28 Aug 2008
Opening doors

IELTS-GMAT-IAE

Quick newsflash, sorry everyone for not posting that much, but the situation is getting a bit too busy over here the last weeks. With IELTS and GMAT out of the way, most of the focus is on the apartment search, and the degree obligations. Ok IELTS was a joke, I was a bit worried about the GMAT score though. I actually hadn’t prepared at all except last night before the test, but luckily i was able to score a decent 570 which is pretty much an acceptable score at most of the above average decent uni’s. (i read Harvard and Yale want something over 700). If i would revise some of my Algebra i could easily score higher, but WTF, i can retake it anytime (not that interested in Harvard anyway!).

Before the storm kicks in, i dedicated lots of time in reading, in what seems to be my new interest, psychology. I actually found a webpage/online book also available for download as pdf format, called “Psychological Self-Help”. The book is a diamond, NOTHING TO DO with all the crappy “Make your life better in 100 days” books, written by journalists or wannabes. Dr Clay Tucker-Ladd who signs the book, talks about EVERY aspect of our lives, going from Values and Morals, analyzing Behaviour, Self-Control, Motivation, Fears, Anxieties, Stress, gives a thorough picture of Depression and Happiness, explains Dependency and how it affects our daily life, and ends the section with the most important and maybe interesting chapters presenting Relationships, talking in detail about communication, Male/Female gender roles, behavioural games, long-term relationships and different people characters, and a bunch of stuff which i honestly would need to write another book if i’d have to comment!

What is actually really IMPORTANT about that book, is that the writer uses references and bibliography throughout the book to justify his sayings. It presents all the psychological aspects of an issue, and most of the times, all the approaches as different as they can be. And then when you have really understood what the f*ck is going on, it gives you the methods section.

Enough with that, the next days are going to be really important for everything, it seems next year is judged by one or two days of exams, so you won’t be hearing from me for a while.

18 Aug 2008
News and Blog Language

Europian Union

It seems that our non-greek-speakers visitors/friends are increasing, friends from France and the UK are watching the blog (welcome guys), so i decided to post mainly in English (and some times in French if i can handle). That’ll be also a good practice for me, considering the IELTS and GMAT exams are taking place in the next days. It will also give a boost in the website stats which are not so high lately due to the summer break. Some of the visitors told me that they used Google’s Translate to automatically translate the webpage to their native language, but it didn’t work THAT well. Maybe i’ll try to translate myself some of the older posts if i have time.

Back to Athens after a short traditional 15th August trip to the cottage (mid-August is a big holiday here in Greece, celebrating “Maria’s” and “Panos” and everyone is taking some days off work). We held the annual gathering for my mothers name day as Maria. You know, people for the “hood”, mom stuffing everyone with all kinds of sweets and food, etc. Even though i was away from Athens just for a few days, the coming back wasn’t that pleasant. Dirty, noisy, old Athens. And even though i have to deal every single day with the housekeeping crap, i think i got used to be home alone. Thank god the scenario of moving abroad gets closer and closer. Read Full Story » »

5 Aug 2008
Αύγουστος στην Αθήνα

dishes

Μία υπέροχη εμπειρία! Εδώ είμαστε λοιπόν, μετά την ακύρωση των προγραμματισμένων ταξιδιών στο εξωτερικό, με νέα σχέδια (πάλι για εξωτερικό), στην μαγευτική Αυγουστιάτικη Αθήνα! Η “εμπειρία” δεν έγκειται τόσο στην χρονική περίοδο που είμαι εδώ, όσο για το γεγονός ότι θα περάσω στην ουσία τον υπόλοιπο μήνα home alone. Και παρόλο που αρκετές φορές έχω μείνει μόνος για διαστήματα 1-2 εβδομάδων, αυτή τη φορά το διάστημα θα ναι κομματάκι μεγαλύτερο, και αυτά που πρέπει να κάνω, κάπως περισσότερα. Read Full Story » »