Safe and Sound in the Suburbs

I've been receiving a lot of emails in the past few days to inquire about my well-being while these riots are going on and I'm writing to let everyone know I'm safe and sound, far from the rioting on central Athens. Erin (my roommate) and I live in a Northern Suburb (Halandri) and the school where we work is in another suburban area called Psychiko. In short, we're far from the action. No need to worry. 

Haven't written for a while, my apologies. But somehow I got wrapped up in the school's Thanksgiving play (traditional Mayflower journey/first Thanksgiving/cultural stereotype type deal) and immediately after that ended, I began work on the Christmas play, as well as putting in a few hours coaching a girl for a speech competition. Basically, I've been really busy lately, but I've still been thinking of you, my dears. 

A brief list of things that are different in Greece, for better and worse:

Better: 

Kiosks everywhere -- these are small permanent structures scattered around Greece's sidewalks that are something like newspaper stands but with a much better supply of snacks. You all know how I feel about snacks. Downside: this country does not believe in fruit candy, only chocolate. 

Lax punctuality -- I never have to worry about being late, because even if I am, whomever I'm meeting with be later. 

Long coffee breaks -- when you say you're going out to get coffee, you aren't expected back for hours, people sit on the sidewalks outside cafes for hours watching beautiful people go by and imbibing an unreal amount of caffeine. 

Hand-held shower -- doubles easily as microphone. As if it were made for that reason. 

Worse: 

Bathrooms -- shower curtains are not to be taken for granted, people. Erin will attest to the fact that my shower-singing skills are matched only by my flooding-the-bathroom skills. Also: no flushing toilet paper allowed. 

Lax punctuality -- everyone is always late.

Love to you all, thanks for checking in.