ESC Thessaloniki 1-2 weeks/25

My volunteering experience begins.

Location : Thessaloniki

Duration : 25 weeks

Allies in this mission : my roomates (Lev, an Estonian graphic designer and Georges a French gardener who usually lives in alternative communities), and Eleni (coordinator of Esai-en-roi and our Big Boss)

Challenges : 1.856,69 km away from my home, and a new language to learn.

Bonus Point : sunny weather.

How I ended up in Thessaloniki ?

Stuck in a rut, doing odd jobs, with no artistic prospects as an actor, I wanted to break out of that daily grind. I also wanted to reconnect with my desire to travel and meet new people, which I had developed during my Erasmus year in Ireland.

After no positive answers or interesting missions, i was about to give up. However I found this greek association Esai-en-roi that was willing to take me in for artistics projects. And the deal was done : i was leaving Paris for Thessaloniki in January.

First impressions of Thessaloniki

For my arrival, i was a lucky guy as Eleni came to pick me up and during the journey, she gave me a brief summary of Thessaloniki's spirit.

Thanks to its localisation and its history, this city is a real turning point of cultures. Turkish, Jewish, Roman, European, Orthodox and Muslim influences, all gathered in a 1 million inhabitants urban era.

The capital of Macedonia has seen Alexander the Great, became Byzantin empire epicenter, was conquered by the Ottomans and united to the Kingdom of Greece, in the end.

Thessaloniki is also famous for its location next to the sea and the Thermaic gulf. I really enjoy cities that face the sea and the ocean. They give me a feeling of adventure and openness to the world.

Ruins of the forum (Roman Empire period, II century) credit : Alexis.L

Our flat is situated near Esai-en-roi office in Polichni. Polichni is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Pavlos Melas, which constitutes one of the 8 municipalities of the regional unit of Thessaloniki. Obviously, there is a different vibe, compared to the city center. It is a lot calmer yet poorer, mainly inhabited by the working and middle classes.

As mentioned earlier, language is a challenge. Greek has its own alphabet, which is different from the Latin one. Thus, this language is difficult to understand as a French speaker. The Institut Français might help me for this quest !

First experiences in Thessaloniki

On the first Tuesday i decided to leave the flat, for a 3-hour walk through the Polichni neighbourhood, then the old part of town and finally the seafront. 

I have crossed paths with many cats, some of whom became my friends for a few minutes.

A feline companion, on the heights of Thessaloniki. credit : Alexis.L

Concerning food, I already ate some tzatskizi, feta and greek coffee (strangely, it reminds me of coffee that has been forgotten at the back of a cupboard for too long). Eleni brought us several times to different places where the roomates and I could taste greek specialities such as spanakopita and bougatsa. Both are made with puff pastry, filled with spinach and feta cheese for the first one, and usually pastry cream for the second one.

Tzatziki, greek salad and tomato/feta/honey dish at Cosmos Cafe. credit : Alexis.L

If you want to heal your throat drink Rakomelo ! (That is what I heard at the George's favorite greek pub near our flat : Cosmos Cafe). It is a hot alcoholic beverage made made by combining cretan tsikoudia (raki) and honey and several spices or other regional herbs.

One morning, I had the opportunity to talk to and meet Greek and theater teachers at the school run by Eleni, near our flat. I was allowed to attend a drama class. The pupils are quite free within the classroom, perhaps because of the subject (drama) and the relative freedom that is allowed.

Were there any moments of relaxation ?

Appart from regular afternoon naps, I I joined a gym club, and I was able to enjoy Jim Jarmusch's latest film at a movie theater in town !

Next article, i will developpe my different projects as a volunteer and give a detailed portrait of Esai-en-roi.