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Back in New York, at the parents' place. Flight was uneventful, a little less enjoyable than times past (I think Olympic may have a narrower seat separation in tourist class, plus the Airbus A340 is a larger plane than the 767's Continental uses for the New York to Athens run, so larger crowds. Customs control was a logjam at Kennedy Airport. But I finally got home. Spent the late afternoon and early evening fixing my mom's new laptop - getting it set up, getting everything transferred over from the old laptop, et cetera. Seems to be working fine, and she's very happy with it. Nine PM New York time, which means 4am Athens time, and since I started the journey, I only got about two hours' fitful sleep on the plane. Goodnight, all. Tags: world traveller
Current Location: New York, New York
Current Mood: tired
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Flying back to New York tomorrow (Olympic flight 411, for what it's worth). Sunday, rest. Monday, to the Manhattan jury office to somehow deal with my jury duty call (which comes up August 11, when I will be seven time zones away again). Tuesday, the dentist. (Hey, it took me twelve years, but I finally found a dentist I trust. I'm phobic about dentists who seem to like to schedule unnecessary tooth extractions.) Wednesday afternoon, Yankee Stadium. My last chance to see a game in the House that Ruth Built. And Thursday afternoon, hop a plane back to Athens. Tags: world traveller
Current Location: Athens, Attica
Current Mood:  tired
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"...That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to seem to them most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will indicate that Governments long established should not changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security...." Excerpt from The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, in Congress, July 4, 1776.Current Mood:  determined
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As it turns out, if I want to take advantage of the fact that I've been a foreign resident (from the Greek perspective) for basically my whole life, I need to do my military service in the Greek army (or maybe the navy or the air force) within six months after the issuance of the certificate stating I've been a "foreign resident". Induction times are in February, May, August, and November. I've got August marked off for Greek lessons. Not going to sacrifice those for the stinkin' Army. (After all, it's still insubordination if you don't understand the orders you've been given, isn't it?) Since I'm over 35, I've got the option of just going through basic training and then buying off the rest of my service time - if I do it this year, it's something like three thousand euros; if I wait, I've got to pay over ten thousand. Ah, well. Not like I've got a lot of choice in the matter. Although I suspect that whoever I draw as a drill sergeant probably will be younger than me. Tags: military, strange land
Current Location: Athens, Attica
Current Mood:  grumpy
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And in other news, now that my presence in Greece is relatively safe and solid, I can now take the time to take classes to improve my language skills in the native tongue. The only problem is, I don't know which level of course to take - if I take a level that's too low, it's a waste of time and money for being taught stuff I already know, while if I take a level that's too high, I end up spending time and money to be completely confuzzled. I *think* I'm at an intermediate level; I can sort of survive in casual conversation, but my vocabulary's got more holes in it than a block of Swiss cheese. ("I don't like Swiss cheese. All those holes in it mean you get less for your money." - Max, Sam and Max: Culture Shock) Ah, well. Maybe the best solution is to walk in the door and ask. Tags: language, strange land
Current Location: Athens, Attica
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