Adventure!

Adventure is about the only word to describe last night. But before I get there, I have to mention the school. I just finished my first week. and I am loving it! Just loving it! My cooperating teacher, Ms. Coklas, is amazing. The students are fantastic - funny and (mostly) well-behaved and polite. One big difference between this school and American schools is the number of ESL students. In my class of 23, there are 6 currently in ESL and another 3-4 that just tested out of ESL services. It's going to be prove to be an interesting challenge. But, seriously, it's so good here! And the campus is great - you can see the mountains from the balcony just outside our room. Beautiful. 

So - last night. Well, we had parent-teacher conferences, so it was about 6:30 -6:45 before I even left school. Again, the Syntagma station was closed, so I got off at Monastiraki and that's when things got interesting. As I rode the escalator up to street level, I started smelling smoke and teargas. You could have cut the air with a knife - tensions were high. When I got off the stairs, I saw why. Monastiraki square had been taken over by a massive fight between the rioters and police. Fires were burning, people were shouting, projectiles were being thrown - it just was not good. So, I quickly headed the opposite direction. 

Unfortuately, I don't know my way around the Plaka as well as I would like (especially in the dark). So, I wasn't lost, per se, but I wasn't sure exactly how to get where I wanted to be. There was no way I was going to pull out my map and look lost, so I found a view of the Acropolis and used that as my North star. Eventually, I found a small church that I remembered. However, it was right by Syntagma and there was a small fight going on just ahead. I ducked down the side street again, and soon found myself in more familiar territory. It wasn't until I saw Hadrian's Arch that I really started to feel comfortable again. I was almost home when I saw a whole group of people get arrested at the crossroads before my house. Suffice it to say, once I got home, I stayed there. 

So, it was a long and stressful walk home, but I did make it. Lizzie interviewed me for the radio - and she asked me what it felt like to be here, during these times. My answer: Well, this is just life right now. This is how it is. You deal. But, it's going to really sink in when I teach about this in social studies or economics someday - and I'll be able to tell my kids - Hey, I was there. I saw this. It's a crazy thing really. 

So, yeah, the metro is fully operational today, which made my walk home much easier. I wandered around my neighborhood and found a supermarket. :) Now, it's homework and packing time. I leave tomorrow for a visit to Delphi with the Academy's Humanities class. I'll be back Monday night. I'll post pictures and an update then! Have a great weekend and take it all one step at a time. <3