Cretan Dance

The Cretan Dance

Day 14 June 19th

       I do not know what I was actually expecting. Honestly, I think I watch too many movies, because, I was thinking more of something out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding than the skilled dances I had the pleasure of seeing.
       The dancers were wearing the traditional costumes that were similar to the ones on display at the Penelope Gandhi Mission.

The men were wearing white shirts, blue boleros, black trousers that ballooned at the top, with tall black boots, and a hat that was tight to the head. The women were wearing white blouses, black silk boleros, long red skirts, white decorative aprons, and black heels.
     

Even though I did not feel comfortable participating in the act of dancing I did not miss out on this unbelievable cultural event. Watching my fellow students attempting what I can only assume takes years and hours of blood sweat and tears in talent and practice, was fantastic. Some of my fellow classmates really have a gift as far as being able to pick up on the routine.
       All in all seeing everyone literally getting into the show was yet another aspect of culture that I do not experience where I am from. I can appreciate the togetherness, the openness, and the vulnerability of the experience, whether I am use to it or not myself.

Weaving An Old Tradition Into a New Frontier

Weaving An Old Tradition Into a New Frontier

Day 14 June 19th

       At the Penelope Gandhi Mission the volunteers are trying to bring back the Cretan dying art of loom weaving. Here they have invested in their own stock lie of silk worms to produce their own silk threads. Every worm cocoons themselves into a silk thread which is then baked, and soaked in water to loosen the silk three in one whole piece.

       Additionally, they only loom what was used historically in Crete; wool, flax thread, and silk. Moreover, they only use natural dyes from flowers, minerals, and the like to create their colours like their ancestors.
       Furthermore, they have searched the region in peoples attics and basements to restore any old loom and ancestor may have left behind.

The volunteers go above and beyond teaching young Cretans who are interested in learning the craft by investing their time. The volunteers also are creating an array of various pieces for show and for sale to support their cause. There was wool blankets, wool bags, historical style silk tunics, and traditional Greek dancer dresses made of silk, traditional Greek dancer trousers and boleros also made from silk.

       The Penelope Gandhi Mission is a representation of Crete working hard to bring back an deep piece of their history not only for the enrichment value, but, for economic value. Crete needs to find a way to have every assets available to them. The pieces the volunteers have made are available at several stands throughout the island. Unfortunately, most have a "Made in China"tag sewn in it. This is Crete's way of taking back their traditions and re-earthing their roots in order to grow stronger in their culture and heritage. (http://www.panoreon.gr/en/gandhi/identity)

Greek

Greek

Day 16 June 21st;

       Yota is a force that reckons with, and I have been seriously avoiding responsibility for my Greek education. I owe, you, Yota an apology for my avoiding and neglect so I am blogging that if she'll have me, I will be back in class. I am fearful of not having enough time to get all my political readings done, all the required blogging, and the paper accomplished. But, I owe it to myself, Yota, Dr. Vamvakas, and my fellow students. To be a fair and active participant in this program I will attend the Greek class from this day forth. I understand that learning the language has a very active role in understanding the culture of a country. I truly apologize for my lack of participation and any unruliness I have had previously around attending . It was out of fear and pressure of the reading expectations from the other courses and my less than swift reading abilities.

Most apologetically yours,

Jessica

Fulbright and the Future

Fulbright Women in Athens

Day 10 June 15th;

       This evening four women who have been teaching in Athens on a Fulbright Foundation Scholarship came to speak to us. On both; their experiences of the Fulbright Foundation opportunity, and as American expats experiencing the capitol of Greece during this pending political condition.
       First the heartening part of the round discussion was hearing the women discuss how Athenians handled the last fiscal years political process with the Eurozone. They described the school that they work at as being a private school for the Athenian elite, including children of political leaders. In times of political hardship there was tension and stress from their students. As well as in areas of Athens were working class families lived and frequented. They talked of the political voices of protests and picketing with an impending uncertainty for Greece's future. The working class was not alone long-term political families also had this feeling of political uncertainty seeing the political power in new hands, hoping all their years of hard work would not become undone.
       The other was hearing of the incredible opportunity that the Fulbright Foundation has to offer (http://www.iie.org/fulbright), living a year abroad working in an international internship. There are several different countries that the Fulbright Foundation works in. Additionally, there are different programs within each country; from graduates building towards their PhD's on Research Grants, to Teaching Assistantships, Public Health Fellowships, and Clinton Fellowships. The opportunities are endless and most students could easily find a region that would have their field of study. It was also comforting to hear one of the women say that she had applied one year and was denied only to apply the exact same application and be accepted. Meaning if I chose to apply I can do so after taking a year off from academia.
       Earlier in the day I heard a fellow student was talking about WWOOFing at a farm on Crete. I had just heard of these experience from the women in my previous abroad program. To WWOOF is to volunteer at organic farm, usually internationally, having room and board covered by the hosting farm (http://wwoofinternational.org). It is a great way to give back to the environment, build up the organic eating world, and an inexpensive way to live in and experience other cultures. Being an Organic farmer myself, I found this as an amazing opportunity as well especially for college students who want to travel with limited funds or even adults with a free lifestyle.

   

King Minos and His Civilized Society

Day 8 June 13th;
     
       I have been anticipating this portion of the trip since I caught wind of it being on the schedule. I grew up reading Greek Mythology specifically the stories of the Labyrinth and Minotaur; the body and legs  of a man, and the head of a bull. It was said to eat people who went into it's labyrinth never to be seen again. The true story behind King Minos' Minotaur was actually only a bull, the King's prized bull. Because of Athens responsibility for the death of King Minos' son, King Minos was given seven women and seven men from Athens to play in his game to leap onto his bull, the Minotaur. The dangers in this lead to many deaths of the Athens athletes and began the myth of a man eating half bull half man creature.

       King Minos was a peaceful, fair man whose people wanted for nothing. Whatever the Minoan's needed they traded for and their civilization was known as one without war. Here is a civilization to revere and learn from. There is ten of us students on this program and we cannot seem to organize to share two internet accesses, water for shower times, or our true selves.
       It is interesting how we are all student of either political science, international relations, business, or the like, and we are incapable of organization, negotiation, structure, and humanitarianism within in our own small group. I am concerned that if diplomacy and decency cannot live amongst us here; how will we ever pass it on beyond us in grander venues in the future? In the way we all hope to achieve some day.

"Our politics are so divisive" 

(Statecraft and Globalization Dr. Vamvakas discussing American's questioning politics in place on June 15th 2015)

The Blood and The Body

Day 5 June 10th;

      We had been invited to a local bakery to make our own bread. The bread we made was from a old recipe made with a wheat grain that has a history to the land. It's a whole wheat based grain that is organic and not processed in such a way that the bread can be eaten by those who have gluten allergies or sensitivities. I personally find I have sensitivity to gluten, I love eating foods gluten is in, in the moment, only to pay the price later. In reflection, I notice that I have not had an issue with any of the obvious food items here in Greece, that would usually have gluten based. The process for local Greek grains must be different then back home.
       Upon meeting the baker and listening to him describe his work day at the bakery and showing us how he makes his product there was a wafting of yeast and heat and I drifted into a homesick feeling, a memory. A comforting memory, from 32 years ago, I was a little girl of five or so, and watching my grandfather's bread rising. I would run around doing clumsy acrobatics to entertain myself but when grampy's bread was rising I slowed down and waited. For me the Sprunce bread he made was so good it could "stand on its own two feet", but it was always better as toast with butter. The bread, or reward, was worth the sacrifice of slowing down. Maybe that's why I still eat breads even with the consequences I have from the gluten.
     The baker's own five year old was there and entertaining himself, who knows what the next 32 years will bring him. The baker talked about loading his van with bread and going around and sitting in different areas of the village to sell his bread. You can picture how he must communicate with all the villagers and hear of their news good and bad, sharing his peoples joy and sadness. These villagers support each other by providing each other with necessities of both food and laughter in life. That is what the term "breaking bread together" originates from. To sit together, to eat together, people commiserate, and then laugh about the whole thing. There is faith woven into this village through the interconnection with others. The Greeks congregate around food as often as they congregate at church.
       In Greek Orthodox has the practice of the sacramental bread as a way to take in all of what Jesus Christ represents. Jesus Christ and his following Christians represent all that is forgiveness, humbleness, patience, tolerance, unconditional love, hope, and faith.  The embodiment of Christ and taking in the sacrament of Christ means to exercise what he represents as best as you can. This gentleman was of such service to myself and my fellow classmates and I believe  it extends from the culture of giving of oneself as taught in Greek Orthodox Christianity. These prideful people may have little but give so much to others.

Day 6 June 11th

      The Manousakis Nostos Winery tour was very educational tour on the growth and care of a grape vineyard. As a landscaper and an organic farmer I love especially love growing all things food or food related. Having worked in the wine and beverage industry for several years I knew all too well about the methods and reasons on how to taste wine. Even though I did not partake in the sampling I appreciated the run through of the specialty blend leading to the owners un expected favourite which was only to be a part of a wine blend, his white wine.
       Mr Manousaki has mostly handed the reigns of the vineyard over to his daughter Alex who has done a beautiful job overseeing production. In the tour there was a characteristic old olive tree that the local church still owns. In Greek history olive trees were loaned like money in order to grow and start a farm to have production. Olive trees were also inherited like Alex has inherited her role at Manouskis Nostos Winery and Vineyard.

       The church has never reclaimed this olive tree which is on every label of the Manousakis Nostos bottled wine. However, it is still the property of the Greek Orthodox church some years later. Wine is plays a role in the Christian Orthodox church. In the transubstantiation the blood is represented by red wine and is used to represent ingesting the blood of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and blood let from being on the cross. Christian practices have a belief that upon eating the bread and drinking the wine they are taking in the sacrifices of Jesus and becoming one with Jesus' ways and lifestyle. The practice of loaning an olive tree altruistically is just one of the many virtues the Christian followers are said to practice. (Crediting picture to the website http://www.nostoswines.com) 

        In Crete every person I have met has truly in-captured the virtuous practices Christ talked about. Whether an individual lives a day-to-day lifestyle of Christianity or sits among the congregation regularly, these Cretan people are truly blessed with virtues other people search all there lives to have by practicing extreme measures of self-discipline to live for others happiness.

       There is a Greek mythology that tells a story of temptation; Pandora and the box. Zeus had gathered the Spites; Old Age, Labour, Sickness, Insanity, Vice and Passion, and placed them in the box along with one other thing; Hope. Much like the story of Eve eating the apple from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Pandora released the Spites and Hope unto the world. Hope has been a means of survival that is unexplainable to physicians when witnessing a dying patient live. Hope and Faith have held people together to get through terrible, horrible circumstances like WWII. Hope is more powerful than all the Spites in this world and in both the Greek Mythology tale of Pandora and the Christian version of Eve in Genesis 3 like in the lives and history of Greece.

       Currently, Greece is looking down a political, economic, and cultural barrel. Greece has a choice to make. Does Greece stay on with the Eurozone linking Greece to the other 18 European states in the Eurozone and the 27 other states in the European Union? Or does Greece go back to the Drachma currency and break ties and financial obligations? 

       On a political level staying in the Eurozone and European Union would incorporate a new level of government unseen before; a super nation. At this time in history the European Union has open borders for the member state's citizens, labourers, and visitors. This simplifies travel, currency, employment, and sustainability. 

       As for the economic aspect staying in the Eurozone and European Union there would be a time of financial hardship. By cutting funds to social welfare programs, to the elderly, the disabled, and the needy the people of Greece will be subjected to poverty and lack of government aid for support. But, leaving the Eurozone would create a wave of effects on two currencies. The Euro would increase in value by losing the Greek debt. However, the security other Eurozone countries would lose in the Eurozone itself could cause their exiting the Eurozone as well. This would cause the Euro to fail. The Greeks going back to the Drachma initially would lower in value from leaving the Euro and bring in account Greece's debts. Greece will also have to pay in cash for any international expenses losing all financial credibility un-dubiously. Moreover, the people of Greece who have money in the bank will see their funds switch from Euro to Drachma with more volume but possibly less value. The social welfare programs may come back but they will be smaller than they were and Greece will be on its own to find financial stability and self-sufficiency. The benefit to this disconnection from the Eurozone and the European Union is the new marketing possibilities that being in the EU has limited Greece from having sales with countries outside EU alliances. By breaking from the EU and Eurozone sales to Russia could be possible or maybe loans from China, all new allegiances are plausible. Especially, when Greece is going to have to find a way to have new import and export for a sustainable GDP. 

       In conclusion, the 28 different cultural and traditional values within the European Union are a large component of the blockade that prevents total unity within the EU. If the countries found a national European identity then a super nation government would be more possible. Unfortunately, when countries resist change they also resist growth. And that is what is happening in the case of Greece. In short Greece's pride is preventing the EU and the Eurozone from showing them how to become a developed country. Despite, the ugly uncomfortable notion of having to be exposed financially and not being allowed privacy this is the price for such a financial unity and for economic progress. On the other hand If Greece fights for its financial independence from the Eurozone it will maintain its unique traditions and cultures of family, and faith. Greece may experience a great recession from this choice but, their culture being what it is, would experience it more as the grapes of hope, over any grapes of wrath, seeing as how perception is everything.

       Going back to the little boy in bakery; what will the next 32 years have in store for him? Will the Greek Orthodox Christian cultural traditions have him as a baker thriving for family through faith? Or will the Greeks have assimilated into a European Union culture? Which would allow for the smell of bread to be more like mine; a distant memory, with Euro in his pockets in exchange for his ancestors way of life. We will have to wait and see how this unfolds.

Γεια σας!

Although the EC EMSS program focuses a lot on political science, we are all also taking a Greek Language course taught by Yota! I am surprised by how much we learned in just two weeks!

Yota is very organized. She provided illuminated folders for each student. These folders contain many packets with language excercises. I really appreciate this because now I can always look back at all the Greek work I've done. And if I ever need a refresher, it will always be there!

This is an example of one of the many skits we read during class. Upon the third class, we were already reading in Greek!

This is all the names of the students in this program. Everyone's name is written in Greek upper case, and lower case letters!

.... And this is how we feel about Yota's practice night class.... 

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed learning Greek! My experience would have never been the same without Yota! She is passionate about Greek and believes we could all learn if we try! Thank you Yota for all your hard work! I'm thankful to have met you!