Απόφθεγμα της ημέρας, 24 Μαίου 2012

 Τη Δευτέρα 28 Μαϊου είναι αφιερωμένη σ' όλους τους Αμερικανούς στρατιώτες που έχουν υπερασπιστεί και συνεχίζουν να υπερασπίζονται την πατρίδα τους. Memorial Day, λοιπόν, και είναι ευκαιρία για τους Αμερικανούς να εκμεταλλευτούν το 3ήμερο αυτό ταξιδεύοντας.. 

Όοοχιιι, αυτή τη φορά δε θα ταξιδέψω πουθενά, αντίθετα περιμένουμε μια φιλική οικογένεια που την είχαμε επισκεφθεί όταν είχαμε πάει στην Washington, DC για το spring break. Και με ευκαιρία αυτή την επίσκεψη, άνοιξα πάλι το "ημερολόγιο της αισιοδοξίας" και βρήκα το εξής απόφθεγμα:

Άνοιξε το σπίτι σου. Οι φιλοξενούμενοι είναι θείο δώρο. Φέρνουν κρασιά, γλυκά, φέρνουν τα παιδιά τους να παίξουν με τα δικά μας. Γελάμε μαζί τους, κουβεντιάζουμε τις δυσκολίες μας και μοιραζόμαστε χαρά.

Πόσο επίκαιρο???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :D

http://pinterest.com/demetranatie/my-blog-s-pictures/

ΤΙ ΓΙΝΕΤΑΙ???

Πριν απο 4 μήνες περίπου είχα πάει μια βόλτα στην Αθήνα με μια φίλη μου, που είναι από τα Χανιά. Εκείνη την ημέρα, λοιπόν, μου χάρισε ένα ημερολόγιο, "Το Ημερολόγιο της Αισιοδοξίας", το οποίο μέσα συμπεριλαμβάνει διάφορα απόφθεγματα που συμβουλεύουν τον καθένα από εμάς για κάτι καλυτερο που μπορούμε να κάνουμε για τους εαυτούς μας και τον κοινωνικό μας περίγυρο. Σήμερα μετά από καιρό άνοιξα αυτό το ημερολόγιο στη σημερινή ημέρα και βρήκα το συγκεκριμένο απόσπασμα "Οι ενοχές δεν είναι τίποτε άλλο παρά ένα κακό εσωτερικό αφεντικό που μας απομακρύνει από την αληθινή ζωή" Και τελικά αναρωτιέμαι ποια είναι η αληθινή ζωή?? Πως μπορούμε να την αντιληφθούμε εφόσον ο καθένας από εμάς καθημερινά είναι γεμάτος από ενοχές... Πόσο δυνατός μπορεί να είναι κάποιος ώστε να διώξει τις όποιες ενοχές βιώνει και πρόκειται να βιώσει στη συνέχεια?? ΟΚ!!! Από αυτή την παρατήρηση εξαιρούνται οι πολιτικοί γιατί δεν έχουν καν φιλότιμο, δεν αισθάνονται ενοχές και παριστάνουν τους μετανιωμένους, κάτι το οποίο αποτελεί ένα διαφορετικό θέμα προς συζήτηση ή ανάλυση. Αλλά με τους Ευρωπαίους πολίτες, και δεν αναφέρομαι μόνο στους Έλληνες μιας και πλέον την ίδια κατάσταση αντιμετωπίζουν οι Ισπανοί και οι Ιταλοί, τί γίνεται?? Που καθημερινά αισθάνονται τύψεις για όποια απόφαση έχουν πάρει είτε σε πολιτικό είτε σε κοινωνικό είτε ακόμα και σε προσωπικό επίπεδο.. ΤΙ ΓΙΝΕΤΑΙ??? Πόσοι γονείς νιώθουν ένοχοι που δεν μπορούν να μεγαλώσουν τα παιδιά τους όπως τους αξίζει να μεγαλώσουν. Νιώθουν ένοχοι που δεν μπορούν να τους δώσουν τα κατάλληλα εφόδια, όπως μου έδωσαν σ' εμένα και στον αδερφό μου οι γονείς μου.. ΤΙ ΓΙΝΕΤΑΙ??? Ξαφνικά τους ζητήθηκε να απολογούνται για αποφάσεις που πάρθηκαν από άλλους.. Για το μόνο πράγμα που οφείλουν να απολογηθούν είναι για την ΕΜΠΙΣΤΟΣΥΝΗ που έδειξαν σ' αυτά τα "λάθος" άτομα.. Τελικά το ερώτημα είναι "μπορούμε να διώξουμε τις ενοχές" ή κάτι τέτοιο αποτελεί σενάριο επιστημονικής φαντασίας???

Spring Break @ Washington, DC - Part 1 (roadtrip)

INTRODUCTION

On Monday, March 26th 2012, my host mother, Jasmina, had a "crazy" idea! Instead of staying during the spring break in Glenview, it would be better to go in Washington,DC, which is the capital of U.S.A. So...

MAIN STORY

On Tuesday, March 27th 2012, at 03:00 am, our journey began. The journey was supposed to be loooong since we were going to travel by car !!! (Approximately 13 hours, 867 miles). And to be honest, I really enjoyed it. The landscape was beautiful. There were farms, forests, big lands, lakes, rivers, and the most impressing part was that each state has a different landscape to "present".
At the beginning crossing Illinois and Indiana, we saw big lands without hills, and farms. The same scenery meets Ohio as well; but, someone can also notice the existence of long rivers and lakes. For instance, Cleveland,OH is built close to Lake Erie where there are many countryside houses. At last, in Pensylvania, Maryland and Virginia, the landscape changed completely as there were big forests while we were moving on hills!

But let me describe you a little bit more the trip.. OR to be more specific ----> Which "things" impressed me!!! And there are few since we crossed 6 STATES!


WHAT'S IMPRESSIVE??

1. The Ohio 's Amish Country
In Ohio, there are so many Amish people. Who are the Amish??? OK.. It's a community of people, who are very religious, and they believe in a more conservative way of life, without using electricity or technology. Do you remember a TV series "The little house on the prairie" ?? How people used to live at that time? The clothes, the carriages, the reactions against anything pioneer, the men with the long beards etc. This is exactly their lifestyle. I saw Amish people on a carriage! Pretty weird! However, as the years passed, they are open to show their "world", and if someone wants, he/she can live as an Amish from within...! :P

2. Mohican Loudonville
On the other side, now, in Mohican Loudonville, somebody can learn the Native Culture & Lifestyle... Hmmmmm... !

3. Potomac,MD (Maryland)
This area is very beautiful. The residences are very well constructed in order to serve the needs of citizens,but without ruining the "peaceful" atmosphere.

Potomac is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. In 2009 CNNMoney.com listed Potomac as the fourth most affluent town in the United States.[1] Potomac is also the seventh most top-educated American small town according to Forbes.[2] Many Potomac residents work in Washington, D.C.

4. Marine Corps Base Quantico,VA
In U.S.A, there are two marine bases, one is located in Virginia, and the other one in California.

Next Stop ---> Washington,DC

*spring break = for a week the children in U.S.A don't go at school

TO BE CONTINUED.....

Celebrating by the Irish way...

Today, Saturday March 17th, is National Day for the Irish nation.It's called...

"Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick") is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.[1] It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland),[2] the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early seventeenth century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general.[3]"

Well, everything was green!! People were wearing green clothes combined with green jewelry or having dyed hair or painted faces with the same color!! I was in Chicago down town to watch the parade on S.Columbus Dr. Everywhere I was looking at, there were shamrocks panels hanged, while I was listening to the traditional Irish music (e.g. riverdance) or looking at the river, which was green too!!! (They dye the river..!) In addition to, there were stands full of green stuff like hats, necklaces, shamrocks, just in case somebody wanted to buy, and stands outside of restaurants where "spinach" pizza was served (green food!) TIP: If someone, not Irish, wanted to participate in this anniversary, like me, he/she has to wear something green in order not to get pinched!!! It could be anything, from a hair-tie to a plastic bracelet or from a hat to a total "green" look..


WHY GREEN??? GREEN is a color, but can be used for many things/meanings like tranquality, serenity, peace, ecology etc. But for Irish people is their "history", "life-color", "benchmark". Therefore, I was wearing a bracelet that Valentina made for me... 

So, I couldn't believe how many people would gather for this celebration, though they concerned me about it few days ago.. THOUSANDS of people were out!! Why not??? Apart from the fact that a big proportion of Americans is from Ireland, it was a sunny day, and it would be pitty if they didn't enjoy it! And to be honest, it was hot, 26 degrees Celsius !!! (It's getting hot in here.. tourou tourou)

My Swedish - American Experience

That's my first weekend-off in Chicago and I am trying to get more "familiar" with the city. So, I started browsing on internet what places must be seen, like museums, parks, galleries etc. There are so many options, but I chose to visit and explore the "Andersonville" which is one of the swedish colonies since 19th century. Andersonville is located close to Michigan Lake, and it's very easy to go there by public transportation.
Anyhow, my destination was the Swedish - American Museum [5211 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640-- www.swedishamerican museum.org/]. This museum is an honor to Swedish immigrants, who came to the U.S.A in the 19th century because of a growing population, the practice of subdividing farms among the sons of each family, severe droughts that caused lack of food, social and political discontent, the desire for religious freedom, and the wish to escape compulsory military service (these are the "push" factors of immigration). On the other side, the main "pull" was the availability of low cost, high quality farm land in the upper Midwest (the area from Illinois to Montana), and high paying jobs in mechanical industries and factories in Chicago, Minneapolis, Worcester and many smaller cities. The American environment also provided low taxes and no established state church or monarchy. Push factors inside Sweden included population growth and crop failures. Most migration was of the chain form, with early settlers giving reports and recommendations (and travel money) to relatives and friends in Sweden.

Swedish migration peaked 1870-1900. By 1890 the U.S. census reported a Swedish-American population of nearly 800,000. Most immigrants became classic pioneers, clearing and cultivating the prairies of the Great Plains, while others remained in the cities, particularly Chicago. Single young women usually went straight from agricultural work in the Swedish countryside to jobs as housemaids. Many established Swedish Americans visited the old country in the later 19th century, their narratives illustrating the difference in customs and manners. Some made the journey with the intention of spending their declining years in Sweden, but changed their minds when faced with what they thought an arrogant aristocracy, a coarse and degraded laboring class, and a lack of respect for women. ---> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_emigration_to_the_United_States)

The exhibition is divided in two sections: 1) The Swedish Emigration (2nd floor) & 2)  The Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration (3rd floor). When I got on the 3rd floor, I was amazed by the space management where there were small cottages and a large Viking's ship, made suitable for the dimensions of the children. So the kids could experience the swedish culture from within by playing! 


After my visit to the museum, I was walking on N. Clark St., when I found a restaurant, which is called "SVEA Restaurant". It's small inside, but it's so friendly and warm. I entered and I tasted a swedish plate. It was delicious!!! Yummieeee!!!!!


Many of you would wonder  "Why didn't you go in a greek community?" Well, since I have the chance staying in the U.S.A  for a year, it's a great opportunity to meet people. To looking for a greek community would be "vanity"! I wanted to learn something new!!! :) 

My first walk in downtown Chicago!!

Today, March 7th 2012, it was my first walk in downtown Chicago. As I 'm living in Glenview (north suburb of Chicago) I had to take the train (METRA line) for going down there. I got off at the Union Station and I was walking on W Jackson Blvd (West Jackson Boulevard) where you can see everything like skyscrappers, large-long roads, many stores (Walgreen-Pharmacy, Bakery stores, multi-departement stores), old buildings (many of them function as banks departements or colleges). At this point I have to inform you that the centre of Chicago is called "Loop", which means circle, because if someone takes a look above him, he/she will see the railtracks that shape a circle!! Isn't that a little strange for a non-American??
As I was going to S Michigan Ave (South Michigan Avenue), I saw the Michigan Lake and the Millenium Park, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Wherever I was looking at, there was grass, and the lake was just in front of me. So I took the road besides the lake and people were sitting or jogging around. It was so refreshing and impressing, at the same time, to experience all these! I still can't believe where I am, but I know I will do soon..

Later, I went back to S Michigan Ave and I was keeping walking. I walked across the river that exists, and I moved into a different "scenic" where the SHOPPING is alive!!! Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the "5th Avenue" of Chicago!!! Every store that anybody can think is there. I will refer some of them such as Macy's, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Cartier, Burberry, GAP, ZARA, Guess and the list is continued... In this side of the centre, there is the Water Tower PLace, which is one of the highest buildings!

However, it was about time to return since it was getting darker... And here, the 1st attempt to explore Chicago came to an end..!! I hope that you enjoyed and someday to come here by yourselves!!! ;)

What's impressive???

1) The Art Institute of Chicago and the walk at the park behind it. I was amazed when I saw geese on the grass!!! General, the whole scenic with the park, the bare trees and the lake so close to the centre was an indescribable experience!

2) The view of a "familiar" store ZARA made me happy, because everything was so strange and unknown to me...!! I know it's silly , but I smiled when I saw it!

3) The Water Tower Place is so huge!!! My neck was in pain...!!! :P