LIFE & CULTURE
XpatAthens
Monday, 16 March 2020 07:00
Great Museums To (Virtually) Explore When You’re Stuck At Home
Due to recent events, people around the world are spending more time inside their homes, so the need for a digital portal to the cultural world is more vital than ever. Did you ever imagine that you could explore some of the world's most astounding Museums from the comfort of your own home?
In fact, more and more museums are offering virtual tours and putting their collections online. Here are a few of our favorite virtual tours and exhibits and how to access them:
1. National Archaeological Museum of Athens
The National Archaeological Museum is the largest in Greece and one of the most important in the world. While it was initially designed to house findings from all the 19th-century excavations, it gradually took the form of the country's primary National Archaeological Museum. The Museum includes more than 11,000 exhibits, which offer visitors a panorama of ancient Greek culture from the beginning of prehistory to late antiquity.
Discover the collections of the National Archaeological Museum Here.
2. The Louvre Museum, Paris
The Louvre Museum in Paris is one of the most notable art Museums in the world; housing 35.000 works of Art in an exhibition area of 60.600 square meters. The museum's collection is divided into 8 departments: Egyptian Antiquities, Near Eastern Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculpture, Decorative Arts, Paintings, Prints and Drawings.
Click Here to visit the Louvre's exhibition rooms and galleries, online.
The Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan exhibits one of the most significant Italian art collections. The gallery is housed in the Brera Mansion along with the National Library, the Brera Observatory, the Botanical Garden, the Lombard Institute of Science and Literature, and the Academy of Fine Arts.
To explore the Brera collection online, click Here.
4. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art showcases over 5,000 years of art from all over the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. Since its foundation in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects, but a place where art comes alive, revealing new ideas and unexpected connections across time and cultures.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art showcases over 5,000 years of art from all over the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. Since its foundation in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects, but a place where art comes alive, revealing new ideas and unexpected connections across time and cultures.
To experience the museum's collection online, click Here.
5. The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
The State Hermitage Museum is home to a collection of more than 3.000.000 artifacts. Founded in 1764 by Empress Catherine the Great, the museum is a beacon of culture and a treasury of significant works by artists like Renoir, Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Matisse, Kandinsky, and Picasso. Furthermore, the museum houses an extensive collection of jewelry and ancient artifacts from Greece, Rome, and Egypt.
5. The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
The State Hermitage Museum is home to a collection of more than 3.000.000 artifacts. Founded in 1764 by Empress Catherine the Great, the museum is a beacon of culture and a treasury of significant works by artists like Renoir, Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Matisse, Kandinsky, and Picasso. Furthermore, the museum houses an extensive collection of jewelry and ancient artifacts from Greece, Rome, and Egypt.
Take a well designed virtual tour of this stunning museum Here.
6. The British Museum, London
The British Museum was founded in 1753 and first opened its doors in 1759. Since then, the museum has been driven by an insatiable curiosity for the world and a deep belief in objects as reliable witnesses and documents of human history. Take a tour of the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.
Find hundreds of artifacts on the museum’s virtual tour Here.
6. The British Museum, London
The British Museum was founded in 1753 and first opened its doors in 1759. Since then, the museum has been driven by an insatiable curiosity for the world and a deep belief in objects as reliable witnesses and documents of human history. Take a tour of the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.
Find hundreds of artifacts on the museum’s virtual tour Here.
Published in
International Travel
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Saturday, 14 March 2020 02:08
Important Coronavirus Update – Food Outlets And Malls Close Nationwide
The representative of the Greek Health Ministry, Sotiris Tsiodras, has announced new preventative measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The regulations aim to defeat viral infection by reducing the concentration of crowds.
So as of March 15, all malls, and department stores, cafes, bars, and food outlets–except delivery and take away restaurants–will remain closed.
So as of March 15, all malls, and department stores, cafes, bars, and food outlets–except delivery and take away restaurants–will remain closed.
Libraries, churches, museums, athletic centers, beauty parlors, and spas, hairdressing salons, tattoo and piercing studios will also remain closed for the next 14 days. Finally, the Greek Health Ministry has decided that lottery shops, casinos, amusement parks, and fairgrounds will also be affected by the above rules.
To learn more about how to stay protected or if you believe you may have been infected please CLICK HERE.
Important Notice from XpatAthens
It is important to remind our readers that XpatAthens is not in any way a media source. While we do our best to keep our readers informed, we advise you to consult Greek media outlets such as ekathimerini.com, amna.gr, naftemporiki.gr, and protothema.gr and/or international news sites for up-to-the-hour updates on the coronavirus. Be wise and stay safe.
Published in
Local News
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Tuesday, 03 March 2020 07:00
The Rise Of Digital Nomads
Flexiwork, remote working, and digital nomads are the words on everyone’s lips at the moment. Digital nomad being a person who doesn’t need an office, just an outlet and Wi-Fi, and they can work anywhere in the world. Positions that come with the freedom to move are highly sought after, and there’s more freelancers in circulation than ever before, but despite the rise the phenomenon is still fairly scarce. There are still employers out there who are struggling to let their employees break free of the regular 9-to-5, stay-in-the-office set ups.
Creature Comforts
There has been an increasing demand for companies to allow their staff to work from home. With the skyrocketing cost of childcare, remote working allows for parents to not only work from home, but have flexible schedules as well, allowing for them to provide more care to their children without the eye watering nursery bills. It reduces the cost of food, transport, and even clothes, when workers don’t have a set office to go to every day. One company even offers staff to have “hangover days”, for when they can still work but just need that extra bit of shut eye and the blinds drawn low.
But there are a select few of the office no-shows that don’t stick to one location. Digital nomads, often freelancers but not always, are those who travel around the globe while still clocking in their regular 40 hours a week. Digital nomads range from solo travellers who jet off all around the world, to immigrant workers or people with friends and family outside their home country who want to visit them – without having to take time off to do so. It enables workers to enjoy “the best of both worlds” as it were.
The positives keep piling up for those who opt to work remotely, but what exactly are the benefits for the bosses? A lot of employers and managers have a predilection towards having their staff in-house, rather than contacting them exclusively online. General fears include not being able to keep track of the employee and the work they do, and having to extend the offer to the rest of the staff and have it get out of hand.
But are the fears of employees goofing off when working remotely really founded? A study found that remote workers were often slightly more productive than their in-office counterparts. People have fewer distractions at home; there are no trains to catch or buses to hop, and no co-workers to chat to. The study noted that there fewer breaks and sick days, and less distracting background noise, were the main contributors to the boost in productivity.
With most aspects of work now digitised, and various apps like Asana and Slack to keep track of what your employees are up to, it’s pretty hard to hide slacking. For the most part, if there is a certain amount of tasks to be done each week, it doesn’t really matter in what order or when or where they get done, provided they’re done on time at the end of the week. If this isn’t completed by the end of the week, then it’s clear that there’s some teething issues with working out of office.
Digital Nomads
But what about digital nomads? How do they fit into all of this? Unlike the work from home crew, digital nomads aren’t tied to any one location. They still share the same issue however, of asking their boss for permission. Although convincing your boss to let you work from home is one thing, convincing them you can work from Bali is quite another.
The best way to approach the subject is by sitting down with your employer to talk it out in a casual meeting. Explaining where you’ll be going, the hours you plan to work so it can align it with the office hours, and having researched tools for them to keep track of you and your work is a great step in the process. The goal in convincing is to stress that you will continue to deliver your work and remain contactable in emergencies, just with a slight time difference.
But overall, the digital nomad lifestyle has a lot of positives for those who like to go off the beaten track and can cope with extensive travel. Other benefits besides waking up in a beach house in Thailand every day, include having a lower cost, but high quality life, as well as diminishing work stress, and enjoying all the activities a place has to offer once you close your laptop.
If you’re a digital nomad looking for a place with super fast Wi-Fi and barista made coffee while you work, then look no further than our list of locations to find a Spaces near you, and find out which city is next on your list.
Check out Spaces' flexible workspace locations to find a base for your international team!
This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.
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Business News
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Thursday, 12 March 2020 07:00
Olympic Flame Lit In Ancient Olympia
The Tokyo Olympic torch relay began at the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony, which was held today in Olympia with limited attendance due to coronavirus concerns.
“We are especially grateful that you made today’s ceremony possible, even under difficult circumstances,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a speech, thanking the president of the Greek Olympic Committee at the site of the Ancient Olympics.
The lighting ceremony was held without spectators and was attended by 100 accredited guests from the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020. The Olympic Flame will spend 8 days in Greece before leaving for Japan for a 121-day journey until the July 24 Opening Ceremony.
“Given the unprecedented circumstances the world is facing, the health and safety of the thousands of torchbearers, spectators, and staff will be the first priority along the route of the Olympic Torch Relay both in Greece and Japan,” the IOC said in a press release.
To read this article in full, please visit: NBC Sports
Published in
Greece In The News
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Wednesday, 11 March 2020 17:51
Teaching And Learning Continues At ACS Athens Despite Challenges
Learning continues for all 1100 students of ACS Athens, using diverse and innovative educational technology mediums. By utilizing Moodle® learning management system, set up and utilized since 2013, students in grades 5-12 continue their synchronous and asynchronous learning in collaboration with their peers and teachers. Students in grades K-4 continue to have fun learning through Google Apps for education, e-documents, video conferences, and other digital tools.
ACS Athens (American Community Schools) founded in 1945, is an innovative educational institution with 1100 students from 63 different nationalities, that follows the American educational philosophy, offers the American High School Diploma and the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. The school launched yesterday its Virtual classrooms for the entire school so that learning can continue during the school closure.
All school operations, classroom activity, support services and programs assisting students with learning differences continue to take place. According to the President of ACS Athens, Dr. Peggy Pelonis, “despite some technical difficulties, due to the high traffic on the virtual platforms across the world, ACS Athens faculty deliver lessons and students complete the work necessary. It is important to note that these lessons are not review lessons but rather the continuation of the curriculum and truly meaningful learning.” Dr. Pelonis added: “Such an innovative endeavor required long term planning from administration and faculty and the ACS Athens educators and students have taken on the challenge and proved to be very prepared.”
For the first time since 1990, ACS Athens had to stop its on-campus operations and close the facilities for a full 2 weeks, starting March 9 until March 24. The closure was ordered by the Ministry of Education as a case of COVID-19 (coronavirus) was verified in a Pre-K class of the school.
The on-campus operations had to close... but the school continues to function online through its ACS Athens Virtual platform, for most of its grades. According to Julia Tokatlidou, ACS Athens Dean of Academics and key point person of the ACS Athens Virtual, “our school has been ready to transition to the online realm for many months now, as we have offered a number of our accredited high school courses online. The only additional step was to extend this platform to grades 5-12, train our teachers in the most modern tools of e-learning and prepare our families for this eventuality, due to the global outbreak of the coronavirus.” Students in grades Kindergarten - 4 depend on e-learning tools, teacher sites, documents, videos and activities that require the collaboration of the parents.
The ACS Athens Virtual platform is powered by Moodle® open-source learning management system used by schools and universities worldwide, which hosts all the courses offered by the school in the form of webpages called “shells”, one for each course. Teachers maintain and update their course material daily, which is directed to every classroom they teach. Students meet in a synchronous and asynchronous way, in pre-determined times and at their own availability to see assignments, submit classwork, ask the teachers questions, collaborate with their classmates, do research, and be assessed for their learning. Other than Moodle, ACS Athens educators utilize Google Apps for Education, KhanAcademy, Screencastify, VoiceThread, etc.
Outcomes of ACS Athens Virtual operation will be shared with our community as we proceed with the program.
IB English teacher Dr. Syropoulos mentioned to his students: “This is one of the classes I enjoyed the most!!!! You were very well prepared, that's why our backup plan worked so well! It was fascinating to visit your shared docs and see your thoughts unfolding. You perfectly grasped the idea of narrative omniscience and applied it to Ms. Austen!”
Ms. Mente, one of our First Grade teachers said to her students before the first online day of school: "We want to make sure that your day is productive and that your “school time” is well spent! We also want to make sure that you are staying healthy – mind, body and soul! So keep your hands clean, your body nutritiously fed and your soul energized with the things you love to do during your free time.”
David Nelson, the Academy Principal has stated: "When everyone else in Athens stopped learning, we started ... in a different way!”
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Local News
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Thursday, 29 October 2020 22:22
Paper Moon By Michalis Reppas & Thanasis Papathanasiou ~ The National Theatre Of Greece
Michalis Reppas and Thanasis Papathanasiou return to the Rex Theatre with a new musical commissioned by the NTG. With a score by Nikos Kypourgos and lyrics by Aphrodite Manou, Paper Moon is about all that is beyond words and comprehension; about a secret land where opposites embrace and pain and pleasure complement and complete one another; where suffering and happiness become one in the utopia of love: that inaccessible cloud cuckoo land that only poets can visit without paying a price.
It is the 1960s on Astydamantos Street in the Athenian neighborhood of Pangrati. In a neoclassical house - one of the thousands that will soon be torn down and replaced by apartment blocks - our young protagonist narrates a year of his life. He talks about himself, his family, his friends, and Greece itself, in a coming-of-age story set against the dramatic events of the time.
Note: With supertitles in English on Wednesdays & Fridays (from 28/10 - 27/11)
Note 2: Wearing a mask is obligatory
Published in
Performing Arts
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Wednesday, 11 March 2020 21:47
Lessons Of War III ~ The National Theatre Of Greece (English Supertitles)
IMPORTANT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT - Performances are cancelled until March 26th!
Following the great success of Lessons of War I and II among audiences of all ages, but especially teenagers, Lessons of War III comes to the National Theatre of Greece. This third part of the Lessons of War trilogy is again based on ancient Greek history, but while the first two parts dramatised episodes from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, Lessons of War III takes Xenophon’s Hellenica as its source. This time, the focus is on the main events at the end of the Peloponnesian War, which mark the end of Athenian hegemony and Athenian democracy. Our aim is to make experiential teaching, which is, in any case, an important aspect of NTG productions, not only entertaining but also a tool so that audiences can become familiar with texts.
Following the great success of Lessons of War I and II among audiences of all ages, but especially teenagers, Lessons of War III comes to the National Theatre of Greece. This third part of the Lessons of War trilogy is again based on ancient Greek history, but while the first two parts dramatised episodes from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, Lessons of War III takes Xenophon’s Hellenica as its source. This time, the focus is on the main events at the end of the Peloponnesian War, which mark the end of Athenian hegemony and Athenian democracy. Our aim is to make experiential teaching, which is, in any case, an important aspect of NTG productions, not only entertaining but also a tool so that audiences can become familiar with texts.
The play includes the most dramatic events of the last years of the 5th century: the defeat of the Athenians at Aegospotami and the impact on their city, the demolition of the walls of Athens, the suspension of democracy and the imposition of a harsh oligarchy, the brutalities of the regime of the Thirty Tyrants, and the political coups and civil strife until democracy was finally restored.
As the title suggests, the aim of the production is above all educational, but the power of the theatre is harnessed so that the teaching takes place in an active and entertaining way.
Schedule
Fridays, Saturdays at 21:00
Fridays, Saturdays at 21:00
Sundays at 19:30
With supertitles in English: Every weekend from the 14th of March to the 12th of April
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Vasilis Athanasopoulos, Aliki Alexandraki, Paris Alexandropoulos, Manos Vavadakis, Antonis Giannakos, Nadia Katsoura, Stathis Koikas, Nefeli Maistrali, Vasilis Papadimitriou, Katerina Patsiani.
BOX OFFICES
ZILLER BUILDING, 22-24 Agiou Konstantinou Str.
Wednesday to Sunday 9:30-21:30
REX THEATRE 48 Panepistimiou Str.
Tuesday: 9:00-16:30
Wednesday to Sunday 9:30-21:30
TICKET SERVICES Pesmazoglou Arcade – 39 Panepistimiou Str.
Monday/ Wednesday: 9:00-17:00
Tuesday/ Thursday/ Friday: 9:00-20:00
Saturday: 10:00-14:00
XpatAthens is proud to be a Media Sponsor of The National Theatre of Greece
Published in
Performing Arts
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Tuesday, 16 March 2021 07:00
No Screen Boredom Busters For Kids
Schools have been closed for a while now, and unfortunately, both kids and parents are finding it rather challenging to discover ways to stay entertained during times of social distancing. Here are some fun activities to tackle boredom and keep kids entertained while schools are closed!
1. Make Mug Cakes
Most kids love helping out in the kitchen, so cooking and baking activities will probably be accepted with excitement, especially if the recipe calls for sugar, Nutella, and cocoa! Mug cakes don't require a hot oven; don't create a huge mess, and what's more, is that older kids can make them themselves. For a delicious mug cake mix 4 tablespoons self-raising flour, 4 tablespoons sugar and 3 tablespoons each of milk, oil, cocoa powder, and Nutella, and 1 egg. Divide the mixture into 2 mugs and microwave for 90 seconds or more if needed. Add a topping such as whipped cream or icing sugar and enjoy!
Most kids love helping out in the kitchen, so cooking and baking activities will probably be accepted with excitement, especially if the recipe calls for sugar, Nutella, and cocoa! Mug cakes don't require a hot oven; don't create a huge mess, and what's more, is that older kids can make them themselves. For a delicious mug cake mix 4 tablespoons self-raising flour, 4 tablespoons sugar and 3 tablespoons each of milk, oil, cocoa powder, and Nutella, and 1 egg. Divide the mixture into 2 mugs and microwave for 90 seconds or more if needed. Add a topping such as whipped cream or icing sugar and enjoy!
2. Enjoy Your Favorite Board Games & Puzzles
It's challenging to be stuck indoors due to weather (or virus) conditions but with a bunch of snacks, and a stack of games and puzzles staying indoors can be a ton of fun! On the upside, surely you'll stimulate family bonding and create some happy family moments!
3. Make DIY Puffy Paint
Painting is fun, but painting with puffy paint is even better. Young kids love this sensory paint and will spend hours creating their puffy masterpieces! For DIY puffy paint, you will need 3/4 cup shaving cream, 1/4 cup white glue, 1/4 cup flour, food coloring. Mix the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined—Color the paint with food colorings. Use squeeze bottles for delicate artwork or paintbrushes for a thicker texture. Make sure to use thick cardstock instead of plain paper– to avoid sogging–and to let the artwork to air dry for a few hours.
Rock candy is a delicious, fun recipe that also doubles as a science experiment because you get to watch the sugar crystals form. Get creative with endless flavor and color combinations that will delight children and grownups alike! One of the best things is that it takes time and patience. It can take up to a week for the rock candy to form, which makes it an ongoing project for the next few days! Learn how to make rock here.
5. Have Fun With A DIY Indoor Bowling Game
This DIY indoor bowling game is fun to have on hand as a great boredom buster. Children can help out with making the pins and use their counting skills to set up the game. Create a simple bowling game with recycled bottles for some stay-at-home fun! The only things you'll need are 10 small water bottles numbered from 1 to 10 with stickers or labels, and a small ball. Place the water bottles in a triangle shape in the garden or at the end of a hall.
6. Make Salt Dough
Use 1 cupful of plain flour (about 250g), half a cup of table salt (about 125g), and half a cup of water (about 125ml). Knead the dough, cut out different shapes, and cook in the oven for 3 hours in low heat. When your creations have completely cooled down, paint them with colors and glitter to create little masterpieces!
7. Make Rainbow Rice
Follow these easy steps to create colored rice without using rubbing alcohol. You will need 1 cup of long-grain white rice, 1/2 tsp vinegar, several drops of liquid food coloring, and a food storage container. Put the rice, food coloring, and vinegar in a food container and shake very well. Open the box and leave the rice to dry for a couple of days. You can make batches of different colored rice. Rainbow rice is excellent for sensory bins and craft projects.
8. Make A Sensory Ice Bucket
Add water in a plastic food container or bucket and toss in small plastic toys such as plastic animals or lego bricks. Let it freeze in the freezer and then ask your children to break the ice and discover what's hidden inside!
9. Make An Indoor Obstacle Course
Use your creativity to put together an obstacle course inside your home. The goal of an obstacle course is to get your child moving. Use any variation of the items below for your toddler's obstacle course. You can use pillows, blankets, sofa, chairs, masking tape, a basketball and hoop, boxes, step stool, a tunnel, and a ball pit. While setting up your obstacle course, include activities such as shooting a ball into a basket, climbing on pillows, crawling under a row of chairs and through a tunnel, and much more. The indoor obstacle course will keep your little ones happy for a long while!
10. Get Reading
Being read to is usually a toddler's favorite time, while older kids also love diving into a good book. Make an effort to read your way through The Book Trust's 100 Best Books– a list of the 100 best children's' books from the last 100 years.
11. Make A Habitat Diorama
Kids love to learn and explore, so help them recreate the habitat of their favorite animal, think of its natural habitat, its food, and its habits. Not everything in a habitat diorama needs to come from nature, leaves can be made out of paper, trees might be made of plaster, and the entire animals can be made from plastic! Use a shoebox, glue, and all your favorite materials to make something truly wonderful.
This content has been sourced and prepared by Codico Lab
Published in
Kids Life
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Saturday, 21 March 2020 19:57
Important Coronavirus Update - Schools Close Nationwide
School Closures in Greece - Updated on March 21, 2020
On March 10th, 2020, the Greek Ministry of Health announced the closure of all schools and universities as part of the preventative measures taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Greece. The measure applies to private and public schools, kindergartens, preschools, universities, and cram schools, and it aims to reduce the spreading of the virus.
The Greek Ministry of Education announced the extension of the closure of all educational institutions until April 10 as a measure to counteract the coronavirus pandemic. Niki Kerameos, the Minister of Education, has not ruled out an extension to the school and academic year so that students do not lose their year or semester.
To learn more about how to stay protected or if you believe you may have been infected please CLICK HERE.
Important Notice from XpatAthens
It is important to remind our readers that XpatAthens is not in any way a media source. While we do our best to keep our readers informed, we advise you to consult Greek media outlets such as ekathimerini.com, amna.gr, naftemporiki.gr, and protothema.gr and/or international news sites for up-to-the-hour updates on the coronavirus. Be wise and stay safe.
Published in
Local News
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Monday, 09 March 2020 07:00
How An 'Abundance List' Can Change Your Life
There are people among us who maintain their optimism even though they may be going through challenging times. People who continue to offer their care to others, although their situation may not be rosy. People who look you in the eye, smile at you and ask if they may be of help. Some people are successful - not necessarily because they are at ease financially or because they have everything in life - but because they live in the now and are grateful and happy with what they have. These are the people who know what their priorities are; who wake up in the morning and are thankful simply because they are healthy. They are grateful to have a roof over their head. They are grateful to have even one friend. They are grateful to see each day as a new beginning.
Here's a question for you: How do you start your day? Do you tend to think about what you have or about what you don't have? It's a good test to take for yourself. Do the test for a week and then add your pluses and minuses. Even if the scale tilts towards what you have (although it usually tilts towards what you don't have), start making your own 'List of Abundance.' Record everything you own; however big or small, material or non-material. Keep adding and watch your list grow day by day. Read your 'List of Abundance' every night before going to bed; every morning when you wake up, even during the day, if you want. Keep adding to it–there's so much more–and watch your life transform step by step. ❤️
Published in
Mind
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