Sunday, 6 November 2011

Don't judge a book (or a Greek) by its/his cover

A lot’s been happening lately, as we all know.  Greeks have been waiting with baited breath for the next ‘instalment’ in the country’s current political soap opera.  My worry, personally, is that the ‘esteemed’ Mr Papandreou is taking a course of action to cover his own backside rather than for the good of the country – but anyway, this will be borne out over the coming days and we shall see.  Besides, I’m no political commentator and certainly no expert.

 People accuse the Greeks of being lazy and often point the finger at Greece .  There’s a hidden irony there, considering Greeks are the masters of also pointing the fingers outwards and rarely at themselves.  Still, it is madness to call a Greek ‘lazy’ – outspoken, yes…passionate, yes, even anarchic, but not lazy.

It has been said that Greece is ‘ungovernable.’  I snorted at this when I first arrived (because yes, this has been banded around for long before the economic crisis ever occurred).  Now, having lived here for just over 3 years, I can see that yes, it might well be.  You see, the problem with Greece is the Greeks.  That may sound weird and rather arrogant, especially coming from an expat Brit, but let me explain:

Greeks INDIVIDUALLY are kind, nurturing and will do anything, I mean anything to help you.  Within the space of literally a few months I had formed friends that had done more for me than friends in the UK have done in the YEARS I’ve known them.  My Greek friends have gone out of their WAY for me - accepted me into their home, their lives and treated me as one of their own family. 

Example:  having not felt great for a few days, I spoke to my friend today (a Sunday) and she could hear I wasn’t so well.  She knows I live alone (apart from Traki and Sissy) and the next thing I knew, within the hour she’d turned up on my doorstep with her family Dr and a bag full of homemade soup and other soothing foods.

Another example – in the summer I had to apply for my Residency Certificate. My dentist (of all people) who is an incredibly friendly person went out of her way to help me:  took the morning off work to come to that God awful place with me.  She and her boyfriend have since become firm friends as well.

The problem comes when we look at Greeks COLLECTIVELY.  Even Greek people have told me that the problem is THEM, ie: as a whole.  They admit attitudes need to change – there is ALWAYS the hang up about being invaded – let’s look at Greek history:  Ottomans, Germans, Civil War & Dictatorship.  Well really, is it any WONDER they trust no-one and are mightily p*ssed off with Merkel and her finger wagging?   But still, the problem lies in that Greece is being governed by a kleptocratic and nepotistic government – and to be honest, WHOEVER gets in will be the same:  people getting into positions of power not because of their ability, but because of their connections (and Greece is supposed to have invented Democracy?!)

And yet – if this were to all change, would Greece be a country that people seem to love, despite her problems?  Greece and the Greeks have a certain ‘magic’ about it/them that is hard to define, yet those of us who’re expats, or even been here regularly on holiday will KNOW what I’m talking about.

Greece is a country that has made and continues to make history.  Her people are fighters – warriors, even…maybe they’ve had to be.

 So don’t judge a book by its cover – come here with an open mind and find out for yourself – I can guarantee you will be enchanted AND exasperated in equal measures…it’s a weird juxtaposition and bipolar experience – but it’s soooooo worth it.
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Location: Athens, Greece
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