Pou se re Malaka?
Yasu! Have you noticed how many Greeks study in British universities? Almost everywhere you go, there are a group of Greeks on every course. Note: If you're an Iranians who can't take jokes or can easily get offended, don't read the rest of this text.
One of the best experiences of being a student in here is the chance to meet many people from different countries, especially from within Europe. It's probably a little bit unusual to write specifically about Greeks, but I can't help it. Greeks are probably the biggest non-Iranian and non-British group of friends I have (had). In many ways they are similar to us, some of their traditions and food - including yoghurt and Masto-Khiar - is almost the same. Like most ancient cultures, they are obsessed about their glorious past and history, of which still many stories, memories and ruins remain. They have their own famous script/alphabet, which of course looks like mathematics to me.
Having socialised with very many Greek students, I think I know three important reasons why we see so many of them in this country: Firstly, entering a good university in Greece is very difficult, sort of similar to the situation we have in Iran. There are a lot of applicants, and places are limited. Therefore many people prefer to go abroad for higher education. Secondly, they want to practice English. Thirdly, they are part of the European Union (EU), so they don't need to get a visa to travel to Britain. Moreover, they (usually) have the advantage to have their tuition fees paid by the EU, and they can also apply for inter-european student exchange programmes such as Erasmus and Socrates.
Greek guys and (especially) girls are very warm and friendly. For some strange reason guys usually wear frown on their faces! I have asked a few Greek girls about this fact, they told me that this is very typical and they think they look more serious with frowns!!
How to recognise Greeks in your university: They usually gather in groups and talk very loudly. The language does not sound familiar for a newcomer Iranian (in Iran we are not exposed to very many languages, are we?). They may sound as if they're having a very serious political argument, but you will be surprised when you find out that they were actually praising a girl's new necklace! The easiest way to recognise the Greek language is when you hear the word "Malaka" in almost every sentence :-) This popular word is used by everyone - boys and girls. Don't ask me what it means, go figure out yourself :-) Another widely used word is "Ne", which surprisingly means "Yes"!
If you have a group of Greek friends, don't miss the Greek Easter festival in March. They cook excellent food and dance from lunch time till evening. Also you can travel to Greece for your holidays and they will (hopefully) accommodate you and show you around. You will certainly have a lot of nice and even funny memories and stories to tell about your trip after you return home. You can also invite them to Iran in return for their hospitality; don't forget though to show them what Alexander the Great did to Persepolis!
As I mentioned above, for obvious reasons Greeks are very proud of their history and heritage. Try not to challenge their heroic legends, or make fun of their history or heritage, you may upset them and at the end they won't listen to you anyway. Although their economy - which heavily depends on tourism - is not as strong as the western European economies, but they are slowly and steadily building it up. Greeks are certainly one of the warmest people in Europe. They are also known to be very good business entrepreneurs.
Last but not least, I have two warnings: Beware of Uzo, the Greek drink: it tastes like Petrol (some of you may not agree!). Second warning goes to Iranian girls: Be careful when you fall in love with a Greek guy, you may not be able to introduce him to your family :-)) Watch out for forenames and surnames such as Kostas, Kosmopoulou, Kiriakos and etc.! Well, the same goes for boys! Seriously, this is real!
P.S.: The title roughly means "where have you been malaka?"
I can hardly stop laughing. that was a great great post. and you west ender! I believe you wont be welcomed in greece anymore. isnt that right,teo?:)
(at June 3, 2004 08:33 AM)
I really enjoyed reading your article, well done!
(at June 3, 2004 12:32 PM)
did they treat you with uzo before or after they read your article?:)
maybe thats the reason why it tasted like petrol
(at June 3, 2004 01:11 PM)
Ha ha, I laughed so much when i saw the title!, they speak so much and loud as if they are fighting with eachother, i think we all had so much experience with these malakas! oops ;)
(at June 3, 2004 02:21 PM)
West Ender chetori(how r u in persian)
i just read ure article and agree with most of your above statements. I am a greek living in Sydney, Australia and i am now in year 10. Being of Greek background i have many Greek friends and the word malaka is usually pops up after every 5 or 6 words. Greeks DO speak very loudly and are not afraid to express their opinion and most of the time get caught up in arguements, even if they know they are wrong. Oh yea, u forgot another thing in your article. A majority of Greek men go to England to avoid the army and in some cases go there to avoid their nagging mothers.
oh yea, Do not call a greek's mother a poutana, tsoula(a Gende) or malakismeni. If u do if u do i advise you to have 5 or 6 strong friends with you or run away as fast as you can.
(at September 16, 2004 02:19 PM)
Greetings!;)! Hey, I really enjoyed your humorous article concerning my compatriots. Almost everything you wrote are true. We do talk loud (making everyone think that we're having a fight) but that's due to our expressive nature as a nation. Another point is that it is quite difficult to enter a greek university, therefore many Greeks go to UK for studies. I happen to be a 22 year old girl who just finished her undergraduate studies in Athens and I'm now preparing myself for porstgraduate studies in Lancaster. The only think I can tell you, my dear author, is that I'd be extremely happy if I found co-students in Lancaster with the same sense of humor as you! Take care~!
(at October 19, 2004 11:32 PM)
DEAR PERSIAN FRIEND ...... YES U ARE RIGHT ABOUT GREEKS, ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
AS YOU SAID WE'RE PROUD OF OUR HISTORY AND ALEXANDER THE GREAT. SO IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR US THEN RIGHT THIS THING DOWN AND PUT IT ON YOUR NET PAGE!!!!!!
''MACEDONIA IS GREEK'' AND NO OTHER COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD CAN TAKE THIS NAME!
(at November 9, 2004 08:53 PM)
Hi,
I am a Greek-American, and I am deeply proud of my Greek heritage. In fact, I am too proud sometimes that I have elicited feelings of obsessive-compulsive behavior. I didn't know that there were that many Greek students studying in the UK. Considering the UK is more prosperous than Greece, do most of the Greek students end up staying there? If so, is it true that England has a lot of Greeks? For that to be true would mean that it would be the ONLY modern Greek emigration. Here in the USA, no more Greeks are coming; the number of Greeks coming to America has dwindled completely. I would like more Greeks to leave Greece and spread their culture to other countries.
Thanks
(at November 17, 2004 11:04 PM)
Sotirios,
I'm not sure if 'most' greek students stay in the UK, but I have seen quite a number of my Greek friends who started looking for jobs at the final stages of their studies, both in the UK and elsewhere in Western Europe. Don't forget that Greece is part of the European Union and it is very easy for Greeks to move back and forth between home and their host country. So even if they settle down in the UK or Germany, Greece is still very very close. It's probably like moving to a different state in the US.
(at November 18, 2004 04:45 PM)
West Ender,
Where do you live? In additon, I was curious as to if Greeks are currently emigrating to other countries in the European Union. Here in the USA, there is a small Greek population. In my city of Cincinnati with over 2 million people, there is only one church! It's crazy.
(at November 19, 2004 06:21 PM)
Ihr malakas isaste pustides kolo britani!!!!!!
ke kolo germani`!!!!
(at February 20, 2005 01:50 PM)
LMAO!! Everything was true...or most of it. =)
You forgot that if the words , "Nikopolidi , Olympiakos , Panatheniakos , or goal" Come up , we are talking about football. Greece , the European Champions LOVE football.
(at March 8, 2005 03:48 AM)
Haha this was great. I'm from Sydney Australia, and I'm Italian but my girlfriend is Greek (all my friends are Italians and Greeks anyway) ... but the best bit you wrote is this one:
"For some strange reason guys usually wear frown on their faces! I have asked a few Greek girls about this fact, they told me that this is very typical and they think they look more serious with frowns!!"
That's fantastic. These guys are called "magas" or "mages" (depending on how you're pronouncing the roman letters there). They smoke heaps and say things like "Ti les, re" hahah
As for the Iranians showing what Alexander the Great did to Persepolis..... the Greeks should make sure they explain and show the Iranians what the Persians did to Athens!!!! they did it TWICE!! and they did it BEFORE Alexander burned Persepolis!
Great article.
If in Cambridge, stop of at La Gardenia, it's a little Greek shop that serves this great stuff called Chips Butty (Greek bread cut like a pocket and filled with hot chips and mayonnaise).
ciao
(at April 1, 2005 04:58 AM)
Hello there.As you can understand from my name I am a greek student studying in U.K. for two years now.I really enjoyed your article in which the most of the facts are true.We are loud and expressive in contrast to British people.We are also very proud for our roots and history and sensitive in terms of what is belonging to who.You see through history my country has been involved in many wars and thats because of the good geographically positition that Greece is in the global map.Thanx that you decided to wrote an article about Greece and also thanx that you have been involved and met greek students even when they are loud and for most people dodgy.. See you later..mate
(at April 18, 2005 11:41 AM)
What else to say except :HA HA HA !!! BRAVO SOY !I m not greek but this is true. I like your article very much because it shows the best way to tell the truth and not to hurt anybody which is very important today. I think that people should make friends all over the world (no matter what religion or nation that person belonges to) cause that s the only way you can keep your mind, soul and heart opened and free of preconcepcions ( which can be even deadly for some innocent people ).
Well yes greeks are very proud nation, and they have good reasons for that. They are of great historical and cultural importance. They are brave and intelligent nation. And "EGO" is greek word (if you know what I mean :)) Loud nation with a good humour. If you don't know greek and greeks my advice is not to trust them when they say :"Malaka means friend!" Ha ha ...BIG KISS FROM SERBIA FOR ALL GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD NO MATTER WHICH NATION OR RELIGION THEY ARE !!! GEIA SAS ELLHNES KAI ELLHNIDES MOY !!! Servida.
(at July 24, 2005 07:46 PM)
he he.
The funniest post ever! all true though!
greek student in the Uk
(at August 14, 2005 05:34 PM)
really funny post.. could relate to some of it as I too have a Greek friend...
hey wat does poutana mean ?
(at September 21, 2005 10:18 PM)
albanian are better than geeks
hahahah
jk ela malaka
(at November 24, 2005 10:35 AM)
by the way since when macedonia is greek?
hmhmm never 80% speaks albanian, and hey PIRRO DHIMA IS ALBANIAN , U KNOW better than me OK
:)
(at November 24, 2005 10:37 AM)
hi, that was good, im iranian kurdish, studyin in uk, i spend most of my time with greeks, i like greek music and i like 2 argue with greeks about our history, that when we had an empire, u didnt have shit looooool,jk, by the way malakaaa is the best word ever (malakia, malaka, malakas) i got used to these words, in what ever language i speake i use them, take care, peace malakas....
(at March 8, 2006 06:44 PM)
Hi..thats a great post m8. I'm a greek guy studying in Uk. the word malakas is very popular in my college.....and am the only greek in this one...ta leme ellines...bye
Comments