September 2010 - Start-up

September starts the new academic year when Greece begins to shake off her summer torpor and siga, siga –slowly, slowly – students, parents and teachers establish a new routine. It’s also the first year for me as a fully-fledged pensioner - applications made, contributions counted, process complete-, the proud recipient of a monthly ‘stipend’.  From the very outset an annual amount of 1,000 euros has been lopped off – my obligatory contribution to keeping Greece financially afloat! Hard times ahead!

Just before school starts I invite this year’s US applicants for lunch. Event has a dual purpose: to catch up on their summer news and relax together, and also hopefully to kick-start their essay-writing once again- essays for the Common Application, the GB UCAS form equivalent.  They’ve been all over : Greece, Britain , Central Europe on conferences, language learning courses, competitions. At their age I was cloistered, limited in perspective and prospects, studying at a fairly remote Highland high school. When I compare -  they amaze me with  their abilities! Two have been to the US representing Greece at the Young Global Leaders’ conference, another has actually held a heart while attending cardiac surgery with a famous local surgeon. That’s a digestion stopper ! Just before they arrive I panic and call H to bring some bifteki ( hamburger ) and chips from a local restaurant. I’ve suddenly remembered scenes of ravenous teenage guys descending on the school food outlet ,  a swarm of locusts, clearing everything. I reckon my quiches, fried chicken, lettuce and potato salads and cherry tomatoes will not suffice. I was right.  All the bread had been used to mop up the last of the salad juices, no meat scraps left for the dog. Even the token thV trophV,  the small amount of food the Greeks say is left out of politeness on the plate, is not in evidence- just smiley, sated faces – nodding their heads as I offer  tea or  coffee; the girl who’s just come back from  GB opts for tea, the others follow, blithely squeezing lemon into their milk-poured sugar-drenched cups.