One step forward... (Athens, day 4)

Ahh, here I am again, in front of the computer, in a new country. Feels like just yesterday I was writing my Cyprus Day 1 blog. Crazy how time flies. I can’t help but compare what the first few days in Cyprus were like versus the first few days in Greece. I don’t feel that panicky sense of loneliness that I did in Cyprus. I think that with this being tour #2, it just helps to know that everything will fall into place eventually. When I arrived in Cyprus I was afraid I wasn’t going to have any friends. But now, I guess in a weird way, I am comforted to know that I will probably be making friends eventually, with whom in three years I’ll be crying my eyes out when we have to say goodbye.

We arrived on Friday which was nice because we had the whole weekend to relax and start to get adjusted to the time. We also used that opportunity to get familiar with the maintenance people already, when Barb opened the door to the bathroom, which then crashed into the light that was hanging dangerously low from the hall ceiling which then blew a fuse knocking out half the lights in the apartment including the power to the refrigerator (approximately 2 hours after returning from the grocery store with a fridge full of perishable items!)

The good news is we succeeded in getting our internet working, although in the process we broke our wireless router and lost our home phone connection. One step forward, two steps back. I just attempted to do some laundry but the washing machine and drier are in GERMAN, (why wouldn’t they be?!) so I can’t even use my Greek to get me out of this dilemma. I guess I’ll wait til Barb gets home from work and see if she can remember any of her German.

Last night we went over to Barb’s coworkers’ house for a welcome BBQ with about 5 other couples, 3 of us brand new. It was a good opportunity to meet some of the people Barb will be working with and their spouses. Seems like a nice crew.

I guess that’s all I have to say for now. We love our new apartment. It's literally right in the center of Athens, with a lot of stores and restaurants in walking distance (plus a metro AND the embassy). I miss you all and promise to keep these coming, if YOU promise to keep writing to me too!