This photo depicts the scene from the donkey path overlooking Lefkes, a brilliant white village in the mountains of central Paros, about a 15 minute bus ride from our home in the city of Pariki. Yesterday was our first Friday hike of the semester. As we clambered along the stones and brush John pointed out all of the wild herbs, and graciously handed out plastic sacks for us to fill for our kitchens. Thyme, oregano, myrtle, fenugreek, and sage are now filling my apartment with aromas I had only read about. The depth of scent and strength of the smell is beyond my ability to describe…just like the pervading blue, you have to experience the reality to understand.
What a week! My schedule was laid out on Monday morning:
Monday…. 10-12 drawing, 1-3 digital photography….easiest day of the week
Tuesday…. 9-12 digital lab, 1-5 painting, 6 art history
Wednesday … 10-12 figure drawing, 1-3 digital, 6:30 ancient greek literature
Thursday … 10-12 drawing, 1-5 painting
So much new to learn. My brain was on overload on Tuesday night so lights were out at 8:45 and I slept for a full 10 hours. That helped. I think the hardest for me was the introduction to digital lab – no background on Mac, no background on PhotoShop. Those dear 18 year olds were helpful, but couldn’t understand my frustration since they felt it was so easy. That was a day of comeuppance for the 66 year old brain.
Figure drawing was also a completely new experience. I had told John in my acceptance letter I was afraid of the human body and would just do painting and sketching…wrong thing to point out. Just like everything else, I am learning patience with both the subject and me. Running away is not an option because there is no where to go. I am realizing how often I leave the studio at home when I run into a blockage or frustration instead of just staying and facing the issue. Just keep showing up and staying put is the biggest lesson I am learning.
Thursday night I was recruited to be part of a trivia team at one of the local tavernas. I took a nap, had dinner, and waited until 9:30 for Liz to pick me up….the timing was not auspicious for one who had gone to bed all week well before that. However, I arrived back home at 1:15 with 24 euros in my pocket for being on the first place team! A small victory to recover some of the hubris lost in the digital lab.
Remember last week I told you about protecting my back entrance from raiding cats while the door was open to accomodate the washing machine hose? This is the view from my door in the morning. Note the trash bags. Every morning at 9 a little golf cart goes down the street, honking in front of each door. If you aren’t there, you leave your little bag of trash out at the last minute so the cats don’t get it. A very civilized way to handle the trash issue. Of course, the streets are so narrow no car or truck could get in there so it is the only way to handle the issue.
Daily life is settling in. I’m getting to know some of the merchants and don’t get lost in the myriad of streets that all look the same. I come early before class every morning to sit in the courtyard where I can get on the internet and do the same each evening before going home. Limiting this distraction is a good thing.
Everything is a 5-10 minute walk through brilliant sunshine. People nod and as they recognize me, there are now smiles and they say Yasous instead of Kalimera. That is slightly more familiar and more welcoming as I pass from the status of a day-tripping tourist to recognizable tourist.
The first rain of the season was on Wednesday night when an unexpected and very loud thunderstorm arrived. However, no more rain in the forecast – which delights the students but worries the natives. Each week it gets slightly cooler. Last week the warmest day was 74. This week the forecast is for a high day of 70.
It’s Saturday morning so I am going to do errands including visiting the little farmers market for the first time. This afternoon I will go to the studio and work on the two underpaintings I have started – and perhaps attempt the digital lab another time. Simple pleasures and rhythms to caress my soul.
Lisa Oberreuter 