The basics in Greek were learned at the University of Athens, which offers a Greek language course for foreigners, and with the help of a book called Nea Elinika gia Ksenous (Modern Greek for Foreigners). Once you learn to read the alphabet and get some basic language skills, you are on a roll.
Teaching English to Greek kids was a huge learning experience for me. The kids introduced me to Greek culture from the “inside”, and helped me use the language in a more natural way. Their enthusiasm, drive and the long hours they spent at lessons every day never ceased to amaze me. It was then that I began to realise that my impression of Greeks as lazy ouzo-drinking bums who siesta every afternoon was false and that in fact Greeks are extremely hard working.
Over the years I have a developed a love-hate relationship with Greece. Working long hours for low pay, paying a fortune for things we took for granted in SA, the traffic, the noise, the pollution, the often rude Greeks… all of that seems to fade into memory around spring when you can feel the air change and Summer is on its way…
Greeks work hard during the day and party hard at night. Bars, cafes, “bouzoukia” and restaurants are filled to the brim almost every night. The difference with Greeks who go out drinking is that they usually hold their drink quite well and rarely get aggressive when drunk. Greece is a safe place to live and the freedom I feel when walking the streets alone even at night, is something I would not exchange.
Then there are the weekends. In winter, Greeks like to head for the mountains for weekend ski trips or for relaxing in one of the many mountain villages close to the city. In summer, we head for the islands and most people take a week or two off to spend on the islands, especially in August. There are hundreds of islands to choose from and each island has its own character and something else to offer.
South Africans in Greece get together here in Athens through the “South Africans in Greece” society, which organises get-togethers, coffee mornings, parties etc. There is also a “Greek- Somethings” society which organises social events for … “greek –somethings” (!) and gives you the chance to meet other English-speaking people from around the world. If you suddenly crave Nik-Naks or have a wild urge to have Pronutro for breakfast for example, the South African store in Athens (www.sastore.gr) stocks all your favourite goodies that you may miss from SA, so cravings are always satisfied.
