Panayotis's blog/

- Two and today (is my today's, very envied, reply :-))

This is the standard discussion when two soldiers meet in a military camp in Greece.

First, everybody is called "tall man" independently of his height. It may seem strange but somehow it comes naturally. It happened also to me! I wanted to call somebody who was not looking at me, but for some reason I couldn't use the standard expressions that we often use in greek. Because of the uniforms perhaps you need to use a different word (and the word "soldier" sounds too formal). So, "tall guy" (it sounds like "psile") is the established word. Its convenience in the case of really tall guys was somehow inherited for the case of short guys as well :-)

But the most important part is the second one! All soldiers count the days from the very first moment and this is the most popular topic of discussion:

- When do you leave?

- 360 and today (this is the way to answer this question in order minimize the number included in the answer -while some know also the minutes or even seconds :-)).

or

- 22 are a lot? (for those that want to tease the ones that have still many days to leave)

So, for me these days are now only two and I am very happy about it, although I feel a little guilty seeing all the other souldiers leaving for the borders with 10 more months of service in front of them. Of course, I didn't do anything illegal to have this privilege (see here) but still it feels bad when you are there. The army is a "micro-world" and what is important or not in there is totally different from the outside world. This is why the discussions of men for the army are so boring for the rest of the company (at least I can now participate myself! :-)).

Anyway, I have a lot to write about these 2 months, good and bad. I hope I will find the time to write the most interesting stories, although I am afraid you will find them boring as I did before living myself the "greek army experience" :-)

I will start this (long) post with a story from Paris. A few days ago, I went to my favorite cafe in Paris. It is next to my favorite parc with the greatest view and a very nice genuine atmosphere (since it becomes more and more crowded I will not say more :-)).

I go very often there (alone or with friends) but I am always "formal" with the owners, although I like them very much, partly because of the language barrier and partly because of my character. I don't know how to explain it but I always keep a distance from any type of "authority" (including bar owners, professors, or military officers :-)) even if I am "allowed" or even encouraged to get closer. I think that one of the reasons is that I don't want to feel "privileged".

But anyway, the weather was good and inside it was almost empty. While entering the people working there (a man and a woman) looked at me like saying "it is being a lot of time to see you". I "said" the same and I thought to order immediately before sitting. At the same time in their above look they added a "What would you like to order?" expression suitable for regular customers. However, for some reason I decided to sit without ordering (feeling guilty refusing them the intimacy of a "regular" customer and for the extra trouble). So, the woman came to take the order (a "cafe au lait"). When she brought my coffee, I realized that she didn't bring water (they often do). When I asked politely for a bottle of water, she told me annoyed that "I should have ordered everything together for her not to have to go back and forth".

I felt very bad. Before she comes, I was thinking how lucky I was to find this place with these nice people, etc. I felt betrayed and I started making bad thoughts and my blood was "boiling". (I was also a little guilty because I the option to make it easier for had passed from my mind). But then I thought of the army and the first, and maybe most important "lesson", I learned there: to completely ignore any type of insult or negative remark.

It is very interesting how bad people feel when they get insulted by anyone (from small kids, to army officers that insulting is their job, to unknown people in the street, to stupid people, anyone). It is not logical! I could write a lot about this but think about it. Why? We could actually adapt one of my favorite quotes: "If it holds why are you offended? If it doesn't hold why are you offended?" :-)

(the original quote says something like "If you can change it, why are you sad? If you cannot change it, why are you sad?")

Anyway, I have already written a lot and I didn't write any story from the army. But instead of telling you about all the insults I received analyzing my reactions etc., I will finish with a nice joke I was told there:

There was a gypsie who made a lot of money and decided to go to live in a rich neighborhood. He bought land besides a doctor's house and build a similar house. One day he saw the doctor and told him:

- you see doctor? We are the same. We live in the same neighborhood, we have the same house.

- No, replied the doctor. We are not the same. I have a ferrari. Look at your car.

The next day, the gypsie buyed the newest ferrari model. He found again the doctor and told him:

- You see doctor? We are the same now. I have also a ferrari.

- No, replied the doctor. You may have a ferrari now, but you don't have a swimming pool!

The next day, the gypsie built a swimming pool in his garden. So, he found again the doctor and told him:

- Now what do you think? We are the same or not?

- OK, said the doctor. You won. We are the same.

- No, replied the gypsie. We are not exactly the same! I have as a neighbor a doctor, but you have as a neighbor a gypsie!