Summer is here
Katherine Skaris
Summer is officially here. For others it may just mean good weather, beaches, no school…but to every Greek American it means time for Greece. Not only are we excited for the gorgeous “paralies,” but for the food, the people and the overall air of the country that has the ability to attract us every summer. Take note that as I am writing this, sitting in one of Astoria’s most popular cafes, Avenue, there are several cell phones going off with Mixali Xatzigianni ringtones….summer is definitely here.
Since as far as I can remember my sister and I have been sent to Greece every summer for a few weeks, if not for the whole three months; sometimes even without our parents. It is obvious that we were primarily sent as a way to practice the Greek language and of course spend time with our grandparents; not that I ever complained, I enjoyed every minute of my vacation. Evidently I am not only talking about myself, but in fact, I’m using my experiences as examples to establish the patterns and habits of the majority of Greek Americans.
I’m sure most have seen the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” and although it does illuminate several traditions of the Greek culture, it doesn’t touch upon the routines of my generation: Greek Americans ages 21-30. Sure we all attend big family get togethers, and celebrate Easter with an “arni’ on the spit, but there is far more to that. As Dan Valentino, a student of Italian descent points out “All Greeks are really into their culture, their language and food especially. But most people don’t go that extra mile, Greeks do.” We attend Greek Schools, we practically live in Astoria’s cafes and clubs, and we play and dance to Greek music knowing all the words to every song. But that’s not the only thing that separates us from other cultures. Dan Lomeli, states “I have found that most [Greeks] are lively, hearty and fun loving, always willing to incorporate good friends into a family atmosphere. It is this type of unconditional closeness and camaraderie that makes Greek people so much fun to be around and party with because you don’t feel like an outsider, or a stranger, or out of place.”
From the moment I entered college I have surrounded myself with Greek people. Take note that I am saying college because prior, we were forced to attend Greek Schools and socialize with only Greek kids. Nevertheless, it was easier to associate with those of Greek descent, simply because we had so much in common. We went for coffee together, Greek concerts, and of course mocked our parents’ ways and our upbringings; all in good fun of course. We frequented the Greek restaurants of Bayside, namely Gyro Corner and Mythos, as well as practically lived in the café Oasis; we often played card games, primarily KounKan, and Kseri, all the while sipping on our Frappedes. Those were definitely the days.
After my college years and of course after finally reaching the legal drinking age, we began to extend our hangouts to the Clubs and Café’s of Astoria: Central, Cavo, Plato’s, Caprice, Zodiac, as well as Avenue, and Grand. Plato’s offers live Greek Music every Friday night, by singers George Koumiotis and Anthi Aggelou; it is the one place that clearly resembles the “bouzoukia” in Greece. George Koumiotis explains that singing at Platos really bears no difference to performing in Greece, “when the crowd relates and sings back, their Greek pride is unleashed, and my energy increases.” Central, Cavo, and Caprice are beautiful clubs that play a mix of music, and yet still are dominated by Greek people. “They [clubs] have the perfect party atmospheres.” Stavroula Boundouris, speech pathologist states, “Everyone there not only knows each other but knows how to party and have fun in the same manner. It is all about letting down your hair, putting your hands up and dancing as much as you can.”
In addition, there are the few Greek cafes on 30th Avenue that seem to always be filled with Greek people. In the summer when everyone is outside, smoking, mouthing along to the Greek music and drinking their coffee, there really is no better way to relax. It is truly amazing to see that Astoria continues to be “the largest community of Greeks outside of Greece,” as Zisis Soulantzos, entrepreneur sums it up.
Enough sidetracking, and back to the summer plans. Now every year, from the moment we come back from our vacation in Greece, we begin to plan out next summer; what islands will we visit, how long we are going to stay and so forth. Although now we are no longer sent and paid for by our parents, we still manage to save up enough money to make it, even if it’s only for a few weeks. Simply the thought of staying in New York for the summer in its entirety is too depressing to bear, and it is a very rare occasion for a Greek to not go. We need the crystal clear waters, the “souvlakia” and “loukoumades,” and especially our relatives. Then again, it’s not only about the “bouzoukia,” the food and the beaches, but our overall embracing of our culture. The steps to all the traditional dances will remain embedded in our minds, the Greek sayings forever rolling off our tongues, and the Greek Music continuously sung.
