Greek Culture

So it's been a really long time since I posted anything on this blog. I was pretty busy with class the last two weeks and didn't leave Hania either so I guess there wasn't too much to report. But now I'm done with class and figured I should catch up. First, I wanted to write about Greek culture. I don't think I'm gonna be staying here in Greece to teach so I figure now is a good time to write about the incredible culture of this country and Crete in particular. And when you talk about culture, what's most important? The food. I absolutely love Greek food. It's very simple cooking, not too many ingredients or crazy recipes. Just simple, fresh ingredients, a few spices, and always plenty of olive oil. Since Crete is an island, the seafood is particuarly good. My favorite is the octupus, usually cooked in oil and lemon and so so good. I also love the Greek salad. For those who may not know, a true Greek salad (village salad to the Greeks) doesn't have lettuce in it. Just fresh tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese and oil on top. Feta cheese is everywhere here and it's good on most things. And it's so much fresher and tastier than what we get in the states. There's also lots of other Cretan cheeses that can be much stronger but still tasty. And of course, my staple throughout my time in Greece, the gyro. Again, different from the States, gyros here aren't made with lamb, it's either pork or chicken. I usually get pork but I won't frown on the chicken. The meat is then served on a pita with onions, tomatoes, tzaziki, and the real topper, french fries. There's a great place right by my school that served them for $2 a pop and I proably ate 20 of them during my time here. I could go on and on about the food, but the people really make up the culture. Greek people are a fascinating bunch. They tend to be talkative, expressive, and they take their time to do anything, except driving a car. And I love it. Getting a coffee takes at least an hour. A proper meal is minimum two hours, but usually more like 3 or 4. And nothing ever starts on time. But there is such an appreciation for what is really important in life. There is not a focus on getting ahead or working your ass off to make more money. In general, the Greeks would rather not work as hard and enjoy good food, good drinks, friends and family. For instance, most shops close at 2 pm for a 2 hour lunch break, then open back up at 4 until 6 pm or so. And everything, except the touristy stuff, is closed on Sunday. This certainly has its drawbacks, it can take forever to get anything official done with the government. But in general, I think this mentality creates a healthier, more relaxed lifestyle that I certainly appreciate coming from America. And another thing that sets Cretans apart is their hospitality. I have met and hung out with a few Cretans and they always insist on paying for everything. There was a girl from Hania in my class and one Sunday she and her boyfriend picked us up and took us to the Venizelos Tombs and then out for coffee. We all had coffee and snacks and Mannos, Maria's boyfriend, would not let us pay. He actually seemed offended. He told me that money just is not that important, that if he has it, he would rather spend it on his friends or new people than save it. And Maria told us this is a common belief among the Cretan people. Again, there would be some drawbacks to this mentality, but it's a breath of fresh air as an American. So I will miss this beautiful island and this welcoming culture, but I will always remember Crete and this definitely won't be the last time I ever come here. More to come on my journeys around the island this week.