I'm packed already. At least I think. So I load up the car and the three of us climb on in. On the way to the van Galder bus terminal we discuss a few things, one of the most memorable topics was one of nature's amazing phenomena: the monarch butterfly. Soon enough, an estimated timing of 46 minutes, we arrive at the bus station.
As we say goodbyes, the contagiousness of my mother's tears makes me feel like something's wrong, so I ask, "What's the matter?"
"I cry when everyone leaves."
One more hug and I climb the bus's stairs to pick out a seat- a good one- where I return each of my parents' several waves goodbye. With the wheels rollin' I dig through a green plastic grocery bag to see what my mom packed me. The contents of the green plastic grocery bag are as follows:
1 sub sandwich
1 baggie of lettuce intended for DIY application to the sub thus preventing soggy bread
2 apples
2 bananas
3 packaged string cheese
5 cookies
2 napkins
Damn right my mother loves me.
It's quiet on the bus. Beethoven. Violin Sonata #1. In D.
Evidently, I've slept and wake up as we enter O'Hare. The flight from Chicago to London had some good movies to choose from (not conducive to my reading). I finally saw Hitchcock's "The Birds" and Part One of Che! I'm looking forward to seeing Part Two. A long 8 1/2 hours.
As I await at the gate in London for my plane to Athens, I notice the kid sitting next to me (let's call him Ty) is going over Barry's pre-departure letter for the first time. I meet my first HISA-mate. I bet him that the Blonde girl (oh which one? oh the one over there who looks American and appears to be traveling alone) is also HISA. HISA is the program I'm doing for those of you who aren't "hip on the know". Ty and I share a cab and once we get to the hostel, and see that she's there too, I know I was right. I meet most of the rest of the kids. There are about 30 of us and only 7 of us are guys. We're all a good-looking bunch. I throw my bags in my room, get to sit and chill for a whole ten minutes until the entire group exoduses for dinner. We eat in a real Athens dining setting. Outdoor seating, stray cats, and Greek tweaker waiters who (or whom, what's that rule again?) I observe from afar. Excellent vegetables. Excellent beer. Mythos: a Greek lager.
After dinner, the group splits up into smaller groups. Some go back to the hostel, some to the pubs, but I, on a budget, join the let's-walk-around group. When we decide to go back to the hostel, we stop in a shop to buy some wine and beer (I got 2 Alfa Beers) then headed back to enjoy them on the patio.
Side-note: Graffiti in another language is neat.
We sit in the Athenian night, drinking slowly and get to know each a little more through some conversation. I get to bed around 11:30, jet-lagged to hell, with my mental alarm clock set at 5:30. It's early, but it gives us all enough time for the entire group to catch taxis down to the dock where our gerry awaits to take us where Paros awaits.
I jolt awake, probably around 2 am because I hear what I think is the entire group outside and ready, but it's just Amanda, drunk in the head and body stumbling back from the bars on the arm of my hostel roommate, Phil. When she gets to the dock still in the dark Greek morning with sunglasses hanging from her face, she announces "I'm drunk." I already feel like I know what this one's going to be like.
Post-Scriptum: Some of the names of people and places may (or may not) have been changed to respect their privacy.
Watch out for the beta beer.
ReplyDeleteOn Whom and Who (from Joseph Williams):
Use "whom" as the OBJECT of a verb or preposition.
Wrong: The committee must decide whom should be promoted.
In that sentence, "whom" is the subject of the verb "should be promoted", so it should be "who". Here is an actual rule: Use who when it is the subject of a verb in its own clause; use whom only when it is an object in its own clause.
William's tip: If the relative clause modifies a noun and you can delete the relative pronoun and still make sense, the correct form is whom.
The way I remember:
In practicality, if you can rearrange the sentece using he or they, who is correct. If you would use them or him, then whom is correct.
Did it come in time?
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing a blog...Looking forward to hearing what classes you choose and what your studio is like. Sounds like you're off to a fun start. Vicarious is one of MY favorite words.Love mom.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, Blen. And Sara, I completely <3 your "who" and "whom" discussion points! I want to be a Davidson. Will you guys adopt me as like the aunt no one will talk about?
ReplyDelete