Tourist

Anonymous Dr. Finitsis has had a few surprises along the duration of this January term 2011 trip. We have stopped along the way at unexpected destinations and been taken out occasionally and just some other things that are escaping my mind right now because we have been here for closing in on three weeks now. It has been amazing to be able to separate from the masses and go out with a few people and really experience the city on our own without someone holding our hand and telling us what to do. Even when we are together as an entire group it is not that bad because we do have a Greek with us who is more than capable of pointing us in the right direction without making us look like fools and can tell us where to go when we would like to see more. Our professor has been our quintessential go to man on this trip as well as Dr. Ihssen as the go to woman. He is a professor, tour guide, translator/ interpreter, and is a great man from getting to know him. It has been good to know that we hopefully are not falling into the tourist follies, and can go out and not have as many looks from people as a tourist here during the slow season (sticking out even more).

One of the surprises I mentioned earlier today was that when we got on the bus I realized that there was a bus driver and one other man whom I did not know nor recognize. He introduced himself as our tour guide Demetrius (Greek version of James); I did not know what to expect because we have amazing guides in both of our professors. I have to admit that I was a little thrown off because we try to minimize the tourist part. The only part where I felt a little uncomfortable was standing in a big group and being informed on what everything we were going to see was. Demetrius is a boisterous man; Finitsis on the other hand has done a superb job at allowing us to fly under the radar.

Demetrius did have some interesting information about the traditions of the island and the modern day honor and shame practices of the island. I was curious as to him filling us in on this; I was wondering the whole time of Finitsis said we would appreciate this information or if he gives it to all of his groups. I am going with the idea that he only gave this info to us because it makes me feel less touristy and more of a student. He explained to us the dowry practice how the father will gift items or a house to the bride and groom (the house is legally the bride's) that is right next to or on top of the parents house. He explained that it was the daughter's obligation to take care of her parents. The sons carry on the family name and the daughters take care of the family. He then delved into the idea that divorces are not common and do tear up the fabric of the community and the husband's jobs. Weddings are huge in the island towns and everyone you know is to be invited or he said they might not talk to you again. There are other things that he mentioned that I failed to mention. I am sure that everything he told us our professors could have more than aptly told us, but it was different to gain another viewpoint about the practices on the island.