NO FLAKIN' ON THE FERRY!

We are currently in Athens (after an overnight ferry) and are just jubilant to be in one hotel for 11 nights. We’ve mostly been doing one night stays, so 11 nights is pretty tremendous. Plus, it means we can do laundry. I’ve worn the same clothes for the past 7 days… it’s delightful… I’m not even being sarcastic.

Illustrations of group dynamics (these are pretty entertaining):

1. I’ve gotten the group hooked to the beloved board game Settlers of Catan (compliments of Rachel Andoga). When we aren’t playing, we are making jokes about who has the sheep port.

2. As once started on 3rd Rich, the “Raise the Roof” game continues. In case you don’t know the game – it consists of:
• choosing one competitor and making eye contact
• putting your hands in the air and raising the roof
• never smiling
• the first to smile loses the game.
Jeanna Cook and I are undefeated.

3. After three weeks of group meals, I decided there was a definite need for more one-on-one time with others. I developed the CID system, pronounced “Kid”, that has caught on like none other. Seriously, EVERYONE is all about having CIDs with each other. CID stands for “common interest dating”. It’s a method for rapidly producing friends. Here are the steps:
• plan to have a CID over a meal a few days in advance, so you can build it up during the intermediate period.
• brainstorm possible common interest to bring up during your CID. CIDs are strictly business. There is no time to mess around. You must get in there and get the job done. I’ve comprised an outline that includes everything from academic background to how you like your steak cooked
• During the CID, work to establish common interests. As soon as one is established say the phrase “Let’s move on.” There is no time to elaborate on the common interests, seeing that they are strictly business. You’ve got three more months to take care of the embellishment.
• allow for an audience
• end the CID by shaking hands and saying “It was nice to have a CID with you.”

Let’s just say this method of forced-friendship works better than you could even imagine. Though I had absolutely nothing in common with Scott Sherrill, except that we are on this trip together, I DID find out that he started a bridge club at his middle school that became the most popular middle school club by the end of his middle school career. Probably would have never known that one if it weren’t for our CID. I also learned that Catherine Knepp shares a love of techno music. And Stewart Knight and I both revealed our affection for Dr. Chartier. And Chris Vincoli and I both want to be Henry Van Wagenberg. The list goes on and on…

A REAL LONG RECAP:
Cyprus was absolutely beautiful. Most cities are on the coast with an amazing beach.

Cyprus is Dr. Toumazou’s home. Things of note:
-Toumazou’s archaeological site (that he leads excavations at every summer)
-The brand spankin’ new town hall / museum for Toumazou’s findings that is like a 5 mill dollar project
-Free dinner from the mayor! of Toumazou’s site’s village. Dinner was meze, meaning we got 12+ dishes, one after another. The dishes included: fresh bread, fresh tomato/feta salad, koupepia (stuffed wine leaves), souvlaki, afelia (meat stewed in wine), klefthedes (fried meat balls), lamb, halloumi ravioli, etc, etc
-Dr. Toumazou’s friend MacGuyver set us up to meet the Cypriot Archbishop. It was a really big deal. And kinda like the “Whose line is it anyway” game called “gibberish” where the archbishop would speak in Greek for a really long time, and MacGuyver would translate it into one concise sentence. [MacGuyver is currently setting us up to meet the Pope. I’ll let you know how it goes.]

Fun facts for 3rd graders… and Kirby Carlock:
• Cyprus joined EU in 2004. Use the Cypriot pound, and is said the have the strongest economy in the EU. This fact could be a lie, but they did beat out my American dollar by 2.25%ish.
• After Sicily and Sardinia, Cyprus wins #3 in size for the Mediterranean island.
• The weather is here. [Jimmy Buffet reference] Seriously, we went and sat on the beach during the day and it was perfect. But at night it gets all chilly. And it snows on the mountain.
• religion = Eastern Orthodox. The Church of Cyprus is an autocephalous church and the Archbishop (whom we met) is the head of it.
• Cyprus is considered the first Christian country, thanks to ol’ Paul and Barnabas.
• we continually ate tangerines, lemon, olive, apples, etc off the trees everywhere. I am also in love with dried figs. Fruit here is heavenish.
• did you know that black olives and green olives grow on the same tree? Green olives aren’t ripe yet.
• The moufflon = Cyprus’s national animal. I think this animal might be imaginary. I dunno why I think this… but maybe I dreamed it.
• Language = Greek. I’d say 80% of my group can read ancient greek. But modern Greek is much too difficult for even them to understand.
• There’s this one rock that is thought to be Aphrodite’s birthplace. Regardless, the scene is gorgeous. Like all the beaches in Cyprus. Water so clear you can see to the bottom. [I find myself continually quoting Will Smith’s Miami.]
• A tzatziki recipe: one cucumber, greek yogurt, mint, oregano, olive oil, garlic, salt. Finely grate the cucumber into a sieve and sprinkle lightly with salt. Drain and pat dry. Put yogurt (drained) in a bowl with two minced garlic cloves. Add drained cucumber, mint, oregano, salt, and pepper. Blend in olive oil. Done. Serve with delicious bread.

Feel the need to understand the history of Cyprus? I’ll fill you in…
• Well, let’s just say Cyprus goes back pretty far. Fist civilizations were back in the Neolithic period (7000-4000BC).
• Order of big rulers:
Roman Empire ⇒ Byzantine Empire → Franks → Venetians → Ottomans → English (1878-1960) → FINALLY BECOMES A REPUBLIC in 1960
• St. Paul and St. Barnabas visited in 45 AD – spread Christianity like none other.
• The capitol moves around a whole bunch and lotsa earthquakes ruin cities.
• Around 650 – Arab raids – violence + the Arabs go into cities and whitewash all Christian icons, many churches destroyed
• Three power want control of Cyprus: England, Greece, and Turkey
• When the ottomans were ruling and at war with Russia, England took Cyprus for the Ottomans to kinda keep it from being involved with the Russian war.
• England keeps offering Cyprus to Greece if Greece will aid in the Great War. Greece continues to reject.
• Finally, UN sets up agreement b/w England, Turkey, and Greece to make Cyprus an independent republic, (which was 75% Greek-Cypriot and 20% Turkish-Cypriot) –
• England: sovereign rights
• Greece: the president must be Greek-Cypriot
• Turkey: the vice president must be Turkish-Cypriot with power of veto on security and external policy.
• Long story – short: Turkey got way more than they should have - the power of veto AND the house of representatives had way more Turkish representation that fair for their 20% population of Cyprus
• Problems. Greeks wanted to it be fair for them.
• The President back then = Makarios. He was a good, fair president trying to keep peace.
• But the Greeks were unhappy with their lack of power. Greeks planed this military coup to get rid of Makarios. 1974!
• Turkey – who had tried to attack at other times, but was previously stopped by pressure from US, England, and Russia – took this military coup as an excuse to attack.
• Turkey attacked and Greek-Cypriots (including my professor Dr. Toumazou) fought a hopeless battle only for the pride of their country. The US and England made no efforts to help Greek-Cypriots cause they were trying to keep Turkey in NATO alliance. Of course, Turkey won.
• Turkey took the top part of Cyprus for good in a de facto partition. Still today, the Turks have not repaired any buildings from the attacks during the war. (Because it would them more money than it is worth to them and because they it shows off that they won the war) One of the Turkish cities, Famagusta, has a gorgeous beach surrounded by a coast of old ruined hotels from the 70s. With armed Turkish guards standing on top of the hotel ruin making sure you take no pictures. And the Greek-Cypriots who grew up in Famagusta (like Dr. Toumazou) will never be allowed to their home again.