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help on greece?

help! my gf is currently in greece for 3 months. she is having a hard time coping b/c she feels she has no control and that she can't do anything or get around on her own. she has trouble with the language just basic day to day needs. she's staying at a lady's place for a study abroad program just outside of athens. i would like to help her. does anyone have any information and/or tips to survive in greece? maybe like maps, places of interest, how to get around, simple phrases, etc... also, how do i go about mailing her stuff from the states to greece? i would like to send her a package w/ things to help her out and other stuff little trinkets to make her feel better. no, there are no other students. she is actually "teaching" aboard so the other students are her students. thanx for the tips. she is shy and also homesick but i think she will do better soon. i will send her some trinkets :D

Public Comments

  1. Is she shy? She has to meet people (from Greece, from abroad) that will help her along for sure. I can't see what kind of problems she can have with the language since everybody in Athens will be able to speak with her in English... She can get maps from any tourism office. Surviving in Greece is pretty easy - and interesting . and I know that cause I spent a year there working as an English teacher. Finally, if you want to mail her stuff, just go to your nearest post office and send her the package. Good luck!
  2. She can't have communication problems because there is no shortage of English speakers and English signs in Greece, particularly in Athens. If she needs maps, they can be found in tourist offices, car rental agencies, post offices, or train stations and airports. She can also find great tourism info online. Her real problem is probably homesickness. Even in a "fun" country like Greece, if you are alone and away from loved ones, you can feel quite isolated. (Has she ever been abroad before?) It will definitely help if you do things to make her feel that she is still linked to home. Your idea of sending her trinkets is most appropriate. I'm not sure what confused you about mailing.... It's just a matter of putting the things in a box, putting the right stamps on it, addressing it and mailing.... Ask at your post office. Even if you send her gifts and talk to her on the phone regularly, SHE NEEDS TO MAKE FRIENDS LOCALLY, or else she may not have a good time. If she is on a study program, are there not any students (Greek or otherwise) taking classes with her with whom she could hang out? This is one of the main benefits of studying abroad. And even if she is shy, it should be particularly easy to befriend foreign students, since they will be desperate for friends too! (I speak from experience). There are soooo many things to do in Athens; I'm sure she and her new-found friends could find something. If you need any specific info, post a comment and let me know.
  3. Athens is HUGE....In the downtown area she will probably be able to find people to speak english. also the subways are color coded and easy to navigate. It is beautiful and she needs to get out and enjoy. the following are phonetic....kalla=good; kalla meara=good morning; kalla spera= good evening; ef haristo= thank you
  4. Have her go to the Helleni-American Union on Massalias St. and the British Council on Kolonaki Sq. They offer a variety of activities. It is puzzling however that she does have a-problems with the language as many people are fluent in English and b-she cannot find things to-do in a country as activity rich as Greece. Not knowing what she likes it is hard to make any pertinent suggestions.
  5. Send your letter to this organization, they may be able to get her in touch with Americans in Athens. http://www.ahepa.org/ahepa/Contact.aspx?d=1&rd=19682599&f=-1&rf=0&m=-1&rm=0&l=1
  6. I feel for your girlfriend!!! Tell her to go to this website http://newcomersinathens.com -they have monthly meetings and coffee get togethers. She'll feel right at home with these ladies because they've all been in her position when they first arrived. There are so many things to do she just needs a friend to go places and do things with - she'll find her way! I'm 1-1/2 hours outside of Athens and the only English speaking folks are my best friends lol - summer's coming she'll have a blast - she's not going to want to leave!!!
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