I have heavy doubts that this is going to make it to you tonight, but it is by no fault of my own. Despite the fact that I am still here working in the office after a long day of classes at midnight, the network is down on the island, which means that the Internet connection is lost. Though we do live in a modern world, it’s not AS modern as we all think that it is!

Today we did figure drawing. It was totally beautiful. I know that I am getting better, but I am starting to struggle with the things that I should be learning. I have a feeling that I am going to need to spend a lot more time learning and practicing all of the things that I have been working on here. Many people in the class have also never drawn though. I just want to get better at a very fast pace, and while I have the model and the teacher here, I want to learn as much as possible. As I mentioned yesterday, I have so much to learn from the people around me. Each of these people are professional in their own field. I truly do think that I am learning from the best here.

I also did my first photo history class today. Liz (the teacher) is amazing, and she knows so much. She was able to put my history straight a little big more. I fully appreciate the things that brought on photography in this world. It’s unreal what has gone on in this world and what individuals here have been able to create.

After that, I had a digital class with John, and it was absolutely amazing. He’s such an incredibly smart guy, and it’s just a pleasure to work with him!

Tonight, I had a literature class, where I learned all about the Odyssey. We went over stories that we had read over the week, and I got correct pronunciations of many of the main characters in
the book. My reading assignment for the week is very long though, so I’m going to have to get a move on it early! This class is just amazing though, and working with this guy has been a pleasure. He is going to help me to understand where I need to go and what I need to study while I am going to be in Venice, Prague and Italy. I LOVE the knowledge that he has.

After class, we went out to eat at a traditional Greek restaurant. It was been amazing to do it when we have, and I enjoy it. It never ends up being expensive, and it is so enjoyable. We had all the traditional Greek food. I had fish that I actually liked for the first time. We went out to spend time with a school benefactor and pretty famous composer and Professor from Germany. He is an amazing guy, and he totally treated us for the night. It was actually very special for me. You can learn so much by being able to just be a part of and be in contact with other people and their lives. It is so amazing to me! We had fish and calamari, wine and ouzo, chick peas and beats. It was all amazing. After that, I had quinces and yoghurt for dessert. Greek food is absolutely the best.

I also got a spare moment today, and I got a chance to go up on the roof and draw today. The sun was so hot and the weather was so warm that it was just amazing. Imagine the most beautiful day possible and times it by ten. Greece is so warm and lovely.

After dinner, we went on a short walk along the waterfront, and it was wonderful as well.

I also went to the gelato shop and had some homemade gelato! The woman is just amazing, and I just love her ice cream!

I am now heading off to bed for the night. I have made it through all 659 of the photos that I had taken over the last two weeks. It’s time for me to take more and of course to print the ones that I do have.

Tomorrow, I have basic drawing for two hours and painting for five hours. The most important part is that I get to produce art the way that I have been doing so.

Ok. I must be off.

Today was a wonderful day. Every day here is wonderful, but I was just so happy, and I noticed it in particular as I walked from class to class that I am so lucky here. I realized that I am actually studying as a full-time student, and it’s so great to have this experience. I also realized how important education is to me. I was kind of telling people that I was interested in doing art history just because I was bored and I thought that it was kind of fun. I realize now that I would never be willing to drop these studies. They are totally incredible. I love every second of what I do here. I just eat up the information that is available to me. I am doing more classes than anyone else, and the main reason for that is because I love them all, and I would never forgive myself if I left this Greek Island without the most amount of knowledge and experience that is possible to me. Every time I sit in a class, I realize how much information the person standing in front of me has to impart. There are so many people in the world that are good at their jobs, my dad, for one, knows so much, and he’s just one person. There are so many things to be incredible at here, and I’m doing them all. I don’t feel ashamed to be doing so much at all. I like that every waking hour of the day from 9AM to 1AM is devoted to the things I love most about this world.

I have worked out a twisted and contorted way to take a shower, but at least it is a shower. You have to lean over the side of the tub and wash and condition your hair in completely cold water. After the water has ran long enough, the red light comes on in the water heater. It takes about 40 minutes for a few gallons of hot water to heat up. While it is heating up, I wash my face in semi-warm water and put my hair up and get my contacts in. Once it has heated up, I get 45 seconds of hot water. I jump in the tub and wash my body. Try holding a shower head while scrubbing yourself and at the same time adjusting the cold water so that you don’t scold yourself for 45 seconds and you don’t freeze yourself. Not adjusting things right just lands you in the position of taking a cold shower. I’m getting pretty good at my little system though! I can’t wait to go home and take showers for hours on end!

It’s funny to note that I went shopping in the supermarket. I can understand where the idea of the market being super comes from. There are a lot of different products to choose from (underwear to dish soap, oranges to squid). However, the size of the market is not super. The whole thing is probably a little bigger than the size of our condo. It’s a lot of fun to try to find a product too. One hell of an adventure to look at cheese and then try to see the price tag. It’s all written in Greek. No kidding either!

I also got my laundry done today. You take it to a lady who washes it in a washing machine. When that has been done, she gives it back to you wet, and you have to dry it on a clothes line. Let me tell you, I couldn’t figure out how to make the clothes line work, so I just laid them all over my apartment to dry. It was kind of funny actually. I was so American I didn’t know how to make a clothesline work! But I have clean clothes, and that is a relief.

I did have a big success today, and that was that I went shopping and did the entire thing in Greek. I got everything I needed, and I paid for it all by using Greek words that I know. I didn’t speak a word of English. I’m getting pretty good actually. I’m trying to learn two words a day. I’m not bad now! I can’t read it yet, but I’m starting to learn how to speak it!

Here are a few Greek words for you.

Signoma (long a)- Sorry/Excuse me
Ti Canis- How are you
Ena- One
Kala- good
Ti hora ini-what time is it
Efharisto-Thank you

The Greek vowels are so hard. I have to learn the alphabet. I can’t survive without being able to read simple things at least!

Here are some things that being on his island have inspired me to do:

• Draw
• Paint
• Carve/Sculpt
• Write
• Write a book
• Continue serious schooling
• Go to Italy
• Grow herbs for my own kitchen
• Cook hearty Greek meals
• Read heavy literature
• Read heavy Greek literature
• Lean Greek
• Survive as an artist
• Do freelance photography/writing
• Sell my art
• Do art everyday
• Travel
• Most of all, I want to be myself

These things come to me like a ray of light each day, but they are a final part of who I am!

There are some serious changes going on here!

Other than that, I learned some incredible painting techniques today, and I spent 5 hours in my beautiful painting studio learning how to perfect them. I turned a painting that I hated into one that I like a lot. I worked on a second painting that I loved quite a lot when I was done with it. There are still lots to go though!

I felt very satisfied after working with the poetry that I wrote last night.

Also, today, I had a photography class, and I realized that silver photography is very much so a part of who I am. We need to work on getting me a darkroom space really because when I come back, I am going to produce like a maniac. It is possible that I am going to need to work with medium format (BIG) film if I can’t get my camera fixed, and that doesn’t bother me at all. It’s cheaper anyway!

I’m having a hard time living without a clock at all, but I’m starting to get used to it. It’s interesting living in a culture where time isn’t really important!

I had a wonderful art history lesson tonight that has inspired me to go with a bunch of friends to Crete over our Spring break. It will be very, very inexpensive if we all go together, so I’m very excited! We may just do that!

Tonight I have a lot of things to do, so I am going to go. I have a class tomorrow that I have to do some serious preparation for. I have figure drawing tomorrow as well. I love that class, I’m getting better at it. It’s the one thing (after painting) that I was terrified of, and I’m glad that it’s something I can conquer while I am here!

With much love,

Chris

My hike last week was so incredible that it has left me hungering for more. There are so many exciting things going on here at the Center.

This man named John vanBuren came here to see us today. He is a gracious benefactor of the school. He is an Oregonian and he donated quite a bit this term, and he has agreed to fill the school’s library. He is a famous composer, and he is living in Germany. I really liked working with him today, and I will see more of him in the future.

This week we are going to go to the Paros marble mine, I can’t wait. It is the spot for the most pure marble on earth. It just sounds like so much fun! After that, the next day, we are going to do some art outside called Earth Art. Jane (John’s wife) and the painting class are going to go rearrange stones and stuff in honor of Earth Day! That seems exciting.

Other than that, I’m working on my normal classes. I had a figure drawing class that was just amazing today. I am learning tools on how to draw that have been used by many masters of the past. We work on a skill, and then Jane shows us things in books of sketches done by famous artists using the same tool. I am getting relatively good at drawing the human form. Much better than before, and there is so much to learn. Also, learning about the human form and the use of lines in drawing are helping me so much to learn about photography. I see so many new things through the viewfinder here.

The teachers here really are working professionals. Each of them are incredible in their own right. They have so much knowledge to impart, and I just eat it up. That is why I am up until 1 AM every day working on some new project or reading Greek literature that could only enhance me further. My teacher in that class is so knowledgeable, and I just feel like a sponge as I soak it up!

Today was Clean Monday, so we did little class work. We took part of the day off and rented a car and drove it to the other side of the island to a restaurant one of our friends has over there. When we got there, we ordered a feast. We had Shrimp and Calamari and Humus and Chick Peas and Fried Cheese and special Lent Bread and fried zuccunni and zuccunni rolls and Lent dessert. The deal on food for Lent is that you can’t eat fish, meat, oil or dairy products for the 40 days of Lent. I am told that all the stores will be open for these things anyway. Also, the people only strictly follow the diet for the first and last three days of Lent.

I am going to go to the supermarket tomorrow to get some oranges, bananas and yoghurt. I’m running out of food here!!! All I eat really is bananas and oranges and yoghurt. Then for dinner it’s olive oil and bread with cheese on it. Good stuff. More and more commonly the whole group has gotten together, and we have done potluck dinners. It’s been incredible. I’ve eaten some pretty good food. I’m looking for a collection of Greek Recipes for when I come home. Please get used to the idea of being Greek at heart! I’m just so excited to be a part of something this cool.

Our lunch today was awesome. After, we went for a walk along the beach. It’s the first time I’ve been near the water. It was still quite cold, but that didn’t hurt its beauty. We could see the other islands out in the distance. I got to see AntiParos up close today. It looks beautiful, and I will get to go snorkeling there soon! I also saw many more fields of goats today. This one little lamb (a couple of weeks old) came running up to me (they always pick me) and started playing with me. It was the most incredible experience. We also got to see a random donkey on the side of the road. How did I choose the two animals to love that they happen to have in Greece?

Ok. I have a thousand emails to sort through and some photos to do the same with. I just finished my second painting assignment. I don’t love it, but it’s better than the first. We’re definitely going to improve on them both, so I’m excited for that. My photos are coming out absolutely incredibly. I love this place.

I miss you, and I wish you were here! Chris

OHHHHH. Carnival. I never told you what that was. I am turning more and more Greek Orthodox by the day. It is a highly complicated religion that is even more complex than any Catholic stuff I’ve ever heard. The best way to explain it is to put it in terms of the Roman Catholic religion. In Catholicism, they have Mardi Gras, which indicates that it is the end of the “fun” part of the year. It’s the last party day before you have to endure 40 days of suffering (Lent) before Easter.

In the Greek Orthodox religion, Carnival is the Greek version of Mardi Gras. It’s kind of neat actually. School is out, and the kids run around in costumes (many dress in drag) and celebrate the time before Lent. It happens for a week or something like that.

This weekend is the last big party part of Carnival before Clean Monday. Clean Monday is the Orthodox version of Ash Wednesday. It’s really the last, last day before you are supposed to give up eating (really, I’m told that bread and meat won’t be available for a while here).

On Clean Monday, everyone gets to eat special foods (I’ve sampled the unleavened bread, which was quite incredibly good). All the families take the food out into the countryside and fly kites.

After that, is Lent and there are all sorts of rules about giving up food and what you can eat and when. Apparently shellfish are a valid food, and they’ll be available all over the place. I’m also told that we’re supposed to eat fish tonight. A bunch of the clan are getting together to celebrate. I’m going to go, but no fish for me. So that’s what Carnival is. It’s the last chance to have fun before Christ had to suffer so much.

It’s crazy here. My friend, Sara, and I had two little boys chase use through the streets throwing colored cherry bombs at us. It was kind of scary, because we had no idea what it was that they were doing, and we ran like hell! They weren’t trying to be mean at all, but celebrating, we were so confused.

I haven’t written in two days. Its’ hard to believe actually. Two nights ago, I actually went with my friend to a bar. Apparently, there was some situation with an Albanian doing not nice things with one of the girls here, and we went to handle it. The situation ironed out very easily. Later, John told us that the Albanians have this twisted idea of romance that often gets them and people around them into trouble. There is no situation now, but I was out late with my friend making sure that everything was ok.

Last night was just incredible too. We decided not to go on our hike on Friday because the weather was so incredibly horrible. It was so cold and the wind was blowing, so we decided to do it on Saturday (today). That meant that we had the day free yesterday to do whatever we wanted to do. I hung out and took some photos, but last night we had a huge pot luck at my friends Mike and Daisy’s house. We had all this Greek food and we ate it until late, late at night. We had so much fun. I really like this group that I’m around. I’ve been talking a lot to Mike, and he is an awesome guy. He married his wife, Daisy when he was 20. We have very parallel lives, and we have a lot of reality. I asked him how he could justify being married so young (as that’s what I’ve been getting recently), and we had a very inspirational conversation about marriage and life. He’s been happily married for 5 years. He came with his wife to Greece last year, and then applied as a student for this semester. They’ve been around for 2 semesters, and they’re just awesome people. Daisy is a photographer, and we’re learning from each other. I found out that she does weddings for $90 and hour, and I’m going to learn from her how she does it.

A funny side story about the dinner last night was that I brought an orange, and we cut it up and were eating it, and it was just great. I wanted to get another one. I knew that there was a tree just outside the door, so Mike and I got our shoes and coats on and went out to pick oranges. We discovered that the tree was in a totally unlit area (as many places are in Greece), and we were in the middle of someone’s yard trying to pick oranges. All I can say is that we laughed quite a bit during that time, and we also discovered that oranges have thorns on their trees. That was a good time!

Going back farther, and to the problems with my apartment! I woke up on Friday. After not having taken a shower for 4 days (due to water problems) I decided that nothing was going to stop me from getting a shower, and that if the water was cold, I was just going to have to deal with it. I got up and the power had gone out in my entire apartment. Believe it or not, it was INCREDIBLY sucky. It wasn’t actually that bad, but I had to go another part of a day without showering. I eventually figured out how to get the power back on, and was able to take a 45 second shower yesterday. Short, but it got me clean! Appreciate our seemingly endless supply of warm water! By the way, my apartment has a name. Her name is Rodia. Everyone else has numbers, but because I was given the big apartment, it has a name, so if I ever say Rodia, that just means I’m referring to my apartment!

I wrote some Limmericks because I had to write something for my class, and I couldn’t think of anything. I then didn’t end up using them in my class, but here they are!
This poem goes out to a boy
Whose heart I played with like a toy
But since being in Greece
I’ve found so much peace
I know I’ll come home to such joy

This lover I have in Sherwood
Is like our man Sir Robin Hood
He’d fight to the death
To enhance my last breath
How did I marry a man with such good?

This marble of snowy white
Has nothing but dotted my sight
Since being here
It’s brought me great cheer
My soul’s risen to greater heights

I up and got in a cart
To drive to study ‘me art
I’m in the middle of nowhere
With this grease in my hair
But Hey! It’s at least a start!

How do you like them? In my literature class, I have started to read the Odyssey again. It’s actually beautiful, and I’m doing the class because we’re going to read the Odyssey really fast and then move on to other stuff. I wouldn’t mind being an expert on the Greek literature!

One touching thing was that I was by myself having suvlake (a Greek pita chicken thing) all alone. John Pack came by and saw, me and he walked into the place and sat with me, and he bought me lunch. It was really very nice of him, and we had a good time. He’s a very wise man, and I enjoy talking to him very much!

There was one other thing that I had written down to tell you that I had totally omitted in my other emails. I have decided to take up painting, so I got all of the supplies, and then Jane (John’s wife and the painting instructor) was trying to decide what space to give me to paint, as all of the other spaces had been given out. She took me into the front entry of the school (that no one ever uses because the door is hard to open). Inside the front door, there is a foyer that has a very, very high ceiling. There is a spiral staircase that goes up from there. She was using it a little for storage, but she gave it to me as a studio. I cannot tell you how beautiful this room is, and if I can figure it out, I will get some photos online for you, but it truly is INCREDIBLE. So I have this incredible painting studio all by myself, and people walk by the front street and look in to see me painting. I love the spot, and I’m so glad I got it. The ceilings really are like 13 feet high. Just incredible.

And it really does get so much better from there! Yesterday, the hike was cancelled, and as we never have classes on Friday, I had the whole day to myself to do what I wanted. As I haven’t been out on my own really to take photos, I got my camera ready. I took 1 G of memory and 3 batteries and set up out this huge hill that overlooks the sea. I went out that day and took 200 photos of everything that I could possibly see. It was just amazing.

And the even more incredible part of it was that I was walking along, and there was this little brown sign pointing out this spot in the road. I stopped, and I finally figured out that it was pointing to some houses (foundations) that had been there since 3000 BC. They were just sitting there, and there were mosaics on the floor of the house that has been there equally as long. They weren’t protected by anything. They had lasted for so long. Anyway, just understand what kind of an incredible environment I’m in. The second oldest church in Christendom is only about 500 meters from where I am sitting at this second right now!

This walk I went on was just incredible. I took pictures of olive trees and flowers. I ran into a herd of goats that I took photos of. I climbed half up a hill, and then looked out at the ocean, and I could see the other islands out far into the sea. The sea was a deep, deep blue with green interspersed. The whole thing was just so incredible!

And then, the hike that we took today is just too much for words. We went into the center of the island to a town called Lefkos. It is where all the people went when the island was being attacked by pirates. We got off the bus and then walked far out into the country. Along the way, John pointed out different herbs. I have collected some thyme, sage and oregano that I am going dry and bring back with me. The herbs were just growing along the side of the road. They smell just incredible. It was such a humbling and liberating experience to see such incredible things. We then went along this stone wall and saw churches and old mills (from when the windmills actually ground the wheat)! We also had some sourdough bread that probably was made with starter that has been around since Chaucer’s time. John knows so much, and we got such a lesson. I ran into a donkey along the road, and I stopped and took some photos of him! After that we ran into this herd of goats that were probably only a couple of months old. They followed us on our hike because they weren’t fenced in. We then went and sat in an olive grove that has been there forever. I saw some olive trees today that are more than a thousand years old. That’s just incredible. And in addition to that, I found some broken shards of pottery that are probably just as old. John said that it happens all the time. I’ll bring them home and show them to you! I also got to see the island of Naxos from afar!

I had the goal to have 1000 digital photos to use as a raw database for my trip to Greece. I wanted them to be excellent photographs. As of this point in time, I have 600 photos. Most of them were taken in the last 2 days. Looks like those memory cards will come in handy (and they have already).

And just to end the hike off well, we sat at this incredible little place and had some Greek food. I can’t even pronounce what I ate, but if I could cook that well, I would be one happy girl.

As I sit here, I hear the bells ringing as a sign of celebration for Carnival. It’s not hard to get used to church bells and ferry horns. What a great life! So that’s what I’m up to.

Ok. I have gotten the photo thing resolved, but it’s happening in a completely different way. I have put them on the yahoo photo share thing. Check them out because many of them are great. I sent out an email to almost everyone I know with the link. If you didn’t get it, let me know, and I’ll send it to you.

So the computers here at the Center were down yesterday, so I didn’t get a chance to write anything to you. I found out that all computers on the island were down, so it wasn’t bad. I hear that that happens whenever there are thunder storms (and there were). That’s Ok because I went to bed. I view it as one of the last times that I am going to be able to sleep for a while.

I have packed my schedule in a very beautiful way, and I’m not required to work as hard as I am and as hard as I have committed myself, but I know that the more that I put into something the more I get out of it in the end. And knowing what a beautiful place it is here. Every time I step out of my door, I think of how lucky I am to have found a place, and in fact, how lucky I am that such a place even exists in this whole wide world. It’s worth every second it took to get here, as well as every dollar I spent making it work! You can tell anyone that.

Here are the interesting things that I’ve run into. I’ve discovered that I am actually picking up the Greek language quite fast. When people ask “Ti canis?”(how are you), I am able to give them a response. I walked into a bakery and knew that I could have ordered my entire thing in Greek, but it got a little complex when they didn’t have what I wanted. I know that I will do this at least by the time that I leave the island.

I have also discovered that I am learning to read intuitively. It’s more a survival thing, because when you are trying to buy groceries, you need to know what you’re buying, and nothing is written in English, literally NOTHING. So when you are shopping for something, you need to know if you are buying hair oil or olive oil, and if the fish you are looking at is squid or tuna (an actual mistake I made). I was in the store today, and I realized that I actually did know what I was reading. Somehow, the thought came to me that I was holding milk, and I was, and it was not even near the refrigerated aisle (they don’ refrigerate their milk here).

I have gotten quite good at saying hello to people on the street. One other story ties into this. Yesterday, I was quite late for my class, and I was totally lost. As a pirate, I was making my way through the maze of streets, not wanting to raid and plunder, but to find my way to the darkroom (conveniently not connected to the school and down a very windy street). As I was hurrying along, I saw that an old man was taking up the whole road. I then looked more closely, and I discover that it was an old man and his donkey. My heart almost fell out of my chest, but I kept my cool, walked around them and made it to my class (not without being scolded about being late).

Today, however, I was hurrying off to the Center to start my drawing class, and I saw the old man again. Sure enough, he had is trusty donkey by his side. I wasn’t in a hurry really this time, so I walked slowly around them and looked carefully at them. I saw that he was selling lettuce off the back of his donkey. It was the most touching and beautiful scenes that I’ve ever seen, and I plan to make a whole art piece around it (I’m nervous about asking if I could photo him). Rather than just become the girl that always passes silently, I decided it only polite to at least address him. I have him a nice quiet “yasas” (hello). He looked up at me and smiled like I had made his day, and he said “CALIMARA” (Good day). I flashed him a beautiful smile back, and walked on. Little did he know that he made my day much more than I made his!

I plan to ask if it would be polite to take a picture. It is going to be the basis of my work here in photography if so!

I also ran into another beautiful thing the other day as well. It was thundering outside, but the clouds were far off, so I decided to go for a walk. John commented to me, “Don’t go get wet now.” It was a joke, but you know how these things can turn serious real fast! I walked out with my camera intending to take some photos of the clouds that I was falling in love with, and it started to rain softly. I thought, “I’m from Oregon, I can handle this.” And I kept walking on.

However, it started to really pour, and I diverted from taking photos. I needed to make it either to my apartment or the center very fast, and neither were close at all. Then the hail started coming down. It was bigger than the size of peas, and it was really starting to hurt. I walked by a bakery with some old men (no women) in it making loud conversation as they smoke cigarettes, drank coffee, made good conversations and played with their dogs. They saw me passing them by, but they couldn’t take it. Two of them walked out into the street where I was and pulled me into the bakery. They were very polite about it, but it was probably the most touching thing I had ever experienced in my entire life. These two old men actually cared enough to retrieve me from the rain and take care of me while it hailed. This culture is so beautiful, and I’m so glad to be a part of it!

I found out that it was a little expensive to do photography they way that they want me to do it. We talked about this on the phone yesterday, but I think I got it solved. I am going to try to use some supplies here, and maybe have you ship me something (very light, so very cheap). I am going to continue in photography, as it is an important skill to me, and I’m not going to let finances get in the way of anything. This many not be my main focus, but it will be an important focus. I can’t not come here and not record the world the way that I know how to best. I discussed this with the professor, and she is willing to let me use my own film. I just need to get some canisters to hold the film now.

Tomorrow I have basic drawing at 10:00 (I love this class) painting at 13:00 and writing at 18:00. I am going to have 3 pieces of writing done for tomorrows class (because they are just crawling non-stop out of my head).

I took my first long walk alone today. I had to go buy a painting supply, and it was on the other side of town. It was fun to walk around and see what it was the town had to offer. I am definitely in the nicest part of town!

I also went to try to sort out my hot-water issue. I went to my landlord, and she said, no it is working fine, and then walked away. I was like, OK. Siega Siega (slowly, slowly(another motto of the Greek service industry). She did give me one solution. However, it looks like I am going to be taking two showers a day. One in which I can wash my hair quickly and one in which I can wash my body quickly. I’m going to have to do something, as I haven’t been able to shower for 2 days now. GRRRR. I wouldn’t mind except that it’s so cold here, so when you take a cold shower, it just makes it worse. I hate shivering. If it weren’t for that, I would be just fine!

When it all gets totally overwhelming, all you have to know is that Boogatza will fix it all. I had one yesterday when all was looking dim in the photography world. It was GREAT. Cheered me right up. I have some chocolate milk I’m saving for a rainy day. Other than that, bread soaked in olive oil with cheese on it has made the best meal so far. It’s excellent. Olive oil is heaven. We’re going to have to find cheap suppliers in the US, because this stuff is excellent! I’ve also discovered the great joy of bananas and yoghurt. It’s what I eat every day for breakfast. The yogurt here is just divine. I could eat it for the rest of forever. These two meals, together, are making life great for me. Throw in a boogatza, and you’re in heaven!

It must be said that I had a large win yesterday when I made my first painting. It was nothing to be proud of, it would out of proportion, and I didn’t do the exercise very well (though it wasn’t THAT horrible), but the most important part was that I stepped near a canvas, and that my friend, is something more valuable than life itself. I am conquering some real fears that have actually been hindering me as a person here. Not just in art, in so many areas of life. This is a true education, and I couldn’t ask for anything more except to have you here sharing every moment of beauty with me.

I have now made my dream of studying art on a Greek island a reality and I want to be very productive as an artist. Following are my areas of study and what I want to accomplish in them while I am here. The schedule that I have decided to take is almost unmanageable, and I am told that no students have been able to maintain it in the past. I am determined to make progress in all areas.

Following are the products I wish to create and the skills and abilities that I wish to leave the Aegean Center with.

Art History:
• A fundamental understanding of the basics of Art History that I can add onto my present knowledge. A specialized knowledge of Greek Art History.
• Either a painting, drawing or paper should be the end-product of this class.

Basic Drawing:
• This class should be completed with a basic understanding of the fundamentals of drawing.
• I would like to add six new drawings to my portfolio to take home with me (pastels are preferred).

Creative Writing:
• This class will be completed with an even greater appreciation and understanding of this art.
• I would like to add 26 new pieces of writing to my portfolio as well as go home with a book started.

Digital Photography:
• In this class, I would like to master and understand all controls on my camera.
• I should leave the class with a full understanding of the Adobe Photoshop program.
• I would like to leave this class with a basic understanding of all aspects of the art of Digital Photography.
• I should leave this class with no less than 1,000 raw images that can be worked with later and used to show people my Greece Experiment.
• I should leave this class with no less than 15 final and professional prints that are portfolio/display quality.

Figure Drawing:
• I should leave this class with the basic understanding and ability to draw the human figure.
• I would like to leave this class with three drawings of the human figure that I would be proud to hang on the wall.

Literature:
• This class is very important to my understanding of the world that I am in.
• I will leave this class with a very nice foundation in Greek Literature.
• I will re-read the Odyssey to full understanding.
• I will continue to read other plays, poems and books until I have a minor background in Greek Literature that can be continued while I am away.
• I would like to purchase a copy of the Greek books that I read.

Painting:
• I would like to leave this class without the fear of showing my paintings to other people.
• My utter terror of painting needs to leave me.
• I would like to add 3 good paintings to my portfolio of work.

Photographic History:
• I would like to leave this class with a more full knowledge of the history of photography that I can use later in life.
• This class goal fits in with that of Art History.

Sculpture: • I would like to leave this class with a basic understanding of marble sculpture.
• I want to add one or possibly two sculptures to my artistic portfolio.

Silver Photography:
• I need to leave this class with any present holes in photography filled in.
• I need to discover new products for me to use as a photographer.
• I need to have 200 raw images for use later.
• I need to have 15 photo prints that are portfolio quality.
• I need to use my special photo equipment to create images on canvasses that can then be painted.

Final note on The Aegean Center for the Fine Arts
I need to leave this opportunity a lot more full as an artist. I am gaining the understanding of the ability to see beauty in everything. My ultimate goal is to leave here with a sizeable portfolio that I will be able to use to display myself as an artist. I also would like to change my frame of mind on life so that it is as it has been this past week here in the wonderful country of Greece.

If you would like to see some photos of the incredible building that I am studying art in, go to this link. More photos actually taken by me soon. http://www.kalligrammon.gr/restoration.html

Men of the past have come so far before me. Built great walls and sent forth their ideals as much as their sculptures. Brilliant men so far behind had it mostly right. Bud did THEY live by their ideas? We now, in our hands, have the ability to build such a great civilization. What of the nuclear weapons? And the hate crimes? What of the AIDS and the people unable to feed themselves? We have many, many thousands of thinking men’s ideals behind us. And why do we not live by them. One great man sends forth great genius; then why does he not live by it? We’re no lack of brilliant ideals to make a great civilization where all prosper. All that lacks is our genius application of that data. We all say it, why do we not all use it?

My name is Dimitri. You don’t know me, nor do any people from any land that prospers. I live in a far off country that your land is embarrassed about putting in your history books. Nor does your geography text point you in my direction. We will never meet. You do, however, fight for my cause. Your history texts do talk about the evils of the government I live with daily. However, your help is not in the name of help. It is in the name of the interests of your government. That is why I still live daily devoid of the joys of life. My small country has nothing to offer your leaders. We have no potential of great world power. I write not to rant. I have talents I am not free to explore. I’m not free to open the bakery I want to open. I know not how far my untapped skills go. I have trouble finding food. Other people tell me what my freedoms are. I have not the rights you do. I even must write this piece in secret. When something happens that I think is wrong, it’s not legal for me to voice how I feel. I could, but death would swiftly follow. I have not the right to believe in art or spirituality or any higher power. The old churches in my country have been converted into the metal factories that I am forced to work long hours in. I do not wish to bring children into this cruel world, but birth control being inaccessible to me, I have three. Many times, my stomach goes empty to feed theirs. They do not get an education, as educated people are free. They know not the trap they are caught in, nor do they know it doesn’t exist everywhere. My children will be told where to work and what to do with any of their own dreams being denied to them. I can’t leave or go on vacation at my will. There are guards at my borders willing to kill. I do not get to choose my doctor or my car (these are not available in any case). I have no freedom of choice in what I buy. The work I produce need not be of high quality, as the same level of work will get me the same either way. Nor do I feel sorry for myself. This is who I am. My life is only one situation out of the thousands of people in my country. My neighbor’s story is similar, and she has her own hidden, untapped skills and her own children who will never see their full potential. You have the great advantage of being prosperous. You have money and birth control. You have churches and education. So do not just say that this is bad without understanding, and do not support it’s eradication with the government only using it as an excuse to continue it’s own corrupt aims. Take a look outside your textbook and see if this is right. Take my individual situation and weigh it against your own, but make sure you look. Our government’s agendas mean little against feeding a hungry child. Inspired by a free Albanian