Creating a community among us

Community is what comes to mind as I reflect on our first day in Greece. Our team leader Sam has created a community among us and for us. Our stay is at a hotel owned by a local family Greek family, Dimitris and Suzanna Tsalopoulos. They put out love and generosity by their presence, food, and hospitality. The hotel is an extension of their home and we have been accepted with open arms. Each meal has been prepared straight from Susanna’s kitchen. During our first day of orientation we ate great food and learned about each other and how to prepare for the weeks ahead. 

Our team of volunteers - Julie, Mary Sue, Leslie, and our leader, Sam - have created our own community with four common goals. Looking at the weeks ahead we will support each other to cultivate opportunity, philanthropy, culture, and learning. We will do this by embodying characteristics such as punctuality, flexibility, working together, sharing, supporting, respecting, learning, being open and honest, being constructive, having a sense of humor, being light hearted, communicating well, having fun, and being responsible. As a community we have prepared for our first day, learned basic Greek, and eaten authentic Greek food straight from mama’s kitchen. Looking forward to the week ahead! 

Entry submitted by: Georgia

And So It Comes To An End

It seems that I have drawn the difficult task of writing the last entry for our team.  It indeed seems impossible that this experience, so long anticipated, has now come to a close. 

Following the reading of the journal for May 17 by Cathy, we enjoyed a fine presentation by Sam on Cretan traditions surrounding engagements, weddings, births, christenings, and funerals.  We learned a lot.

Subsequently we tended to departure preparations – last minute laundry which, in spite of cool cloudy weather did actually dry, then packing, showering, reviewing the day’s lesson plans, and filling out evaluation forms.

Marty and Cathy enjoyed their final lunch at their favorite taverna and indeed the waiter did NOT have to take their order  -- he knew without asking: dolmathes, tzatziki, fried zucchini slices, white wine and Greek coffee.  And yes, AFTER the bill was settled came loukamathes and raki.

Students gathered at 5:00.  The little ones presented their two skits, and reviewed the week’s work with various games.  Cathy and the teenagers did word searches and scrabble.  Again it was lively and competitive.

Nikos and Maria came; Marty visited with them, asking them to share experiences from their childhood while Cathy enjoyed a final class with Paul, Irene, Suzanne and Dimitri.  Conversations were held in little groups all around;  there were many photos taken, and hugs shared, and good-byes said.

Unexpected Friendship

Another beautiful day in Amoudara.  What a beautiful sky – not a cloud in sight.

Marty met Sotiria, Eirini and Maria for their early morning walk.  Along the way, they introduced Marty to various herbs and how they were used in Greek cuisine.  Marty, in turn, helped them with their English.

Marty ventured out enroute to Knossos by bus.  Cathy stayed in Amoudara taking a stroll in town, dined with the hotel staff, prepared lessons and then relaxed by the pool.  She also did some translating for potential guests of the hotel.

Marty returned from her adventure and said it was worth the trip.  She was glad she made the effort.  An unexpected highlight was meeting a 14 or 15 year old young man with a skateboard at the bus stop.  Words exchanged were small at the beginning; however, during the bus ride from Knossos to Heraklion, the young man sat by Marty and asked “who is the favorite singer in the U.S. … Justin Bieber?  When asked what his name was, he replied “Yiannis” and a friendship developed.   He then took out his ipod and shared an earpiece with Marty.  He played small selections of music from Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Mariah Carey; and then, he played in its entirely “We are the world”.  Yiannis also showed  Marty where to exit for the continuing bus trip to Amoudara.

In the early afternoon, Cathy took the teenage students to Heaven where they enjoyed various sweet treats (crepes with ice cream; waffles with ice cream and chocolate syrup).  As a continuing teaching exercise, the students were introduced to a new game where one person says a word and the next person has to say a new word using the last letter of the first word.  The game was very competitive and at the end, it was a tie.

Marty did numerous games and activities (indoors and outdoors) with Aliki and Rafaela. 

Nikos and Maria were not able to attend this evening.  Cathy continued to teach English to the hotel staff..

A Memorable Day

The day dawned, beautiful as always, at Hotel Handakas.  Marty met Soutiria, Eirine and Maria for their early morning walk, Marty and Maria chatting while the two sisters pinched leaves off of trees and restaurants’ herb plantings, scrunching them up and handing them to Marty to smell, explaining in what culinary specialty they are used.

Cathy (henceforth known as our Greek Goddess), helped Karl pack, and we bid him adieu with good wishes for safe travels home and a speedy recovery.

Paul kindly gave Cathy and Marty a ride into Gazi town where they browsed in the shops of Markos and Artemis, Soutiria’s and Demetrios’ son and daughter-in-law.  Cathy purchased a Bodyworks t-shirt from Marcos, and Marty a little outfit for granddaughter Mallory’s 3^rd birthday.  They enjoyed the hike back past Maria and Nikos’ house.  Gazi is a quiet, pretty town with nice shops.

Lunch was once again delicious: a fresh-from-the-garden salad (AND dolmathes from the garden’s grape leaves) and, oh yum, oh yum, tyropita (filo pastry filled with feta and kefalotiri cheeses).

The students arrived and classes began. Marty worked inside and outside with Aliki and Rafaella. Activities included vocabulary of clothing using sticker books, flashcards, and the clothing the girls were wearing.  Games were “Slam it” and “Jump the Line”  and the ever popular “Simon Says.”  Cathy enjoyed her session with her teenage friends, playing “Password” and using word searches.  The students are always very eager, involved, quick and competitive.

No lesson for the staff nor conversation with Maria and Nikos tonight, as Sam squired Cathy and Marty off to a wonderful evening at a restored mountain village/restaurant/gift shop/entertainment venue.  The meal was similar to what would be served at a wedding or other festivity.  The music and dance program was spectacular. Instruments were the lyra and bouzouki.  First there were traditional Greek dances followed by Cretan dances, with the dancers in beautiful traditional dress.  Many in the audience joined in.  It was a memorable evening.

First Goodbye

Marty met Susanne, Irene and Maria for their daily early morning walk.  These walks not only served as a good form of exercise but an opportunity to learn more about the surrounding area and gave Susanne, Irene and Maria an opportunity to practice their English.

After breakfast, Cathy read Karl’s journal.  Karl was not feeling well and was resting in his room.  He later joined the group and indicated that he could not continue with the program because he had a reoccurrence of gout and was very uncomfortable.  Cathy made new air reservations for his departure.  Sam notified Karl’s wife that he would be returning home. Additionally, she notified the Global Volunteers home office in Minnesota of the situation.

Marty needed to change her air reservations to ensure an earlier arrival in Paris.  The girls ventured by bus to the airport.  Marty was successful in changing her reservations with a more ideal arrival time in Paris.  We took the bus back to Amoundara and lunched at our favorite taverna.  Again, we enjoyed dolmathes, fried zucchini, a glass of wine and Greek coffee.  The taverna treated us to loukomathes and raki – because we are now regulars.  They even know our order by heart—no menus needed!

The students arrived.  Marty continued to tutor Alice and Rafaella.  You could certainly tell the girls were really into the lesson.  Cathy played a game called Talking Cards with the teenage students.  This proved to be a great conversational game, giving each student different topics to discuss.  Later the scrabble game continued.  Anthony is still the reigning champ but Leah came close to winning.

After our teaching session, Marty met with Maria and Mr. Nikos for their English lesson.  Cathy met with the hotel staff continuing their English lesson.

The students bid farewell to Karl before he retreated to his room

Start of Week 2

It’s the start of the second half and the GV teams are scoring big time!

Following breakfast, journals for Friday, Saturday and Sunday were read.  Friday was business as usual.  Saturday covered the girls’ trip to Santorini.  A once in a lifetime experience.

On Sunday, the girls took a train tour to a Monastery and a small village.  They liked it so much they planned to do it again on Monday.  Karl prepared a Geography lesson to test the students’ knowledge of the world.  Other planning ensued.

Lunch came and went – first class!

We awaited the students with determination.

The girls returned from their tour raving about the friendliness and hospitality of the people in the villages.  More lesson planning and relaxation continued throughout the afternoon.

Students arrived.  Maria, Lia and Gabriella took the Geography test; Leah and Gabriella did rather well.  They all learned some Geography.  Scrabble followed and Gabriella was the clear winner!  Marty worked with Raffi and Alice on language skills.

Mr. Nick and his wife arrived and were met by Karl and Marty.  Cathy continued to teach the hotel staff English.

Another Day Trip

After breakfast, Marty went to the garden to see if she could help Demetri, but he was coming in for breakfast and the gardening will take place tomorrow morning.

Marty and Cathy did some lesson planning and then walked into town to take a train ride to a Greek Monastery and a Greek Village in the mountains surrounding Crete.  Our first stop was at the Monastery which overlooked the coast of Heraklion.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Many pictures were taken and the nuns at the Monastery were very welcoming.  It was so beautiful and peaceful – so much so that Marty and Cathy are planning to return tomorrow! 

The train continued its journey to the village of Rogdia. A delightful village with very welcoming and kind people.  They visited a small shop where the owner made her own jewelry and had many more offerings.  Cathy bought a hand made colorful salad bowl for her niece and Marty bought some ouzo to enjoy in July with her Greek sister-in-law – opa!

The trip was too short but memorable.  We returned to Amoundara, visited some shops and yes, made a couple of more purchases and then went to our favorite taverna for our favorite food (dolmathes, fried zucchini, and white wine).  Life is good!

We returned to the hotel, did some lesson planning, showered and did laundry.  We managed to get in a short nap as well.

Karl enjoyed a peaceful day and worked on a lesson plan.