Im Greek-Canadian and after coming to this section I realize I dont know about my heritage!?

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Gwen

As a Turkish person with close Greek friends, I would just like to make a few comments, if you do not mind: No matter what you observe on this site, please realize that Turkish people do not in general hate Greek people. Every country has its racists and ultra-nationalists, including your own. But those people do not define the general populace, even if they may occasionally seem louder online.

I observe amongst both second generation Turks and second generation Greeks (I grew up mostly in the states but have maintained a close connection with Turkey) that the more distant they feel from their motherland, the more defensive they become about their identity. Some such second generation kids can fight for hours over who invented baklava. You will never see such an argument between a recent immigrant from Greece and a recent immigrant from Turkey, both of whom are usually just happy to find the other who shares their taste in food, music, etc.. The Lebanese can claim invention of baklava if they want, I really do not care. :D

I think it is beautiful that you want to learn more about your country, and it is also very important (especially if you want your kids also to preserve their language and culture, even if you are too young to think of that now). Just please be careful in how you obtain your impressions of Greece's neighbors in the meantime: In time, I am sure you will understand that we have a lot more in common than otherwise.

Kalinixta...

PS: If I may also express one opinion on how to best learn about your heritage, although I am not Greek sorry: You need to actually go to your motherland in order to really feel it. No matter what you read, no matter what organizations you attend in Canada, it cannot be the same. If you are still in school, then they have programs where you can spend a semester abroad. Why not spend a semester in Greece then? Sorry, I know I am not Greek, but just wanted to express that. :D

Fiyah: I did not think you were a "child", sorry if I came off like that, I thought perhaps you might be around college age (and apparently you are so I was not too off by that), thus the "semesters abroad" (which also applies to some graduate programs, btw). It is wonderful that you already have a baby (most people I know, including Greek friends, tend to wait til late 20s or early 30s, for better or for worse who knows), so it makes it all the more relevant to think of your child also inheriting your family's culture.

I am really sorry that I suggest spending a lengthy period of time in Greece while your current finances might make that difficult. But, no matter how large the Greek community may be where you live, I will still maintain that it is the most crucial way to really feel your motherland. You do not need to be impatient about it, but perhaps you can slowly save some money so that when your baby is just a little bit older like 2-4 years, then you can plan a whole summer with your extended family? I am sure that your family would *love* that as well, and they may even help you out financially. That would also be a very important experience for your child too.

Dr. Pill

The first people you should ask is your papou and yaya, as well as your parents.

On here, you will hear different things from different Greeks users, and other users that are not Greek (ie. Serbians, Turks, Bosnians, FYROMians, sub-Sahara etc, the list is endless)

Not everyone will be objective, honest and truthful.

Talk with your folks first -- I say this because, a child should always trust what his or her parents tell them over what total strangers and extremists on the Internet have to say.

Trek T

Everybody hates us because we are all tall, dark and handsome here in Greece.
Welcome aboard Fiyah!

There is plenty of (accurate) historical books on Greece that you can read and find out more about your roots.
Here are some web links to get you started and intrigue you to study further :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Greece
http://www.ahistoryofgreece.com/
http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Main_Page/
http://www.ime.gr/chronos/en/index.html
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/
http://www.in2greece.com/english/historymyth/ancient_hist_and_myth.htm
http://truth.macedonia.gr/index00.html

It is so fascinating to discover the history of your family's motherland :-)
Feel free to ask any questions!

Kalos irthes kai kala na pernas!

Vasiliki-Î’Î±ÏƒÎ¹Î»Î¹ÎºÎ®

Having born and live in Greece I don't think that so many people hate us.

Of course there are Turkish people who don't like us but the same think happens with Greeks disliking Turks.Its because of past,cannot be change and you cannot expect all Greek to love all Turks and vice versa.

The only neighbors who (I don't like to use the word hate) dislike us,are Fyromians,Skopjians,or whatever.

If you want to read real history,open some books written by HISTORIANs and make your research.

I am pretty sure,not only about the naming dispute,that if you take 10 school books of 10 diferent countries you ll read 10 diferent points of view.

So read some real historians and you'll find the truth..

Our culture is unique and you should be a little bit more attached to ...
Having my cousins in Canada (1st generation) I see that they keep the traditions more than I do...
They have come here just once but they speak Greek really well..

As for the rest who are rude against us (apart Fyromians) there are trolls.
Their origin is not sure,even if we all guess origin or users ;)

Welcome on board :)

Min Tous Kiklous Terates

KALOS ERTHEIS STIN PAREA MAS. fiyah..dont be that put off withthe hate here it works both ways ,some people are very rude some are just horrible.but what ever the case..we do support each other its a good place to learn or ask any thing you want..as long as it pleases ..y/a guidelines..stick around just just observe and when u feel u want to join in a answer go for it.dont let any thign deter you.because you requested information about your heritage i will start you off with the greek news papper on line .its in greek and there is an english version by simply clicking on the english button this news meduim is the most popular in greece..hope you learn a few things .from it. explore its context.in the futuree ill give you more sites and iam sure other greeks here will do the same for you.... welcome again....FIYAH...ps click on the link below..

Zoi ((Î–Ï‰Î®))

Take my advice and get busy only with things that don't have to do with Modern Greek History, you won't earn much.
HISTORY:
Ancient Greek History, try Bengston's Ancient History book (with impressive cover) or also Nesselrath's book with the title 'Archaiognosia' in Greek.
LANGUAGE:
I adore Greek language,both ancient and modern are very rich in vocabulary and meanings.
Ancient Greek is extremely difficult,especially for a non native speaker.Believe me, it will be a great experience for you just taking a few lessons. Each language is an element that corresponts to it's nation's level and way of thinking. So, you will be able to taste a little bit of what was the language that was used by Plato to give his complicated philosophical ideas, you'll see also the language,in which 'retoric' was developed for the first time in history, that means that we are talking about a very well structured language, with various meanings for attributing very detailed meanings.
Modern Greek would be also a good alternative, it'll give you the opportunity to access the poems of Elytis, Seferis, Kavafis, Palamas,Sykelianos, 4 of them were nominated for Nobel and the first two of them took it.

MUSIC:
A very good and not at all tyring way to discover something about Greece.
Take CD's of Mikis Theodorakis, for ex. 'Tou nekrou adelfou', 'Aksion Esti' etc, and of Hatzidakis. But especially Theodorakis is directly linked to modern Greek history and his songs are not political neutral, they talk about the Junta, about modern Greece etc (not much about love etc).

Greel Mythology woud also be very pleasant if you don't want to get tyred.
Take care!

cpinatsi

Come to Greece and visit all the arcaheological sites, monuments, picturesque villages and of course have a good time in the sea. In Greece, wherever you go, heritage and history is right there, in the monuments of the past.

Charles_N

well..about the macedonia part just read from neutral sources which actually r sayin the same things as the greek ones ;-) how can u be 100% greek when u re statin u're greek canadian n u ve never been in greece though and what's the point of bein 100% greek after all?Now about the part 'why they hate Greece' the answer is coz they re extremely brainwashed from their politicians in order to be disorientated from demanding better wages and better life ;-) old-fashioned balkan trick...whatever the internal countries problems are...it's always the neighbour's fault..at least in greece this trick's not succesful anymore at least to the most of the ppl.cheers

SUE

This is why you should live in the US. You can't get through the fifth grade without knowing all about Greek culture!

Move to Chicago. HUGE population, there! Or, travel to Greece!

I am the new Amy Winehouse

i dunno why they hate us

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