This might be a stupid question but I have to ask anyway. A greek friend and I were arguing about which country was better to live in. He asserted that greece was; it’s prettier, people are closer to each other, and the citizens act just like Americans so it’s not much of a change, except for the language.
I find this an absurd notion. The people in Greece have a totally different culture and it most certainly is not like America. He disagreed.
So, even though I’m right, if anyone can back me up on this I’d appreciate it. I think that there are even basic cultural differences-there have to be.
I’m sure no one here will dispute that there are significant differences between Greece and the multitude of cultures in the United States. As for whichis better I’m sure the mods wil be happy to move this to great debates.
Just to clarify a little bit: I said that if I went to greece I would make an ass out of myself by doing something that was culturally inappropriate. Example: I know in some cultures the peace sign represents something other than peace.
I figure Greece has similar cultural barriers, but my friend says it just ain’t so.
Two cents from a rabid, jingositic American patriot.
Obviously, Greeks are not “just like Americans” and Greece is not “just like” America.
Still, if your friend’s point was that he wouldn’t have to give up THAT much if he left America and moved to Greece, well, he MIGHT have a point.
Many of the things that make the USA a wonderful place are no longer unique. There are plenty of countries where you can live a comfortable middle-class life and enjoy political freedom. Each place has its own language, its own customs, its own feel… but I think most Americans would find that, once you get over those barriers, life in Canada, Australia, the UK, Ireland, France, Norway, Denmark, Germany, or ____ (fill in your favorite country) can be quite pleasant, and not so terribly different from life in the USA.
I have no desire to live in any of those countries, or in Greece either, but Greece is not a hellhole. It’s a civilized nation with most of the comforts and conveniences most Americans are used to. It’s not so outlandish to me that some people would find it (or some other country) a more congenial place to live than the US.
I love the US, but it’s no skin off my nose if some Americans decide they’d rather live somewhere else.
My best friend’s grandparents live half the year in the States, half in Greece. One was born and raised in the States; the other in Greece. If you asked them, they would say, not surprisingly, that each has its benefits and drawbacks. If they had to make a choice, they would probably live in the States, since most of their family is here. For now, they have the best of both worlds.
I love Greece, no doubt, but I do not agree with your friend that Greece is basically like America with a different language. For one, Greece’s political left is far more left than America’s. For another, Greeks can try to deny it, but there is definitely an aspect to Greek culture that says no matter how nice you are and no matter how well you speak Greek, if you’re not Greek, there are certain things closed off from you. Sorta like Robert Duvall’s character in “The Godfather”. For another, my Greek friends got no sense of time, ya know?
I’m sure I’ll think of a few more next time I’m in some taverna eating skourdalia and dancing the tsamiko.