Greek 2 me

Happy New Year ? !

2007-01-11T11:07:00.000+02:00

I was in Athens over the Holidays and was somewhat shocked to see how many refugees there were at stop lights washing windows, begging for change, etc.

Where and when did they all come from?

Seriously.

I was in Athens in the summer and there weren't near as many.

The sheer volume of "third worldness" impressed me. Oh, I know we're supposed to say they are from 'developing' countries as a politically correct means of sounding 'nicer' and somehow enlightened. But the thing is, I don't we should sound nicer or enlightened when it comes to refugees from the third world.

One shouldn't be coerced or obliged into giving money to total strangers because they streaked a filthy squeegee across your windshield while I waiting for a stop light. Even more, one shouldn't be cursed as he goes about his daily business for refusing to give them money after they perform this "oh so valuable" service.

Seriously. It's time some people started listening to those on the far right of the political spectrum.

Refugee limits should be set and enforced now. After all, other countries do it. Even such denizens of liberal social idealogies and governments such as the French, Dutch and Germans have limits they enforce on the number of immigrants allowed into their countries.

Why can't (or better yet) why shouldn't Greece?

Does wanting limitations on the number of immigrants allowed in the country make me a fascist?

Hardly.

It makes me someone who is capable of thinking outside the politically correct box that has led to this regrettable situation.

Why is it that laws are simply not enforced here? Is it the fault of the police? Is it the social reaction to the seven year Junta still? Is it the weather? Is it the postman?

Anyway, you can see what I'm getting at.

Immigrant limitations now.

Quotas (strictly enforced) now.

Otherwise, in a few years time when we walk downtown or go to Plaka, we'll hear everything but the Greek Language being spoken.

Athenocities = disturbances encountered at red lights while waiting for them to turn green

Today's the day

2006-11-17T11:09:00.000+02:00

Well Nov 17 has arrived.

No telling what awaits us as everyone remembers...

Ahhhh that's just it. We don't remember, therefore, we are bound to make the same mistakes.

Have a peaceful, apotelesmatika day ;-)

Is this it?

2006-11-16T19:36:00.000+02:00

So the teachers are back to work and the kids are back in school... what happeened? Does anyone even remember?

Can anyone even say what it was they were striking about or for? Did they get it?

It seems that Greece causes choas and confusion for the sure misery of it. I, for one, have given up hoping for anything good to come out of Greek politics.

Truly a people are worthy of their rulers.

You see, it's either time for real revolution in this tip of Balkania, or it's time for the morons to shut up and go home already.

Tomorrow, the universities and other public proberty will be set ablaze in what has come to represent the absolute incompetence of the Police and public order minitries while at the same time highlighting the absurdity of the so-called "asylum" these anarchists hide behind.

Next year, me and my firends just may join the anarchists.

Greek 2 Me

2006-10-14T13:29:00.000+03:00

OK.

So, elections are tomorrow.

Who cares?

Oh sure, I can hear your protests and howls of rage that someone dare question the importance of the democratic process; but enough is enough, already!

This past week leading up to the elections has once again demonstrated that the problems we face as a society here in Greece are certainly not going to be cured by the elected officials on this Sunday's ballot... regardless of your political idealogy.

The flooding streams, collapsed bridges and the striking teachers, are not necessarily political problems. Therefore, real solutions - NOT- political ones, need to be offered.

How about this Mr. Karamanlis?

Give the teachers a week to return to their jobs, or, face the prospect of losing them.

That's right.

Introduce a measure to be debated by the parliament to allow teachers to be fired. In other words, make teachers sign a no strike contract in order to have their precious, cushy, civil-servant jobs. It's time more was demanded from them, not less.

The time has come to call things by their real, not imaginary, names.

If teachers don't want to work - it's their privelege, by the way, to not want to work under the current conditions...

Fire them.

There are plenty - and I do mean PLENTY - of unemployed, qualified teachers who would gladly and immediately replace them within the week.

If you need someone who has hired and fired teachers to help you do this job. I volunteer my services for a week to help get it organized and done. If the department of education can't find replacements in such a short time, then you need to fire them as well.

This nonsense of the few holding the many at ransom needs to end.

If it doesn't we'll soon be sending our kids to a three or four hour "free" education and then transporting them to a frontistirio to actually learn what they need to know.

Oh wait, we already do that, don't we?

Greekleton - those who only know the Greek way of doing things...

Greek 2 Me

2006-10-03T12:33:00.000+03:00

Once again, we've reached October and the teachers (and therefore our children) are not in school.

Where are they?

On strike, of course.

After all, this is Greece we are talking about. This is the place the socialist unions have sold the people the second biggest lie invented in history.

Namely, that teachers work hard and must prepare for classes outside of the classroom.

In truth, some teachers do work hard and yes, some, (a very small, small, percentage) must prepare for classes outside of school. How do I know these things?

Well, I've been a teacher now for almost twenty years.

But, (this is the part that's gonna hurt a little) for the most part, you can't justify paying 1,200 or 1,400 euros for a base salary to someone who literally works 7 months a year and only 4 hours a day.

Let's get real for once, shall we?

Class at the elementary level starts at what? 8:15? And ends at what? 1:40? Let's not mention the fact that the kids have gymnastics a couple of times a week or more, and they have a couple of breaks each day.

So how many hours a day does a teacher actually work with the kids?

I know what you're thinking...

"Yes, but..... "

Yes, but .... Nothing!

The problem in this case isn't teacher's pay. The problem is that a group of people have decided that they are more equal than the rest of us and are entitled to more pay, while working less than any other group or profession (with the exception of politicians, of course)

Hell, even bankers work more than teachers.

Want to know what I say?

Hell with them.

Get back in the classroom already or lose your job. There are thousands and thousands of educated people ready and willing to take your position for the salary you currently receive given the hours you currently work.

If you can't make ends meet then get a second job like the rest of us but get back to work!

ELLADISTAN = An affectionate moniker for Greece by those who face the daily absurdities here.

Return to Greek reality

2006-09-08T10:34:00.000+03:00

Brunner Lake - New Zealand

Reality... now there's a concept.

I had a fantastic reality as I went "down under" for the first time for a much needed and long awaited holiday. Life was very good - as is evidenced by the photo above.

The plan was simple.

Stay a couple of weeks with some friends. Visit some interesting places. And just plain old relax.

Success. I had a great holiday. Perhaps the best of my life. So, heavy hearted I boarded the plane to return to my adopted land.

After a long, long flight and being recognized in Bangkok by a former student (yes it really is a small world) I landed in Athens.

Now, most people think that Athens has a modern airport. Most people are wrong.

On a scale of 1-10 for efficiency and organization I would have to give it a 5 and 2 respectively.

What is it with the inability to organize even the simplest of things in this country? Oh, I know what you are thinking, we organized the Olympics, the greatest ever - blah, blah, blah, and you actually believe what you say.

But, get this...one success does not negate the everyday madness that this country swirls in. Take a trip outside of Greece and return to Athens (as I have done many times) to see what I mean.

Olympic airways should have been closed long ago. This is just a plain fact. Like the nose on your face.

While waiting for my transfer from Athens to Thessaloniki - there was absolute chaos. There were no divider lines. Each of the four windows had three lines of travelers and bags trying to push and shove their way to the counter. Once there, the attendant shouted out that the flight to London was closing and anyone in line going to London should come up to the front.

So, naturally, everyone in the back of the crowded line with bags and children and short tempers came crashing through the mass of humanity to claim their seat on a flight to London.

What a mess!

With that - the best vacation I ever had come to an abrupt halt.

I was back to the Greek reality.

Greekacious = a displeasing situation encountered at the Athens airport.

Student Protests and koukulofori

2006-06-28T14:20:00.000+03:00

Once again a clash between police forces and protesting students took place in downtown Athens yesterday.

This morning, there were the usual suspects on the morning talk shows flapping their gums about this or that. Everyone, just everyone, has an opinion about who's to blame and what should be done with education reform in this country.

The sad part is that the 100 or so "koukulofori," as they are called, once again committed their crimes and turned an otherwise peaceful demonstration into an angry clash of molotovs and teargas.

What's laughable is the fact that no or very few arrests were made and those that were will be back on the streets by tomorrow lunch time.

How pathetic is that?

On one talk show this morning, it was obvious that the students on air were positioning themselves for a possible seat in the parliament. They avoided issues, slandered others, digressed to name calling and empty threats in an ugly display of the so-called educated youth of today. No proposals were offered or put forth to end this stalemate.

The prevalent feeling among the grown ups of this country is one of a resigned resentment. Oh sure, if they stick a camera in your face you gotta say how you support the students blah, blah, blah - but they generation that actually sacrificed something during the junta years so that today's youth could have (and abuse) their 'asylum' and demonstrations in a watered-down, misguided romantic view of the past, have had just about enough of this nonsense.

The time to end the sit-ins have come and gone. Those who participate in the sit-ins won't even remember in a few years time why they were sitting in. The government needs to go ahead with the proposed reforms.

And then some.

Maybe then, we can get to work building a future together instead of glorying in a not so glorious past.

======

Greekocity (n) = those things that pertain to Greece yet have nothing to do with Greece itself.

Anarchists in Greece - Why Asylum?

2006-06-23T09:39:00.000+03:00

Once again, the 'known unknowns' have wreaked havoc during an otherwise peaceful protest.

You sure can tell that the Greeks play few games that require the throwing of an object. There is nothing more sissified than watching a Greek anarchist try to throw a rock or Molotov....

They throw like a bunch of girls!

Yesterday, they stood in the entrance of a university not fearing any advance from the police because of the ridiculous interpretation of the "asylum" law.

In case you didn't know it, asylum in Universities was, and is, to be for the free expression of ideas, NOT to be confused as a safe-haven for law-breaking, girl-throwing, morons who think they are actually accomplishing something with their form of protest.

I don't know about anyone else, but I feel a group of 20 or so police or military should dress in plain clothes, take some nice baseball bats and charge into them while they are pretending to be "mangas".

What would happen?

The mask-wearer's would either turn tail and run, thus proving their real manhood and firm adherence to their principles (sic) or they would get a few bruises and maybe a couple of broken bones - which is exactly what they deserve.

Either way, society would be rid of the Blythe they have become and we could get back to doing what Jesus said long ago.

"Love thy neighbor as thyself..."

Just a thought

Greekalized (adj) = of a person; one who has been here too long or maybe not long enough.

Pseudo-social, socialists in Greece

2006-06-22T16:41:00.000+03:00

To those familiar with the political parties in Greece, it shouldn't come as a surprise to hear the following.

Greek socialists are no such thing!

After twenty years of nearly uninterrupted rule, PASOK (with their brand of 'socialism') managed to oversee the largest increase in cronyism
and nepotism the world has ever seen.

Sure their may be worse cases in Africa or SE Asia, but one would be hard pressed to find the degree of corruption and incompetence left by the former socialists.

Today, while pressing for their "rights" and demonstrating in the center of Thessaloniki, the syndicates and unions largely influenced and backed by the political party that created and then gave them their superfluous positions (PASOK), once again demonstrated their lack of understanding and real care or concern for ordinary citizens.

What follows really happened...

I have a friend who went downtown to pay her water bill. Little did she know that there would be a work stoppage at 12:00pm. That's one of the most disturbing things about life in Greece. When you wake up in the morning, you never know what's going to await you as far as public services go.

Anyway, having reached the water company at about 11:55, she proceeded to go to the window to pay her bill. Of course, she happened to find a public servant who informed her that they had a work stoppage today at 12:00. "OK," said my friend, "but it's only 5 to 12, so could you answer my question, please?"

The response was a short, "no".

Fair enough. After all, they had a work stoppage in a few minutes so why not start a little early.

The worst part of this story is...

Due to the excessive heat and lack of public transportation, my friend was "trapped" downtown unable to do the things she had planned on doing. Thank God for taxis, right? (When they are working) Otherwise, she might have had a real problem.

Oh yeah, one more thing, my friend is pregnant.

I've got a question or two for you...

1.) How is it a person or organization can claim to be socialist, support the official socialist party and then treat the very core of society with such contempt?

2.) Are socialists the only ones that have rights in a 'socialistic' society?

I'll help you with the right answers. (See, I'm being social)

1.) They can't. They are either not socialists by definition or, they are hypocrites. Those are the only two answer choices available.

2.) It's about time they learned that no, they aren't.

Frapedoupolis (n) - Thessaloniki, Greece

Public Universities in Greece

2006-06-21T12:52:00.000+03:00

Well, here we go again.

Trying to talk a little sense to those whose logic knows no limit of stupidity.

How on earth can university students continue their sit-ins when, in fact, the government has started discussing those things that the student's wanted to discuss?

Simple.

The students, as well as the government, have determined what are the acceptible results of the discussions before they even take place.

The tragedy is that neither the government nor the students really desire to have a dialogue aimed at actually finding some far-reaching solutions to the problems the schools and students face.

Result?

Hypocrisy continues to run rampant as each group involved in the debate stakes out their turf in the endless struggle to capture public opinion.

I got news for you all...

Public opinion was captured long ago. They call it common sense. No amount of sound-bite diplomacy, political party back-room dealing, or wishful thinking will make it go away.

We see you.

We despise your hypocrisy.

We don't believe a word you say.

Greekalize (v) = a way of reaching the 'greek mentality' without actually reaching it.

Missing Alex and a little logic

2006-06-16T14:32:00.000+03:00

Greetings,

Over the last few months a real tragedy has taken place here in Greece. A little boy named Alex disappeared and it looks like he was killed and buried by a group of school boys his own age.

Alex was 11.

What makes matters worse is the fact that everyone knew the boys who are involved had been in trouble at school and with the police for some time.

What naturally happens after the shock of such an incident is that you get all of the culturalists and politically correct crowd looking to aportion blame and fix the problem with government intervention.

What's the problem? Why, the break up of the family.

What's the solution? Why, more government spending to replace all those things missing from those kids' lives. One of the first proposed "fixes" is the addition of child psychologists to all of the schools. After all, it's commonly believed that psychologists have all the answers.

Greece and Greeks...

Do NOT follow the example of the U.S.A. by filling the schools with psychologists. (Look where that has got them) Have things improved with the addition of counselors in the school? The simple and truthful answer to all but the wilfully blind is, no.

Now... something to really disagree with.

Along with the addition of psychologists in the schools has been the increase in the belief that it is wrong to hit a child. In fact, corporal punishment has been banned now in most western countries. One wouldn't have to search too hard to see a corresponding increase in social ills like crime with the decrease of corporal punishment in public schools.

If you're thinking I'm barbaric for saying such a thing... please read on.

I maintain that if those kids in Veria had been properly punished when their antisocial behavior first started to appear, young Alex might be at home playing the piano or studying for his next English test.

After all, the previous generations of school children (me included) that were physically punished by a teacher or principal at school didn't grow up to be mass murders, did they? No, they grew up to be well adjusted and productive members of society.

Of all the arguments against corporal punishment, the one that is least convincing and weakest is the, "I don't hit my kids so you'd better not." Fair enough, you're entitled to your opinion, however wrong it may be.

If I asked a person who uses such logic if they loved their children, they would nearly scream, "of course, I do!" This, of course, shows you the depth of their deception and the darkness of their heart. A parent who loves a child will, of necessity, correct the child at times. In fact, a parent who doesn't physically correct his/her child doesn't love it.

It really is that simple.

Why protest now?

2006-06-15T09:23:00.000+03:00

Dear Greek university student, Why are you protesting now? After all, private universities in Greece is nothing new. I remind you that they have been in operation for well over a hundred years is it that now you feel your degrees from public universities will be undervalued?

This is less than logical. In fact, it's illogical.

Why not put your time and energy into fixing what is broke (ie. public universities) instead of worrying about something that may or may not happen with the new government regulations regarding education?

By your very action's you show that your public degrees are ALREADY undervalued . What's more, you know it. Perhaps that's the reason for your insecurities, hmmmmm?

Private universities will be a benefit to all of us. They will give the economy a much needed boost of investment. They will attract students from other parts of the world - again an economic benefit. Why shouldn't Greece become an importer of those needing education instead of being an exporter?

Private universities will attract corporate infusion of capital for research and co-operation between government and business - a much needed relationship if Greece is to regain any competitiveness at all.

Perhaps you enjoy seeing the net loss of jobs and finishing your public university degrees only to enter a shrinking job market? Just what good are your degrees if there are know jobs when you finish school? Perhaps you don't realize it or maybe you haven't had basic economics yet, but the two are intricately related.

Grow up. Stop playing the political party game and look to see what's best for your country for a change.

In the long run, you'll be glad you did.

It's Greek to me (public odors)

2006-06-09T14:08:00.000+03:00

What's up with not using deodorant? Does it stem from some sadistic desire to make those around you gag? Don't even get me started about summertime in Greece on a public city bus! You have to be desperate for a ride to undergo such cruel and unusual punishment.

The worse part is getting on the bus first thing in the morning all psyched up for work when in steps an old man who has just had a breakfast of..... Fresh garlic! Not only that, it's Thursday, the temperature is already 35 degrees and he last bathed on Saturday. To make matters unequivocally unbearable, due to lack of room he presses up against you and breathes (open-mouthed, due to the heat) steadily in your direction.

Where do we get these people?

Do you know how much money I've wasted over the years taking taxis? There are two reasons, basically, for lack of deodorant use.

1. There is some myth going around that you might get sick if you get wet and don't dry off.
2. People don't really know about it. It's not part of the culture. OK, to be fair, Greeks are improving in this realm. The problem is not nearly as bad as it was when I first arrived some 15 years ago.

So, if you're ever visit Greece be warned. Bring deodorant and stay away from the public busses.

==========

Greekalize (v) sth that happens before greekalization!

It's Greek to me

2006-06-09T08:47:00.000+03:00

To blog... Or not to blog?

Hey all - forgive the length of this first blog - others will be more bite-sized.

This blog is an outlet, of sorts. An outlet to express my observations and to make comments about the everyday absurdity of life in Greece as I see it.

I'll be looking at politics, the economy, laws and the incompetence of those in government. I won't have to look too hard because the situation here goes from glorious to tragic in a single breath. If you've only visited Greece for a holiday, you no nothing of what I'll be sharing here. If you are Greek and live here, I have to ask...

What the hell's wrong with you?

EXAMPLE:
Last night, there was a large demonstration of students in downtown Thessaloniki. They were making the usual, socialistic demands for so-called "rights." BTW, in case you didn't know it, if someone has to "give" it to you...-- it's no right at all--... it's a privilege.

Anyway, someone had set an OTE box on fire. What's OTE? Simply the worst business anywhere in the world. If you've had any dealings with them you couldn't help but feel the same way. OTE is the national Greek phone company. They provide us with 1/7 of the internet speed for 40% MORE of the cost of an American internet user. I could go one for days about their incompetence and the pseudo, socialist-scum mentality of the people that created such a bloated monster but...

Back to the fire...

In order to fully appreciate this you have to understand where this took place. We are talking at the corner of the University, two of the largest and busiest roads in Thessaloniki; Egnatia and Ethnikis Aminis. So, as flames are shooting skyward from this box a fire truck with three firemen comes screeching to a halt to put out the fire, right?

Hell no.

They sat there and watched the flames. The didn't have any foam extinguishers to put out an electrical fire! Then, because me and another guy started yelling at them to put out the fire, they squirted it with a little water. They would squirt and then quickly hide behind the truck as if it was going to blow up or something.

Unbelievable!

Cars were passing by and not one of them stopped to put out the flame. Why should they? After all, there was a fire truck in front of it. You would think that the situation was under control, right?

Hardly.

Just another picture of everday occurance here. More on the way as they happen and as I have the oppurtunity to post. Until then, I'm posting a question for readers to answer. The fact is, not many people know the answer.

Where did the phrase, "It's Greek to me" come from?

(There's a hint in this post)