Monday, March 31, 2008
Turkish Delight
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Four Hours to Go Until Turkey
Live from Rome
Friday, March 28, 2008
Rome-ward Bound!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Welcome Back
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Happy Greek Independence Day/Opening Day!
It was also a special day for what was going on half way around the world... and no, not in America. I'm talking about the events in Tokyo, Japan that took place this afternoon (or night or morning depending on where you are). Major League Baseball's Opening Day was today with my Boston Red Sox squaring off against the Oakland A's in the Tokyo Dome. This was the earliest Opening Day in Major League Baseball history, but the start of the title defense couldn't come soon enough, especially now that my bracket is on life support. The Sox won, albeit in sloppy fashion, as Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched in front of his native countrymen, though the win went to fellow Japanese native son Hideki Okajima. I braved the especially slow internet service to try and watch as much of the game as possible on my MLB.TV subscription and was fortunate enough to catch some of the best moments. In fact, the coverage of the NCAA tournament and now baseball season on MLB.TV are serving as my windows back into United States culture. I forgot how much I disliked American commercials, though now I have a new appreciation for hearing something being sold to me in English. Now, excuse me while I head back to studying. With one midterm finished this morning, I still have a final to go tomorrow. I guess today can't all be one big celebration!
Monday, March 24, 2008
What Lies Ahead
Today-Thursday: Lots and lots of work. My Intercultural Communications class is wrapping up, culminating in an exam on Wednesday that is bookended by papers that are due. Tomorrow brings a Religion midterm (whose study group I will be attending shortly) and that class won't end until April 10th.
Friday-Sunday: Rome, Italy. I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't go to the home of antiquity's greatest civilization and stop by to say hi to the Pope (who I just found out I will be seeing when he visits Yankee Stadium at the end of April. Sweet.). Plus you know that Coliseum is only going to be standing for that much longer. I'll be meeting up with my roommate from last year who is currently studying in Florence and offered to give me the tour. It should be a blast and I'm excited, but I'll have little opportunity to reflect on it afterwards since...
Next Monday - Sunday: Turkey for our Educational Field Trip. Each program takes an EFT for a week to sojourn to another country and learn about Europe beyond our assigned host countries. We were stripped of our Spring Break due to our relocation to Greece, but they are more then making it up with this week long visit to Turkey. I have never been to a predominantly Muslim country and I am looking forward to learning about a way of life different from that practiced in the West. Looking at our itinerary, we're going to be thrown into the thick of things right away so transition time will be minimal... making it that much more exciting. Afterwards we'll be heading back to Athens for another week before heading back to the USA.
So thats my life for the next couple weeks. If I have light posting this week, blame the work I have due, but I hope to squeeze in a couple more entries based on Athens and out preparations for Turkey. In any event, I promise to give you a detailed account of wherever I go as always and will try and post when I can while in Turkey.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Good Friday in Corinth
Friday, March 21, 2008
March Sadness
Update: Or not. UConn, in a trend looking eerily familiar to the rest of my bracket, just rewarded my home state loyalty with a dud against San Diego. Don't get me wrong, I like SD considering they, like Pepperdine, are a WCC school and I'm all for the betterment of my conference, but I was counting on the OTHER WCC schools pulling through... not the one that was going to end my home state's run to the Elite 8. Oh well, I guess that's one thing that's good about being in Greece... I won't have to show my face in public with people who will judge me for my bracket here in Athens!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Grabbing Life by the Baklava
Part of the downside of being away from one's school, family, and country while studying abroad seems quite obvious: you are so far removed from the lives of such important people that you can't possible do justice to the relationships you have forged thus far. That's of course a complicated way of saying if you miss people, its too bad. While this wonderful thing we call the internet helps keep everyone connected at breathtakingly efficient speed, it can hardly substitute for the human element garnered by face-to-face contact with friends and loved ones. Sure, I employ Skype to video chat with those close to me or even my international cell phone (when the occasion justifies the nutso rates). But no matter how much fun I'm having wherever I am, there's that little piece inside of me that wishes I could be sharing these experiences with more of my closest friends or even back home having dinner at the kitchen table with my family and our cat and dog rubbing lovingly at our feet to beg food from us. Alas this experience abroad has been a testament of inner emotional fortitude for someone like me whose time here will be my longest and furthest away from home. Still, even then, my thoughts float to my cousins in the Marines and all those separated from their families for reasons far nobler than mine.
But what I find is that at the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows in my time here in Europe, I can use this affinity for home as a benefit just as some think of it as a detriment. There are incredible places I've been and amazing things I've seen and experienced here in Europe; I've had moments I wouldn't trade for any other and perspectives that I know will positively affect my life. But perhaps best of all I've confirmed just how happy with where I am in life. When this dream is over and I wake up in my bed in Fairfield, Connecticut, I'm not going to be upset nor rueful I'm not in some foreign land with adventures yet to come. You know why? Because I've been blessed with some fantastic things in life no matter where I am and my life at home couldn't be better. I am prouder now then I have ever been for who I am: an American, a Catholic, a New Englander, a Connecticuian, a Pepperdine student, and most of all a Lambert. No one can take that away from me, nor can I be robbed of everything I have done and learned here abroad. To put it simply, things are going pretty well for me right now.
Hopefully the self-definition I have gained from my time here abroad continues to pay dividends further down the line. There are many things I can accomplish and goals I have set for myself that I will not back down from until I have satisfied my harshest critic: myself. Sure I have my flaws as anyone with even the slightest clue of who I am surely knows. But the important thing is always remembering what drives me. I had one of those epiphanies today, hence this post, and the resulting "moment of clarity" helped me to cope with the realization of just how far behind I am at keeping in touch with those I love most in Malibu, Fairfield, and all over the USA. I'm always going to be separated from someone that would make my day by being there, but the important thing is remembering just why I'm away to begin with on this sojourn of mine and how its helping me become a better man.
Thats pretty good for one day of thinking, eh? Hard to believe such a tender moment was achieved over a plate of baklava. No wonder this country spawned such great men of reason, it must be the food!
Everybody Wants Some!!
I got a message saying that the post office received a package for me on Friday while we were gone (thanks mom and dad!) but they were closing and I'd have to pick it up at a later date. Fine, no problem, I can live with that, I was gone anyway. I come back and on my list of things to do, like laundry and such, are to pick up that package. Each day this week I've tried to do just that and each day I've been turned away at the door. Why? They're on strike. So no treats from home for me it seems. I'll give it another shot today, hopefully the strike ends in the next 2-3 hours. Otherwise I may throw a rock through the window and get it myself. I'm kidding... but really.
Update: Alright, the strike has ended and I was able to claim my Easter love from home right before, get this, they closed for the day after a whole hour and a half on the job after the strike. And those staffing the post office clearly wanted no part of being there as they were probably the least helpful/most rude service employees I have encountered in Europe. At least I got what I set out to accomplish. But just on my way back, I run into one of my friends who is visibly distraught. She tells me the Athenian metro workers have just gone on strike and she has to take a taxi to the airport to pick up one of our fellow program participants who went back to America to attend the funeral of her cousin and aunt. Apparently the whole city is reeling from this, too (though the cabbies must be ecstatic). I can only laugh at this point it's so ridiculous.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Gyros, Gyros, Gyros!
Luckily, I have found two dishes that always hit the spot for me, though it comes more from their shared qualities than anything else. The plates, gyros and suvlaki, are both, above all else, delicious. Preferring both in their chicken incarnations, I often find the difference between the two to be negligible. Basically, you have your pita bread, french fries (which actually go in the wrap), chicken, and various fixings like vegetables and the like. Supposedly, suvlaki is different because the chicken comes as a kebab but I've had it prepared where it's just like a gyro. So word to the wise, when you see these on the menu, don't be fooled, just get whatever one is cheaper and you won't be missing anything. Then there are the Greek salads, which unfortunately consist of all the vegetables I don't like plus olive oil en mass (which i have had more of in these past couple weeks than I've ever had in my life combined) and feta cheese. People have been downing those dishes like they were the only selections on the menu, so I guess we've all adapted to foods that we can enjoy. Of course I've kept up my fervent tea drinking, which I'm afraid to say looks like I'll be stuck with for life, but my deepest sympathies go out to the Diet Coke addicts in our group. In Europe, they don't have Diet Coke (and for good reason), but rather a safer version called "Coke Light" which, though packaged very similarly, I am assured is not the same thing. Boo hoo. While some are getting creative and giving Diet Coke up for Lent as a result of this supposed ocean of a divide, others are writing home asking for the real deal. I didn't realize it was that big of a deal, but then again it wouldn't be the first time I've missed a fad. Good thing I prefer the real Coca-Cola classic. Now that, my friends, is universal.
Monday, March 17, 2008
March Madness
As for the rest of my picks? Well, I'll just leave you with them and you can mock the rest:
Elite 8:
North Carolina vs. Tennessee (see, I can be reasonable!)
Vanderbilt vs. Kansas State (Beasley is the best player in college basketball; I almost transfered to Vanderbilt; the logic for this one is flawless)
Memphis vs. Texas (A toss up for this one but despite Texas having home-court advantage I like Memphis. After all, they smoked Pepperdine and stole our offense, so there's that... which is nice)
UConn vs. Xavier (My homestate school versus my brother's former school? Xavier takes this one but I'll say it's close)
Final 4:
North Carolina vs. Vanderbilt (The Cinderella-ish story ends. Carolina is just toooooo good. And they're not Duke.)
Memphis vs. Xavier (Once again, reality strikes. Still, Tennessee should be happy with one team in the finals)
Finals:
Memphis over North Carolina (It'll be close, but I like Memphis to pull this one out. Unless it comes down to free throws, I think they'll be just too much for the Tar Heels)
Eat your heart out Digger Phelps.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
They Care More Over There Than We Do Here
http://www.connpost.com//ci_8577872?IADID
They care more over there than we do here
When those words were penned by an Englishman known for his creative and lyrical prowess, the world was a much different place than it is now. But even though The Who songwriter Pete Townshend was openly chastising the hippie movement that was engrossing a generation of youth, the words could just as easily be applied to more recent circumstances. Indeed, many here in Europe apply that message to American politics over the past few decades. One politician is no different than the one before. But this election cycle promises to bring about very tangible change no matter who claims victory and everyone abroad knows it.
As a political science student studying abroad in London this spring, I've had the unique opportunity to engage Europeans in their thoughts on American politics. Coaxing opinions out of people over here isn't terribly hard. In fact, they do all the work for me. Upon hearing my accent, and verifying I'm indeed an American, and not a "boring" Canadian, the discussion usually turns almost immediately here to politics.
Now here is when I normally get worried. I was warned before my travels abroad of rampant anti-Americanism. A "they-hate-us-because-we-hate-them-because-they're-jealous-of-us" kind of thing. But you know what? In every conversation I've had with the English, Irish, Welsh or even French, politics always revolves around sincere curiosity and fascination with the American political system. Whither the anti-American fervor that was supposed to mar my experience abroad? I'm not doubting there are people here who dislike Americans on the whole, it's just that those I've come across everywhere from trains to pubs to supermarkets have been nothing but respectful and polite as to what I think is going to happen in the presidential race of 2008.
And, of course, everyone has their point of view as to what they think will happen. Everyone likes to pretend to be pundits, both domestically and abroad. That much is universal. But their questions are what grip me. Rather, the genuine interest they have in American politics is what strikes me the most. Many Europeans are more educated, or at least attentive, than Americans, and they aren't being saturated with Hillary Clinton attack ads or Barack Obama debate barbs.
The questions I get asked the most are perhaps the ones that resonate loudest across the American kitchen tables. Will America really elect a black president? Or a woman? Or a 72-year-old man, for that matter? And when they stop their questions and leave me to my response, I tend to have trouble explaining the full complexities in the presidential race that are going on in a manner that would take less than a few hours. Usually, I just throw another question right back at them.
Sure, why not?
So when British talk show host Alan Titchmarsh rhetorically asked on the trailer for his Super Tuesday show, "Just why do us Brits care so much about the American election and Super Tuesday?" the answer seemed clear to me. It is fascinating; it's become worldwide entertainment. But is that what we want? Perhaps a nice, boring primary and a civil electoral system would put a dent in CNN ratings and throw many a pundit out on the street. Seems like a fine trade-off to me. Then again, I have a much better time explaining politics at a pub than all the rules of baseball. Bah, let's keep it the way it is, then.
Thomas Lambert of Fairfield is a sophomore at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. You can find out more about his adventures abroad on his blog, "A Connecticut Yankee In:" at http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Garbage Strike: It Stinks
After a six hour ferry ride back to Athens, though, the sight was less than welcoming. A garbage strike is in its most agonizing throes and its beginning to become obvious. Huge piles of trash scar the streets and for the first time I'm beginning to see the not so nice side to this city. Even one of our cabbies in Mykonos (the one who invited us to dinner) was criticizing the capital, explaining how while "everyone deserves their rights, the current situation is not good for the health. No good will come from this strike. It's getting crazy." The Mount Olympus sized mounds of rubbish are evidence to his prosecution: it is indeed nuts how gross this can get. Indeed, the Europeans' favorite past time of going on strike stains the image of some of their most prized jewels of cities. Perhaps that's the least appealing image I've taken from my travels here abroad, but it's just natural from near-Socialist countries that populate this continent. It's just a shame when politics gets in the way of an incredible experience... and I was just falling in love with Athens, too. Hopefully I will again. Well, as soon as they pick up the garbage.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Enrolled
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Live from Mykonos!
Tomorrow we're hoping for the same luck weather wise as it was absolutely gorgeous. I even have some faint traces of the tan I worked so hard on last year at school in Malibu. While nothing is guaranteed, we have found plenty of things to do to keep us entertained, plus registration for my classes for next year is tomorrow. And that's always a big deal as traditionally we plan out our schedules only to watch as one by one the classes fill up before our very eyes and we are stuck with our fifth choices. Ugh.
Anyways, I hope to post some more with further thoughts on my experiences here in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I've fallen in love with everywhere I've gone, and each strike me with alternating feelings of summering there, retiring there, or honeymooning there. But Greece so far, especially the islands, take the cake. I love London, but wow, Greece is beyond anything I was expecting.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Back to the Stone Age
Monday, March 10, 2008
Street Fighting Man
One of the ways we thought we could plunge into the Greek culture was participating in the Greek Carnival, a pre-Lenten celebration of the Greek Orthodox churchgoers (that number around 95% here) that is akin to our Mardi Gras, though spread our across several weeks. We experienced it in Nice, France last month and attended their parade and partying. There were common themes that resurfaced like children in costumes and general merriment. But what took us by surprise involved the substitute of silly string, which was employed by many an annoying youth, with bats. Actually, more like clubs.
In a tradition that harkens back to the military nature of the ancient Greek city states, namely Sparta, people beat each other... for fun... during the nights of Carnival. And I don't mean light tapping with these blunt objects, I mean physical brawls that break out in the middle of the street. And all in the name of fun. Or at least its supposed to be that way. Lucky for us, we decided to see what was going on during Carnival in a group, so by the time we started getting bludgeoned (despite being unarmed), we were able to seize a local armory and acquire weapons for us to defend ourselves. Then we tapped into our inner Spartan warrior and fully participated in the street fights that ensued. Sure there were little children who would playfully smack us and we would pleasantly ignore, but oftentimes the 8-15 year old boys, hopped up on what must be the Greek equivalent of Pixie Stix, were the most vicious. They wouldn't prey on the good looking American girls like the other noticeable demographic of Carnival soldiers (25-35 year old bachelors), but often times the middle schoolers would wield uncontrollable force behind their bats and definitely fight dirty. Since they were young, we couldn't in good conscience fight back at them. Unfortunately, they knew this.
By the second night of it, we were good and ready for the confrontations that would take place. We developed our own attack tactics and battle cries. We even had photographers at the ready, documenting our struggle through the Plaka. Testosterone pumping, we tore through the streets, signaling and being challenged through war-like ground-pounding with our clubs and charges reminiscent of Celtic warriors. I gave out and took my beatings like the rest of the War Council (the name given for the warrior men in our group), once suffering punishing blows by no less than seven Greek high schoolers at once. I'm pretty sure my medulla oblongata is bruised. Oh well. It's all in good fun, right?
I guess these are the barriers needed to overcome in our effort to integrate in Greek culture. Our baptism-by-beating notwithstanding, I think we are all doing surprisingly well trying to get a grasp on what is kosher here in Athens and what is not. And there is still plenty more to conquer. But at this point I'm confident we'll be able to thoroughly participate in this foreign culture by the end of our stay here in the Near-East. Otherwise, we may be in for some cultural beatings that make our physical ones look tame. And believe me, they weren't.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
It's All Greek to Me
As for what has happened thus far, I'm pleased to report Greece as surpassed my expectations heading into our move. I'll admit it, I loved London and I was sad to go. I think that most of the people in our program felt that way as we pretty much had it made in England. Then they wanted us to move to a completely foreign country and expect us to hit the ground running and picked up where we left off in terms of classes, friendships, and pretty much our lives. I didn't think it was possible. For the most part, I was wrong.
Our hotel, the Hotel Philipos is pretty much a stone's throw from the Acropolis, which made for an amazing first day of orientation for our program. I was literally shaking in my shoes from the history this place has been home to and astounded at the thought of walking in the footsteps of of the fathers of thought and logic. Also on our tour was Mars Hill, noted not only for its astounding view of the city but also for being the reported site where the Apostle Paul mixed it up with the great philosophers in his early attempts to spread Christianity. Again, some truly humbling history all around.
Yesterday we went to the traditional center of the Greek world, Delphi, known for its important place in Greek mythology. There lived the Oracle who gave prophecies to kings and peasants alike, namely Oedipus. The area was amazing for its beauty and breathtaking view of the mountains and valley all around. The historical sites and landmarks themselves put one back in the shoes of an ancient Greek pilgrim on his way to pay homage to the gods and hear how his or her life will play out in the future. IT was a day trip I consider myself blessed to have made and an important compliment to our religion class we'll be taking for the rest of the semester here in Greece.
The Philipos is nice and the staff are friendly and very accommodating. Our beds are infinitely more comfortable than the racks they had us on in London and I feel like a king just from having my bed made, and sheets and bathroom cleaned. I could definitely get used to this lifestyle and I'm grateful it has worked out as well as it has. Some people in the program haven't totally bought into the move still, nor do I think these people ever will, but while Athens has many shortcomings, its such an incredible new perspective on people it's amazing.
Once we get an established, reliable internet connection I promise some more, detailed descriptions, including my friends and I experiencing Greek Carnival. The stories and memories gathered already are truly fantastic.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Greece!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Going, Going...
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Meanwhile, In America...
Monday, March 3, 2008
Limbo
I am quite literally the only person in the house done with exams. Which of course means I can't even go out and celebrate unless its solo, and that's just sad. But still, by virtue of having both the classes I was taking in London finish with exams today, I am currently worry free. If you rewind to me 24 hours ago, the mood was not so different. I was cramming for two exams that revolved around four people (British History exam essay on Viscount Palmerston and Earl Aberdeen's foreign policies while Humanities involved analysis of Ignatius Loyola's founding of the Jesuits and Holbein's transformation of Tudor art). Names, facts, and anecdotes were whizzing around my head in time for my journey across the Renaissance/Reformation/Counter-Reformation to the 19th century British Empire. Each scribble in our blue books felt like another load being lifted off of my shoulders and now I'm left with... nothing.
I think I did rather well, too, considering I was thusly the only person with two exams today. Honestly, I was dropping dates in my exams like they were hot... all without the benefit of notes. I'm not going to hesitate from patting my back on this one, a good grade will have been hard earned provided I'm lucky enough. It's just trying to figure out how to spend my final days which will be the hardest part. There are still sights I haven't seen, experiences I have yet to partake in, and of course, a ton of packing I need to do before I leave. That also means sending a box o' stuff on a slow boat back to the states with all the excess clothes/books/miscellaneous I can't fit in my bags. There are 50 lbs. weight limits on on flights leaving Heathrow and only one checked bag allowed per student before we head to Greece. Thus, sacrifices will need to be made but I'm up to the challenge.
Anyways, back to this weird sensation I think I'll enjoy for the evening. I'm not allowing myself to be caught up in the cloud of chaos sweeping up the other students studying diligently for their exams over the next two days and beyond. I'll have plenty of time to stress over my two remaining classes in Greece later on. There is something to be said for relaxation at the dusk of an incredible semester. For now, I think I'll rent an iTunes movie or something. Wow, this is odd.
One Down, One to Go
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Last Train to London
The schedule for the rest of the program looks something like this: we leave Thursday to fly into Athens and check into our new home away from home, the Hotel Philippos (my fifth different room this year, counting the multiple room switches I had in the DC program last semester). From there it's orientation all over again, concluding with a day trip for our religion class to Delphi on March 8th. After a couple days of work, we get a long weekend (our spring break) from the 13th to 16th which I plan on using to cruise the Greek Isles. The next weekend includes another educational day trip to Corinth and the weekend following that is free; I hope to take that time to get to Rome. After I come back from wherever I'm going, I leave the next day on Monday for our extended Educational Field Trip to Turkey that'll last for a week. Once that finishes and we conclude finals, it's back to the States on April 11th. And thats my semester. See, I knew this would happen. I blinked in January and here I am plotting out the short time left in my experience abroad.
Oh well, before I get too ahead of myself, I still have much to do here in London. In about an hour I'm going to hop the Tube over to Abbey Road for a requisite photo-op and I hope to see some other stuff in London I haven't experienced yet. The sad part is knowing that no matter how hard I try, there will still be things I haven't done here. Oh well, I guess that means working doubly hard this summer to save up for another trip here!