Richard Pierce

Richard Pierce – author, poet, painter

Life

Day 179

The decision to turn off Wifi while not within reach of a free network seems to be paying off. Perhaps I’m not as stupid as I think.

Part of me is increasingly unconvinced at the wisdom of taking a package holiday – at lunch I found S leaning against the counter, plainly exhausted beyond tears, upset (possibly by something that went on last night when we heard shouting in the corridors after we’d gone to bed), so gave her a hug. The level of exploitation here is difficult to assess, but to have two or three people working all hours (and I mean all hours) just doesn’t sit comfortably with me. The counter argument is that these folk wouldn’t have jobs at all if it weren’t for tourism, especially in the current Greek (global) economic climate. There are arguments and counter arguments everywhere, and different levels of exploitation. Who’s not to say that those bar owners on the strip aren’t being exploited by organised interests which make it even more difficult to make a living (and whilst feeling in danger constantly) which might make life a lot more uncomfortable than “just” having to work all hours. I am at a loss as to how to address this. Suffice it to say that my lunch tasted bitter whilst having these thoughts.

On another front, that of linguistics, right now, I am trying desperately to find the right words, not to say something, but simply to find the right words in the right language. I am trying to teach myself some semblance of Greek by asking G and S and S for sentences that would be useful, but I’m also hearing a profusion of languages I understand (and many I don’t), and accents, and many of them simutaneously, and my brain is getting its languages and their words all muddled. And I do want to show the locals I am not just a tourist but someone who wants to add their language and culture to his overall knowledge and make-up. M tells me off for beating myself up for not getting phrases and words perfect, but I see it as a failure when I don’t. As usual, I am competing with no-one but myself.

At least I have spent three hours this morning not thinking or competing, but just lying in the shade doing absolutely nothing or reading.

Other things – a cruisehip (medium-sized) is anchored just off the beach; my sunlounger in the shade is surrounded by others which encroach closer than the antisocial man I am feels entirely comfortable with; it’s very windy, and gusts throw up handfuls of sand; people who insist on being on speakerphone/videocall without headsets are really pissing me off.


AGGIE’S ART OF HAPPINESS – CHAPTER 133


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