Xronia polla

The constitution of Greece recognizes the Greek Orthodox faith as the "prevailing" religion of the country, while guaranteeing freedom of religious belief for all. The Greek Government does not keep statistics on religious groups and censuses do not ask for religious affiliation. According to the State Department, an estimated 97% of Greek citizens identify themselves as Greek Orthodox. However, in the Eurostat – Eurobarometer poll of 2005, 81% of Greek citizens responded that they believe there is a God, which was the third highest percentage among EU members behind only Malta and Cyprus.

Xronia pollaaaaa, was phrase you could hear and see everywhere around Greece these days... on the street, on the buses, shops, people saying it on the phone, everywhere... If you think it means "Merry Christmas" you are wRongggg, literary translate means "lots of happiness" and people use it when someone has birthday, name-day, Christmas, ... every time when someone celebrates something :) If you want to say Merry Christmas, then you will say Kala Xristougenna, which is less used phrase...  (as I noticed...)

For all of us, Christmas is somehow related with gifts...
what I would like to give you as a gift under Christmas tree is video below...
hope you will find 18:49 min of your life for something that can make you more open & better person...
The danger of a single story

Why I like this video?!? Because I also had some single stories about Greece, and now I am really happy by the fact that the single story is disappearing and I consider whole this Greek experience/adventure as a big gift :)  Last year, before my trip to Brazil, I also had a single story about this country... what I learned there?!? If (lots of) people there can be happy by having something to eat, playing football and dancing.. .then I also should find (at least) 3 small things to be happy about my life... for this Christmas I was happy knowing that even I am not with my family (for first time in my life) they are all healthy and also happy, having nice Christmas tree (first time, next to palm tree), watching Cro TV channel (after 6 weeks:)), a blanket :), full table of food (maybe more that needed :D), new friends and Sophia`s family that warmly hosted me (Efharisto polly)!!!!!!!!  :)

once more: Xronia polla!!! :)  Sretan Božić!!! :)

...cooooommunication...

If you think that word "communication" is originally from Greece,  I am so sorry, need to disappoint you ... it is Latin one... Most of you probable know that communication consists of few different things... I chose some of them to present you how I see things here... :)

First of all, the language is really interesting, sometimes sounds like Italian or Spanish (e.g. Kalimera [Good morning] :)) but sometimes more sounds like Arabic (e.g. EfHHaRRistoo [Thank you]).. annnnd sometimes you can see Turkish influence, also visible in Croatia (e.g. Sokaki [street])  ...  now after this small Greek vocabulary lesson lets try to read it: Καλιμερα, Εφχαριστο, Σοκακι... -> ?!?!? yep!!! ...exactly; alfa, beta, gama, delta is one thing... but to read it is something more advanced.... I was lucky and had opportunity to repeat my "Cyrillic skills" in Belgrade, which was warming up for Greece :))))

In communication around 55-70% is body language, so sometimes can  be really helpful "tool" to understand what  people are talking about ...buuut sometimes in different country and culture you will stay confused... :P
ONLY IN GREECE word "yes"starts with "N", and to be even more funny if you wanna say "yes" in Greek you need to say "NEeeee" ...in most of Balkan languages and wider it means totally opposite...so, that is something I still adopting to (after a month here...) and I also had some interesting situations with it.... one was in crowded night train, I was between two wagons and suddenly doors started to close, and I couldn't move and of course in that moment I said: "neeeee..." which was reallyyyy weird to people around me [hihih, crazy girl is happy because doors compressed her, yeah write:P]    -> after it, some things changed... :D  From now on, things will be more clear to guys which had theory: "when girl tell you "neee", she means YES!" :P  :P :P

moving on...In general people are talking a lot here (which is not problem for me :D) so either talking on land line phone, cell-phone, public phone (which is unusual in Croatia) or use land phone from kiosk (which I did not know exist).  Even, fore some things it takes time to happen people are really open and ready to help you ... so, you can ask person who works in kiosk to help you charge your credit for cell phone :) In Greece is now new law, and every new sim card has to be registered before activation... and I went to store to do it, which was really funny; signing contract you are able (so-so) to read and understand (LoL), also, the guy put me Croatia as place of birth, even it is not truth he did not mind, and said: "okey, details... no one will check it if is truth or not" hehehe (tnx Lila for helping me with reading and understanding the contract, even we didn't get copy of it., but... details... :P  )  + to unlock cell-phone (like mine was locked for only one network :S) they are charging 30euros... khm, what to do?!? Go home, google "network code" & do it your self ;) 

The internet connection is like it is...even people are complaining about speed, you can see exactly how slow it is... here are also some Malake who left network unlocked... :)

Today I was really surprised with "Christmas gift" from Telecommunication company, yeah, phone book in front of mine doors, and no one took it (like it would happen in some countries...) from other side of doors you can find your mail and bills... :)


If you want to send post-cards or letters from Greece, you can only do that in post office, there is no (at least I didn`t see post-box, neither found a place to buy post-cards) so, sorry, there is no "2-FA-BE" my friends :(

If we are talking about newspapers, the most popular one (specially between AIESEC members in Greece) this week were Kathimerini (check page 16th) :)

Last but not the least, would like to share one story from Greek mythology which I discovered this week...
According to the urbane retelling of myth in Ovid's Metamorphoses, for a long time, a nymph named Echo had the job of distracting Hera from Zeus' affairs by leading her away and flattering her. When Hera discovered the deception, she cursed Echo to only repeat the words of others (our modern word "echo").

huh, It is long one post, but hope you liked it!?! filakia (kisses)!!! ;)

HaaaLaaaRaaaaa, you are in Thessaloniki...

HaaLaaRaaa, that was the first word I learned in Thessaloniki... actually it is not just a word, it is like a concept, principle how the things are going on there...

 ...you are a student? ...willing to travel during the night?  If answer is Yes, you are lucky one traveler, becauseeee this is the cheapest way to come from point A to point B in Greece :)

...as lucky travelers, we took midnight train from Athens to Thessaloniki [15euros economy class, 21euros business class, (yes, you can get student discount for business class :D)]

...however, after almost 7 hours of traveling we came to Thessaloniki, and of course it was time for "morning cafe"  ...what better place for cafe there then Aristotelous Square... 

After morning cafe, it was perfect time for breakfast...so we went outside of center where our dear friend hosted us (Efharistoooo Olga for breakfast and to Sia & Vivian for accommodation :))
...as you can see, Architecture there is really influences by Byzantine & Ottoman empire (more about history), totally different then Athens. [*Oh, one important tip, buy daily ticket, it cost only 1 euro and you can travel all around 24 hours... :)] ...try to guess what we done after breakfast?!? Cafe time :)))) then Shopping time:)))) then lunch time :)))) and then cafe time (again) all that in Halara style; relax, we have time... ("pe minuti")

I bet that people from Croatia see similarities with Split...  :))))


Thessaloniki (Saloniki, Salonica or Solun) is second biggest city in Greece, population is almost 1 ooo ooo, out of that 11o ooo are students ... so beside being important transportation hub it is also known as student city and religious center. The most famous Thessalonians are Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (founder and first president of Turkey) and Cicero (non-native). Some of  twin cities are: Alexandria (Egypt), Bratislava (Slovakia), Kolkata (India), Bologna (Italy), Cologne & Leipzig (Germany). etc.

The White Tower of Thessaloniki is a monument and museum on the waterfront of the city. Originally constructed by the Ottomans to fortify the city's harbor, it became a notorious prison and scene of mass executions during the period of Ottoman rule. It was substantially remodeled and its exterior was whitewashed after Greece gained control of the city in 1912. It has been adopted as the symbol of the city.

Actually, the reason why I went there was Youth Generation Forum, project of AIESEC in Greece with three events organized in Athens, Chios & Thessaloniki.  The event was taking place as to activate youth people and show them ways as how they can achieve impact in their everyday life. It was an event full of interaction and interesting workshops where participants could explore their leadership potential, see our world, put their ideas into action!!!

Till next post, Gia sou!!!  :)

♫♫♫ - ♪♪♪... let - the - music - play ... ♪♪♪ - ♫♫♫

♫♫♫ Music is an important part of cultural and social life of every community... it has been present everywhere trough all these years, in all occasions, in all moods, countries, territories, nationalities in one or another way...

... for me, as a person who reeeealy likes to dance, music is cool way how to integrate into new culture, discover it more and experience it... so far I did not have time and opportunity to learn Sirtaki - Zorba Dance
but I promised that to my self ... and I am gonna learn it :D 

...so far I did have chance to find out something interesting...
listen the pairs of the songs below....

♫ 
Valantis - Ti allo theleis pio poly
♫
Zeljko Samardzic - Bezobrazno su zelene...


♫
Antique - OPA OPA
♫
Dara - BubaMara - opa opa

 
♫
 Toše - Ledena
♫
Despina Vandi - Christmass song


yeah... the music is the same, to lawyers would be important things about copyrights, to managers would be important if someone payed for that copyrights, to musicians would be important the quality, for you might be important something else... ♫♫♫

... for me as a foreigner in one moment was important the feeling, feeling of something i heard before...but now experiencing with some new people, which is really connecting tool...

...I am sure everyone experienced something similar ... try to remember moment in your life when you were singing old song with some new people and felt like you know for an ages...:)

♫♫♫ - ♪♪♪... let - the - music - play ... ♪♪♪ - ♫♫♫

17th of November in Greece

November 17^th is a holiday in Greece for all educational establishments.

Back in 1973, on 14th of Nov students at the Athens Polytechnic went on strike and started protesting against the military regime. As the authorities stood by, the students, calling themselves the "Free Besieged", barricaded themselves in and constructed a radio station (using laboratory equipment) that repeatedly broadcast across Athens: "Here is Polytechneion! People of Greece, the Polytechnic is the flag bearer of our struggle and your struggle, our common struggle against the dictatorship and for democracy!". Soon thousands of workers and youngsters joined them protesting inside and outside of the "Athens Polytechnic".

The Athens Polytechnic uprising ended on 17^th of November. During uprising 24 civilians killed (students and also 5 year old boy) and hundreds of civilians were left injured during the events.

There for on 17th of Nov commemorative services are held and students attend school only for these, while some schools and all universities stay closed during the day. The central location for the commemoration is the campus of the Polytechnic. Students and politicians lay wreaths on a monument within the Polytechnic on which the names of Polytechnic students killed during the Greek Resistance in the 1940s are inscribed. The commemoration day ends traditionally with a demonstration that begins from the campus of the Polytechnic and ends at the United States embassy.


This year 12ooo students participated in demonstrations, in the same time they are giving honor to all people who were killed 36 years ago, but also protesting because there are still so many things they wanna change now (like decrease scholarships :D)

As a security measure, in the city was 6ooo Policeman all the way around, and yeah they were busy and forced to trow tear-gas to group of anarchistic demonstrators in order to prevent massive fights. In total few policemen were injured, and 12 people were arrested.

Pretty intensive experience for the very first day in new city.

Tanja & me, in media res...

Let the Greek adventure begin...

If you are going somewhere...

... it is not possible without saying Good bye to your family, friend, colleagues, buddies ...
or maybe we just looking for opportunities to have some party?!?!?
However, I was leaving to Greece for 2 months and I had 3 parties... ?!?
yeah, we definitely taking every chance to have party.... :D

First one was with members of my Local Committee (AIESEC Osijek) on Thursday, also with new members and special THANKS to Jelena (Želena) for her contribution; taking one day off in her busy MCP life and traveling 300km to be there!!!! :)

Second one was big annually party for all people who were employed in last year in my company, luckily that was perfect way to say good bye to my colleagues and friends from work.

Third one was so special, and wont happen ever again and i just couldn't miss it, because it was wedding party of two of my good friends. All The Best for Ivana & Tomislav!!!! :)
ps: first dance was so fu***** fantastic! ;)

So, after all those parties, you really need to leave :P
Starting destination was bus station in Osijek, then Belgrade and then I took flight to Athens...

If you are in Belgrade?!?
... then go to train station to Internet cafe, the owner is so nice, you can eat there, surf on internet, drink turkish cafe :D, ask to switch the channel on tv
annnd, if he likes you, could get some drink for free :D :D :D
... also, very IMPORTANT, do not trust to anyone on the train station, they have so many interesting and creative actions, how to take you money or bags in so polite way that you just can not imagine... specially when you are in hurry on your way to airport and you wont have time for talk with police :S

On airport was interesting, I met an older lady who was traveling to Greece for wedding of her daughter.... yeah "Greek wedding" :D also, we saw very popular Serbian actor, Svetlana Vojković ... many of you will know more if you check this video :)



"Funny" thing is that I was so much worried about by big "heavy bag" which was ~20kg... and guess what??? I could have 32kg without any problem, also for small bag they did not check the weight... :S I could take so many home made things from Croatia, but I did not :((((
(ok, ok, rakija found place in it)

ONLY thing they do care is: "Do you have swine flu?!"

We arrived to Athens around midnight and it was nice to go outside and realized that is no cold like in Croatia :D It was even nicer view from an airplane... :)
Airport is so so so far away from the city, If you take bus from there it will take 40 minutes to come to center, including approximately speed 120km/h in the city.

Good thing about going trough Belgrade was because somehow slightly I get used to "difficult" characters, so in Serbia I repeated my Cyrillic skills and started with preparation for Greek one :)
Everything here is written in Greek and then you have Latin one version, maybe. After so many advertisement on way airport -> Athens, one was written in German, I never thought I would be so happy to read something in German, but "never say never" :D

Marta took care of me, introduced me to house holder also. On the doors of my room I found welcome message from my roommate Tatiana from Vienna, which was so sweet... she was outside and got back at 5am then woke me up to meet each other... that was not so much sweet, but still I like her ;)

Kalinichta ;)
zzzzzzzzzzzzz

first thing first...

...

...to be honest, I feel so weird to start now with blogging...

why not before?
because I thought my stories wont be that much interesting as blogs I was reading...

why now?
because I feel I have something interesting to share :)

so... here you can expect interesting adventures from my happy traveling shoes ;)