So I was looking over my blog, and I realized that my description of my Homer class was sorely lacking. My professor, Raish (pronounced like race with a sh at the end), looks like the epitome of classicist. He wears a tweed jacket. Under that is a sweater vest over a button up shirt and tie. His gray hair is pushed up in front like he has been leaning on his hand over a particularly difficult bit of an obscure Greek philosopher. To top it all off, he has a British accent. He is actually an American, but he doesn't like to admit it. He went to school in Britain all the way through, starting with boarding school as a young boy. Most of my professors look the part of the classicist, but he is the best. When reading Homer, he reads along with the meter in a rolling way that could almost make you sea sick, but makes the text sound almost regal. He has no tact whatsoever. If you mess up he will say "No!! That is incorrect!! Why would you say that!! That sound like you have completely left the meter out!!" Or more of the kind.
Yesterday in class we had quite a few moments where we all had to laugh, but one in particular was priceless. We were translating a part where a man was begging for his life. He said that if he was taken alive, his father would provide a handsome ransom. When he is about to succeed, Agamemnon runs up and kills him and pulls out the ashen spear. Now, our professor asked what kind of condition the part about the ransom was written in. One guy said it was future less vivid. My prof. replied, "That is CORRECT!!" Then the student (Dan) continued, "Maybe if he had used future more vivid he would have been allowed to live." Musingly, he continued, "but then it probably would not have fit the meter." Dan concluded, "So this man had to die for the sake of meter." Of course we were all rolling with laughter. (Ancient Greek grammer jokes... maybe we are all nerds.)
[to my readers: If you did not understand that joke, don't worry, just consult your friendly neighborhood classicist. Failing that, just write it off as a bad job and accept that there must be something wrong with all those students in Greece.]
Well, I have seen a few more things while here. Today I watched as some motorcyclists drove along and at one point crossed themselves in prayer. Now, I have already heard that the reason for this is not a concern for their lives (though this concern is warranted on the crazy streets of Athens). The true reason is that every time they pass a church, they cross themselves. That is just what the Greek Orthodox do. So if you are ever in Greece and watch motorists or pedestrians crossing themselves, realize that the true reason is not to ask God's mercy in crossing the intersection alive.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Learning more
My two classes which you have not yet heard about are Ancient Greek:Homer, and Ancient Greek Myth and Religion. The latter seems like it will be boring so far. Of course, that could be because we spent our last class basically doing an overview of what I learned in Greek Civ last year.
Homer is difficult. So far we have had about 35 lines a night. That is actually less than I had last semester with New Testament, but it is new vocab and some new grammer. He does some strange conjugations and such. We are reading books 6 and 7 of the Iliad. The other Homer class is reading book 5. So far we are moving faster than the other class. There are 14 people in our class, so each person only gets to translate 2-3 lines per class period. That stinks a bit. None of us are used to that. The good thing is that we may not have tests. We will only have tests if he deems them necessary.
Sunday I found a church and went to St. Paul's Anglican church. It was very similar to what I am used to. The order of service and even the liturgy and identical tot eh United Methodist Church. The big differences are two. First, the sermon is very different from what I am used to. He really just talked about who Paul was and what he did. It was more like a lecture than a exhortation to live your life in a certain way. Little practical application is offered. The second difference was that they use wine in communion. I have only had wine a couple of times in communion, and then it was nasty and I was only given enough to wet my lips. With my limited experience, I think this was actually good wine. Also, they held the chalice for me and just kept tipping it, so it was swallow or get it all over myself. I got quite a gulp, and it made me light headed for about 10-15 minutes. It was really strange. I imagine I will get used to it over the semester.
A fun part was that they were celebrating the Feast of St. Paul's conversion. The priest kept talking about how Paul walked and taught and ate and worked within 15 minutes of where we sat. He preached nearby at the Aereopagus. The church was called St. Paul's Anglican Episcopal. The priest sends greetings to my home church... so Greetings Grace!!
It is time to head off to market, so as the Greeks say... yeia sou!! Good bye!!
Homer is difficult. So far we have had about 35 lines a night. That is actually less than I had last semester with New Testament, but it is new vocab and some new grammer. He does some strange conjugations and such. We are reading books 6 and 7 of the Iliad. The other Homer class is reading book 5. So far we are moving faster than the other class. There are 14 people in our class, so each person only gets to translate 2-3 lines per class period. That stinks a bit. None of us are used to that. The good thing is that we may not have tests. We will only have tests if he deems them necessary.
Sunday I found a church and went to St. Paul's Anglican church. It was very similar to what I am used to. The order of service and even the liturgy and identical tot eh United Methodist Church. The big differences are two. First, the sermon is very different from what I am used to. He really just talked about who Paul was and what he did. It was more like a lecture than a exhortation to live your life in a certain way. Little practical application is offered. The second difference was that they use wine in communion. I have only had wine a couple of times in communion, and then it was nasty and I was only given enough to wet my lips. With my limited experience, I think this was actually good wine. Also, they held the chalice for me and just kept tipping it, so it was swallow or get it all over myself. I got quite a gulp, and it made me light headed for about 10-15 minutes. It was really strange. I imagine I will get used to it over the semester.
A fun part was that they were celebrating the Feast of St. Paul's conversion. The priest kept talking about how Paul walked and taught and ate and worked within 15 minutes of where we sat. He preached nearby at the Aereopagus. The church was called St. Paul's Anglican Episcopal. The priest sends greetings to my home church... so Greetings Grace!!
It is time to head off to market, so as the Greeks say... yeia sou!! Good bye!!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Adventures in Athens
More fun in Athens has taken place after a few days. Trekking around Athens has brought many adventures.
A few days ago, in a wild search for a bank, Phoebe (one of my roommates) and I spent an hour and a half finding a bank that was 10 minutes from where we started. We walked down one road past men in short white skirts, long wool socks, and pom poms on their shoes (pictures will follow in a later post) guarding some buildings. We got to see the changing of the guards. It turns out those are young men fulfilling their military service in the tradition outfit of Greeks over 200 years ago. From there we walked a couple miles, realized we were going the wrong way, and found our way back to the banks. It was an adventure.
Yesterday after classes Phoebe and I went to the Acropolis and Aereopagus. Unfortunately we arrived too late to enter the Acropolis, but I got to touch one of the buildings on the Acropolis. We raced when we realized what we were standing beside. I also got a picture sitting on the Aereopagus near the summit where Paul would have converted many Athenians, including Dionysus. It was so cool!! Athens was so beautiful from that high up.
I also had my first truly Greek gyro, and it was unlike anything you can get in the US. It was absolutely amazing. One thing I have discovered is that restaurant owners or workers (I don't know which) will stand at the door and ask you to come in as you walk past. some of them get pretty insistent. They really want customers and they know that Americans eat at a different time than Greeks. Greeks eat dinner between 9 and 11 PM.
Classes started yesterday, as I already mentioned. I had Orthodox Church and Modern Greek. When my Orthodox Church professor walked in, my first reaction was "Is he wearing a dress?" Then I realized it was a robe and wondered if he was a monk. But I didn't know if the Greek Orthodox has monks. It turns out they do, but he wasn't a monk. Then I figured he was probably a priest. All of this took place within less than 30 seconds. The first thing he told us was that he is a Man in Black. Actually a priest. Orthodox priests just walk the city in black robes and beard and some wear a funny hat. I saw one yesterday with the hat. My professor is a parish priest. It promises to be a good class. One thing he is having us do is find a Greek Orthodox and ask them about their relation to the church and the religion. He said that people are more likely to talk to a stranger than a priest and he is using us for research!!! That way he can do more what the people want!! Through this class, I will definitely meet Greeks. Both through this interview and by going to a church service or two for class.
Modern Greek was also fun. The pronunciations are very different from Ancient Greek. Everybody in my class has done Ancient Greek, so my class is accellerated. We don't have to spend as much time on the alphabet, for example. We are all having trouble with the pronuciation differences. We are moving pretty fast and it is a little overwhelming, but it is fun. The worst part will be switching back and forth between ancient and Modern Greek pronunciations each day I have both classes. Make it even more confusing.
This afternoon I have Ancient Greek:Homer and Acient Greek Mythology and Religion. I got my books for the latter class and I am reading the Odyssey and the Iliad. So I am reading Homer in English and Greek. Interesting overlap.
I met a guy who is in three of my classes who attends Notre Dame and I am meeting many other people as well. My roommates, Meghan and Phoebe, are very nice and we all do Ancient Greek. Meghan is also reading Homer this semester, but in a different section, and we are all in the accellerated Modern Greek. It is helpful to have us all with the same interests. We think that must have been planned.
Well, I am off to class. We have a hike tomorrow. See you all later!! yia sas!!!
A few days ago, in a wild search for a bank, Phoebe (one of my roommates) and I spent an hour and a half finding a bank that was 10 minutes from where we started. We walked down one road past men in short white skirts, long wool socks, and pom poms on their shoes (pictures will follow in a later post) guarding some buildings. We got to see the changing of the guards. It turns out those are young men fulfilling their military service in the tradition outfit of Greeks over 200 years ago. From there we walked a couple miles, realized we were going the wrong way, and found our way back to the banks. It was an adventure.
Yesterday after classes Phoebe and I went to the Acropolis and Aereopagus. Unfortunately we arrived too late to enter the Acropolis, but I got to touch one of the buildings on the Acropolis. We raced when we realized what we were standing beside. I also got a picture sitting on the Aereopagus near the summit where Paul would have converted many Athenians, including Dionysus. It was so cool!! Athens was so beautiful from that high up.
I also had my first truly Greek gyro, and it was unlike anything you can get in the US. It was absolutely amazing. One thing I have discovered is that restaurant owners or workers (I don't know which) will stand at the door and ask you to come in as you walk past. some of them get pretty insistent. They really want customers and they know that Americans eat at a different time than Greeks. Greeks eat dinner between 9 and 11 PM.
Classes started yesterday, as I already mentioned. I had Orthodox Church and Modern Greek. When my Orthodox Church professor walked in, my first reaction was "Is he wearing a dress?" Then I realized it was a robe and wondered if he was a monk. But I didn't know if the Greek Orthodox has monks. It turns out they do, but he wasn't a monk. Then I figured he was probably a priest. All of this took place within less than 30 seconds. The first thing he told us was that he is a Man in Black. Actually a priest. Orthodox priests just walk the city in black robes and beard and some wear a funny hat. I saw one yesterday with the hat. My professor is a parish priest. It promises to be a good class. One thing he is having us do is find a Greek Orthodox and ask them about their relation to the church and the religion. He said that people are more likely to talk to a stranger than a priest and he is using us for research!!! That way he can do more what the people want!! Through this class, I will definitely meet Greeks. Both through this interview and by going to a church service or two for class.
Modern Greek was also fun. The pronunciations are very different from Ancient Greek. Everybody in my class has done Ancient Greek, so my class is accellerated. We don't have to spend as much time on the alphabet, for example. We are all having trouble with the pronuciation differences. We are moving pretty fast and it is a little overwhelming, but it is fun. The worst part will be switching back and forth between ancient and Modern Greek pronunciations each day I have both classes. Make it even more confusing.
This afternoon I have Ancient Greek:Homer and Acient Greek Mythology and Religion. I got my books for the latter class and I am reading the Odyssey and the Iliad. So I am reading Homer in English and Greek. Interesting overlap.
I met a guy who is in three of my classes who attends Notre Dame and I am meeting many other people as well. My roommates, Meghan and Phoebe, are very nice and we all do Ancient Greek. Meghan is also reading Homer this semester, but in a different section, and we are all in the accellerated Modern Greek. It is helpful to have us all with the same interests. We think that must have been planned.
Well, I am off to class. We have a hike tomorrow. See you all later!! yia sas!!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Arrival
Study abroad has begun.
After just under 24 hours in airports or on plane, I finally made it to my apartment. That was three plane trips. At least the entire time, there were people to talk to. Every plane had a significant group of study abroad students going all over Europe. My final plane which went to Athens with about 60 of us heading to the same program.
Arrival in Greece was not without its problems. One of my suitcases apparently decided to stay behind in London, so it took quite awhile to stand in line to report the problem. After doing that, and discovering that I should get my luggage today...the big group of us left that area to find together the lady holding a sign for our group. Then we discovered that we all had to wait for the two or three approved cabs to the apartments...two people at a time. That took quite awhile. It was amazing riding in the cab looking at Athens. Absolutely beautiful. Our cab driver spoke no English but was enjoying herself teaching us Greek.
After setting up at the apartment, we headed to the academic center. I can see the Acropolis from the balcony! We then sat for an hour and a half waiting for the people to call us back to meet. By 7:30, we started to look for food. By 8:30, we managed to find the market to buy some food, and discovered that there are no fruits and vegetables in the market. You have to go to the farmer's market for that. Eventually we found our way back to the apartment in the dark.
Today, the only things on the schedule are picking up books at our allotted times and the presidential inauguration. Hopefully I will get to do some sightseeing soon. I will be sure to let everybody know about that when it happens. Classes start Thursday, and orientation is tomorrow.
After just under 24 hours in airports or on plane, I finally made it to my apartment. That was three plane trips. At least the entire time, there were people to talk to. Every plane had a significant group of study abroad students going all over Europe. My final plane which went to Athens with about 60 of us heading to the same program.
Arrival in Greece was not without its problems. One of my suitcases apparently decided to stay behind in London, so it took quite awhile to stand in line to report the problem. After doing that, and discovering that I should get my luggage today...the big group of us left that area to find together the lady holding a sign for our group. Then we discovered that we all had to wait for the two or three approved cabs to the apartments...two people at a time. That took quite awhile. It was amazing riding in the cab looking at Athens. Absolutely beautiful. Our cab driver spoke no English but was enjoying herself teaching us Greek.
After setting up at the apartment, we headed to the academic center. I can see the Acropolis from the balcony! We then sat for an hour and a half waiting for the people to call us back to meet. By 7:30, we started to look for food. By 8:30, we managed to find the market to buy some food, and discovered that there are no fruits and vegetables in the market. You have to go to the farmer's market for that. Eventually we found our way back to the apartment in the dark.
Today, the only things on the schedule are picking up books at our allotted times and the presidential inauguration. Hopefully I will get to do some sightseeing soon. I will be sure to let everybody know about that when it happens. Classes start Thursday, and orientation is tomorrow.
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