So last night was the annual Carnival party at the British School at Athens. The BSA and us go way back, to the 1880s in fact. The American School was founded in 1881 and the BSA in 1886. When we moved to our new digs here in Kolonaki a while back, the ASCSA and the BSA decided to be neighbors. In fact, when it came time to buy the land for Loring Hall, we split the cost (and the land) with the Brits. Of course, when we got hot water in 1930, they were just getting electricity - booyah!
Nowadays, we're virtually on the same land, sharing the gardens and the tennis courts. When I look out my window, I look directly at the British School. There's a long tradition of people strolling back and forth across the street from the BSA to ASCSA, whether for tea, ouzo, lectures, or other social/work occasions (Piet de Jong being a prime example). We also have access to each other's library (even sharing the same library catalogue), which is really handy, given that I'm always looking for books that only the BSA library has. For a while I found their library terrifying, since I always got lost in it, but now that I have (finally!) figured out where the little library maps are, I feel like I'm straight out of London.
I don't know when the tradition began, but at some point in time we started the alternating party thing - we do Halloween, they do Carnival. Last night was the BSA's much anticipated party, which had the theme of 'Down Under.' I didn't hang around too long, since I had Harry Potter to read and went home a little after midnight. Apparently the festivities lasted well into the nighttime, and there were several surly looking people shuffling around Loring at noon today, having just gotten out of bed.
So thanks to the British School for throwing a great party (with great decorations)! Here's how a few of us Americans participated in the theme:
Nowadays, we're virtually on the same land, sharing the gardens and the tennis courts. When I look out my window, I look directly at the British School. There's a long tradition of people strolling back and forth across the street from the BSA to ASCSA, whether for tea, ouzo, lectures, or other social/work occasions (Piet de Jong being a prime example). We also have access to each other's library (even sharing the same library catalogue), which is really handy, given that I'm always looking for books that only the BSA library has. For a while I found their library terrifying, since I always got lost in it, but now that I have (finally!) figured out where the little library maps are, I feel like I'm straight out of London.
I don't know when the tradition began, but at some point in time we started the alternating party thing - we do Halloween, they do Carnival. Last night was the BSA's much anticipated party, which had the theme of 'Down Under.' I didn't hang around too long, since I had Harry Potter to read and went home a little after midnight. Apparently the festivities lasted well into the nighttime, and there were several surly looking people shuffling around Loring at noon today, having just gotten out of bed.
So thanks to the British School for throwing a great party (with great decorations)! Here's how a few of us Americans participated in the theme:
Fosters - Australian for Beer, Boxing Kangaroo, and Dreya with some boingy flowerythings.
Crikey and Criminal.
Dingo a la Elaine from Seinfeld.
Any guesses?
6 comments:
I LOVE that you took a picture of the british school library. LOVE.
Ha ha ha. I so didn't. It's from the internet :)
Damn! I also was going to commend your ballsiness in photographing the library.
Okay, I'm confused. It's a party celebrating Australia and you're drinking "Amstel Light." Could no one find an oil can of "Fosters"?
Rask, how sad that this is the only way to communicate with you if I don't come to the school. Anyways, do you ski/snowboard and do you have any interest in going this weekend (aka Saturday)? There are buses from Athens and it's snowing in the mountains. Think on it, I'll be around tomorrow...
Oooo, that sounds fun, but I already have plans on Saturday! Next time you go let me know.
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