Our Fate is Written by the Stars (or Not)

Astrology. A major topic in Greece and for some people so important, that they design their lives around their zodiac. "Πες μου το ζώδιό σου και τον ωροσκόπο σου και θα σου πω ποιός είσαι," (which means tell me your zodiac sign and I'll tell you who you are). This is what someone told me when I moved to Greece and these are the things I've found out since then.

First of all, by reading an article in the newspaper To Vima (link below) I found out that the ancient Greeks were introduced to astrology by the Babylonians and that both cultures (including all major civilizations of the time) considered the earth as the center of the then-known universe.

In order to accept astrology, the Greeks adapted it into their natural sciences and tried to make some sense of it by including it in the science of astronomy. Therefore, they reached the conclusion that all of these "randomly-moving" objects in the sky had to do with the destiny of each person, because, to them, this was the law of nature. This idea is further enforced by the fact that the Greeks carved out 12 zodiac signs, whose relationship amongst them was then further analyzed in geometric terms (degrees, angles etc).

I learned all of the above from Mr.Varvogli's previously-mentioned article. What I learned from interacting with others and stardome.gr are the following:

If you're a Krios (Aries), you are an ego-centric, stubborn person born for leadership.

A Tavros (Taurus) is someone that loves the good life and that enjoys discovering new ideas, information, that he then passes on to others.

As a Didimos (Gemini) you love communication, analyzing, but you also have the advantage (or disadvantage for others) of resorting to your "other" personality when it's in your interest...

Karkinoi (Cancer) are just sweet, cuddly, kind, cry-babies who love to whine.

Read the rest at www.allthegreeks.com!

Image: http://www.thessalonikiblogs.gr/Πνευματική_Αρμονία/

Who Is Aphrodite Flicking Off?

Greeks around the country are enraged over the cover of the German news magazine "Focus." They're pissed off to the point where the president of the Greek parliament, Mr. Petsalnikos, is asking for an apology/explanation from the German ambassador... Seriously?

The cover reads something along the lines of: "The rogue state (απατεώνας) of the EU family." And I ask: are they mistaken? Are they being unfair in calling us a whole bunch of apateones? We have been lying to the EU ever since we joined it. We have been milking the EU cow of its money for supposed public works, farmers' subsidies and so on, when we all know very well that most of that money has gone down the corruption drain. Lets not forget that Germany is the most powerful (financially) member of the EU and its mostly their money that's going into helping Greece, and other members of the union like us.

Of course, there are people, and journalists reflecting these people's opinions, that are very angry at the Germans for this cover, reminding the Germans that they owe democracy and the end of WWII to the Greeks! During the occupation, the Greeks suffered from hunger, the loss of archaeological treasures and other crimes by the German army. In fact, a few days ago, the president of the leftist party Sinaspismos, Alexis Tsipras, suggested that we ask the Germans to literally pay off their debt in monetary terms from the occupation. Others yet are pointing out that Greece's defense budget is spent in a large part on German weapons, we also buy their cars and so on.

Well, if you actually go there, then the Germans can say that they partially fuel our tourism industry and they have been doing so for decades. So, which side is right? Is Aphrodite's flicking us off or does she represent the Greeks flicking off the rest of Europe? For me, this is not really the question in this matter.

The question is: Why is a magazine cover given such attention and importance?

Aren't both Greece and Germany democratic countries? Since when is it a crime to state your opinion, whether you are an individual or a group (in this case, the magazine)? Why did the Greeks have to raise this to the level of a diplomatic episode, when the magazine that published this offending picture is not government owned? How much really should governments interfere in the mass media and free speech?

Μήπως τελικά όποιος έχει την μύγα, μυγιάζεται;

Image: http://www.yupi.gr/

Europe: "F**k off Greece!"

We're being yelled at and punished like the naughtiest kid in European class. Why?

We cooked our government-debt figures slashing them by half in order to get into the European Union. Back then, we were laughing like the sneaky kids that managed to fool the teacher. Now, the joke is on us. "Greek statistics" mean anything to you?

As a result...

We're part of what they call the PIGS group. That is Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain and these are the countries that are dragging down the EU as a monetary union, because of their huge deficits and receding GDPs.

So, this pretty much means that they hate us...

In public polls in Germany and the Netherlands, 80-90% of the citizens polled wish for Greece to gracefully exit the Euro, so that we don't drag them down with us.

However, a return to the Drachma would mean...

...that old people would stop bitching about the good-old days of the drachma, when money had some value, and that tourists would flood Greece, because the Drachma would plummet in comparison to the Euro. Simply put, everything would be cheaper... for them.

For the Greeks, on the other hand, their accumulated debt, mortgages and so on would suddenly become enormous once it would be turned into Drachmas. Talk about inflation!

So, should Greece be bailed out? NO. We need to work it out on our own no matter how much it may hurt. Perhaps it'll be our only chance to straighten things out a bit and become less tolerant towards corruption, misery and stagnation!

www.allthegreeks.com

Νεοέλληνας... είσαι και φαίνεσαι

Έχει κατακλύσει τους δρόμους, τα σπίτια μας και τις παρέες μας. Ως γνήσιος Μεσογειακός τύπος, του αρέσει η καλοπέραση και ο χαβαλές, και αυτά είναι που του αρέσει να προβάλλει στους "ξένους." Στο εξωτερικό το να είσαι Έλληνας συνήθως λειτουργεί υπέρ σου και γι αυτό άλλωστε το διαλαλείς, αλλά εντάξει... όταν βρίσκεσαι ανάμεσα σε Έλληνες στην χώρα σου, κόψε και κάτι... όλοι πάνω κάτω γνωρίζουμε τι εστί νεοέλλην:

• Ο καφές δεν είναι απλά ένα αναγκαίο αλλά απολαυστικό ρόφημα που μας βοηθάει να ξυπνήσουμε. Είναι ιεροτελεστεία. Χρειάζεται το τσιγαράκι του, την παρεούλα του, και το κινητό σε αναμονή πάνω στο τραπέζι που τελικά αποδείχθηκε πολύ μικρό για να χωρέσει τα ποτήρια, τα κλειδιά, τα κινητά, τα γυαλιά ηλίου και το τάβλι.
• Μια πολυταξιδεμένη Γαλλο-Ισπανίδα φίλη μου μου είπε κάποτε: "Πρώτη φορά μένω σε χώρα όπου κάθε φορά που τους λέω ότι είμαι από Ισπανία, πάντα μου επισημάνουν πόσο ίδιοι είμαστε οι δύο λαοί." Έχουμε μεγάλη κάψα να αποδείξουμε ότι μοιάζουμε στους Ιταλούς και τους Ισπανούς (άλλωστε, ο κοινός μας παρονομαστής είναι η Μεσόγειος) επειδή είναι πιο Δυτικές χώρες. Γιατί δηλαδή ντρεπόμαστε να πούμε ότι μοιάζουμε πολύ περισσότερο στους Βαλκανικούς λαούς και στους Τούρκους (πιπέρι!!!);
• Είμαστε περήφανοι για την ιστορία μας, αλλά μόνο για αυτά που μας συμφέρει ("αποκλείεται οι αρχαίοι Έλληνες να ήταν bisexual!!"). Από ιστορία όμως... τίποτα. Μας φτάνει που μας βλέπει ο ίδιος ήλιος που έβλεπε και τον Σωκράτη... Εν τω μεταξύ, όσοι ταξιδεύουν στο εξωτερικό, τις περισσότερες φορές βρίσκουν ξένους που ξέρουν περισσότερα για την ιστορία μας απ' ότι εμείς οι ίδιοι!
• Η οικογένεια είναι σημαντική, και καλά κάνει και είναι. Πόσοι από εμάς όμως δεν έχουμε ακούσει την φράση "βάλε κανα μπουφανάκι θα κρυώσεις" μετά τα 20; Πόσοι δεν έχουμε θείες και θείους που χώνουν την μύτη τους παντού;
• Σπαστικά όλα τα προηγούμενα, θα μου πείτε, αλλά όταν πέρνουμε τις κληρονομιές από τους γονείς είναι καλά ε; Τα παιδιά γνωρίζουν σχεδόν από την εφηβεία τους ποιά από τα σπίτια ή μαγαζιά ή οικόπεδα των γονιών θα γίνουν δικά τους... "Για σας δουλεύουμε, παιδιά μου, για ποιόν άλλον;" Γίνεται σε πολλές Δυτικές χώρες αυτό; Στις ΗΠΑ πάντως, μόλις ενηλικιωθούν όλα τα παιδιά πουλάνε ότι έχουν και δεν έχουν και μετακομίζουν στην Φλόριντα για να φάνε ότι έμεινε!
• Σε λένε Γιάννη ή Μαρία, ή τουλάχιστον γνωρίζεις τουλάχιστον έναν Γιάννη, μιά Μαρία, έναν Βασίλη κτλ. Βρε μανία να βγάζουν όλοι τους γονείς τους! Καταλήξαμε να φωνάζουμε την φίλη μας "Μαρία" στον δρόμο και να γυρνάνε άλλες 10!

Διάβασε το υπόλοιπο στο www.allthegreeks.com

Sink or Swim

I am not an economist, but I am an observer. I am not a business owner, but I am a consumer. And what I have been witnessing the last few months in this country that is being hammered by the national and international media for its enormous debt, and in this city whose market is partially undertaking the burden for it, are people drowning in their own misery, unattainable dreams and debt. Despite the bleak outlook, could this perhaps be one of the best things that happened to this country?

Let me explain myself. I certainly don't mean that watching people drown in debt is a good thing. I am just looking at the overall picture and I think that in spite of the difficulties and suffering some people are enduring, this could be a time to regroup and strengthen the foundation of this nation for the next generations.

About a year ago when the effects of the financial crisis were starting to hit home, what pretty much spurred it in Greece were the media. So the financial crisis was more of an idea we were all brainwashed to accept through the 8 o'clock news, and then it started becoming a reality. Even before the crisis, however, things hadn't been "peachy" in Greece for at least 6-7 years. Then the losses of major companies around the world started trickling down to the industrial area of Volos, in which last year alone at least 4 factories closed down. This means lots of unemployed middle-aged men and women with families, mortgages and other monetary responsibilities.

Now, the market of Volos with its shops are starting to feel the effect. Especially after the entrance of major clothing stores with modern, yet affordable brands, as well as other multinational companies that cater to basic needs such as food and clothing, the market suddenly became more competitive, while at the same time the flow of cash was dwindling. Now that can't be good...

Then, if you add the influx of university graduates that couldn't and can't find jobs in fields that are too specialized or unknown to the small Greek market, you've got people with dreams struggling at a time when failure is a lot more likely than success. A degree in marketing lands you a dream job at the corner of a busy street passing out flyers. A degree in sociology or archaeology lands you a position as a secretary for a boss that expects you to be his guardian all day long,

Dreams are what fuel our existence and our motivation in life, but sometimes we just have to get our heads out of the clouds. This is a principal we especially have to apply to our finances. Everyone wants a beautiful home, modern furniture, an amazing car and the most impressive clothes, but all of these are practically unattainable for someone working on a basic salary nowadays. And people need to start realizing that.

What this financial crisis has done is help to burst this bubble of the fake lives many people were living and it helped the deep-rooted problems of our political system emerge. We knew all of these problems before, but the "starhidismos" syndrom just didn't let us pay them any particular attention. This is the syndrome where you don't care about anything or anyone, as long as you're having a good time ("στ' αρχίδια μου," που λένε και οι Έλληνες excuse my language...).

These are the changes I am hoping that this crisis will eventually bring about:

• A social conscience. People need to start caring and intervening where necessary, even if that means disobeying orders from a corrupt boss or going out of their way to penetrate and change the atmosphere of "laziness" at their job (particularly if they're civil servants).
• Responsible entrepreneurs and business people. Many have yet to realize that the customer is always right. They must provide their customer with a unique product or experience and be considerate if they want to survive the faceless multinationals.
• Politicians we can trust. This already sounds like a cheesy political speech, but I really do believe that if politicians can manage to fulfill most of their promises and support people, instead of inflate their own pockets, then people will be more willing to comply with difficult changes and ....pay taxes.
• More people with creative minds. This must be the only country where the majority of its university grads (or rather, the entire adult working population) is constantly after a job in a civil service or office. The truth is, these jobs provide security, but can strip an entire generation of its creativeness.
• Feet on the ground. Let's stop buying jeans that cost a month's salary just to show off, so that we can pay them off in payments for the next two years. Stop getting mortgages with monthly payments that are not feasible, and stop considering credit cards are an extension of your arm and a solution to all your financial problems.

Generally, it's time to wake up and face the music, because this is a period where you either struggle to fix the problems of past generations so that you can contribute to a better tomorrow, or let your debt and misery overwhelm you. It's time to sink or swim.

Image: http://www.ngpharma.eu.com/article/Sink-or-swim/