Nightlife in the Hood

View from our apartment balcony

I have been very surprised by the night life in our quiet neighborhood.  

It all began with the last week of school.  We didn't know it was the last week of school but it became obvious when everyone stopped coming to school at 8:15 each morning and all the announcements on the outdoor intercom were no more. 

The last week there were programs every night.  The first evening it was raining.  Everyone stood around in the late afternoon visiting under umbrellas.  It was probably cut short because of the rain. The next night, there was a live band, food and dancing until almost midnight.  The final evening of celebrations, there were balloons let off, a talent show, students playing electric guitars, dancing, singing,  presentations and fireworks. It lasted until midnight.  The most interesting feature is the sound system.  It was very good.  You could hear everything very clearly.

Fireworks in the Evenings

Last night while taking our garbage to the bins at the end of the street, I saw that there were many children and their parents at the school being entertained by a couple that were making huge bubbles and doing tricks with them.  I walked further to the glass recycle bin and went past a small outdoor café where a group of men were seated around a table with guitars and other instruments that I don't know the name of and they were singing as others sat at their tables drinking and eating.  It was lovely.  They have had movies outdoors at the school that start at 9 p.m.  Athens comes alive at night time.  Even for the little kiddies. 

Here are a few more interesting observations from our neighborhood.

Trees pruned in the Fall...how will they look in Spring

Just right for our narrow sidewalk.

Construction on the Top Floor

Our apartment building

They have been working on the floor above it.  They jack hammered the floor and sent the debris down the chutes into a garbage bin and then hauled the bin off.  It was not easy to move a big truck around on our narrow road.  It provided great entertainment.  

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3).

I have been so impressed with the all the families I see walking, biking, and eating together.  Every night, families gather at the school.  While the parents visit, the kids are playing soccer, volleyball, basketball, roller blading, biking, and tonight I saw hover boards.  The Greeks have so many things right.  Now, if they would just get a Costco.  

Love Without Borders and Natalie

 Once upon a time, our daughter in law Natalie, called and asked if we would help her find non profits that worked with children in Athens.  Her MPA group was coming to Greece in May and she wanted to make STEM kits for the refugee children.  It was some  time in November that we began to work on her idea and then suddenly it was May and she was here and we were meeting her at the community center for Love Without Borders.  This organization is run by a stewardess that flies around the world and takes paintings that the refugees have created and sells them.  In turn, she gives the money from the sale back to the refugee.  

We have gone to the Center for similar activities when refugee children have painted.  Art is a great communicator both for the creator and the viewer.  There were several stories posted next to the paintings to introduce the artist.  Many were heartbreaking as they explain their journey to go to somewhere and live without fear or violence.  

We got to doing some touring with Natalie's group afterwards and we decided guides are very helpful and help us appreciate what we are seeing more.  

The guide explaining Aristotle's Gymnasium 

Tylixto is a great place for yummy gyros ( you don't say the g) 

The Prison of Socrates

We were able to spend a day with Natalie and took her to a few places in Athens.  We showed her our apartment and she did laundry and left a sock unfortunately.  I think we have quite a few of Ty and Nat's family one sock forgotten here, in various places.  Someone should come up with a great idea to eliminate that frustration. 

Super Salad

A salad with variations at many of the places we have eaten at is this salad with pomegranate seeds, hazel nuts, various greens and goat cheese.  It is so so good.  

A Little Taste of Home restaurant

We ate dinner with Natalie's group downtown near the Agoras.  It was delicious with lamb, curry chicken, ravioli with truffles, and barbecue ribs.  

There You Go

This is an English Certification class for those wanting to get work.  It helps to have English proficiency.  One of the students fell asleep for short time.  He fishes during the day for work.  He was very tired.  It tugs at your heart to see what they have to go through to integrate into the country. 

Between the Platform

We went to showing of the documentary "To Whom it May Concern" .  It is about the refugee situation and the challenges they are facing.  I knew it would be depressing and it was. I would like one person to be in charge and unify all the ways to help refugees so it was consistent in all the countries if I ruled the world.  So many are lost at sea trying to get to other countries.  It is heartbreaking.  To get to the showing, we rode the bus and then everyone got off at one stop and the driver called to us so we needed to get off too.  We were happy to find the metro, and then to take another bus to get to the showing.  It was a true adventure. 

In my scripture study in John 13:34 it says:  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  35: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.  

In my notes I summarized these verses by writing: We are Christ's disciples when we show love to others.  We will be happy when we serve others.  

I am grateful that we have this opportunity to find ways to serve those in Greece that are displaced, vulnerable, and in need.  We are not at the front line like some may think.  We work with Non Profit organizations.  We do paper work and filing.  We do meet wonderful compassionate people that are focused on helping others and try to support them with projects.  It is not what I thought it would be like and I have had several people make comments that they want to do what we do when they hear we are Humanitarian missionaries.  I smile and think that hopefully they will be able to serve and do those things that they think we do.  We are all a spoke in the wheel that moves the work forward.  I am grateful to be in Greece and learning things I never envisioned when I put those missionary application papers in.  You are right Robin.  I will never be the same.