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...