Look not at the mask, but at the silly string in his hand.

Yesterday was the first day of orientation here at ACT. Informative and exciting, the 6 hours of desk sitting allotted the directors of the program to cover all grey areas about this University. However, in true Greek fashion.. this day was not without tzatziki or drinks. The University had arranged for an incredible local band, called soulbox, to play at "Nobar"which is located a good distance from central downtown and therefore required my first ride on public transportation. Myself, and 80 other Study Abroad students, in one bus - along with whatever Greek citizens elected to hop on as well. It is my belief that the one time when you need not be concerned about pick-pocketing in public transportation is when you've managed to populate the entire vehicle yourself. Once we reached the bar, incredible times ensued. From the ground shaking voice of the female lead singer to the lengthy harmonica solos - Soulbox rocked the hearts of the students.

Today, orientation continued on more of a cultural level. Crash courses in Greek were given as well as common social practices- dos and don'ts. We then ventured to ikea for necessary home products difficult to find in the city. As with most European homes, the housing in thessaloniki is small, minimal, and slightly primitive. Ikea is an establishment which was created with this style of living in mind, they specialize in simplistic furniture and houseware that focus on storage and space conservation.

Following Ikea, I and 2 friends went on a quick hunt for masks because this evening was the official start of carnical month here in Thessaloniki. Burnt Thursday, a day when most traditional Greeks order and eat burnt food , symbolizes the upcoming lint season where every Greek must fast. As part of this celebration, the Greeks dress up in what resembles Halloween attire and party in the very popular, very posh, Aristotle Square. Here, there is music, food vendors, shopping opportunities, and silly string. Interestingly enough, in the villages years ago it was tradition for men to dress as women and women to dress as men on this day. This was done in an effort to show one how the other lives, the women would go to cafes (which are dominated by men) and the men would stay home and cater to homely and motherly duties. now, it seems, the men just dress up as women in whatever realistic or outrageous way they can come up with and prance through the city - every step with the clicking sound of high heels. It is not uncommon for pranks to be pulled on this day, particularly involving a spray of silly string like substances with shaving cream consistency. Nor is it uncommon to spray random people with it, to chase them across the square, or shower strangers with it mid-picture moment. Looking back on the evening, the silly string truly made the night. It forced interaction with Greeks and led to sporadic movement throughout the crowds. Silly string duels allowed for this study abraod student to break the barriers between what seemed to be an isolated culture and actually "play" with the Greeks. Had I not elected to spend the 2 euros on the spray, my not would not have been half as enjoyable, free-spirited, and carefree as it turned out to be. Hesitate not when faced with aggressive fun, and most importantly do not look at the mask, but at the silly string in the masked man's hand.