This blog isn't going to have any pictures... just a forewarning.
As many of you know (or may not know... I'm not sure what the news coverage is like in the States) the Athens has been the center of a lot of protests and demonstrations lately, some of which have turned into riots. Greece's financial circumstances are, for lack of a better word, awful and the country is finding itself in need of some pretty serious measures and some pretty serious help in order to stay afloat.
People are losing jobs, wages and pensions, and taxes are being hiked in order to cover the costs of the public sector. I don't fully understand the situation... I wish I could more thoroughly, or better explain it... but what I do know is that people are very, very unhappy. Protests have become part of the background noise for us in this noisy city... but in the last few days they have moved to the forefront.
Today, and tomorrow the public, and much of the private sectors is staging a 48 hour strike. All public transportation is stopped and almost all the stores and shops in Athens have their front door-gates (like when shops close in the mall at night) shut today. Riot police have apparently been transported to Athens in anticipation of the protests that are happening today. Today, walking to school, big blue school buses (used to transport police officers in large groups) lined a good 1/4 mile of the street leading to Syntagma Square... the location of the Parliament building, and where most of the protests happen. We also haven't had trash collection in the last two weeks because "rubbish collectors" ares striking also... which is pretty gross given that we throw out used toilet paper and don't have the option of flushing it.
BUT... regardless of all that, I want to reassure you that we are safe. We always know where and when the protests are going to occur and as long as we use our heads we will not end up in the middle of them. There is definitely tension in the air, but I have no intention of being anywhere near Syntagma in the next few days and I've found ways to walk around Syntagma on my way to and from school (even though it's way easier and more convenient just to walk right through it... darnit.)
Here's an article I found that covers what's going on for the next couple of days, in case you're interested.
It will be interesting to be here in the next few months. It's definitely history in the making for the country of Greece so that's pretty neat... the turbulence of it all is a little unnerving... but I'm not afraid, so you shouldn't be either (especially you; mom, grandma, and aunts!)
----------
I'm adding to this blog a day later. Yesterday was the "mother of all protests" as it has come to be called in Athens. It was a pretty scary day, even though we were watching it all on the local news (entirely in Greek) on our tv in our apartment. My roommate Ally and I walked home from school a couple hours prior to the protests really becoming violent, and were detoured around Syntagma Square... but still through streets where protestors were marching from their meeting points towards Syntagma. The marching isn't violent; it's more like a parade actually. When the protestors all meet at the Square... that's when things get violent and dangerous. We weren't ever in danger, but we sure walked fast.
Today we walked to our morning classes (Greek and Writitng for the Professions for me) but my night class, Advertising, is cancelled. The metro was on strike this morning, so we had to walk. The streets are a mess and there was still tear gas in the air from yesterday, so even with my scarf pulled up over my nose and mouth, I'm a little watery.
It is really wild to consider that we are here during this major turning point in Greek history. A little scary. A little uncomfortable. But pretty cool.
Keep this country in your prayers. Pray safety over the people, and for wisdom for the decision makers. Pray for us too, as students here, that we would make wise decisions and would learn from the circumstance of this country.
As many of you know (or may not know... I'm not sure what the news coverage is like in the States) the Athens has been the center of a lot of protests and demonstrations lately, some of which have turned into riots. Greece's financial circumstances are, for lack of a better word, awful and the country is finding itself in need of some pretty serious measures and some pretty serious help in order to stay afloat.
People are losing jobs, wages and pensions, and taxes are being hiked in order to cover the costs of the public sector. I don't fully understand the situation... I wish I could more thoroughly, or better explain it... but what I do know is that people are very, very unhappy. Protests have become part of the background noise for us in this noisy city... but in the last few days they have moved to the forefront.
Today, and tomorrow the public, and much of the private sectors is staging a 48 hour strike. All public transportation is stopped and almost all the stores and shops in Athens have their front door-gates (like when shops close in the mall at night) shut today. Riot police have apparently been transported to Athens in anticipation of the protests that are happening today. Today, walking to school, big blue school buses (used to transport police officers in large groups) lined a good 1/4 mile of the street leading to Syntagma Square... the location of the Parliament building, and where most of the protests happen. We also haven't had trash collection in the last two weeks because "rubbish collectors" ares striking also... which is pretty gross given that we throw out used toilet paper and don't have the option of flushing it.
BUT... regardless of all that, I want to reassure you that we are safe. We always know where and when the protests are going to occur and as long as we use our heads we will not end up in the middle of them. There is definitely tension in the air, but I have no intention of being anywhere near Syntagma in the next few days and I've found ways to walk around Syntagma on my way to and from school (even though it's way easier and more convenient just to walk right through it... darnit.)
Here's an article I found that covers what's going on for the next couple of days, in case you're interested.
It will be interesting to be here in the next few months. It's definitely history in the making for the country of Greece so that's pretty neat... the turbulence of it all is a little unnerving... but I'm not afraid, so you shouldn't be either (especially you; mom, grandma, and aunts!)
----------
I'm adding to this blog a day later. Yesterday was the "mother of all protests" as it has come to be called in Athens. It was a pretty scary day, even though we were watching it all on the local news (entirely in Greek) on our tv in our apartment. My roommate Ally and I walked home from school a couple hours prior to the protests really becoming violent, and were detoured around Syntagma Square... but still through streets where protestors were marching from their meeting points towards Syntagma. The marching isn't violent; it's more like a parade actually. When the protestors all meet at the Square... that's when things get violent and dangerous. We weren't ever in danger, but we sure walked fast.
Today we walked to our morning classes (Greek and Writitng for the Professions for me) but my night class, Advertising, is cancelled. The metro was on strike this morning, so we had to walk. The streets are a mess and there was still tear gas in the air from yesterday, so even with my scarf pulled up over my nose and mouth, I'm a little watery.
It is really wild to consider that we are here during this major turning point in Greek history. A little scary. A little uncomfortable. But pretty cool.
Keep this country in your prayers. Pray safety over the people, and for wisdom for the decision makers. Pray for us too, as students here, that we would make wise decisions and would learn from the circumstance of this country.
I'm praying for you everyday. Who knew it would escalate to this. God is in control.
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Mom
Kelsey - who knows but that you are there for such a time as this. To call your friends and family to prayer on behalf of this country, her people and her leadership. God is certainly giving those of us who love you an opportunity to trust you to His capable care :) Thanks for the update though - what an incredible experience! Love you bunches, beautiful girl!
ReplyDelete