Top Five WEIRDEST Differences between the US & Greece

Monday we visited the Venetian Fortress in Herakalon, then explored the town itself! This morning we had a lecture about leadership and core values.

I am in love with Crete, it is absolutely gorgeous. I know this “Top Ten” list is a little off the beaten path, but I have been compiling this list in my head throughout my travels here. As an American in another country, its unavoidable to run into some minor (but very humorous) complications. So without further ado, I bring you:

Top Five WEIRDEST Differences between the US & Greece:

1. Cats. Cats. Cats. There are cats everywhere. They are running amuck and about seven hundred new kittens are born every second. Its to the point where you can play Where’s Waldo in all the postcards because there is most likely a cat hidden somewhere in every landscape picture.
2. The “Black Market” of Greece. Like New York, many people are situated on the street trying to sell their goodies. It’s especially hilarious when they all start slamming their suitcases and screaming “POLICIA POLICIA!” and flailing away when the police come near. But what’s especially strange is how they all walk IN restaurants and come up to you at your table and the restaurant owners do not care at all! The first time I experienced this when I was eating, one man walked up to me with a stack of ripped DVDs to sell. I looked around frantically expecting an old woman in her babooshka and broom in hand to come screaming Greek curses out of the kitchen after them. Nope.
3. MOPEDS. Like cats, these bad boys are everywhere. Other than the extremely aggressive euro-men trying to play Hit The Tourists, I think it is such a great idea because mopeds are so much more sustainable than cars.
4. Asking if you can pay for something with a credit or debit card is the equivalent of asking someone to drop and give you fifty, run ten miles, find a cure for all incurable diseases, and then proceed to solve world peace. So if you ever go to Greece, book it to your nearest ATM and take out cash cash cash!
5. Trees. Some of the trees here look like they are straight out of a Doctor Suess book. Most of them have strange looking fruit on them. Even the one I am sitting under now looks like its about to drop a massive green-pepper-meets-green-bean’s offspring on my head. But they are all SO beautiful, I wish I could plant them on my porch at Auburn! There are gorgeous red flower vines that creep up the sides of our villas here in Crete, I can honestly say I might try to wear one back as a boa to get it through customs.

-Channing Broderick