Familiar Face

This weekend my friend Craig & his friend Jack came to visit me here in Thessaloniki. It was so great to see a familiar face! Luckily my roommate was gone too (to Istanbul) so it was nice to have them over & just hangout. First thing we did once they got here was get a frappe by the waterfront. Had to show them the true Greek way. Then we went out to dinner at Mangio's, which is this delicious Greek restaurant that I've been to like 3 times now. The owners are really nice and they know the Americans pretty well. Plus they always give us a free desert (although I was so full, I didn't even eat mine). After that we went to the White Tower to drink a bit while we were trying to figure out how to get back to Sin City. Craig, Jack& I took a taxi to Sin City together, which means of course we'd get lost. I mean it's me...I had the exact address of the place& called like 50 people to figure out how to get there. After walking around Valeritou & asking literally every Greek person (in Greek I may add! Yes!) we found our way. Actually somehow Craig found the way & he hadn't even been there for a whole day yet. Embarrassing. Craig & Jack have this thing about doing pushups when they're drunk. I decided to pretend like I didn't know them instead of trying to explain why they do that...Jack actually ended up knowing one of the girls in the study abroad program from a cruise he took a couple years back! So random! We literally went to bed around 5 & woke up around 1 thinking it was like 9 am...First thing to do in the morning was to go get a gyro! I couldn't finish all of mine, it was soooo much. But delicious as always...We went to go get their train tickets & walk around the center for awhile after that. There was some concert thing that was going on at the White Tower. I think it was for their independence day (the 25th of March). They had a lot of little carts selling food (it reminded me of Istanbul). I got some corn, yummmm. Then we went back & showered (I had to nap, of course). Oh, the boys liked the gyros so much they got another. Gross...Then we started playing some good ole American beer pong. We took them to the club Vogue that night, because that's where all the Americans went. Plus, it's such a European club I figured they needed to see it. They had to leave for the train at like 6 am, and since we lost an hour, the night went by quickly. All of a sudden we had to leave & they had to take a taxi to get home instead of taking the bus, didn't realize it was that late! It was so nice to have them here, my friends loved them, and I was just so happy to have friends! See you guys (well Craig) in Barcelona!!!

I feel like those guys have traveled so much & they only have like a month left of school it's crazy! I technically haven't even been in Greece for half of my stay yet! I still have like 11 and 1/2 weeks. But, I only have 3 weekends left here in Thessaloniki, the rest I'll be travelling & such! It's crazy to think about! 11 weeks seems so long, but it'll fly by! This weekend we don't have school (or the Americans get an excuse at least) for a trip to Delphi and Athens. I'm very excited to finally get to Athens! Although I've heard a lot of sketchy things about it. But, I'm sure we'll be fine since we will be with people. The weekend after that I start my spring break! So so happy! I'm just realizing that I will only be bringing a carry-on, which means I can't bring a lot of things, like will my foundation be okay to bring on a carry-on? These are the important questions. Is my backpack gonna fit as a carry-on? I know I can't bring hairspray, so I might go crazy. I'm still very nervous for Natashya & I to be travelling by ourselves in Europe...I can't stress enough to you how much I rely on Emily to get us places (even in Istanbul she knew where she was going! Like, what???) Ps, my pizza making skills were a success. Only thing I've eaten for the past like week.

Need Spring Break!

15 days until spring break. I've officially started a countdown! I got my ticket to Paris, leaving Sunday, April 8th! It was only 50 euros! Then again, I have an 8 hour layover in Milan Bergamo...but I decided I'm just going to explore Bergamo a bit while I'm waiting. Still worth it. My friend Josefina and I also planned our trip to Amsterdam! May 9-14, I'm missing 4 days of class...but for the prices that were given, it's worth it. Plus, we have connections in Milan, so we are going to just stay and explore Milan for 2 days (the city, not just Bergamo!). I'm super excited. It will probably be the only trip I take other than my spring break plans and my island hopping at the beginning of June (yeah, you can be jealous now).

Last weekend was fun, we went to Sin City, where there were 1 euro shots. I think that explains the night the best...there's all these weird professional photos from there. It was just a bar, not even a club. It's weird going "clubbing" but that's what Greeks (and Europeans in general) do. Just different from my Water Street scene. I also had the weekend to myself because my roommate was gone in Germany. It was nice to not have to announce when I'm changing, to turn the lights on and off whenever I wanted, to make a mess, and to skype whenever. Friday night we stayed in and had a family dinner (me, Kosta, Vaggelis, Josefina & Emily). The next day we started drinking around noon. Beer pong, jello shots, shorts. It was the standard American celebration until we got our gyros! Yummmmm. The most unattractive thing to eat in general, now just picture me trying to eat it while I'm drunk...yeah. Then we went to get sit by the waterfront for a bit and pet the skylos (dogs) that were walking by. Don't worry, we only petted the actual pets, not the strays with rabies! We went home to take a nap, then went to the Irish bar that was near the white tower. It was super fun, with weird Irish music. But, I liked it. It was a different scene, and with different people. Then we made our way to Valeritou...The next day sucked. That's about all I can say.

We are finally getting nice weather here, yesterday it was up to 70. It feels so much warmer than that though. It's so hard to study when the sun is out. Today, we went by the waterfront and studied for a bit. So gorgeous. Except for the fact that it smelled like fish...it's so easy to point out the Americans here, we're all in shorts, flip flops, tanks, etc. while the Greeks are still in their winter jackets (literally!). I just can't wait for the warm sun & the beach! I'm sure once it gets nice out, I'll be complaining though.

I'm starting to get really sick of having to cook for myself (well getting sick of eating just pasta because that's the only thing I can eat). I also feel like I don't have any clothes here. I keep thinking of things I left at home that I wish I had here...upsetting. Other than that, I'm still in my regular routine, just stressed with all the things I have to do before spring break. Oh well. I can't wait to meet up with Natashya, we have 3 weeks together! It's going to be great...! And us two together in Europe...we're bound to get lost.

I'm going to attempt to make a pizza now. I'll let you know how that goes....bye!

Gunshots in Thessaloniki

So two days ago we heard at least 3 gunshots outside of our window at Alexandrias when I got home around 5 until 8ish pm (like one every once in awhile). We didn't hear any chaos going on outside, so we weren't sure if it was a gunshot or what it was. But, all of us here were freaking out. I closed my blinds & hid in my room for the rest of the night. I texted my "RA" (he's not really an RA, but he's supposed to be in charge of us over here, even though he's in the other building and we can basically do whatever the hell we want and they would never know). Later that night, I found out some guy had been working on the powerlines & they kept going wrong. Haha, sorry for the title, but I thought it'd catch your attention?

The last weekend/week has been the usual. During the week I do my routine, class, run, eat, watch tv, attempt to do homework. While the weekend was the same, very hungover. I literally didn't wake up until 4 pm on Saturday, and didn't actually shower until 8 pm or so...I skyped Brandon around 6 pm, and he was wondering why I was still hungover, haha. Sunday I layed around all day. Literally. Just watched TV and cleaned. Yesterday was gorgeous out, finally! I know all of you back home have the best weather, but we've had a lot of rain and cold. But yesterday it was around 55, all bright and sunny. I came home from class and went straight to my balcony with a blanket and some wine. It was perfect.

Within the next two weeks I have so much schoolwork that's due. I have 3 midterms, 3 papers, and 2 presentations. So, knowing me, I won't even start them until the day before. I would like to point out, however, that I handed in my works cited page of my paper that was due 2 weeks ago yesterday, and I got a 90%. So, I'm not really that worried about all of this crap. This weekend is St. Patty's day, and unlike the good ole USA, Greece doesn't celebrate...which sucks. I was going to try to plan a trip to Ireland this weekend, but I heard they take it seriously...which sucks. So, instead, my roommates (the rest of my building) decided we are going to drink all day Saturday, get some jello shots, and celebrate like true Americans. This is one of my favorite holidays if you know me well, this and Cinco de Mayo...two holidays which cannot be further away from anything Korean, but I don't care. Any reason to drink all day I will gladly agree to. Sunday, I have a "host family dinner" with the Dean of Admissions at ACT. I'm really excited to get some Greek homecooking! I'm also nervous though...but I'll have my friend Karen with me, thank God!

Well tonight we are going out to a club called "Sin City". I need to get going, I haven't showered or ate, or anything.I like being lazy so much better.

Pozar Hot Springs

This weekend was so much fun. Our new weapon of choice (Mom,you'll like this,I'm savng money) is 2 euro liter of wine, that comes in a carton. Literally, a carton like for milk. It is so dry, but it gets the job done. I have also startd a new love for Ouzo, the Greek drink. It tastes like black licorice (which, I hate black licorice, but I love Ouzo).

We went out Thursday to a bar called "Ice", which we have never been to, but everyone else abroad apparently had. Best part of that night was when the bartenders gave you plates to break on the ground...you can only imagine the field day I was having! Opa!! Fridy night we went to a salsa place! Josefina was so excited, and I loved it! Guys would just grab you and salsa, and yes, I'm a dancer, but I cannot figure out this salsa thing for the life of me! But the 3 euro tequila shots definitely helped...Afterwards we went to 8 Ball which is a dance club that doesn't open until later. It always plays the most random music! They played songs from "Grease" & the "YMCA", yet I still danced to it...embarrassing. Everyone in the study abroad group was very drunk there, and so funny to watch. The next morning we were going to go the White Tower museum with the rest of the study abroad group, that way we would have a tour guide, the Art History teacher at ACT. But, me, Emiy, Kosta, and Josefina were not up in time...whoops. It was so gorgeous out, we couldn't waste the day,so we went downtown to have a frappe by the waterfront (like true Greeks) and walk around. It was the most beautiful day, and I had such a great time, just talking and drinking some coffee with my parea (Greek for close friends). We walked all the way home from the center, which was about 40 minutes. I didn't mind, I loved just being out in the sun, FINALLY! Saturday, we went to Club Vogue, which is a club that we've been to a couple times. My first time was Valentine's day, and I don't remember much of it. Friday night was by far the most fun.

Sunday, today, we left a 9 am for Pozar Hot Springs. I didn't get home until 5 am, and then (like a dumbass) decided to eat and watch bridesmaids until 6 am. So, I was very tired, very hungover, on the bus ride (which was an hour and a half). It's alright, everyone was in their sweatpants. The hot springs had these gorgeous waterfalls, and one of them was naturally warm, it stays that temperature year-round. Supposedly, it's healing water. I hope so, because the other waterfall is FREEZING and we kept jumping back and forth from the hot to the cold, so hopefully I won't get sick!

The hot pool was full of gross, old, hairy men. A lot in speedos too....yeah if I had to look at it, I'm going to give you a mental picture, it's only fair. I was super grossed out, plus there were naked babies in there. Yuck. Then,we just laid in the sun for a bit and went out to eat. Here are some pictures of today:

My first Greek frappe, delicious.

Waterfall

We drank that whole liter of water...so hungover.

This waterfall was FREEZING!

I promise, I did go in he cold one....kinda.

The warm waterfall, that one was easy.

Tequila shots, I promise they weren't all for me mom.

I get so sleep-deprived over the weekends, we don't get home until 6 am or so, and I wake up around 11 to get my day going. Yet, I still decide to just go on facebook until 1 am (which is the time now) instead of sleeping...Oh well.