While this certainly isn’t something that Greek-Americans like (reason why it’s not numbered as such), we do have to be grateful that the American economy isn’t in such poor shape comparatively speaking. If you want to be realistic you can inform yourself about the latest on fiscal policy here, but that might not be great for the whole optimistic view that I’m trying to achieve right now.

Anyways, this may be the first (and last) time I say this, but DON’T do as the Greeks do: pay your taxes.

Something else to feel great about: less than two weeks until Πασχα!

And what might the preferred dance formation be for us Greek-Americans? You guessed it: circles.  Greeks dance in a circle together and sometimes one of us dances alone while surrounded by a circle of other Greeks.

Just like life, it’s a beautiful thing. Not to mention super fun.

Why do we dance in circles? To be honest: I have no idea. Maybe that makes me a bad Greek-American, but it’s just something that’s always been done and will continue to happen.

I think when it all comes down to it, dancing in circles gives Greeks a sense of unity and community. (Did you catch that poetry? I attribute it to the fact that my family is from Lesvos and, therefore, I’m probably a descendant of Sappho).

But seriously, there’s something about dancing the Pentozali that makes me feel so incredibly connected to my heritage.  And who can deny the absolute pride one feels when money is thrown at them during their Zeibekiko.

Just goes to show: circles are the way to go. On the real.

Okay, okay: you caught me. I was doing research and since I’m a method writer, I had to procrastinate in order to completely understand the essence of the concept. Yup, I’m doing Christian Bale and Daniel Day-Lewis proud (not to mention, proving my last post).

Anyways, there’s no question that Greek-Americans will put things off as long as they can get away with it. Or until some one else does it for them (the preferred outcome for obvious reasons).  Well, unless they receive some sort of outside motivation.  The Greeks came up with some of the most influential concepts in all of history (i.e., Democracy, Astronomy, etc) and then they called it quits. There was no topping those contributions, so why bother.  That’s the Greek way.

Take myself for instance: I have no problem completing essays or articles for my professors and employers. In fact, I’ll finish my work early just to get a better grade (or to get into their good graces).  This blog, however, isn’t really holding anything over my head. Well, until I got an email alerting me of a comment some one had left.

So now you know, that was my incentive for posting once more (and hopefully more to come). I simply can’t let fellow Greek-Americans down!  So for that, I promise to procrastinate less, write more frequently, and continue figuring out all of the things that make Greek-Americans tick.

A big thanks to all of those who take the time to actually read the stuff that I come up with, despite my Greek-inspired laziness.

1. I was working at an overnight summer camp in New Hampshire for six weeks in the summer (and we all know that the internet there can’t be good).
2. I left for Italy for the year (which is where I am as I’m typing this now)
3. I’m learning a foreign language (Italian obviously)
4. It turns out doing all of my work in my second language is really hard!
5. I was busy having a real life

So you see folks, I think my lack of posting is completely excusable.  And with that, I’ve just demonstrated exactly what I’m posting about today. EXCUSES!

I can’t tell you how many I’ve heard from friends, family members and other miscellaneous Greek-Americans.  For instance, how many times have I uttered, “I really have tried learning Greek, but it’s really hard to do without a teacher and I don’t have time and I really need to learn this other language first and I can’t learn Greek until I’m fluent in this language because I’ll get too confused and….”

You get the picture.

Sure everybody makes excuses, but Greeks use excuses no just to pardon themselves. Oh no, that’s far too straight-forward.  We like to mix it up.  We can use excuses as ways to get sympathy, as a tool of rhetoric, as rationalization to ourselves as well as other, and basically any other way that you can think of.

Now, when I first started drafting this post in…January (don’t judge), I vaguely recall having some brilliantly related video or picture or anecdote or something to go along with this…but I’ve forgotten.

For that I apologize, but could you really blame me?  I’m living in Italy after all.  I mean, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I have to enjoy every second.  Surely I can’t preoccupy myself with a blog if it means sacrificing my free time!

However, since Nia Vardalos’ new movie premiered last week, I thought it fitting to send a nod in her direction. I was also inspired by Mr. Panos, of course.

There is simply no getting past it: Nia Vardalos is, more or less, responsible for the popularity and status that Greeks have gained in the US. We really didn’t have that much exposure before My Big Fat Greek Wedding became a surprise box office hit.

Sure, the consequential follow-up TV show My Big Fat Greek Life was nowhere near as successful as its parent film (I still watched it of course), but how many spin-offs are? Has any one seen the previews for the 10 Things I Hate About You TV series? Do you really think that’s going to be good? Of course not.

Anyways, I have yet to se My Life in Ruins (hoping to see it this Monday) but I will be seeing it…and I will laugh. And you better too. Because Nia Vardalos can do no wrong.

Here’s to you Nia Vardalos. Thank you for your work in the advancement of Greeks in American society.

Well, Greeks love sleep too, but we prefer daytime sleeping. As an insomniac Greek-American, I can tell you that nighttime is the best time to do things. There is seldom a time when I want to start doing something until about 7pm if not later.

This is a major problem in America (with the exception of NYC) because pretty much everything closes after 9pm except for shitty take-out restaurants like Wendy’s or whatever. In Greece, however, the real fun begins around 9 or 10.

When I visited family in Greece, my cousin George would stay out at the club until past 3am, even on the day that he had to drive me and my grandparents to the airport. Maybe not the smartest idea, but certainly the Greekest.

My Greek-American friends (that are really more Greek than American) live in households where the whole family doesn’t go to sleep until past midnight.

It isn’t that daytime isn’t great, it’s just that nighttime is better. Greeks recognize this and thus have claimed it.

That’s right, Greeks are cooler than you.

Sorry for all you sensitive vegetarian/vegan types, but we eat these succulent baby sheep straight of the spit and unapologetically at that.  Some might not like the image of a whole lamb roasting slowly in the backyard (ok, side yard, but at least it wasn’t the front), but at least we are connected with where are food actually comes from. Needless to say, your hamburger doesn’t originally come from a package; sorry to burst your bubble.

I meant to snap a picture of our lovely lamb, but I was too busy enjoying seeing my family and drinking some good wine and ouzo (one right after the other) to do so.  This picture I found on google images will have to suffice:

This is pretty close to what ours looked like, except ours was roasted over a charcoal pit and included my παππου sitting beside it in a lawn chair sipping his ouzo.

Now, we almost did not do the spit this year. My grandparents actually wanted to do leg of lamb in the oven, but I insisted that we do the lamb on the spit and, as the favorite granddaughter, I got my way.

I was surprised to find out, however, that many of my cousins don’t like the lamb on the spit. They’d rather have the leg of lamb that my cousin Dimitri makes each year as extra. But let me reassure you, I had a little of both and the lamb off the spit was so much better (no offense Dimit).

Maybe it is the fact that I generally only have lamb once a year, but I’m pretty sure that my meal yesterday proves that lamb is the most delicious meat on the planet.

EDIT: I originally described the oven lamb as “lamb shanks,” but my yiayia informed me that I needed to change “shanks” to “leg of lamb”. What yiayia says, goes.

Just remember not to take it all to seriously. Everything in these clips are for the sake of comedy.

To my fellow Greeks:

Enjoy Holy Week! Just four more days until Πασχα!!!

The fact that Greek-Americans are probably one of the most ethnically proud people in the US is evidenced in the constant reminder of Greek success. But can you really blame us?

From the beginning of civilization, Greece produced some of the best scholarly and scientific/technological works of the time (which the Romans then stole from us). In more recent times, Greece has kept to itself for the most part, but we’ve still managed to win the hearts of many.  

This widespread philhellenism has been achieved mainly through the following:

1. Food

2. Media (i.e. My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Mamma Mia!)

3. Famous People of Greek Origin

Take note that food is first on the list; that was completely intentional and well-deserved.  Even if most people don’t realize it, the owner of your local pizza joint, regardless of the restaurant’s name, may very likely be owned by a Greek family, not Italians.  Just because pizza is Italian cuisine, doesn’t mean Greeks can’t make it (it is pretty damn easy). This is true even in the smallest of towns, including my own rural hometown where I worked at a pizza restaurant called Angie’s. How did I get the job? The owners were Greek. No joke, that’s just how us Greek-Americans role. 

Getting back to the point, Greek-Americans will undoubtedly attribute any success a Greek person has to their heritage, or at least brag about the fact that a successful person is Greek.  And that person doesn’t have to cure cancer; it can legit be anything noteworthy. For example, I would be willing to bet that some Greek-American out there has brought up the fact that the inventor of the Pap smear was Giorgios Nicholas Papanikolaou, born on the Greek island of Evia and graduate of the University of Athens. 

This is serious stuff people. Its like a disease. As prideful Greek-Americans, we are programmed to go out of our way to know about this things.  There are even video blogs (humorous ones, of course) explaining the phenomenon of “Greek Success.”

Despite the sometimes sheer ridiculousness of this habitual boasting and bragging, you have to admit that its pretty damn cool that we do have all these historically influential natives.

I, for one, really appreciate and wonder at the fact that I can truly say that my ancestors are from the same Greek Island on which Sappho and Theophilos Hatzimihail grew up and developed their art.  That’s right, most of my Greek heritage is derived from Λέσβος (Lesvos) and its pretty frickin awesome, don’t you think? On my Dad’s side, however, my ancestors are from Sparta and, for any of you that have seen 300, you know just how sweet that is; and if you have it, you need to immediately!

It’s also important to mention that this trend is not limited to Greek-Americans. Oh no no no no no. Native Hellenes today make their importance known even today. So much so, in fact, that in the Spring of 2008, Skai TV opened up the polls to their viewers to vote on who is the greatest Greek of all time. Subsequently there is a show entitled Μεγαλοι Ελληνες (Great Greeks). No matter how ethnocentric this whole ordeal might be, it is still pretty kick ass.

Anyways, if you’re curious about other famous Greek-America people, you should check out this list. You better believe people took the time to compile a comprehensive list of notable Greeks on wikipedia.

That’s all for now. Expect great things for next week…Πασχα is almost here!!!

This is especially true when visiting the motherland.  What isn’t to like about hiking up a long, dusty trail so that you can see a great holy edifice built into the side of a mountain, hearing the chanting of hymns drift through the air.  And, of course, you get to purchase komboskini for yourself and every one you know (more about the kombo later).

When I went to Greece, I went to monasteries like CRAZY.  I LOVED it, no joke.  By the end of the trip I wanted to be a nun and live in a convent in the mountains. Granted I was 10 and on vacation with my grandparents. Regardless, it is hard not to fall in love with a place so peaceful and pretty.

I think another big part of it is that they are legit constantly hymning over at those monasteries. I’ve never been to a church other than a Greek-Orthodox one, but let me tell you, hymns are beautiful, especially in Greek (and even more so when you are actually in Greece).

I really do think that it was the singing that sucked me in.  Plus it is really cool to go and see the relics that these monasteries have. There are bones, miscellaneous body parts, sometimes even the whole body of saints!  It’s like a hands on historical and religious lesson in one!

And everybody knows, Greeks love their history.