moment of peace

The oddest things push me from "I really should blog but don't feel like it" into "This is too weird not too blog." A parade of cars just went by our house honking their horns. In most countries this is a sign of a sports team victory; in Greece, someone is on their way to be buried.

I'm a little hesitant to write anything right now because of my general state of anger and annoyance. I've felt annoyed for the past 4 days, quite a long time to be gently seething while smiling. Again, I really shouldn't be writing right now, but I have to get some of this off my chest.

Moving to a different country is, obviously, a difficult affair regardless of how much experience you've had overseas. Visiting a place and living in a place are completely different experiences. I didn't expect that there would be much culture shock for Miah and I moving here, and I frankly haven't been shocked by anything I've experienced. The horrible amount of bureaucracy we went through this summer had already implanted in my mind the image of a third-world country, so arriving here and seeing the filth of Athens fit into the picture I had of a metropolis stuck in the mid-20th century fit my expectations. Granted, I wasn't quite prepared for the sheer volume of trash and dead animals that is in the abandoned lots around town.

But my annoyance hasn't come from anything I've encountered in Athens or in Greece in general. No, Greece isn't the beautiful place that it appears in photos (photos don't capture smells, sounds, or heat), but it does have some beautiful vistas and magical moments. No, Greece hasn't enchanted me with its people or its history, but I do quite like most of the people I've met who have been very friendly and helpful. Greece is perfectly fine as a vacation destination or as a place to study for a while.

What's annoying me is the school. Disappointing me, to be truthful. I had the highest expectations of the school--my first mistake--and have been let down time and time again. (Grain of salt: we've been in the country for 2 weeks.) Not everything about the school is a disappointment, of course, and I'm trying to maintain (obtain?) a positive attitude about it.

The school's motto says something to the effect of being the "premier international school" of Athens and of following the "American philosophy" of education. I'm going to make a bold statement which I will be more than glad to retract down the road: a large percentage of American public schools are more rigorous and successful than ACS. I know, I know, the oft-reviled American public school just got a compliment.

I think the easiest way for me to explain why I make such a bombastic judgment is to give a few examples of things which have stood out to me as being in opposition to the ACS motto:

• There are teachers there who have been teaching at the school for 25 years or more. Experience is a good thing in some professions, but teaching experience and growth peak and stagnate after much less than that. Also, complacency sets in long before 25 years.
  
• If a teacher has been teaching for more than 15 years (circa), Greek law requires that they teach only 4 classes instead of the regular 5. The 5th "hour" must be used to do some sort of project for the improvement of the school. Translation: nap time. This is a problem because there is a large group of teachers who should have retired years ago.
  
• Photocopies must be requested 2 days in advance. That's right. You can't make more than 3 copies on the Office Space copier in the school. This takes all spontaneity out of teaching. It's often the idea that pops into your mind the night before that is best, but you can't use it here.
• School begins at 9 and ends at 3:30. In the elementary school, there's a morning recess, a snack time, a 40-minute lunch, and an afternoon recess. In the middle and high school, there are 2 10-minute breaks plus a 40-minute lunch.
  
• In...

I've been told to stop blogging and be more positive, good advice. Maybe if we can find a beach tomorrow I'll have a fresh--if slightly sunburnt--perspective.