at 4:15 pm on Monday – a college student could never ask for a better start time – was a whirlwind to say the least. For starters, bless the professor’s heart for attempting to teach Americans such as me who carry a twain accent and can’t roll their tongue (for r’s, like Spanish). Clearly, that’s a genetic trait – thanks Mom and Dad – because it can’t be learned overnight, trust me I've tried. Besides the disaster of pronunciation, I’m picking up on this whole speak Greek thing rather quickly. Not too much longer and I’ll know how to propose to my Greek Goddess. Tuesday start time? 6:00 pm (quit shaking your head and pick your jaw up from the floor). Global Marketing is by far my favorite class. There are only four students in the class which means more one on one time and open discussion lecture, the book was an expensive $0 (checked it out in the library), the professor is down to earth and did I mention that the course starts at 6:00 pm? Only one Wednesday through ten weeks of International Relations (start time? 2:00 pm haha) and I’m predicting an interesting semester full of POW WOWs with an array of diverse voices in the mix. Greek students most of whom are in the workforce already with established views schooling my inexperienced, narrow perspectives. Personally, I believe my opinions and views will influence their perspectives just as much, if not more because the majority of them have never visited the states. Nonetheless, both of us bring our own unique and wise intellect to the table. Thursday is labeled Fly Day and that is just what la familia did. Correction, it was Ferry Day this past weekend because we visited the island of Santorini. Blue Star Ferry is the birthplace of my newest blog post, where pen meets paper prior to fingers meeting keyboard. Before I tease you with Santorini euphoria, we must go on a tangent.

I met a new friend. We will call him Bob. Bob graduated from the University of California Berkeley in 2004 with a degree in computer science. Following graduation Bob landed the fantasy job for all nerds working for Google. Seven hours on a ferry not only means feeling sea sick for seven straight hours but it also means plenty of time for Bob to share a few stories about Google and the secrets to Joe Paterno’s longevity. Okay maybe he didn’t reveal the secrets to coaching longer than the Great Flood (you know, some guy named Noah) but he did say that working at the Googleplex in San Francisco’s bay area is like getting paid to attend the most fun school imaginable. Let me explain since I just folded in this poker game that I’m currently chip leader in (coins and sea glass) against Bob and two others. Employees at Google cruise throughout each building driving Segways to their next destination or meeting. Why worry about driving to work? Google does it for their employees by offering them the chance to be picked up by a black limo party bus which serves orange juice and donuts. Eating at Google is way better than having Mom pack your lunch every day, sealed with a heartfelt sticky note from her covered in x’s and o’s (NO, my Mom never did this). If an entrepreneur wishes to start their own restaurant, Google will hire them to cook inside of Googleplex. The menus never stop changing, Friday is seafood night and by the way, all their employees eat as much as they’d like for free. Instead of gliding on the Segway why not just soar down the zip line to lunch? A necessary purchase made by one of the many departments who are each allocated a certain amount of money for such perks and equally incredible privileges like the Nap Pod. Google designed the Nap Pod because they’d rather employees take a power nap to stay efficient throughout the day. Placed in different offices throughout the Googleplex, it is completely enclosed shutting out all light and sound, plays music and best of all functions to wake you up however you’d like to be woken from your glorious power nap (whatever that means). Other than being a complete monopoly powerhouse Google is so successful because they keep their employees happy. Bosses aren’t there to harp over you, making sure all your work is complete because they have too much of their own work to worry about and more importantly, their main focus is to keep the employee happy. We’ll end this Google rant on a high note because personally my spirits need to be lifted since I just went All-In and now I’m all out (we didn’t play for money, all the coins and sea glass were returned). Bob shared with me stories about Google’s Christmas parties where Disney World is rented out or the party is thrown in a huge circus tent with trapeze artists swinging through the air above you.

Alright time to get back on track from our tangent, enough secrets from “Bob”. If you’re not already sick of reading this blog then good for you because I saved the best for last! The scene of arrival on Thursday in Santorini by ferry reminded me of the scene from Pandora where the humans military is first arriving in Pandora minus the aircrafts flying around. With approximately 300 passengers waiting on the loading dock as the gate began lowering to reveal mountains and dozens of small buildings. Sirens were hollering as well as lights flashing and beaming on the mountainside. I felt as if we were Sparta going to war. The hostel we called home during our weekend stay only cost a mere ten euros per night and the staff was very welcoming.

a view of the hostel

 included a pool, bar and pool table

After a relaxing Friday lounging on Black Beach (black sand because Santorini was once an island in one piece but is now divided into three separate islands at the hands of a volcanic eruption) they offered to host a barbecue for everyone at ten euros a person. Unlimited chicken, steak, and pork served with fries, Greek salad, tzaziki and bread. First thing Saturday la familia decided to rent ATVs for the entire day for 15 euros per person, a cost that was split between two people. La familia’s very own comedian Cecilia aka Panda Raptor (everyone received nick names as members of the Street Sharks, our crew name because of the sheep and sharks on our helmets) and I teamed up to cruise through Santorini on our boy blue – the only blue ATV in Street Sharks. 
My Boy Blue

Seeing la familia cruise around the island of Santorini was a sight to see. Just imagine 12 ATVs humming through a small town near you going 60 mph, scary to imagine I know, but we roll deep! We made pit stops at places such as Red Beach, the Hellenic Navy Lighthouse, and Ammoudi Bay, which all included an incalculable amount of breathtaking views and scenery.


 two views of Red Beach

However, nothing can top the ending to our Saturday night. Street Sharks rode through Santorini’s capital of Fira where we stopped at a restaurant that served everything imaginable; ice cream waffles, chocolate syrup covered pancakes, gyros, crepes and Greek pizza just to name a few items from their menu. It was quite the selection.
Ammoudi Bay

Following dinner we continued the drive to Oia where we sat atop Ammoudi Bay surrounded by white houses, blue top churches and a smothering amount of tourists taking in the most beautiful sunset conceivable.


atop Ammoudi Bay at the edge of Oia

I’m only 20 years old and don’t think I’ll ever be able to top an Oia sunset in Santorini. Then again, stating this is me falling victim to the saying “you’re only in Greece once”. Hearing other Americans in la familia say this disturbs me because people like myself dream bigger than this, much bigger than this. Life doesn’t stop following a 3 month study abroad journey. It’s only the beginning. Why not come back to Greece, accompanied by family next time? What about the rest of Europe and Middle East? I guess that’s why I never follow their suggestions, I just always do my own thing, stay optimistic because those other situations are all depressing. On Sunday we skipped out on the chance to take a ship tour of all three islands that even made a pit stop at the volcano where you could swim in the hot springs.


Not only did it cost 25 euros for a half day trip but we also heard bad reviews from other Americans and decided to spend another day traveling the island on ATVs for an extra 10 euros. This turned out to be a wise decision in my opinion. La familia spent the majority of our day at Kamara Beach, also a black sand beach. We set up camp cliff side for easy access to make approximately a 40ft climb to our diving point.

 

After about twenty minutes of contemplating, I finally made the plunge. Instantly after conquering the first jump, I spent most of my time at Kamara Beach cliff diving, the adrenaline rush never fading. 


We enjoyed another sunset from Oia then made our way towards the hostel, returned the ATVs and finally headed to catch the ferry. Fortunately, class doesn’t start until 4:15 pm on Monday because we arrived back in Athens around 8 am.

Today (October 19th) officially makes one month in Greece and I have one question. WHERE DID IT GO?! A one month whirlwind where it seems I’ve been in a daze being amazed and luckily I consider my journey to still be in that beginner stage. Next weekend I’m visiting the island of Zakynthos. Halloween weekend the plans are to bungee jump into the famous Corinth Canal, followed by a weekend in Barcelona, Spain. The weekend of November 11th is still wide open. However, top destinations on the agenda include, in this order: 1. Berlin, Germany 2. Paris, France 3. Rome or Florence, Italy. Don’t think I’m stopping there though because the following weekend, November 18th- 22nd is Amsterdam and November 25th – 28th is a visit to the island of Crete. Finally, I guess I’ll put an end to this non-stop traveling momentarily with a weekend in Praque, Czech Republic December 2nd – 5th. I hope you’re getting the hint by now. This is documentation of social mobility, of an American Dream in transition. Until next time folks, peace!

But before I go, I have to leave a BIG SHOUTOUT to my Dad who turned 45 last Friday and I was too busy having a good time in Santorini to leave him a message - horrible son I know. So Dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! :)

If anyone would like to send me mail, the address is...

John Sharp
City University, Syntagma
Athens, 10561, Greece

and if you do decide to send anything make sure to only do it how Stevie would...

                                               Signed, Sealed and Delivered


All other pictures are posted on my Facebook profile.



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I've Been Deported, Uh-Oh!

Stairway to Heaven?

Kalimera once more folks! Okay, I'm not really deported but unless I put "Leaked Version of Final Harry Potter Movie" then how else am I supposed to drag your eyeballs to my blog? Week three is complete and my Greek is still weak. I’d say my Greek vocab spans as far as the covered bridge in North Manchester, Indiana (NOT FAR!). No worries though, classes begin on Monday and before the end of this semester I’ll be proposing to my future wife in Greek. Then again, she could be teaching me how a person gets rejected in Greek. For the sake of every philanthropist who helped make this once in a lifetime experience possible and inspires the writings of this very blog, I finally have a schedule! A schedule that says you can sleep easier at night knowing that John Sharp wasn’t lying. He actually does have an obligation to study and didn’t pull off some sort of Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme, enjoying a three month vacation traveling throughout Europe while we all suffer in the community deprived United States. Okay, the suffer line was a bit harsh and straightforward but in all honesty the majority of U.S. citizens can’t pull themselves out of isolation or away from the drive-thru long enough to even compete with the level of "community" in Greece. FYI once again, Greece enjoys ciesta, a part of their day devoted to breaking away from the chaotic workplace to enjoy a nap and a 2-3 hour lunch in community with friends and family. Most stores, trapezas (banks) and post offices close during this time. Never would this be dreamt possible in the states where we believe if our people don’t squeeze out a 14 hour workday, the stock market might flat line. Allow me to bite my tongue quickly so that I’m not speaking for the minority of people in our country who consider community just as essential for human existence as water (quick shout out to POIEMA). No, big business you’re not in the minority, put your hands down and quit mind raping me with your advertisements. Anyways, back to sharing with all the family, friends and angel investors what courses I’ve officially decide to donate my brain towards this semester. Drum roll please…

Monday:  Greek Language (4:15-5:45pm)
Tuesday: Global Marketing (6-9pm)
Wednesday: International Relations (2-5pm)
Thursday: Greek Language (9-10:30am)
Friday: Off aka Fly Day!

Now before you jump my case for what seems like a laidback schedule amounting to only 9 credit hours and a four day weekend, let me explain. All the amazing travels and sightseeing done within the past three weeks is called Orientation, it’s worth 6 credit hours and is accompanied by a 12-15 page paper due sometime before the end of this semester. They also operate on a trimester basis in Greece, exactly the reason why I am just now starting actual classes, an entire month and one week later than all my comrades at Manchester College. Another note, my International Relations course is taught by a grad school professor, the only undergrad course he teaches. You’re welcome.

On Monday la familia caught the bus for a three hour ride to Argolis. We spent the majority of our Monday visiting the ancient theater of Epidaurus and Mycenae. We also made a pit stop halfway through our trip to take in the breathtaking views from the Corinthian Canal.

Corinthian Canal

Known for its harmony and beauty, the ancient theatre of Epidaurus that can seat approximately 14,000 spectators has perfect acoustics. Fortunately, we have a few good singers who blessed us with a performance so we could all witness the perfection of this magnificent wonder. I was tempted to break out the Jay-Z in myself and put on a performance but their asking price was too low.

Epidaurus Theater

After passing through Nafplion, the first capital of Greece, we arrived at Mycenae. Mycenae was boring to be honest, yet remarkable to see knowing that it is the source of ancient epics and legends such as the dynasty of Atrieds, the labours of Hercules and the Trojan War (city of Troy was defeated and destroyed by the Mycenaean Greeks). We visited archaeological sites, including the Royal Palace, the Cistern and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Not too crazy of a day unless you consider taking pictures of rocks very thrilling.

tombs at Mycenae

Tuesday was a day spent in the classroom with courses taught by Professor Todorov (my International Relations Prof.) and Dr. Hatichristou. We were lectured on The Balkans and more Greek history by Prof. Todorov, followed by three hours on modern environmental problems on a global scale, the case of Greece by Dr. Hatichristou.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday la familia enjoyed a 3 day trip to the lower part of Greece called Peloponnesus. We started the trip with a tour through ancient Corinth where not only did Julia Caesar establish a Roman colony but also where Apostle Paul lived and preached for two years. St. Paul wrote two New Testament letters to the church here. You may have heard of them, 1 Corinthians & 2 Corinthians. Later that evening we arrived at Monemvasia, a name that means “single entrance”, literally.

Monemvasia 

After crossing a narrow bridge separating this fortified land from Peloponnesus and following a thin road along Monemvasia’s cliffside we reached a fortress wall, behind which lies the hidden village of Monemvasia. Homes here cost upwards of a million dollars.
Village of Monemvasia

Upon walking through the village we began our climb up the mountain to take in the view from atop where a Byzantine church and the ruins of Monemvasia castle are located.
view from atop the castle of Monemvasia

At dinner we ate like kings (thanks Aphrodite) and spent the night at Philoxenia Hotel. Early in the morning we departed for Sparta, the homeland of 300 Spartan heroes and Leonidas, the famous king!

King Leonidas 

A few things to mention here. First off, no the movie 300 was not filmed here. It was most likely filmed on some Hollywood green screen with the abs being photo shopped. Secondly, a “Spartan meal” consist of very little aka basically nothing.  Finally a quick shout out, GO SPARTANS! (Manchester College’s mascot for those who don’t know)
represent from atop Sparta!

Following the short Spartan experience we departed for Olympia, sacred site of the first Olympic games. For those who play sports like myself, this was a place you only dream of stepping foot in. Running a lap around the stadium and taking photos from the podium where the victor would stand are things that I can now knock off my bucket list. Aphrodite even made a crown from olive tree branches, the only prize awarded to the one victor that was worth more than any riches (only 1st place was given).

at the starting line in the stadium

     on the podium wearing the crown

Okay this blog is getting long enough and your eyes are probably burning, but I know you’re kicking yourself for never studying abroad. If you’re still in school, you need to get with the program! And if you’re not in school anymore, plan a getaway to Greece, convince people that this will be an educational getaway so that maybe they’ll throw a few shekels your way and in the name of all things Holy get your butt across that pond. To everyone who can’t spare twenty minutes to read this novel of a blog because they’re too busy squeezing out that 14 hour workday, here is my promise (fingers not crossed, wink wink) to keep my blog posts brief from here on out following this post. Then again, I don’t know what you may consider brief. If your “brief” is the definition of the McDonald's promise, in and out of the drive-thru under three minutes, then I apologize ahead of time for not being so brief. Until next time and a shorter blog post this is adio sas!

PS – booked my flight to Barcelona, Spain (November 4th – 7th)!


If anyone would like to send me mail, the address is...
John Sharp
City University, Syntagma
Athens, 10561, Greece
and if you do decide to send anything make sure to only do it how Stevie would...


All other pictures are posted on my Facebook profile.

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No, Don't Pinch Me! Lets Keep this Dream Alive.


Ya sas, another week of this journey is in the books! More breathtaking sites have been visited, too much baklava has been eaten and the memories continue to be made between a group of students all craving to fulfill their wildest fantasies. Hopefully, since my last post you were a little motivated and have begun planning your own trip to Greece. Oh wait, still in mommy’s basement? It’s okay, the history thriving throughout the Old World will be patiently waiting for you. However, by the time you do decide to experience Greece or anywhere in Europe (as I advocate for everyone to do at least once in their lifetime, just as I believe everyone should experience the hood/ghetto as some point in their life. Most significant, the wizardly professors who sit in their ivory towers discussing how to alleviate poverty with what seems a trial and error system , plugging and chugging numbers. When in reality these are the very people who must step out of their classroom, get their hands dirty and experience the life of those very numbers they’re plugging into an equation. This is exactly why I have some serious respect for Muhammad Yunus.) Eurozone members may have already decided to pull the lifeline from Greece. For those who don’t follow the news outside of Fox, Greece is currently and has been for quite some time artificially supported by the IMF, World Bank, and the majority of the Eurozone. As much as we all dread watching our paychecks dwindle at the sake of taxes, years of tax evasion in Greece is the very reason I witness Greek public sector workers protesting against austerity measures such as large salary and public service cuts. As recent as last week there was a transportation strike (metro, tram and bus) for four hours while protests took place.


In countries not constantly battling vicious corruption practices – every country feels these pressures as a result of some higher official’s bad judgment and lack of moral consent, only some much more severe than others – those taxes a person pays actually goes towards paying for public works such as a teacher’s salary, the park your children play at and the services provided by our fine police and firemen rather than the local mayor’s bribery payment for election. But if tax evasion and corruption win, no worries, we will leverage our way to that new playground or hospital.

Wow, now that I have caught my breath from taking an economic side rant, I bet you would like to hear how this past week has went. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning la familia – as I’ve come to call our group of students – finally got a taste of City University as we sat through lectures by Professor Dawn Stevens and Dr. Athanasios Karagounis. Prof. Stevens taught on subjects covering Greek culture and life such as; Greek literature, religion and the impact of globalization to the Greek market. Dr. Karagounis did his best to teach us a thing or two about the evolution of international criminal law in the little time he shared with us. Both days of lecture were only a mere bitter-sweet taste of what’s to come. Bitter because this means orientation/free days of travel are almost over and homework is right around the corner. Sweet because unlike most kids my age, I have an intellectual desire that needs to be fed and the classroom is my kitchen! It has been too long since I was last in a classroom setting (May 20th). Scratch that, I lived at the Bucks this summer. You’d understand if you lived with a wife who has a master’s degree and her husband who recently “retired” from teaching to begin the exciting climb towards obtaining his masters this fall.
READ A BOOK! (explicit and I apologize but you'll thank me later)
   
Here it is in writing. I take full responsibility for the good time and beautiful sunrise shown to a few of the girls – one of who was celebrating her 21st birthday, you’re welcome Erin – and two of my roommates. Late Monday night/early Tuesday morning we arrived at the Acropolis with an ihome and a bottle of wine. With class set to begin at 9am we decided to stay the entire night until sunrise. Please keep in mind that these are orientation courses and it is still possible to go without any sleep. However the following may result…


While everyone decided to leave for a power nap before class, I chose to skip sleep and join three Swedish students backpacking throughout Europe with a one night stay in Greece for breakfast at McDonalds. Side note: I have blonde hair and blonde eyebrows. All three of the Sweds had blonde hair with blonde eyebrows. The first time I have ever witnessed this much greatness in one place, so I had to do it right and share breakfast with my fans – since the only reason we share this physical feature is obviously because they’re all fans of yours truly.

Wednesday evening this white boy survived three hours of traditional Greek folk dance lessons. La familia learned various traditional folk dances from all throughout Greece including the choreography from Britney Spear’s Stronger music video! Okay so we didn’t get that lucky but I think the only reason I survived is because most of the dances consisted of doing six steps at a variety of tempos. After six steps my dancing begins to look like something of mix between A Night at the Roxbury and Carlton from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. HA! Who am I kidding?! Ladies, I can most definitely keep up with the moves of Usher without even breaking a sweat.

Thursday and Friday, la familia conquered the Holy Meteora that lies in the Greek plain of Thessaly. A monastic city, the Holy Meteora has been home to monks for centuries. We visited five of the seven spiritual arenas suspended between the earth and the sky.

In order to reach the summit where the monasteries seem to be on the brink of tumbling from their perch at any moment, we had to follow trails along the mountainside.One monastery in particular uses a cable line with a steel box to carry people from “safe side” of the mountain, through mid-air, over some mountain goats, treacherously to the other side.


Unfortunately, we didn’t meet the height requirements and couldn’t ride on the Monk Express.  Not to one up our wimpy trek along the mountainside, the monks’ only way to the monastery centuries ago prior to the invention of the Monk Express was inside a net attached to a rope that had to be hoisted up the mountainside by other monks at the top rotating a crank.


Not only do these sources of grace and blessing for all mankind leave you speechless but they also leave you with a sense of spiritual replenishment. I don’t remember the details but a smaller sanctuary’s murals inside one of the monasteries fell victim to a group of communist guerillas several decades ago. As I understand, it was a group of Nazis who didn't believe in Jesus Christ and chose to burn or break away the rock of every face in the sanctuary. No comment.


Saturday night ShowTime!! After only three hours of dance lessons, Aphrodite thought it would be a great idea for la familia to have dinner together at Kalokerinos. Kalokerinos is a well-known tavern located in the Plaka. This was a semi-formal dinner with tables situated all around a stage where we watched the pros do their thing first. Dancers, Singers and musicians took turns entertaining the crowd as dinner was served. Shortly following our first course, the dancers began pointing our way. First one student, two and next thing you know our entire group is on stage! Please take into account that la familia was given only one day of rehearsal before this live performance. I’m sure the audience thought they were witnessing a group of awkward turtles on stage attempting to dance with Greek elegance. Fortunately, the dancing did get better after several times of visiting the stage throughout the night. I even got called up during a random moment of the night where the performers were oddly shattering plates all over the stage. A dancer begins pointing for me to get down on one knee and every thought of what was about to happen begins rushing through my mind. However, before I even had time to think, one plate after another was being shattered over my head! Thank God for a hard head, those plates didn’t stand a chance. The main event was saved for last, a belly dancer. Most of our guys were sitting on the edge of the stage during her performance. Just my luck about ten minutes into her routine she reaches down to take my hand wanting me to join her on stage.


Now, this could've been a dream come true or officially the beginning of my worst nightmare. Belly dancer + Me + Audience = Epic Fail. Luckily, all the other guys were asked to join as well, catastrophe avoided! Overall, the entire night was a success with plenty of good laughter shared making more memories with la familia.

While I go back to searching the web for the cheapest plane ticket around, I hope you do the same and begin planning your trip to Europe. Or at the very least maybe it’s time for work and your ride is pulling up outside now as you finish reading this. Either way, no dough/hard work = no Europe! Should I just relax, enjoy Greece and everything BCA has to offer? Of course, if I was a sheltered kid with parents back at home worried, wondering if their son has on a fresh pair of whitey tighties. But since I’m not that kid and those aren’t my parents, the way I look at it I have three months – two weeks gone – to make the most of an opportunity that would have never shown up on my radar three years ago, graduating high school. I chose to study abroad in Greece but when that plane ticket with the right price shows its face, I could be studying abroad in Italy, Germany, Spain or as of tonight Egypt? One roommate just booked his ticket this evening and mine could be next. The real la familia is in the states witnessing for the first time, one of their own doing things that only other families have had the chance to talk about before. Now’s not the time to take it slow and only enjoy what some consider the birthplace of civilization. I flew across the pond to not only prove myself but to also map out a future vacation with the real la familia. Then again, that’s a ridiculous dream. Then again, our dreams are what keep us alive. Here's to the anticipation, excitement and moments to the buildup for the rest of my life. I’m out, same time next week. Adio sas!     
                                                                                                                                                   
If anyone would like to send me mail, the address is...
John Sharp
City University, Syntagma
Athens, 10561, Greece
and if you do decide to send anything make sure to only do it how Stevie would...


All other pictures are posted on my Facebook profile.

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