το ταξίδι μου στην ελλάδα (my trip to greece)

I spent most of September in Greece taking a multi-week immersion class in modern Greek on the island of Syros.  This was my fourth time at the Omilo school, so I knew it would be hard but wonderful -- and it did not disappoint! 

Here are some highlights:

The trip got off to a somewhat rocky start with several flight delays, multiple rebooked itineraries, and then, Lufthansa lost my suitcase -- for six days!

After making it to the island and finding a shop to buy a relacement dress and sandals for the welcome dinner, I met my new classmates from Morocco, Canada, Switzerland, Wales, and everywhere in between.

We spent four hours a day in the classroom on grammar, vocabulary, and conversation -- in Greek, of course! And all my homework sentences were about my lost suitcase :)

Our son Alex is a chess teacher and serious tournament player, so he was delighted when I texted him pictures of a chess exhibition I stumbled upon in the island's town square -- chess is everywhere!

Music is also everywhere! Turns out there was another pro musician taking the course, well-known Canadian pop/jazz singer Stephanie Martin.  We were invited to do a little concert (no mic, no PA) on the last evening of the course, and Stephanie brought down the house with her rewrite of "Summertime", our tribute to the Omilo school -- so much fun :)

My teachers, Spyros and Marina, are patient, knowledgeable, and supportive, demonstrating a love for their subject as well as for their students -- the kind of teacher I myself aspire to be.

Ευχαριστώ πολύ!