an american in athens

i knew going into this that the US maybe didn't have a great reputation abroad, and that i would probably experience the repercussions of that... but i had my first passive-aggressive taste of it yesterday, at the greek/french version of a walmart no less. i mean, the cashier wasn't awful about it, i just had to make it really clear how happy i was that obama was entering office. [notes on inauguration: don't cheer during a prayer, even if it's from a tool like rick warren, and fuck that oath-giver for screwing up barry's big day] beyond that, the 'tude really hasn't been bad at all, there's just a general assumption when you start speaking english to someone that you're a little bit retarded. unfortunately, if you approach them speaking greek ( i know maybe 5 words...) they think you're fluent and reply with rapid fire speed. it's sort of lose-lose, but i'm willing to look like a jackass to get what i need.
we're just about done with orientation bidness (this process has consisted of hour-long meetings during which they tell us to read the guide book and come talk to them if we have any questions... helpful) and we start classes tomorrow. the last couple of days have just been super awkward milling around, meeting people and getting acclimated. we have a pretty serious problem with running around in big groups which i'm sure is terrifying for the people of athens... last night we went out for a suitemate's birthday (and by went out, i mean we wandered around for fucking ever looking for a goddamn bar before eventually settling on the first one we saw) and managed to get hit on by some policemen on the way home... somehow the police force is composed of the most attractive men in athens. boooyyyyfffriiiiiieeeennnnd. sorry for being adorable, officer.
i'm going to go wander the streets like a hooligan,
bye loves.
kg

edit: apparently, 'oath-giver' is Chief Justice of the United States... SORRY beej. and a shoutout to the rhetords -- obama broke his rule of 3!