I knew before coming to Greece there would be many cultural differences. I wasn’t aware of all of the differences before arriving in Athens in September. I decided not to take an official class to learn the Greek language, but to learn the language from the locals. Greek is a rather difficult language to speak and to understand as it uses a completely different alphabet. However, I have been trying to learn the language throughout my semester here. It has taken me a while to learn it but I am getting better each day. I think that one of the hardest things that I have had to adjust to while in Greece is that we are not allowed to flush our toilet paper. It has to be thrown out in the trash. This leads to the bathroom having to be cleaned constantly and the trash being taken out frequently. This has been difficult with four individuals sharing one bathroom.
An interesting thing that I have noticed throughout my time at ACG is that many of the Greeks
speak multiple languages. I have spoken to many Greek students who are also fluent in German
and French. I think that this is interesting because many Americans only know English or they
are only familiar with other languages. Most Americans feel that they do not need to learn any
other language but English since many people throughout the world know English. Through my
conversations with Greek students, I have learned that they are required to learn English in
school.
I have adjusted fairly well to the cultural differences in Greece. Many people are friendly and
enjoy getting to know the new students at ACG. Many of my professors are willing to help their
students and recommend different sites and things for them to do throughout their time in
Greece. One of my favorite cultural differences in Greece is the role that coffee plays in the
culture. I was never much of a coffee drinker before coming to Greece. However, I learned that
coffee is a huge part of the Greek life. It is a social event in that many of them will smoke
cigarettes and enjoy their coffee for long periods of time. In America, you typically see people
studying inside of the coffee shop or just ordering a drink and leaving. I definitely think that I am
going to miss this aspect of the Greek culture the most. Overall, I have been enjoying my time in
Greece and the people that I have become friends with.