Small Adjustments

There are a lot of differences between Greece and America. Though language is hardly necessary to specify, it is one of the biggest difficulties. After a week of sopping wet weather, the sun has shone, and things are heating up. Although, I’m never certain of the actual measurement of degrees, since it’s considered in the 20’s and is hot, whereas back home it would be in the 80’s. Normally at a restaurant, each person orders a plate for himself, but in Greece we eat family style all the time. I had a recipe for some crepes that I wanted to make, but when it called for a cup of flour and a tablespoon of vanilla, I had to improvise with the estimated amounts. I don’t know how far a meter is. Or how many kilos I weigh. I don’t automatically convert euros into dollars in my head. I sometimes feel a little weird kissing people on both cheeks when I greet them and at our departure, especially when I enter/leave a big group of people. I’m not used to taking a leisurely stroll; most of my walking has a purpose behind it. My coffee should either be piping hot or ice cold, because drinks are never their tastiest at a luke warm temperature. It should not be this hard to locate ingredients to make a root beer float -there are only two ingredients! 

It’s beautiful though - the differences. There are so many people who live life so differently from me. And they are able to live. Thrive. And progress. So much goes on in this world that we have no clue about; maybe we should branch out more often and see what else the world has to offer us. It might surprise us. You might discover that you know less than you thought and can learn more than you expected. 

Yin-Yang Sunset

It seems to be that the boldest, brightest, most beautiful colors are displayed the closer the sun is to setting, --like a slow buildup, working its way toward the climax and quickly taken by the dramatic close. Last night I was shone a hot pink sun, mere moments away from setting altogether. Its color was remarkable, not Easter-egg-pastel or sugary-sweet-cotton-candy pink; it was bold, and daring, and perfect. At this time in the day, the sun isn’t noticed for the amount of light it gives off, for it shines very little, but its attention-grabbing finale is seen in the colors it produces.

To be honest, I don’t even know if there were any other shades around it; if there were, I neglected to pay any notice. It’s likely, though, that whatever those colors may have been, there was no contest between them and their opposing conspicuous, brilliant beams. But these other tones, dull and unimpressive, held the capacity to highlight the intensity of this sun’s color. Without dim, how do we know bright? Those mediocre hues each played a vital part, as supporting roles, in the big debut of my electric pink sun. 

No thing has no meaning. It may seem a lesser part, but without it, nothing would be as it is. 

“Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.” I think Gandhi was onto something when he said this.