Yassas World,
The Parliament, located in the heart of the city, is such a beautiful building.
It is so weird to think that it has been two weeks since I have arrived. It seems like I have been in Greece for a lot longer. I mean I cannot speak fluent Greek yet, but I have learned some. I have figured out the metro, tram, and bus stops but along with the help of google maps. People will even stop me and ask me a question in Greek on the streets, and I say, “δεν καταλαβαίνω, Αγγλικά?” Which translates to “I don’t understand, English?” After that, they find someone else to ask. By the way, you can have any food or drink item delivered to you for free (mostly). If anyone knows me, they know my passion for coffee. So thankful to finally live in a culture that it is acceptable to drink coffee whenever and wherever, and be able to get it delivered directly to you. It is funny how you can adjust so quickly sometimes, minus a few things.
Went with the Church’s youth group to Kalamos for the weekend. Explored the Eastern side of Greece and saw beautiful landscapes. This was the day where we were supposed to eat lunch around 4 but lunch did not happen until 6 pm.
Before I get into what I have been doing the last two weeks, let me fill you in a little about Greek culture. Being off the coast of the Mediterranean, Greeks tend to enjoy life; especially in the summer. First, they tend to be up decently early even though bedtime is not until like 1 or 2 am. Anyway, their breakfast normally consists of coffee, Espresso Freddo (ice) or some sort of Freddo coffee along with some sort of bread/pastry item. Then lunch is normally not until 2 pm or so. Lunch can be a 3 or 4-hour process, they eat and take their time. Then afterward, a nap is involved and after the nap, time to get more coffee. Most will head back to work around 5. Most will close up shop around 9 pm, go home, and prepare dinner. In the Glyfada region where I am located, it does not get completely dark until around 9:30 pm. So dinner is mostly consumed around 10 or 10:30 and of course, it is another 2 or 3-hour process depending on who one is with. In my American mindset, I love this idea. Though I am not trying to offend anyone reading this, so I will just say this is what I have noticed, what some of the locals have informed me on, and how summer is in the southern region of Greece.
This is when it starts fading to night. It is pretty wonderful.
As much as I can continue writing about the culture I am in, I want to discuss what I am doing here. These past two weeks, I have started projects, took a week of Greek lessons, and finally met with everyone on my team. The main project I am working on is a cumulation of ideas to help entrepreneurs and local businesses here in the Glyfada area. The Evangelical Church of Glyfada wants to provide funding, outsourcing, and training to local and future businessmen and women. These past two weeks I have started creating a website, weekly email templates, and have spoken to a few local businesses. It has been very humbling for me to be here because if I wasn’t the church’s ideas would still be ideas. Even though everything I have been working on is still in rough draft stages, I am just happy to help them start. However, there are challenges.
Bluprint is a nonprofit business that is sponsored by a Christian church, and the locals are confused by this idea. When speaking with them, they say they do not understand why a church would be starting something like this. Even though Greece is a Christian country, no an idea that a church would start an organization like this is “odd”. However, this gives us the opportunity to discuss why. God calls us to make disciples of the nations and being able to witness and explain why a church wants to offer this type of service, is humbling. Just being able to have conversations about Jesus is a rare thing in Greece, but it shows that people are curious. Also being able to do business with a mission focus is what I feel called to do.
Another challenge we are facing right now is finding entrepreneurs or people who may not even realize they have an idea. It is a difficult task because we are trying to find people whose ideas are unique, and that is just not common thought here. Most just want to open a coffee shop, a restaurant, or retail store. Also due to the economic crisis, a lot of people just need a job to make money and that is all they know. Except, if you have not realized from my post, Greece has more coffee shops, restaurants, or retails stores than one knows what to do with them.
First full week complete, which means dinner and jazz at the Acropolis! Of course, we invited our Greek teacher!
There is no long term thinking of people wanting to do what they are passionate about or creating something new. When one finds a job, it is job security for life, essentially. So creating these conversations often have proven difficult but I know God provides. So I am asking for prayers: prayers that God will provide quick responses, prayers for easy decisions, and prayers for finding solutions. Also prayers for the church I am interning with and for my team. Thank you.
Καλό βράδυ (Farewell) Friends for now,
Ashley
P.S. I am sure a lot may be wondering about the Greek lessons I have briefly mentioned in this post. Well, last week I had the opportunity to join another set of interns from Mission To The World and participate in their 2-hour Greek sessions. We learned the Greek alphabet and simple phrases. I can officially say I have had brief conversations in Greek, like ordering coffee or checking out at a grocery store! It is proven very useful. Plus, when I have been meeting with local businesses, it opens well when I can say a little Greek to them. I was thankful I got to join them in their lessons and learn some Greek. Also, these interns are 5 wonderful women from the states, who have become fast friends. As I mention, it feels like I have been here for a long time, it feels like I have known these girls for a long time as well. Though being in a culture that I am mostly alone in, it is so nice that I have these women to be in a community with. Trust God and He provides! It is pretty simple.
Greek Lessons in full swing! She is listening to us participate and is pleased to say she was happy with our end results.