Ikarian Observations

Multitasking: Ikarian Style                                                                                                                   

      All of us in this busy world are called upon to perform many tasks, sometimes simultaneously. Ikarians are no exceptions. It is not uncommon to see Ikarians shopping, carrying on a conversation and driving at the same time. One young Ikarian took this to extremes when I noticed him riding his Harley motorcycle, cigarette in mouth, plastic cup of coffee in one hand and talking on his cell phone with the other. Nonchalantly motoring his way down the streets of Agios, everything in perfect balance, multitasking Ikarian style.



Signs

      Signs for the most part inform, give advice, warn of danger and are generally seen by most of us as useful and on occasion intrusive. On Ikaria, one is never quite sure what signs mean or for whom they are intended. Walking into the National Bank of Greece at Agios Kirikos, customers are greeted by a variety of no smoking signs and warnings. These are plastered on the doors, the walls and on the tellers’ windows. What seems apparent to most customers however, is not so apparent to the bank employees. Every other employee seems to be busy smoking, huffing and puffing, creating a permanent floating blue haze over the teller windows.  I asked a bank employee about the no smoking signs and with a pretentious sneer and a whiff from his tobacco breath he informed me that the no smoking policy is meant for the bank customers only, and not the bank employees.

Mechanics of Ikaria

      Owning a car in Ikaria is an expensive proposition. It’s difficult to find qualified mechanics and there are

long waits for parts to be shipped, so naturally if something goes wrong with their cars, most Ikarians attempt repairing their autos themselves. I was anointed with such a vision one dark evening in front of my house as two young men worked on a car. Apparently neither man had a flashlight, a lit candle was held by one man over the engine compartment, while the other, smoking a cigarette, worked on the motor. I chose at that moment not to hang around, fearing the combination of gas fumes, oil sludge, lit candle and cigarette were creating a massive potential for a catastrophe, not exactly a healthy life style choice.