Currently I am in a rural area in Greece near Thessaloniki. I had volunteered to work on an organic farm for room and board while I was still in Jerusalem before I graduated. In the midst of pre-graduation activities and lectures the people involved with this endeavor shifted. From going only with Rachel, to then traveling solo, all the way to going with Matthew, Sara, Davaun, and Ian. I am so thrilled to have my fellow YWAMers here with me!
Unexpected. Listed on an organic farming volunteer website? This place is a guesthouse/hotel. There are a few vegetable gardens and we do weed a fair bit? Not an organic garden. When Sonia, the owner, and I emailed? We talked about potentially teaching pottery classes here. A few things I have observed: this rural area has no one to TAKE the classes, and I have seen NO pottery paraphernalia. Sonia is a spicy, strong, independent, playful, and creative Italian woman running this guesthouse by herself and the help of volunteers. Today I found myself eating deep fried (and highly, dangerously delicious) French toast coated with powdered sugar and cinnamon. YUM! Sitting at the outdoor table chompping away at breakfast are us five freshly graduated YWAMers and some special people God brought into our lives: Kia from Minnesota on a quest to discover cultures and belief system via yogurt and a Watson Fellowship. Matthew from France with an Irish accent who has a knack for flavors and a heart for discovering more about food. And Brook: Peace Corps volunteer on her journey back home after a two year service in Swaziland Africa. Before joining YWAM I was actually in the application process for joining the Peace Corps and I find it terrifically interesting that she is just coming out of this season and hearing about her experiences. All three of these volunteers are wonderful and I am hoping to get to know all of them more over the next week.
Spooked. I walked to the beach alone in this sleepy, small town. I felt safe and at ease. The walk is approximately 7 minutes and there aren’t even any traffic lights. After watching and admiring the sunset I began my walk back to the hotel. This is when something a little frightening happened. As I was walking a car pulled up and a clearly drunk Greek man begins to speak to me in broken English: I love you. Americana. Athens. Athena. What a weird-o. I am polite but firm as I wave bye and keep walking. He pulls over again. This time almost running me off the road. I am polite and patient but getting a little concerned at this point. I walk away. Again he pulls over—this time the nose of his car even closer than before! Yikes. I wave him off and walk in the ditch near a field of kiwi fruit. He turns around and I am relieved as I hurriedly walked back to the hotel. I spoke to Sonia about this, and am thankful for Sonia. The men here are aggressive, and it is part of the culture. Like it or not. Sonia assures me this is a safe area, and I sense she is correct. I was honestly was most concerned with this drunk Greek man accidentally running me over while trying to talk to me. No flashing Carla-smiles around here. Learning that sex is a big deal here and unfaithfulness/promiscuity is the norm and not the exception. There have not been any other incidents like this though.
I am wonder if perhaps I may find a pottery studio to visit soon? My hands miss making pots. I had been working on some mosaic table tops here with the other volunteers and have enjoyed this endeavor immensely!
Looking forward to pulling more weeds out of the soil, eating too much delicious food, drinking coffee, and art and craft time. Tomorrow I am going to be working on making some stars out of wood, and picking fruit from the fig and pomegranate trees, plus nibbling on some grape right off the vine. The best fruit and foods I’ve ever tasted. Would love it if you could keep my new friends in your prayers (Kia, Matthew, Brook, Sonia). How are you doing? Shoot me an e-mail– I love hearing from all of you! [email protected]
Big hugs, love, and blessings from Greece!
:o)
Carla
Carla