Greeks: What do you think of Greek Americans?

Answer 1

It is a subject that touches almost all Greek families. At some level, someones relative is in the Sates or elsewhere.
On my extended family, my mother's youngest brother lives in California with his family. Although he is more Greek than I'm, is not so with his children for various reasons. That is understandable because they were raised there and their life has not connection with Greece as such except of the parents longing for the old country. Their lifes are set with the rhythms of the new country, their experiences, their friends.
But talking in general, you can not expect young ones at least, to be strongly attached to the old country, unless they want that themselves very strongly.
To me as long as they don't try to show off they are ok and I can take it if they don't speak Greek.
It took me 2 years to discard the foreign accent when i returned from my extended living in England and more years than that to return to fully Greek mentality. How then we expect people who come here for a short visit to do so in such a short time. Especially when most are conscious of their inadequacy in speaking Greek and so they adapt a defensive attitude that sets them away.
It is a concept that has passed down especially by the old movies that all " Amerikanoi" are rich and they've come to spend their money for the benefit of the relatives.
What is not understood is that most of them are hard working every day people who struggle to make ends meet like most of us. Ok, they may be one step of the ladder above the average Greek but still they have to work hard for that extra buck they will come here to spend.
Is the nova-rich Greek Americans who distort that scene by their extravagant ways, in the effort to conveince relatives that they made it rich. As for Kalomoira, she is not to be blamed for not knowing Greek when she came here, but she is responsible for not making a better effort while here, especially after she made it big. When in comparisson a Tamta could speak much much better. But that is also on the individual. If they feel that they can communicate just because almost everyone speaks English, their effort is not done in earnest.You see that, with all the English speaking people who come here to live and they do not bother to try, while they want everyone to understand them.

Answer 2

This is very interesting and the answers really were also. I have made 8 trips and will continue each year to return as long as able. I am American to visit my Greek son-in-laws family for several weeks and my own Greek friends. Never have I ever felt hatred as stated here towards my nationality. Andi I don't do the touristy things but stay only with Greeks every where I go. My grandchildren are Greek-American and from birth have been taught Greek and even my daughter now teaches Greek lessons at the Greek church after services on Sunday afternoons she is so good at it. The children can carry on a conversation with any Greek that speaks to them with no word problems at all for that is all their father speaks to them and sometimes their mother..my daughter. Of course, for me, I have learned quite a lot of words and sentences but my problem no one near me speaks Greek so can only use it over there. My southern accent makes it difficutl but the ones I know at least appreciate my effort and know my love of the country is such that I at least make an effort.
You should not judge all Americans by what you read in papers or what some rude tourist have shown you. We are not all that way. The Greeks that I have met sure have not shown me any bad side to Greeks and I truly feel like when I arrive there I have come home again.

Answer 3

I cannot express a proper opinion, because I haven't met many, but in Greece we don't like Americans and if a Greek American is more American than Greek, then it's a problem. I've seen a documentary about the last war Bush provoked and the father of a Greek soldier who died, when asked if it was worth it and if this war had a meaning, answered "I don't know. History will tell us".
My God! He had just lost his son for America and its meaningless wars and he didn't know how to answer! A Greek would know how to answer in such a question!

Answer 4

i love greeks that stay in touch with their culture and dont get "americanized" but i know a few people that are not even 1/4 greek and dont even speak greek and brag about how they are greek. i know people that have a very greek last name and are known as "the greek one" but havent ever been to greece or dont care about keeping the traditions and staying in touch with their culture. that sort of annoys me.

Answer 5

You are American. The end. Your father could be considered Greek American. All this hyphenated BS is ridiculous. If everyone used this method of identifying themselves people could go for days explaining what they are.

Answer 6

Lest we forget. Thousands of Greeks left a virtually destroyed land after World War II for the US and Australia. Their contributions to the resurrection of modern day Greece are incalculable. There is no Greek family that does not have a relative in America or Australia. Lest we forget!

Answer 7

The Greeks consider them an advanced front for Greece conquering the US. ;-) Feed them Gyros, show them pictures of Greek Barbie, give them some Ouzo, and then slip the Greek Army into port.

Answer 8

Sometimes it pays to look back in the questions asked before, you save points, you know...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvbOro6bvP83E5JDCCqxQTHty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071118212349AAPRvQN
Anyway, I think they (Greeks) think of Greek Americans as their long lost brothers: too far to reach but always there if they need to be.
PS: What do you think of Greeks as Greek American?

Answer 9

This was asked the other day!

Search and you will find - no one will tell the truth anyway - too many Greek/Americans on this site - and if the truth is told - no one will be believe it anyway! Come live here and find out!

Answer 10

Hmmm i think most Greeks think of Greek-Americans as very traditional thinking,over the top Greeks.I think the movie my big fat greek wedding didn't do much good in that area either,lol.I think most Greeks actually like Greek-Americans.I actually haven't met anybody in real life to judge,what does bother me many times though is not knowing the language.I mean I do get how difficult it must be,learning to speak Greek in a country where everybody speaks English,but I managed to learn Dutch in a country where everybody speaks Greek sooooo...Learn your children proper Greek,they will be much more respected if they come to Greece someday(and no I didn't think the way Kalomoira spoke was cute)


Edit:
I don't agree with you airpole that Kalomoira is not to blame for not speaking Greek correctly.It is both hers and her parents fault she is not speaking Greek(especially when she claims her dream was to always come back and live in Greece).I'm half Dutch/half Greek,was born in Holland but we relocated here when I was just 4 months old,so it's safe to say I grew up here and Greek was the language that was spoken all around me.But my mother made a huge effort for us to learn to speak and write Dutch correctly,cause she thought it was important.My dad speaks Dutch too,so at home we actually speak a mixture of both languages.When I go to Holland,after two days of adjustment no one can understand I'm not 100% Dutch and that it is actually my second language(and not my first).And sure when I was young it was an effort my parents made,but after I grew older I made an effort myself too,because I understood how important it is to speak both languages of both my countries correctly.And Tamta,I respect her highly,since she actually learned the language from scrap in less than three months and now 2-3 years later from the first time we "met" her you wouldn't even understand she is not a native Greek!
BTW I do agree with what you are saying about foreigners who live here,my mom speaks Greek fluently but many of her Dutch friends living in Greece don't speak Greek,their husbands don't speak Dutch and so they have to communicate with each other in English!How absurd is that?My mom always told me how important she thought learning each others language if you really love and respect someone is.