As local authorities ramp up their coronavirus preparations, the Regional Governor of Attica, in collaboration with the Crisis Management Team and members of EDSNA, has issued a set of guidelines for the proper disposal of waste during the COVID-19 outbreak for the protection of citizens and workers in the waste management sector.

During this challenging time, Greece's first responders, police officers, doctors, nurses, and more are all to be commended. In this list, we should also remember garbage collectors and other sanitation workers who, despite the dangers imposed by the novel coronavirus, continue to provide their service. We should also take into account that due to the closure of schools and the introduction of "special-purpose leaves" for working parents, the sector has seen the number of employees decrease, experiencing additional pressure.

Citizens are expected to comply with the following rules:

• Put all used personal protective equipment, such as gloves, antibacterial wipes, and face masks in non-recyclable bags.
• Each bag must be hand-tied by gathering and twisting the neck of the bag and using a tie or hand knot to seal the bag properly.
• Make sure that the dustbin lid closes properly and don't place excess bags on top of the garbage bin.
• Avoid putting out large and bulky items.
• Municipalities are required to disinfect garbage bins, and citizens are advised to open the garbage bins by the step-on mechanism or using gloves.

People with confirmed or possible Covid-19 should do the following:

Originally posted in Greek on Skai.gr

Translated by Codico Lab

In the spring of 2018, the Yale psychology professor Laurie Santos unveiled a new course, Psychology and the Good Life. The subject was happiness.

The course was launched in the US at one of the nation's most elite universities. The reaction was unexpected as Psychology and the Good Life became the most popular class ever taught at Yale and garnered national and international media attention as nearly a quarter of all Yale undergraduates had enrolled in the class.

After waves of people asked to access the course, Santos designed an iteration for the online learning platform Coursera, called The Science of Well-Being, available for free to non-Yale students. There's an optional fee of $49 (about €45) to receive a certificate of completion.

The course is a combination of positive psychology and real-life applications of behavioral science. It debunks popular notions of what makes people happy and helps students understand the habits they should build to lead more fulfilling lives. It teaches practical advice such as how to choose a career that you'll love, as well as how to distinguish satisfying pursuits from hollow ones.

Now that most of us have to stay at home with plenty of free time in our hands, we have the opportunity to get creative. Taking this online course is an excellent way to promote our mental health and arm ourselves with courage and hope.

• Misconceptions about happiness
• Why our expectations are so bad
• How we can overcome our biases
• Stuff that really makes us happy
• Putting strategies into practice

The online course features lectures by Santos on things that bring lasting life satisfaction, optional readings, and "rewirement" activities to do each day to build happier habits. Research suggests that if you do these rewirements as prescribed, you should get a boost in your mood and overall well-being.

What To Expect From The Class 

To make the class warm and inviting, it's shot in Santos' own home, with Yale students in the audience so you can see how the material lands with other people. It feels intimate, and Santos' tone is friendly and conversational.

You will be thrilled to know that there's absolutely no required reading. All the information you need to know is summarized in the lecture. If you do want a deeper context, Santos provides links to complementary readings. Also, there's no grade penalty for a missed assignment deadline. 

However, just because it’s free it doesn’t mean it will be a piece of cake. While you can take the class at your own pace, you're encouraged to implement the rewiring techniques on a weekly schedule, since research has found that improving your well-being takes daily, intentional effort over long periods. Also, you will get 180 days from the time you sign up for the class to complete all of the work: quizzes, tests, and a peer-graded paper.

To join the Psychology and the Good Life course, please click HERE.
Article source: Business Insider

In response to the need to quickly map the spread of the new coronavirus in Greece, post-graduate students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have created an application for the general public to quickly and easily report their symptoms.

If You Have Symptoms - Here's What To Do

Only complete this online survey if you have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms and allow your device to share your location. The process takes less than a minute and your responsible response can help map confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Greece. 

The tracking system was developed as part of the MSc program "Environmental, Disaster, and Crisis Management Strategies."

With the recent outbreak of the coronavirus, factories were shut down, the streets were cleared, and the authorities ordered residents to stay home to stop the spread of the virus. As it appears, the lockdown had an unexpected and unintended advantage–blue skies.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, 'Good Quality Air Days' have increased by 21.5% in February 2020 compared to February 2019–and not only in Hubei.

Satellite images released by NASA and the European Space Agency show a significant reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions in major Chinese cities between January and February while the visible cloud of toxic gas hovering over industrial areas has almost dissappeared.

In Hong Kong, air quality has also improved since the city went into partial shutdown mode as a measure to stop the spreading of the coronavirus.  Key air pollutants have dropped by nearly a third, according to data released by the Hong Kong University School of Public Health, which was analyzed by the environmental organization Clean Air Network.

Similarly in Venice residents are noticing a great improvement in the city's famous canals. The usually murky waters are running clear to the extent that fish can be seen for the first time in a very long time! The lockdown in Italy has left Venice streets empty while the drop in water traffic has allowed the sediment in the canals has been able to settle.

Article sources: CNN & BBC

A new campaign by Marketing Greece urges international travelers to '#StaySafe' during the coronavirus pandemic—while continuing to dream and plan a future escape to Greece.

 

With its main motto 'Till Then, #StaySafe,' the campaign aims is to share the message with aspiring travelers worldwide that better days are coming while prompting them to stay safe in the meantime.

 

The new, innovative campaign uses stunning photographs accompanied by the caption 'When the time is right, we'll be there for you. Till then, #StaySafe', using the unique light of Greece to bring hope to all the people who are experiencing unprecedented social distancing.

 

Marketing Greece's announcement states, "In our times, humanity is called upon to rise to a shocking challenge, with messages of hope and optimism being more imperative than ever. Greek tourism, fully identifying with the sense of freedom and escape from the everyday grind, sends its own message for the next day."

To read this article in full, please visit: GreekReporter.com

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.

 

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.

 

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.

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.

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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.

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.

 

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.

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.

 

 

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.

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.

 

 

“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. 

 

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!”