This post began as a comment to Bollybutton’s latest post. But after I surpassed the second paragraph mark I realized I had a lot to say on the matter. So, I’ll say it here. An answer to her perfectly legitimate question. Does Greece Suck?
Yes, Greece does suck. Now, don’t get me wrong. It only sucks insofar that every other country I have lived in sucks. If I were to make a list of pro’s and cons about Greece, the cons would far outweigh the pro’s. So, why do I choose to live here? Because the few pro’s on that list have so much more value than the cons. It’s like receiving 1 million Zimbabwe dollars and thinking you’re a millionaire. What happens when you realize that all you can afford with that is dinner?
On my bad Greece days, I curse the traffic, the bureaucracy, the dirty pavements, the rudeness of some people, the pitiful service industry. I curse at roundabouts; why can their not be a consensus about who has right of way? I’ll tell you why. Because most Greeks believe that they have right of way. All of the time. Wherever they are. This does not stem from some sort of narcissism (although, it is a Greek word, I’m just saying), but from another equally maladaptive trait-insecurity.
Greece is an insecure country. What do you do when you feel insecure? You strike at the person who makes you feel that way. Thus, the average Greek’s revulsion towards adopting anything ‘western’ is created. Sometimes, when I feel insecure, I will get angry instead of allowing another person to see my weakness. How does this translate into a country of insecure? A bunch of people running around, hooting their horns, shouting at each other just so that no-one thinks they are weak.
But, on my good Greece days, I hum to myself while basking in the sunlight. There is just so much emotion spilling out onto the streets that that in itself make you feel alive. On those good days, I do not regret the decision I made to live her. For a girl who lived away from her family from 13-24 years old; I am loving being able to see them everyday. I love that I am able to watch my nephew grow up. Watching my sister create a new family, here, in Greece makes me realize that as long as you have some sort of love, Greece is awesome. I imagine this is true for any other country.
As long as you have someone to live here for, you have absolutely no reason to move. Unless, of course, you are really invested in your career. In that case, maybe you should move. But, you know what? I have friends all over the world. Finding a job you love that pays well with the potential to move forward? That’s a universal problem.
32 responses so far ↓
Bollybutton // October 4, 2007 at 10:42 am
Girl you rock. This post is fantastic and you have helped me with my does greece suck dilemma. Truth is, I doubt I will be on my death bed thinking “Damn I really wish I had had more job options”
Bollybutton // October 4, 2007 at 10:48 am
ps: that said, I really miss my family sometimes :’( they were the only reason I stayed in the UK as long as I did and I for one would love to have my entire family living on different floors of the same apartment block. Mr Zeus is lucky he has that.
Hope // October 4, 2007 at 11:11 am
I missed my family terribly when I was away from them too. But, we seemed to get along much better then. When we’re in the same country we seem to argue that much more.
I guess there really is no perfect situation.
Cynical psycho // October 4, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Seriously I’ve been thinking about this ,having returned to Greece for good recenty.
Strangely, I haven’t missed the country I lived before, which at first sounds bizarre. No, I don’t turn a blind eye to the bad tempers, arrogant attitudes and the overal misery and many people’s disgust and despair for their lives. But:
I have come to conclude that the misery here is SHOWN, we see it, whereas elsewhere is hidden behind genuine (???) politeness or under a handful of antidepressants. You get my point? In Greece we see the lack of happiness and joy and this sometimes doesn’t look good. Elsewhere people choose not to and give the false picture of a lovely country with people 100% mentally healthy.
And the best is that in Greece we live under an amazing sunshine.
Do you think it’s by accident that suicides rise as you approach the North Pole?
clinkny // October 4, 2007 at 6:20 pm
It’s funny because while I certainly understand the “cons,” I think America sucks far worse (ducks stones being thrown by fellow Americans). The thing is, when I juxtapose “my” two countries, Greece always comes out on top because I’m there in the summer, in Kefalonia, with my grandmother and fresh food and the beach every day. In sum: it comes out on top because I don’t live there full-time. Therefore, the US gets the brunt of my anger. Does that make sense?
Hope // October 4, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Clink: Makes perfect sense. No country is perfect and the one that we know really well, that we have to deal with on a day to day basis, is the one that drives us insane. Greece in summer though is magical EVEN if you are full-timer like me.
Cynical: Yes. Greeks and Greece don’t really try to hide the happiness and the misery. But I read a very interesting article in the Kappa magazine (free in the Sunday Kathimerini) that said that everyone is so used to this chaos, that they just join in. In essence, the article suggests that we are all just like ostriches–our heads buried in the sand–too afraid to look up and see reality and CHANGE it.
libby // October 4, 2007 at 7:27 pm
great post. to quote clink’s tag line: things seem perfect from far away. or something like that. i’ve always loved france. fell even more in love when i visited. but as much as on a whim i want to uproot and live and work there, its hard to remember how good things are here in Canada and to really think about the impact that type of decision, if made based only on emotion would really alter my life.
cdp // October 4, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Yeah, I agree with libby. It’s easy to find flaws with anywhere you live. That said, I’m also with Clink in that I think the states suck pretty bad a lot of days.
But, I completely agree that being near family is a BIG DEAL. It’s why I stay where I am. So my little people can be near their grandparents and uncles. Important stuff!
Lisa // October 4, 2007 at 8:35 pm
You’re right, it’s true for any other country. I live in the Philippines. I can think of a dozen reasons off the top of my head why I shouldn’t. But I love the place. It’s home. :)
Michelle // October 4, 2007 at 11:44 pm
I concur with everyone else. No matter where you live you’ll find flaws. There’s days I love Columbus and then there’s days I wonder why I moved from the little old town of Erie, Pennsylvania. sigh.
...BeccaLynn // October 5, 2007 at 12:22 am
Geez. Everyone already said what I was going to say. :-/
But I agree with them. America can be the ’special’ kid in the class room sometimes, and it can be quite embarrassing.
DG // October 5, 2007 at 4:45 am
I agree with Libby too. From afar, another country may seem like paradise. But once you get comfortable, after a little time spent there, you usually find some flaws.
Princess Pointful // October 5, 2007 at 9:34 am
You seem to have a good balance. While one wants to see the good inherent in their home, realism is also needed. Pride but not overpatriotic.
I sometimes wish I had more of a comparison point than just a few cities in Canada.
Papa Duck // October 5, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I think the answer must be yes, however much I love the place (to visit!).
1. People are unhappy. Survey after survey confirms this (e.g. World Database of Happiness, World Values Survey). Stefan Bergheim of DB Research argues that happy places are those with:
1. High degree of trust in fellow citizens
2. Low amount of corruption
3. Low unemployment
4. High level of education
5. High income
6. High employment rate of older people
7. Small shadow economy
8. Extensive economic freedom
9. Low employment protection
10. High birth rate.
Anyone who knows the slightest thing about Greece will realise that Greece does not stand a chance, these factors considered.
2. Education. The OECD’s PISA research looking at attainment shows that not only does Greece spend less than others, its outcomes are worse than the spending suggests. The only positive (?) is that the status of the parents does not seem to matter as much as elsewhere.
3. UN Human Development Index has Greece in 24th place. Ahead of Singapore, Korea, Portugal and Malta, just behind Israel , Hong Kong and Germany. The UK is 18th.
4. Health. Although the WHO World Health Report 2000 has health outcomes in Greece among the best and ahead of the UK and Germany, the recent Health Consumer Powerhouse ranking (21st) suggests to me that the outcomes are good despite the currupt and inefficient health service. Given the epidemics of smoking and road accidents, I don’t expect the good outcomes to last.
5. Economy. Greece has made good progress recently (with lots of EU help) but still is 17th out of 27 nations in the Huggins European Competitiveness Index, ahead of not much more than Portugal, Cyprus and Malta. Attki does better, though – 59th out of 118 ahead of the North East, Yorkshire, the West Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland in the UK. So it could be worse!
Angel // October 8, 2007 at 3:37 pm
oh my god….I dont even know what to say….loved your post, and agree with alot of what everyone else has said.
But having said that…your post made me think about my situation… so whats the outcome…Greece is worth it? Your family is worth the move? Your boyfreind is worth the move?
how important is ones career…do we move to such an amazing country that lacks any form of progressing in your career….
GREAT POST! BUT STILL SO UTTERLY CONFUSED!
xristina-dimitra // October 13, 2007 at 12:14 am
Hello, I discovered your blog a short time ago through a few other expat Greek blogger sites, and this is my first time posting. I loved this particular post, because it’s given me some more hope about moving to Athens as a Greek-American raised in the States. My fiance is currently there (and loves it), and I will join him in a few months. It’s causing me alot of anxiety, because I’m leaving a lucrative, professional career and I’m not sure how well my skills will translate (if at all), and because of all the negative things written about Greece. But, my family is Greek and they are all there, and on past visits I realize just how isolated we have been in the States. I realize that here in USA, yes there is the fabulous economy with great opptys for making money. But that doesn’t make people any happier or any freer on its own when most of it goes to bills, you are constantly comparing what your neighbor has, and you realize you need well into six-figures to support a family with a good SOL. While I do love the States, there is a saying that I find very applicable: poverty wants little, luxury alot, and avarice everything. Thank you so much for your blog!
Bill // May 24, 2008 at 9:50 pm
i am a greek and i have to admit that greeks are the worst nation in the world.
one month in greece can persuade you on what i’m saying.
you ‘ll get crazy. 90% of greeks are the most cunning and mean people you ‘ll ever encounter.
so what i am trying now is finish medical school and then go and live to the States or to a european country forever.
i just cant stand living in greece anymore. i hate them.
Angel // June 10, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I am 16 yr old greek and i have to absolutely disagree with you… Greece is one of the the best countrys around the globe (my opinion). One of the biggest mistake is to take Athens as an example. I live 10 km away from Athens and i have to say that things are the exact opposite. I live in Helliniko witch is near the old airport of Athens and the place is great, lots of trees, lots of parks, no trafic problems (although a big avenue Bouliagmenis is near), i could say everything is perfect. I dont have any complaints about the “place” that i live. Education: hmmm…. A BIG matter here… you could describe it in a few words that it…. sucks. I go in the 1st T.E.E. of Helliniko witch is a Technical high school (I am very bad in English and i dont know how to exactly describe it) but its a school that u learn a kind of art as such mechanic, Computer technician, programmer, and lots of other things that i cant get in mind right now. <— Thats the way to describe it… Now the real thing, T.E.E. (Technical high school) 7 hours class, first 3 hours is for sleep, 4-7 is for playing games with your cell or listening to music, every hours we have a 10 min. break to go to the yard and smoke a cig. (Almost everyone smokes in Greece from ages 14-18 ) To sum it up. Greece is one of the best and coolest countrys and has a sucky educational system :P
{P.S.} Thats only my school that we are talking about, other schools indeed work pretty well and have a great system.
{P.S.2} I am very bad in english and i suck in grammar so forgive me for any mistakes that i made :)
Angel // June 10, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Oh and because i am Greek and i have to be somehow mean i will say it to Bill….
Beacause your life sucks and u hate everyone that doesn’t mean that Greece sucks….
pillowina // September 7, 2008 at 6:18 am
well, i am a west coast (america) gal, met, fell in love with, and am now engaged to a wonderful greek man. I will be moving to greece next year to start our lives together. he actually is one of the rare few that will make more money staying in greece than moving to the states. 10-15 years we will be living in Greece/Europe. My heart is absolutely breaking, leaving my dear, beloved family has me in tears almost daily….but I think a place is what you make of it, so long as you have inner peace. yeah, Greece is rough at times (lived there for three years summers excluded), any advice on anxiety of family seperation, despite greeces ups and downs???
shithead // September 8, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Don’t you ever come to Greece, i live in Greece and it’s the WORST of all countries. We work like dogs just to make sure that we ‘ll have some money to buy food and not starve to death.
Really… GREECE IS THE WORST COUNTRY!
paula // May 30, 2009 at 3:52 am
I lived in the USA and Greece. You can’t really compare these countries because they are 2 extremes. In the USA everything works right, you have many opportunities for jobs, schools, etc, but I feel like we are machines and never have time to breathe. Maybe Americans should take lessons from other countries in the world. No wonder we are always stressed out, obese, we dont have time for anything!!! It’ fast everything!!! Not to mention that our healthcare system is the worst in the WORLD!
On the other hand, I grew up in Greece, and I must say life there has a lot to offer. There might not be jobs like there are in America, but Greeks tend to be very picky about jobs. For instance someone who has finished school as an accountant, will only want to find a job as an “accountant” and that’s it. So he or she will rather starve to death than work as a cashier or waiter. That is not the countries problem, but the individuals. Greeks love to complain. Yes Greece is very expensive, but if you take a look at statistics not many other European nations live like Greeks. Greeks are the #1 consumers when it comes to clothes, alcohol, gambling, etc.. What does that tell you?
In general people fantasize America being this thing they see on Hollywood or Miami movies, that is not reality. The same goes for Greek-Americans who move to Greece thinking they will be on a vacation 24/7 , and after they realize what a mistake they made they run back to mom and dad.
A lot of countries take the “bad” from America, the MTV culture, the fast food nation, they idolize American culture, yet they hate America at the same time.
There is no utopia in this world, and one mans paradise is anothers living hell.
sodapop // July 8, 2009 at 5:15 am
There is no time to breathe in Greece also. Besides that you get 700.00 EUR=973.220 USD dollars a month working 10-12 hours a day. Even if you have a phd the money is the same.
I call this slavery.
You cant even freelance or start your own company because the tax rate is so high that almost half of your earnings are taken by the government.
Half and maybe more of the population works in the public sector most of them doing nothing at all and the other half works to pay for their salaries and pensions.
Athens is very polluted flooded with cars and sometimes reminds you Bobmay.
If you are young and have hopes and dreams Greece
will eat and puke them in no time.
Just live somewhere else and visit Greece for the summer.
We are all about Democracy and culture…………..
paula // July 9, 2009 at 3:56 pm
to Sodapop, I agree with you. I dont know why people love Athens. I think it is trashy and chaotic. I live about 2 hours away from Athens, and I visit the place during the winter in the weekend just to see somethng different..because from time to time I miss the city-life . I live in the country, and it no way can compare to the chaos in NYC I had to deal with on a daily basis. From the traffic , to quality of food, clean air, etc.. However, I am not afraid to admit that the schools, jobs, hospitals, can never compare to the USA. I just pray that I never get sick here..
Now I understand if you have a Masters, PHD , you wont get far in Greece. Although I know some people who make 2,500 to 3,000 a month . But that dosent mean that everyone who has a degree in the USA is making big bucks either. Every place has something wrong with it.
For me it is important to live on the country side, it is more peaceful, i love the weather, i love how people are more social, and yes i do work for 700euro and i have a bachelors degree.
greekssmelllikegoatcheese // August 26, 2009 at 3:45 pm
the truth is i live in Greece, after many years in Canada and now i wonder why i came back in the first place. I m also an expat( born in Athens), and the only thing Greece has going for it is the islands( and its so called ” glorious past”?( whatever that means). Greece has no government no organization nothing( as recently evidenced by the massive forest fires around the outskirts of Athens). How can you expect a country with such apathy and indifference to compete with other European and World powers? Yes the con’s far outweigh the pro’s and if you don’t mind living here then by all means stay,or if you can’t leave. The Pro’s about Greece are 1. lots of sunshine 2. clean beaches. The con’s everything else. Apathy, rudeness, jealousy, disorganization, vandalism, smog, bad sidewalks or no sidewalks, narrow streets with double parked cars on both sides, no parking,bad drivers, bad service in everything( from restaurants to taxi drivers, to department stores) grossly expensive, showoffs, unbearable street noise. Every day my anger is growing in this place, at least i can go to the beach and relax somehow, but after i leave the beach i’m angry again( the only drivers who stick to your ass like honey they tailgate like crazy). If this was in the United States i would have shot someone or been shot with their total disregard for road safety. Greeks will never modernize because they don’t want it. They only want what’s best for their families or koubaroi or theioi or eggonia or paidakia. When it comes to the greater good of the country the answer of ” ti boro na kerdiso” comes forward? See that’s the greek he won’t do something if there’s nothing in it for him. and Most important reason why im sick of it here is the women, that’s right THE WOMEN. I’ve never seen more cunning, unfriendly bitches in my life. Smile you dumb bitch, its not gonna kill you. and they think they’re so pretty and intelligent. They always try to outsmart men, because they think we’re all stupid or assholes. I gotta marry me a foreign woman someone who will be worth having a family with not ones who will take the child to daycare and order delivery every day while talking on the cellphone or shopping at ZARA’S. The only thing that Greeks care about is their new cellphones or Mercedes or BMW( your average Greek family has 5 cars and 10 cellphones). I gotta move out of this place its killing me slowly and painfully. Hey Bill i feel your pain, kai den eimai kana amerikanaki pou lete eseis oi ELLINARES kathe mera. Greece is still a third world country, just has newer cars and highways. Greece is like someone’s house who looks clean but in actuality all the dirt is kept under the rug.
angrycanadian // September 9, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Hey Angel go fuck yourself. Just because i live in a country doesn’t mean i have to love it or that there aren’t other better countries to live, work and raise a family in. I work and pay taxes( unlike most of you fat lazy Ellinares who fucken con your way out of the system driving shiny new cars everyday). I pay my taxes fair and square. I don’t cheat my way because my koubaro is working in the tax office( eforia). How the fuck can you save money in this dam place? when you make 850 -900 Euros a month and they take about 300 – 400 in taxes and IKA? Where the fuck is there money left over to have fun? I would have no problem paying a lot of taxes if i knew that it was going for the improvement of the country as a whole ( look to Sweden,Norway and Denmark as examples). But when you earn so little and they take so much, so they can make you look like an idiot for not living the ” greek dream” like them? then no thanks i’d rather live somewhere else. And last but not least on top of all the other irritating things about Greece, this has got to be the most annoying of all. You have to throw the shit stained toilet paper in a small metal basket,b ecause if you throw it down the toilet the sewage pipes will clog?HELLO W’ERE IN THE 21st FUCKEN CENTURY!!!!Every other country has properly designed sewage systems so you can flush the dirty toilet paper, thereby eliminating unnecessary germs and bacteria. Valto se sakoulitsa kai otan gemisei petato sta skoupidia. It makes the whole bathroom stink after that!! I know someone reading this may laugh but its not funny its really disgusting to do that. Well at least you have the mobile shower head( to wash your pouli and kolo well after you take that dump or piss). That’s Greece do one thing right and fuck up the next 10. Thank you come again! not
Americansgetalife // September 11, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Americans,get a life please!
Go back to states and try to live your “american dream”! If you consider that Greek people and general Greece suck is coz you just losers and got banned!Of course you are “Americanakia”
Greek culture is understood only from people that know how to live their lifes,people that can understand how to havvin fun!
Cheers
Americansgetalife // September 13, 2009 at 1:37 am
plus !Girl have some sex coz otherwise your life will continue seems so stupid-boring!Is too much 6 years or whatevr you say without datind-sex!
greeksgetalife // September 15, 2009 at 2:58 am
This is in response to the poster abover. You guys wouldn’t be nowhere without America. Please stop the hypocrisy. ” Greek culture is understood only from people that know how to live their lifes, people that can understand how to have fun”. What is the so called “Greek culture” your talking about? The one that existed 3000 years ago and then the Turks destroyed 400 years later? What’s having fun in Greece sitting in an outdoor cafe all day long from noon to 5 am the next morning? saying malaka malaka to each other and talking about Panathinaikos,Olympiakos and Aek., and then going down the street to eat your filthy souvlaki? made by a swarthy unshaven stinky greek who practices no hygiene whatsoever. Plenei ta heria tou o malakas? ala pou na endiaferese esei. Oi koilia sou na peinai kai asta na pane. Kai aroureo na sou prosferoune tha peis ti nostimo pou eitane. Kai meta pali sto kafenio na sizitisoume malaka malaka pali, or to showoff your latest car, cellphone( all bought by your daddy or uncle who both work sto dimosio). Greece is very hypocritical on one hand you demonstrate outside the US Embassy in Athens” freedom to Iraq, Serbia,Mongolia, etc… Tsiboukistan whatever”, and at the same time you go down to the periptero to buy Coca Cola, or Playboy, meanwhile wearing your Levi’s jeans, or turn on the Computer using Windows technology so you can surf porn( also American for the most part). Your whole daily routine is 90% american oriented the other 10% is Turkish. Tsiftetelia and dancing on tables, twirling beads in your hands, while eating your syrupy desserts, and thick disgusting grind coffee( ever heard of a filter machine like the rest of the world)? I’m proud to be an Americanaki as you like to call us, rather than a modern American wannabee hypocrite like the majority of Greeks.
Americansgetalife // September 18, 2009 at 1:43 am
Really its impossible to have an dialogue with you..
You are really blind people over there,indeed like sheeps.CNN, NBC etc controls your “mind”?.Get happy with your Bush,Obama..My God..
Try to understand what is called revelution,social revelution and of course what is freedom!
You cant talk about our histrory shithead when you dont even have history as a nation.Nation without history doesnt exist.
Hmm..What about Jewish over there?
I could continue writing even a book about what are you..
Nobody told you that Greece is the perfect nation with the perfect people.
But our “FILOSOFIA” says that know your self..Socrates!
really get a life!
P.S really!dont try to compare our foods with yours,dont even try it,you just rediculous
Ayta vlaka..Phgaine sto dialo kai akoma parapera(USA)
Giorgos K // November 15, 2009 at 3:35 am
TO: GREEKSGETALIFE
So is it really about going to the cafenio and talking about “Malaka, Malaka” and bragging about cell phones and cars?? Your oversimplification of greek culture and social life is truly pathetic. Also, with regards to your assertion of public sector employment you simply fudge the facts.
Heres a few examples of people i know in Greece who work hard and make good money.
Example 1: my uncle works in a cheese factory in the village. Makes 50 EUR a day. He works EVERYDAY for 8-9 months a year. 8 X 30= 240 days. 270 X 50 = 13,500 EUR a year. Plus during the 3 summer months he does work with the tractor and probably nets a good 3000 EUR. So he makes 16,500 EUR a year. 1375 eur a month. No house payment, no home insurance, no property taxes. He has a garden with his brother, chickens, sheep, tomatoes, feta cheese. Car has been paid off. So what are his monthly expenses?? The kids go to schoof for free. Medical care is basically free. He goes to the beach everyday in the summer with his family. He lives a decent life.
EXAMPLE 2: ATHENS CAB DRIVER
Works his ass off every day. Does 10-12 hour days. Takes 3 coffee stops during his work day. Earns a good 2200-2500 EUR a month. 3000 EUR during July, August. Takes a few weeks off in september to go for holiday trip. If he lives within his means he is ok. A bottle at the bouzoukia is 150 EUR. Splits the bill with 4 people and he pays 35 EUR. Not bad diaskedasi. How many americans get to take a few weeks off every year? 2 weeks paid vacation then its off to the office.
US HOUSEHOLD DEBT TO GDP
13 TRILLION HH DEBT/14 TRILLION GDP= 92.8%.
GR HH DEBT TO GDP= 41%. Greek consumers have much less leverage then US consumers who are drowning in debt.
How about pill popping americans?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in visits to doctors and hospitals in 2005. Of those, 118 million were for antidepressants.
Use of antidepressant drugs in the United States doubled between 1996 and 2005, probably because of a mix of factors, researchers reported on Monday.
About 6 percent of people were prescribed an antidepressant in 1996 — 13 million people. This rose to more than 10 percent or 27 million people by 2005, the researchers found.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N03411375.htm
Almost 10% of all americans are on antidepressants? Thats just sick. So when greeks go to the cafeteria its good for them. Better than your suburban borderline nutjob who sits on the couch, watching TV, lonely and isolated from other people.
John // November 25, 2009 at 2:07 am
Well, I wonder if I am just used to living in Greece that’s keeping me here. But when I take a closer look to life elsewhere, albeit not through personal experience but through films, T.V. shows and news sites, I realize that we Greeks have it better compared to other countries, even more developed ones.
This would be where I would just start typing away at what great things we enjoy in Greece but I find my self trying to figure out what those are.
Most of Greece is in debt now. Businesses of all sizes are closing down, laying off or just being late on their payments to their employees or suppliers. Corruption is through the roof and we all think we got it good cause we get to live in the houses our grand-parents built.
Greece is stress free if you work in the public sector or the banking industry. For the rest, its full of anxiety on whether the company we work for or the small business we own will pull through.
It might be the world economic depression everyone is mumbling about but I just feel that up until now, we lived in a bubble that recently just popped.
The sunshine helps a lot though :P