Why do Greeks tend to stay within their culture, in terms of socializing and romantic relationships?

Question

I have noticed, at least based on the people I have met, not Greeks from Greece, but American and Canadian Greeks tend to socialize with and form romantic relationships within their own culture. I know there are other races that do that, but Greeks stand out, because they are commonly seen as "pure-breeds" most often/prominently. I always wondered why that was?? Are there any other reasons besides the obvious need to preserve their "pure-greek" status or culture?

Answer 1

Greeks in Greece are quite the opposite, so it is not like a racist thing, trying to remain pure-breed as you said. But Greek-Americans or Greek-Australians, who are in a foreign environment, are worried of their familie losing their greek identity if they get married to a foreign person in the foreign country. Their child might not even speak greek, their grand-child will most probably not even know he has anything greek in him. They don't want that to happen.

Answer 2

A common language often causes this type of behaviour and it is much easier to understand one's own culture than have to deal with another you do not know so well. Most big Western cities have a Chinatown where Chinese stick together. Social groups formed around nationality are quite common. Here in Australia there are Greek, Italian, French, Phillipina, Japanese, Indonesian, Israeli, Assorted Arabic, several ex USSR country and many other groups and clubs. The Greeks are not abnormal.

Answer 3

You do have some plausible answers here, but let me offer my modest version. The word "nostalgia" meaning "homesickness" is a Greek word. "Nostos" is what ails the Greeks. Matter of fact, of all the migrating peoples around the globe the Greeks are number one by far when it comes to repatriation. It is the light, the aromas, the ambiance, the aura that magnetizes the Greeks and those sensitive to such matters, and the lifestyle and "the devil may care" joie de vivre attitudes that once under your skin are inescapable throughout life. Eros was born in Greece.
Hence their clinging together in foreign lands to commiserate and to reminisce and to relive albeit vicariously their Greekness.

Answer 4

As was mentioned by various answers I think you will find a correlation between old cultures and maintaining them. It's not just Greeks but Italians, Indians, Chinese, Japanese. They are all old cultures and all of them seem to consider younger cultures as inferior. They all seem to chose to be strangers in a strange land.

Answer 5

How can the Greeks be seen as "pure breeds"? Greece is made up of many different people and cultures and through out Greek history they have intermixed with many other cultures.

However, maybe they feel like the have more in common with someone that comes from the same culture as them?