More Greece

August 22nd 2007

Hello, people.

I have by now spent a fortune in this Internet café. My hair and clothes stink of smoke, because of course everyone smokes while checking their emails – even the 13-year-olds. Especially the 13-year-olds.

There are only about 8 or 10 computers for surfing the net, the rest (maybe 40 or 50) is reserved for Gamers. Said gamers yell at each other across the huge room, comparing scores, screaming when their character gets killed, whooping when they get to the next level, betting their friends at the top of their voice that they will reach the next level first. Everyone seems to find this constant cacophony in the middle of a permanent smoke cloud perfectly normal and even comfortable. Now I finally understand why one in two Americans owns a gun. The question is, why do Greeks not own more guns?

My maybe-boss is still a maybe. But there was hope today: when I called, his secretary told me they hoped he would come in today. I believe this man took the old adage “absence makes the heart grow fonder” a little too literally. But I am not giving up. I will call again tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after, even if he decides to prolong his holiday until Christmas, which seems a possibility in this country.

Yesterday, when I went swimming I was stung by a jellyfish. August is apparently the season for them. I had forgotten, since I hadn't been in Greece during August for the last couple of years.

I didn't know at first it was a jellyfish. It felt like some very ill-humored beast had savagely bitten my wrist. When I got out of the water, I saw 4 long trailing marks on my wrist, looking like a miniature skeleton hand. A couple of middle-aged guys were playing racket-ball on the sand. One of them saw me looking at my wrist. Jellyfish? He asked. I nodded. "Just a sec", he said. "I've got some salve". And he ran to get me some.

When I went to give it back to him, he said "Keep it, sweetheart." This was said not at all in a sleazy way, but rather like a father might say it. Need I say it? I felt ridiculously moved. It's people like that who make me feel at home here.

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SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER:

John T:
AHA! See! There's no chance of being stung by a Jelly at Santa Monica Beach!... Because it's too poluted. They can't survive in it.... But still. Score 1 for the murky waters of Santa Monica!

Ari S:
Like that wouldn't happen in the US? Of course it would except it would havebeen given to you by a lifeguard who was actually on duty and taking his jobseriously

Cory M:
At least he didn't offer to pee on you.