Directions for Use

One of the interesting, and sometimes challenging, things that I have found is that many consumer items will not have user manuals or directions in English.  There are a variety of other languages listed, but these are obviously products sold only in this part of Europe / Mediterranean.  

The most challenging, still, is the washing machine - pictured here.  For those times when I might want to use more than just the one setting I am sure of (and use all the time) I am thinking of printing this picture out, writing the English equivalents, and hanging above the machine.

Smaller challenges:

The Motorola phone I bought soon after my arrival only came with Greek directions.  I had to go to the Motorola website and choose the U.K. as my location to find English directions for my phone (this particular model isn't sold in the U.S.).

Our stove and washing machine came only in Greek.  Fortunately, Vasilis is the type who likes to read on how things work before using them - rather than just jumping in - so I get to learn at the same time.  Of course, I only end up using/learning the basic functions.  If I want to set the stove on anything but the equivalent for "bake", he's going to need to get involved.

The fridge has English, but after repeated training I have successfully learned how to open and shut the door to it - so the directions are unnecessary. 

Our television came with 2 books, each 3/4 inch thick, with 14 different languages inside.  Fortunately one was English.  Of course, once we got the major features figured out, we were pretty much set.  Off/On, Volume and channel changing - nothing we have to refer back to the manual for!

Our scale wins the prize for total number of languages translated - 18.  Again, you think it would easy "step on, read numbers, swear yet again to eat out less at tavernas, step off".  But this thing is slick, you set it for the various people in your household so not only do you get your weight (with lbs or kilos as options) but also % body fat and % water.  We started off with it measuring in kilos, but for me that was like going to another country and using new currency.  It doesn't really equate with what you know and spending a lot doesn't seem like a big deal.  For me, reading kilos doesn't give me that properly despairing feeling of "I way that much!?" to adequately keep the weight in check.  

Anyway...

A semi-typical combination of languages listed might be like that of my iron:

Danish

Norwegian

Swedish

Finnish

Polish

Russian

Greek

Turkish

Arabic

Italian

Getting medicine, whether it's over the counter or prescription, really leaves me in the dark.  Since we are trying to get pregnant, we try to stay on top of the things that a pregnant woman shouldn't be taking.  At least with these, I have found that the products have the English name (i.e. ibuprofen) and I can look that up on the web.

Other simple household stuff, such as cleaning items, typically comes in Greek, Spanish and Italian.  Initially I had better luck at reading the Spanish or Italian to get an idea of what the product was for or how to use it.  Not that I really know either of those languages, they are just much closer to English so I can get a hint.

I've had the most fun with one particular item though.  During the summertime, what with walking around in sandals all the time, my feet get quite dry and my heels crack pretty easily.  We found out about a Dr. Scholl's product that is supposed to help.  It seems this particular packaging is sold only here and Italy - it's called "Crema per Talloni Screpolati" (roughly, cream for heel cracks).  Firstly, it was an exciting moment for me in that I had equal luck understanding both the Italian and Greek directions (meaning I have learned something while I've been here).  Secondly, the darned stuff actually works!  And thirdly, we have taken to the word "screpolati" just because it's so much fun to say.  I even told Vasilis that if I ever have to enter the witness protection program, my last name will be Screpolati.

Let's not even go into day to day information/instruction outside the home.  There is a sign on the wall outside the pool at my gym indicating that something is forbidden, but I didn't understand the word telling me exactly what that something was.  Referenced my dictionary when I got home and found out it's just diving.  Thank god it wasn't peeing or I'd really be in trouble...

Hospital visits

So far, the thing I have found most daunting is learning the medical system here.  Being from an HR background, I always know nearly exactly what the coverage is and what to expect.  Not to mention, as with most adults of my age, I've had a few visits to the doctor over time.  And then there's the surgeries and hospital time I've been so lucky to experience firsthand.

That's doing me little good here (aside from the pretty strong knowledge of knees and their various issues).

I've been having some problems with one of my knees lately and decided, a few weeks ago, it was time to go see someone about it.  Since I don't have a regular doctor, nor even a name of someone to see, I had to go to the ER in order to be seen.  I felt a bit of a fraud, since it was hardly an emergency, but Vasilis assured me this was the way to get it done.

The ER waiting room at the Naval hospital is quite small, and was also very hot on this particular day.  Sun facing room, AC was being worked on - not fun.  There really isn't anyone to check in with when you get there.  You just wait until someone comes into the waiting room to help who's next.  So you have to figure your position in "line" based on who's already there.  I waited a bit longer than I needed to, as I didn't understand what the guy said when he popped his head out to find out if anyone needed to be examined.  After the 2nd time he did it, I consulted my handy pocket dictionary and realized I needed to speak up.  Thank god I did.  Had I waited much longer they would have needed to see me for heat sickness.

So the ER evaluated me and sent me upstairs to the Orthopedic offices.  They gave me a slip of paper, directions, and sent me on my way.  This is where things get a bit weird.  The Orthopedic section doesn't have a receptionist either.  You have to hang around the entrance door until some medical looking person shows their face, and then you hand your slip to them.  It could become quite a mob at that door, as it was the only way to speak to someone in the know.  I wish I understood what the others were needing.

So I sat myself down to wait for my name to be called (see picture of waiting area above - sorry for bad quality).  Even that can be a bit stressful, as those who's names were called in the exhibited a sense of urgency to get to the door once they were called, as if there were 5.7 seconds to get there or they miss their opportunity.

Once I was called in, things were fairly straight forward.  Got a prescription for two weeks of anti-inflammatory and a second one to protect my stomach from the first one.  (1.55 Euro total - great coverage!)  Also instructions to return if I was still having problems.

Problems continued - so I returned.  This is where it got tricky.  The doctor had told me to come straight to the offices, no appointment necessary.  So I now became one of the mob at the door, waiting to tell someone I was there.  I had the added fun of figuring out how to say in Greek what I needed, once I managed to get someone's attention.  I guess I was successful in my choice of words, as I was seen fairly quickly (within 45 minutes - not bad for no appointment!). Unfortunately, they weren't able to send me for the needed MRI that day and I had to come back later.  Again, no appointment.  Fortunately this time Vasilis had called a friend with a similar knee problem (meniscus) and got the name of the Dr he saw.  Vasilis got that Dr's cell number and I was instructed to go in today (his last day before a 3 week vacation).  I repeated my successful phrase to the same nurse as before and got in quickly again.  Whew.

I had been slightly worked up about this visit, for fear the nurse would think I am just trying to buck the appointment system and tell me to bugger off.  Now that I think about it though, this is pretty much the Greek way - trying to work around things to one's own advantage.  I walked out with an order for an MRI and was able to get a same day appointment at their offices.  So that part is done.  Now just for seeing what the MRI says and what the next steps are.  

The medical system saga will continue, I'm sure.  But at least I am much more comfortable with it now.

Heat

I don't know what I was thinking after the end of last summer (~Sept).  We experienced a short heat wave soon after I got here and had our share of hot days.  I don't remember particularly enjoying those days, but managed to make it through.  For whatever reason, when summer hit this year, I was not clear on what a whole one would look like.

Am clear now.

Since coming here, I have drastically adjusted what I consider hot.  Before moving here I would start groaning if the outside temperature was to hit 80, now I am happy if it's near that inside.  I have set up a cheap little thermometer on the kitchen bar, straddling the kitchen and living room.  Since I put it out there, the coolest the room has been is 75 degrees (that was an exciting morning for me!).  The day usually starts at 78 and hangs out around 82.  Of course, we do have AC. I think I would have moved to Norway by now if we didn't. I have made 83 my threshold for starting it up in the main room.  The nights we use it in our bedroom, we make a quick sacrifice to the AC gods before going to sleep.  Ok, the sacrifice is usually a mosquito, but it's the thought that counts.  

Should we talk external temps now?  The lowest I've seen the forecast in some time is 86  - but the highs usually range from 89 to 97.  On the days where it gets to 100, I head for the beach.  I was a bit dismayed once I noticed this trend and realized there was still a whole summer to get through.  

As a note, all the temps above are converted from the Celsius readings I see.  The forecasts are given for the temp in the shade - so what it is in the sun is not only depressing but can quickly kick your ass on the hotter days.  Just hanging out my laundry this afternoon off the back (sun facing) balcony was almost too much for me.

What they say about a dry heat though is totally right, though.  I would take this over the humid South any day.  Fortunately it's not so dry that you feel the need to spray water up your nose and then coat it with vaseline to keep it from cracking and disintegrating from the inside.

Now, I know there are many people who live in much hotter areas, but I am here and this is my blog.  With all the adjustments one makes moving to a new country - weather is a "safe" topic of complaint.

Silver lining:  

- The laundry dries in no time.  

- Most people are smart enough to get out of the city for some time during the summer, so the place is deserted.   (see previous Ghost Town post).

Summer Ghost Town

Typically traffic is a congested, smoggy, lawless snapshot of chaos here in Athens.  For example, my mother-in-law lives about 6 miles away and it takes a minimum of 20-25 mins to get there by car on a usual afternoon.  We prefer to go with our motorcycle - not only does it take less gas, but gets us there a lot quicker since we can weave through traffic and are always at the front of the line at traffic lights.

Summertime is a different story.  I remember talking with my husband last August, before I got here, as he described the emptiness of the streets.  In the summer, the majority of the city's population goes on holiday, many to their villages, others to the islands and who knows where else.  

Now in my first summer here, I can see what he's talking about.  There's just no one here.  The picture above is one of the main thoroughfares through town which keeps fairly busy even on a Sunday afternoon.  See - no one...  It's still just July, he says it'll be even worse next month.  

I particularly like the effect of this at the supermarket.  They are closed on Sundays, so we tend to go Saturday afternoons and get stocked up.  Of course, we're not the only ones who do this and we are apt to find ourselves bumping carts at every turn.  Yesterday it was heaven, like shopping on a weekday morning.  Lots of space in the aisle, no long lines at the checkout...  I guess this is the silver lining to the daily heat we struggle with (more on that in an upcoming post).

To start off

Some time ago I built website to share things going on in my life (our lives, really) since I moved to Greece in Sept 07 - following my then husband-to-be as he returned to his home country after 2 years in the States.  Being slightly lazy, it seemed easier to update a website than to send multiple emails saying basically the same thing to different people.  

But for some time now I have found a short commentary constantly working itself up in my mind about things in my new country.  I avoided keeping a journal when moving here - I just wanted to live the life and not be busy making comparisons with life in the U.S.  Comparisons can be the death of successful adjustment to a new country and culture - so not only did I not write them down, I wouldn't let myself think them if at all possible.

Now, I have mostly adjusted and am seeing things that I want to comment on.  I am not sure what I mean to accomplish by this.  Possibly to share them with someone who won't feel the need to defend it or explain it should it be less than complimentary about Greece.  That's not to say I won't have positive things to say - nor will everything be directly related to Greece as a country.  Generally, I don't know where this is going, but felt the need to start!