Letters Between Friends: HOW A DAYDREAMER LEARNS GREEK

A couple weeks ago my friend Anthi said, “Do you want to go to a young evangelical conference near Corinth?  It will be three days at a five-star resort for € 105.”

Obviously I said YES, PLEASE.  Take a look at this place!

Two nights here for € 105!  That’s about $65/night.  That’s a BEST WESTERN in the US or THIS in Greece.  *sigh*  I love my life here.

There are two problems, though.  The first hiccup is that the conference is in Greek, so I doubt I’ll learn much.  Which is, you know, actually really sad for me!  I love learning, especially about theology!  The second is that it’s supposed to rain in Corinth on Friday and Saturday.  When it gets to be too much listening to Greek, maybe I’ll sneak away for some pool and/or seaside lounging, soaking in the….rain.  Haha!

But really, it hasn’t really bothered me – not knowing Greek.  Another non-Greek at the school gets frustrated when everyone around us is speaking Greek and she says, “Οχι ελληνικἀ!” (“No Greek!”) if it goes on too long.  But it’s never bothered me, mostly because I take the opportunity to plaster on my polite smile and then let my brain fade into daydream-land.

The problem is that now that I am learning Greek, people will ask me, “Did you understand that?” and I have to snap back to reality.  If I answer honestly with, “Uh, no, actually, I wasn’t paying attention,” then I get scolded and told, “You have to keep your mind on all the time!”  Which I do, for like five minutes, and then I get back to deciding what movie I’ll watch next on Netflix (I re-subscribed to Netflix now that my Greek class is over!  And because season 2 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt comes on next month!).

Even though I’m okay with sneaking off for some me time in this GREEK WONDERLAND, I will try to engage!  I will try to meet new people!  I will try to actually listen when they speak and possibly even answer (even if it’s just “παλἰ, παρακαλὠ” – “again, please”).  And if it’s overwhelming, I’ll just go sit on one of those terraces and listen to the sea and let the windy rain whip my hair into a rat’s nest and think, “MY LIFE IS AMAZING,” as I ignore the Greek conversations around me.

Love,

Tricia

P.S.  I keep seeing all these cool Mary Kay pictures and comments on Facebook!  I want to know more about what’s going on with you and your new business!!