Taverna Time

{Friday Night}
We had our Survival Greek lesson at a taverna so we could practice ordering a meal in Greek. A taverna has traditional Greek menu items such as the ones we indulged in: tzatziki, pita, fava, Greek salad, patates (french fries) kotopoulo (chicken) and karpouzi (watermelon) for dessert. And of course, we enjoyed this meal family style, which Americans should consider adopting as the new normal. Tavernas are mostly for night time activities like long meals, lots of wine and conversation. The seating is mostly outside, and even if there is indoor seating no one chooses to dine there. Why would you when the weather in the evenings here is so perfect? It's slightly cooler, no humidity and no bugs. 

The evening became a little more eventful that we had planned when one of my classmates got sick and had to be taken to the hospital by our fearless leader, Dr. Kaplan. Don't worry- everyone is okay! It was just an allergic reaction, but still a little scary.

Our Greek teacher, Professor Zevgoli, along with 2 Greek students attended dinner with us and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to discuss Greek and American culture and mannerisms with them. I sat next to the Greek student Areti and gained a lot of insight from someone my own age. One thing that really surprised her is our use of credit cards. The majority of Greeks carry out everyday transactions with good old fashioned cash (or Euros). She was shocked to learn how often Americans use credit cards and that it is seen as inconvenient to use cash because it takes longer in a restaurant or shopping line.

Other interesting tidbits:
1. The majority of Greeks wear their engagement ring on their left hand but when they get married they switch it to their right hand. Also, the men wear their wedding band upon becoming engaged. They don't wait until their wedding day. 
2. I asked Professor Zevgoli how she met her husband and she was a little caught off-guard by my question. Apparently, this is not something Greeks particularly care about, nor is it a question that is often asked. 
3. Contrary to what we had previously learned, it is not normal for Greeks to ask each other how much they make. We were under the impression that it was not considered rude to ask this, but our Professor and Areti told us otherwise.
I could have stayed there all night and talked with Areti and our professor, listening to cultural differences and asking how they feel about American ways of life. We all agreed that the food is nowhere near as good in America as it is here. Areti has been to the States so she knows how lucky she is to have all this amazing food in her home country. 

Food is such a vital aspect of every culture, and I'm not just saying that because eating is one of my hobbies. Whether it's the different tastes or the meanings behind food, each culture values and views food differently. For example, take Greece and America. In America, we view food as something we need to survive, but we don't want to spend too much time on it because to us time is money. We can't waste time on healthy, tasteful food or long, leisurely meals with friends and family. We just want something to eat and we want it immediately because we always have some meeting or destination to get too. Hence the fast food culture we live in. Even if we take the time to go out to eat somewhere other than Chickfila, McDonald's or Wendy's, we are constantly wondering when our food will get to the table or what's taking so long (even if it's only been 15 minutes since you placed your order). We even find ways to grow our produce faster and in larger quantities, but we sacrifice getting a product full of flavor and life.  

 In Greece, food means more than just eating because it's necessary to survive. Here food also means relationships, visiting and enjoying the moment. Not once has anyone asked where their food is when we go out to eat; there is no rush, no deadline to meet. People stay for hours at restaurants, enjoying the food as it comes and truly tasting the flavors of the local food that seem to come alive in your mouth. For the Greeks, food brings people together and enhances relationships, both new and old. The food culture here is not about how quickly the food can get to the table or how fast the waiters can serve someone. I've never felt the undertone of a waiter trying to subtly deliver the check and hint that we should leave so someone else can have our table. You actually have to ask for the check or they will just let you sit there for hours! Also, they let their produce grow naturally and the aim is taste and quality, not quickness and quantity. Visiting the market not only involves shopping up and down the row of vendors, but creating relationships with certain owners. I've found that if you do this and return each week, they like to give you free fruit. I love the atmosphere surrounding food here, it brings people together and compliments the laid-back way of life.   
Even when we aren't out to eat as a group, food still brings our UNF group together. Each Monday we host a potluck in the lobby of our dorm and each week I think we have surprised ourselves with the food we are capable of making. I'm not going to lie- the boys have impressed me with their cooking skills. Mostly because I expected them to bring peanut butter sandwiches or something simple. But everyone really goes all out and the preparation of the food is half the fun.We use local Greek products that we buy from the market down the street each week and attempt to use our American cooking skills combined with a Greek recipe and somehow we continually produce a finished product that is not only edible, but delicious. Food back home will never taste the same again. Once you have entered the doorway to the art of Greek food, there is no going back. It makes me so sad to realize how quickly our time here is slipping away. And how soon I will be back in the American culture surrounding food. Guess I better eat up while I'm here!