How Quickly They Learn

In yesterday's class, Dimitris said Arnold Schwarzenegger was a "loser." This came during a small-group conversation as we looked at People magazines's portraits of the last century's 100 top American celebrities. These kids may not be too sure about the difference between "they're" and "their," but they know almost all of People's celebrities: Mohammed Ali, Jennifer Lopez, even John Lennon. American culture has clearly infiltrated Crete's middle schools.

The week has not been an exactly easy ride. The kids are restless. It's oppressively hot. We're often not very sure what we're doing. And in our class, at least, the range of proficieny is vast--from the 15-year-old girl who could probably teach the class, to the shy 11-year-old boy who struggles with basic vocabulary.

And yet. They are wonderful kids: smart, goofy, and willing to spend time with a bunch of Americans who think they can help steer them, in some small way, toward successful adulthood--without losing any of their Greek heritage.

It's a heritage of utter hospitality. As I have been sitting here in the hotel lobby, for example, one of the women who helps run the place handed me a kok, a sweet, fabulously delicious Greek treat. Other women are peeling fresh vegetables in the kitchen. They're getting ready for a bachelor party here tonight for a relative who is getting married Sunday. There will be somewhere between 150 and 200 people and a menu of lamb, chicken, and who-knows-what-else. They will dance the siganos and the haniotis, two Greek dances that Sam's daughters taught(or tried to teach)us last night. And then on Sunday, they will close the hotel down and all go to the wedding.

We'll play tourist this weekend, then return for our second week at school.

And by the way, I didn't disagree with Dimitris.