We have to go to class...??

I survived the first week of class at ACT! I'm well on my way to understanding the alphabet and am beginning to recognize words on store/street signs. I've got crepe, gyro, pharmacy, and cafe down. Hopefully I'll continue to expand my vocabulary. I'm also taking an International Economics class--the only one that will actually count for my major and it sounds like it will probably be easier than the classes at BC. I've been told grade inflation at ACT is common. Besides that I am in The World of Alexander and Greek Folklore, both of which involve field trips to various museums and a fire walking ceremony in May.

I think my favorite class is a Public Service Internship that I got involved in working with a group called from Street Kids to School Kids. In Thessaloniki there is the Roma community (the derogatory term is gypsies) who are extremely poor and considered outcasts. Children from around four to the early teens are on the streets and the attitude toward them is that of pests rather than victims. They is very little information on where they come from and a language barrier exists because they speak a dialect of Roma, which is not really connected to anything else. Thessaloniki, I was told, is actually the European capital for human trafficking (especially children). The Internship involves working with an NGO to rebuild a community center and help establish trust in the community. Just from the first week though, I can already tell there is a  lot barriers that we will have to deal with, but I think it will be an interesting challenge.

Here are a couple pictures of the view from my apartment and the from the stairs overlooking my campus:

Looking out toward the water and downtown Thessaloniki

                                            

My first gyro!! Pork, french fries, onions, tomatoes, mustard, ketchup, and pita.