Day 14- Sun. May 24

Day 14 (Sunday, May 24)

Today we toured Delphi, site of the famous oracle. It started out a city state (or at least near one), but once it gained religious importance, it also became a neutral location where representatives would meet and sign treaties and such. (So, they kicked all the people out of the city state at that point :)

Delphi was one of my favorite sites. Its very intact, and just really neat, (and I was in a good mood, and its in a beautiful location, just to be honest). I found it very interesting that the temple where the Oracle was at was at the bottom of the hill, one of the first things we came to and the stadium and theater were up higher. It was just a beautiful site. There was the Oracle's temple, a stadium for games, a theater for 5 thousand people (so not too big, the one at Epidavros seats 14,000), and several banks. It was like sponsorship. So Athens, for example would build a building to house gifts and donations that people brought to the Oracle, and it would be called the “Athenian Treasury” a la Safeco Field. There were a lot of those. Also, I learned how originally, they used young virgins as the Oracles. However, they had problems with the virgins either running off after falling in love, or, less happily, being raped and kidnapped by the men who came to the Oracle for advice. After one brutal such case, they switched to using older women. They would still dress in white (like virgins), but had to be over 50 and have had children to be chosen. Interesting.

Also, I had a chance to talk with one of my professors because no one else wanted to walk to the Sanctuary of Athena, so it was just us two. I felt good because I got to share the things Paula and I had talked about being our frustrations with the class and also our suggestions for improvement. Andy (the professor) seemed to appreciate the comments and suggestions.

Sunday night, too, I had another coup. One of the girls (lets call her Barbie just in case she somehow manages to ever read this) is a wench. Very catty, immature, silly, relies on her looks, not as intelligent as some... Well, because the professors' families are now with us, it takes them much longer to get ready. So for dinner, we (the students) went ahead to the restaurant first, and were going to order appetizers and then they (professors and families) would be along shortly thereafter. Well, of the 12 of us there, several of us were vocally requesting meatballs. But Barbie was feeling rather important that night apparently, because she ordered the appetizers she wanted. When, yet again, she shot down the idea of meatballs as I was ordering them – I believe it was because I suggested them, since I was not the only one that wanted them – she just smiled coyly and said, “Well, we already have seven appetizers, I don't want to spend all their money,” I just felt so sick. It was such a high school, “Mean Girls” style power play. It was ridiculous; every meal we order tons of appetizers because there are 19 of us in the group! And Rob made it clear we weren't short on money. I was getting upset and angry inside at her stupid games, but, instead of responding to her, I did what any mature woman does – I used my brain. I asked myself “What Would Mother Do?” And (thank you mom), she said, (being very practical, intelligent, and confident), “Why do you have to play her game, Nicole? If you want meatballs, then get some.” and I said, “You are right, this is so dumb and I am so far above and beyond this.” So, I got up, went to the bathroom, and just happened to stop at the kitchen on my way back and I ordered the meatballs myself!!! I felt so good :) And... the best part was, apart from the look on her face when meatballs arrived :) was that everyone LOVED the meatballs (they were THE best appetizer by far), and Rob (a professor) commented on the “good choice.” I let her take the credit, but I knew inside. And it was good. And I got to eat my delicious meatballs. It just felt really really good to not be stymied or over-run by a silly little girl's power play and to just take charge and not be flustered and get it done. He he he... watch out world!