So BDA has taken another vacation. For the past month we've been working too much, watching too much football, playing in the rain in Delaware, and have generally been ignoring our bloging duties. Now that fall is knocking at our doors and ruffling back our curls, we've got more time to sit in front of a computer screen and get down to bloging. I hope.
Also, one half of BDA has been going to Eurotrash clubs with Greeks like it was her job...My hard work has paid off because for the first time (after putting in long hours listening to skuladika and avoiding the flying glass),
I've made it onto the DC Greeks website . I'm in the third picture in the third row down, flashing an archaic smile and clutching my whiskey. Ya Sou Opa! as the DC Greek Americans say...
Battle Blogs
I apologize for taking so long to respond Nikos K.'s post on my comments about his
Greek blog (see my post 8/22). I admit that I did not read carefully his post on Isaac and Solomou that I quoted ("long live the great patriots of Hellas, protectors of the people, defenders of the faith") and of course, upon reading it again, I recognize the sarcasm. Although as an American with no Greek heritage it is impossible for me to be a "Greek nationalist", I still care passionately about Greek history and culture, usually taking a pro-Greek stance on most issues. I have spent the last six years becoming fluent in Greek to the point where I have no American accent. I am keenly interested in minority groups in Greece, especially the refugees of the Asia Minor Catastrophe and the Pontians. I have lived in Athens for several years and have experienced plenty of the joys, contradictions, and annoyances of Greek life. Although able to understand the complexities of the Greek political scene, its history and its issues, I am not in a position to debate or antagonize anyone. Merely to comment. In fact, I enjoy reading Sphaera when I can because of its in-depth coverage of complex issues that I can barely follow leading my busy life and with poor access to Greek print materials. Perhaps then, I should just say that instead of de rigeur Greek nationalism, Sphaera, like everyone, has inherent biases and opinions.
The On-going Story of One Girl's Quest for Shelter in Athens
(Still haven't come up with a real title, but here's the second installment of the story. It gets more exciting, I swear, with the expletives coming up next time.)
Morning. I awoke to the sound of MarilenaÕs mother violently jerking back the curtains in my bedroom.
ÒTime to get up,Ó she said curtly.
Eating breakfast to the sound of the television blaring the Greek news, I tried to get my bearings and prepare for my first day of work, and wondered what to wear to avoid appearing quite so American. I didnÕt have much time to be concerned because Marilena and I were already late and had to dash off to the bus stop. On the bus, I asked Marilena for an extra set of keys, since it would be ridiculous to assume that we could meet every afternoon after work to return home together. Marilena didnÕt answer, but said that weÕd just meet after work today and see how it went.
That evening we returned home to find dinner, a dinner guest, and MarilenaÕs mother waiting for us. Without letting Marilena know, she had invited a childhood friend of MarilenaÕs over for dinner and when we arrived they were chatting like old friends. Immediately upon walking through the door, the three women began cooing with delight at being reunited, leaving me standing awkwardly in front of the threshold. I noticed that only three places were set for dinner and felt a pang of shame. Jet-lagged and hungry, and willing to appear uncouth and American in a Greek social setting, I did not wait for an invitation, but interrupted their chatter and asked for a plate of food.
ÒOh, of course. Help yourself,Ó said MarilenaÕs mother. I got a plate of food and sat at the table, finally interrupting them again to introduce myself to their friend. Throughout the meal, no one spoke to me, until I finally excused myself and went to my room, thoroughly made to feel embarrassed and shamed in knowing that Greek social custom would never allow a true guest to be treated that way.
