I've been reading that Greeks tend to be polychronic, as a society, meaning that they prefer to do many things at once. They can be easily distracted and subject to numerous interruptions. Plans are changed often and easily and are not necessarily adhered to. Time is experienced as much less tangible than monochronic time as in our Western society where time is money and key performance indicators exist to reflect productivity.
It is SO interesting realizing this is the reason they do business so differently, and who's to say it is the wrong way? Like the Spanish and the Mañana attitude, it perhaps allows them to live more freely and without the incredible constraints placed on businesses and workers where policy and procedure, along with measured increments of billable time, are the mode of operation.
These are my thoughts anyway, as we wait on our lovely little apartment to be ready. It is nearing completion, with 26 furniture items delivered from Ikea on Friday afternoon, and a very busy Saturday and Sunday with numerous allen keys and socket wrenches, pictorial instructions and willing helpers, to make it all from boxed flat packed, into real furniture. To give it life!
Starting out.
You will see, a certain young man very happy with his new item of furniture - Super high up in the world.
Getting there!
All in all, it has been a much more challenging month than I expected and I'm doing everything I can to maintain my initial positive attitude to our move and our absorption into a different location and culture. It has been now nearly a month in the hotel and we've been so fortunate to have our lovely friends near by to eat with at times, and to have a little taverna down the road and a very special Italian restaurant in Lavrio.
Some lovely signposts that we are in the right place yesterday! A naming day celebration here at our hotel with baclava (my favourite) for breakfast, not one but three lovely ladies who came over to ask to hold Noah and take him for little tours to meet people, and at the table where we had breakfast, three wonderful books hiding beneath greek newspapers and magazines; Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator) in English, Winnie the Pooh and 'Guess how much I love you'. All three, beautiful books which we love, and one in English to read to our boy. So we felt like that was a pretty nice reminder that we must be in the right place.
Our wee chickadee is coping with it all as though it were the most natural thing in the world to move countries twice so far and now into a new cot and new apartment! We hope that the electricity will go on this week. Then, let the nesting begin!
Bookie bird.
2 comments:
Hey Bookie-Bird, hang in there! You will get there and all will be well, it always is in the end. If there's one thing I've learnt from all the building/moving etc of late its that the little Chicks are more resilient and adaptable than we probably think - certainly more than we are! I say all this as my little one wakes screaming from her nap for the third time today due to the tiler cutting tiles for pool that has taken him 3 weeks to tile (and still isn't finished)!! AARgh, and this is Australia not Greece. But back to you, the apartment will be looking gorgeous before long and you can nest like mad! Isn't it so exciting though unpacking furniture (and all new to boot). Have fun, hang in there. NMC
You know, I'm German and moved to the US when I was 13. My first husband was stationed in Germany so I moved back to my Grandparents (in Germany) for two years with a newborn and toddlers adapt so quickly it's almost uncanny. Seeing your apartment (?) made me kinda homesick. I miss the routines for instance, 3pm coffee & little cakes or cookies. Sunday afternoon walks & picnics (even in winter).... Your apartment is looking great and it warmed my heart to read your other post about being in the right place.
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