Mail time!

It took two weeks to get here, but I finally got the package that my wonderful momma sent me from the States! She originally sent it to the Study Abroad office here at Deree, but last night I received a slip of paper that just increased my anticipation for the long awaited and unknown arrival of the package.

When I learned that my package was at the Post Office (instead of at Deree), I immediately started my trek down the street. It probably took me a good 15 to 20 minutes to get there by walking (and I walk pretty fast, just sayin). After walking for quite some time, I finally arrived at my destination!


It was a small little post office with only 4 desks, and it kind of reminded me of DMV back home. When I first walked in I wasn't exactly sure where I was supposed do, especially since Greeks don't really use the waiting in line system, so I sort of awkwardly stood there for a minute until I figured out what I needed to do. I think it was kind of obvious that I didn't know what I was doing...For one, I was the youngest person there and secondly, there must have been a big sign around me screaming American on it from some of the looks I got. Plus the fact that I had a slightly confused look on my face might have hinted it out too.


I kinda figured that I would have to take a number of some sort, but I wasn't exactly sure where it was or how I could get one. And instead of embarrassing myself further and asking someone who probably only speaks Greek, I patiently waited for others to arrive so I could see what approach they took. Turns out there is a little machine right when you walk in that gives you a number, all you've got to do is press a button (easy peasy).

Now just because I had a my number doesn't mean that things got less awkward (when I mean awkward, I'm talking like uncomfortable situations where you don't feel like you belong), now what am I supposed to do? To my delight, there was a seat available and calling my name. Speaking of open seats, everywhere I go whether sitting at the post office or riding on the metro, there seems to be an unspoken rule of letting elders take a seat. I think it's really cool and I wish this rule was applied in the US!

No matter where we go or who is currently in a seat, if an elderly comes along, someone gets up and offers him/her a seat. They never even have the "ugh, do I have to" attitude! And even when the elderly accepts they are genuinely thankful. Sometimes the elderly even decline the offer and let the current passenger keep his/her seat, like one time when my friend offered her seat, the nice lady let her stay because she noticed that we were together. Super nice!

Anyways, once my number was called I happily received my package and started my trek back to the dorm. I opened it right when I was able to get a hold of a clean knife to cut the tape and rip my package open. To my delight, there was a bunch of goodies inside! Wondering what kinds of good stuff was worth waiting 2 weeks for? The content of the package included (but is not limited to): A container of Nutella, dark chocolate M&M's, cinnamon glazed almonds, Oreos, some extra toiletries that you can't find here in Greece, and my favorite...the movie "Despicable Me"!!! You can tell my momma loves me very much :)

What made it even better was that very night I invited the group together to watch a movie filled with minions (I might have bribed them with Oreos too...)! So we had a fun filled night with extremely cute yellow characters (minions!) and sugarrrr (Oreos!). I definitely adding this experience to my list of nights that I'll never forget!