On Procrastination: Or How I Wasted 1.5hrs by Making an iPad Case

It’s funny how desperate the find gets for relief and change from normal routine under the stress of college and readings and impending psets. Today, my mind decided it wanted a new case for my new iPad. Inspired by the recent library sessions, I thought, hey! A book would make a perfect case for my iPad! My library buddy was not impressed. In the tones similar to when he tells me how my latest internet discovery was on reddit weeks ago, he shook his head and flatly said, it’s been done. You can buy tons of cases like that on Amazon!

Undeterred by this lack of enthusiasm towards my latest idea, I kept it in the back of my mind every time I pulled out my iPad to do a reading. Until finally, I had one reading too much, and my tired mind refused to fuse morphemes into meaningful sentences.

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Coincidences

In London now, but have really spotty Internet so I can’t update properly, with the ten gazillion pictures I’ve already taken. So here’s a fun story, about how I got from Athens to London.

My favorite Chinese proverb goes like this: it’s about an old man who lost his whole herd of horses. What seemed like an awful thing turned out to be okay, because the horses returned with a pack of wild stallions and it increased his herd. My leaving Greece was full of strange coincidences like this, which reinforces my belief that everything just always turns out okay.

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On Fear

Left Nafplion today. It was a little painful, being the last one to leave. On one hand, I get to say all the goodbyes properly; on the other hand, I never liked long goodbyes anyway, much rather keep them short and just done, whether in person or on phone or on Skype. Instead I saw everyone go in waves, staying up late with the guys to watch them finish packing, cleaning up the apartment after it’s long been empty.

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On Food

Today is the last day of work. My LAST DAY of working in Greece. This still has yet to sink in. I’ve finalized the website, proofread with my partner, Efi, and written a final report. I have my last Greek class today. I still have one weekend, and off to London next.

Looking back, I’ve eaten a lot of good food.

Hi! I'm a delicious pita giro with chicken and tomatoes and lettuce and fries and mayo, all wrapped in a nice hot pita.

Chicken giro. What would I do without this. The cheapest of them all, this €2.30 ~ €2.50 meal has sustained me through many lunches and dinners. The first night we were in Greece, I was introduced to giros and it’s been a loyal friend ever since.

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Lizzy

My friend Lizzy came to visit me Saturday. I got to see Nafplion again through the eyes of a newcomer. It really made me realize that I’ve been here for four weeks already…and only have one week to go.

Like me, Lizzy is an adventurous heights climber. We spent our time together walking up various sets of stairs and looking down from heights. When she arrived, we climbed half-lit paths to find a gorgeous view of Nafplion at night.

City lights

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Island Hopping to Poros

More of the Greek cerulean blue.

On Saturday we went to Poros, another Greek island though bigger than Hydras and had actual SAND beaches. The water was nice and cold, and salty enough to make floating super easy as always.

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Athens: Day 3 – Ghosts

On the final day in Athens, our group went to the Archaelogical Museum and made a short stop in Corinth before finally returning to Nafplion. There was a fun coin exhibit that showed the incidences of myth in old coins, but what everything liked best was probably this giant Zeus head that was there introducing the gods.

I am Zeus, god of gods!

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Athens: Day 2 – Acropolis

People keep asking me how the economy is doing here. Well, today was some sort of general strike, so none of the interns went to work. One of them is stuck in the hospital, despite being quite recovered now, because the specialist is on strike and won’t be in the hospital to check him out. There is so much discontent here.

Well, more time to blog.

We woke up bright and early on the second day in Athens to climb the Acropolis. In Athens, there are a great many dogs, more so than Nafplion. One followed us alone the way to the basee of the Acropolis until one of the interns told it to go away, in Greek. While waiting in line to get into the Acropolis, there was a huge dog fight that scared half our group from sitting patiently listening to Mata, our teacher-tour guide.

Dear Mom, all the dogs here in Greece are HUGE. Half bear, I think. Beware.

Thankfully, most seemed too tired to do anything but sit.

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Athens: Day 1 – on Graffiti

My overall impression of Athens: Acropolis and ancient ruins, A+. The city itself, not so much. At least, I wasn’t enamored with it enough as I was with other European cities that I would want to return anytime soon. Still, the sights were unarguably worth seeing, and I learned so much more from this excursion not just about history, but about the country’s life itself.

And the color of life...is purple.

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Typical Work Day

8:45 AM

Wake up. Say groggy mornings to roommates. Lay in bed while waiting for the bathroom to free up.

9:00 AM

Munch on apple. If Wednesday, go to farmer’s market and stock up on apples.

9:15 AM

Casual stroll through Nafplion towards the Center. Listen to iPod. Greet cats.

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