Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Table of Contents
Introduction
People and Culture
The Eurozone
The Impact of the Crisis
Graffiti
Tourism
Personal Encounters
Conclusion
References
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3
8
13
20
26
35
40
42
INTRODUCTION
Greece: a country of wonder, mystery and beauty all wrapped up into
one. From exploring the impressive ancient ruins to lounging around
the picture perfect beaches to submerging oneself in the rich and
dynamic culture of the traditional Greeks, Greece seems to be a perfect
country with a perfect and beautiful history. One students expectations
were to have these beautiful, historic sites surround [them] and provide a feeling that a Google image never could.
Introduction
Underneath, Greece has an ugly past, present, and quite possibly future
pertaining mainly to its financial realm. Upon entering Athens, tourists
find abandoned buildings, rundown areas, and graffiti everywhere; a
ghost town almost. Greece is truly a country known for its beautiful ruins amidst a time of menacing economic ruin.
PEOPLE AND
CULTURE
Greece may be in the middle of a crisis right now, but they can still send their students to school for free and that means more people going to school and maybe more
people to become educated enough to get them out of this crisis.
I also asked him how he decided on his
major and he told me it is determined by a
test. He compared the test to the SATs where
the highest score possible is a 2000. Scoring
near that level means entry into medical
school.
Scoring an 1800 permits entry into a school
for engineering. Students are able to choose
any option below the score they received, but
not above. Additionally, students may retake
the test once a year until achieving a score
they desire.
I initially thought the test limits what one
can do in life. Not getting the right score may
crush a doctor hopeful from reaching his or
her dreams. Either way, having the test may
efficiently guide students into appropriate
careers.
Learning about this difference in culture was
intriguing and made me think about what
Americans could achieve if our schooling
was free, and how many more people would
have the opportunity to explore their own
potential.
---One cultural difference I noticed and really
enjoyed while being in Greece is the welcoming
nature of its people. In America we greet others
with a head-nod, wave, or a firm handshake in
most cases. Anything beyond that when meeting
someone for the first time could be interpreted as
weird, or too touchy. In Greece, however, it is
quite the opposite.
It almost seems as though those practices could
be offensive in some circumstances. Whether it is
the first, or the tenth time meeting someone,
Greeks embrace you with a big hug and a kiss on
each cheek. There is no personal bubble. Then,
before you can even introduce yourself, they offer
you something to eat and drink, a place to sit, and
genuine company.
The Eurozone
out
zone at
any cost.
GREEK BANKS
- - -Austerity measures imposed by the Greek government in
order to find the money to repay debts to the IMF have
worsened the quality of life of Greeks. People are beginning
to make a living in whatever way they can. With Greek
unemployment at a shocking 25%, Greek youth
unemployment at over 60%, and monthly youth wage set at
300 euros per month, how could a recovery even be feasible?
The Greek people have voted and their answer to this is that
only by putting an end to the Troikas austerity in Greece is
there any hope of recovery. In the elections that occurred this
spring, the Greek people elected for the first time in the
countrys history a left party, SYRIZA. SYRIZA was elected
BRAIN DRAIN
---Not only are excessive amounts of wealth,
resources, and dignity leaving Greece, knowledge
has left as well. Through the 'Brain Drain,' the best
and brightest of the next Greek generation are
leaving in pursuit of brighter futures. Due to the
current crisis there is a lack of opportunities
offered, accompanied by financial and economic
instability.
With
a
record
drop
in
unemployment, Greek households
have seen a severe loss in their
incomes. This has dramatically
lowered living conditions.
Within the EU, Greece had the largest proportion of its population living on very low incomes, at 23.1% in 2013, with Romania in the second place
(22.4%) and Bulgaria third with 21%. This means that in the same year, Greece
cannot meet their basic needs, compared with 9.6% in the EU as a whole.1
Wind whistles through the hollow
s t r e e ts i n M o nas t i r ak i , o n ly
occasionally stopping to get caught on
whatever remnants remain from life
before the crisis.
Inhabited buildings are interrupted on
every block by buildings and homes
families can no longer afford to
restore or upkeep. The people who
remain are sparse as the money they
make.
Small neighborhoods I can imagine
were once full of life and bursting
from the seams with generations of
families and rich history, now hold on
with a weak pulse.
While much of Athens remains intact,
patches of the crisis are spreading.
Athens does not look like it did years
ago and it may not even be able to
maintain its current state.
SEASONAL TOURISM
---We need these months, you know were in a crisis,
a shop owner in Karpathos explained. As Greeces
primary source of income, tourism is vital to sustain
many Greek businesses.
They rely on the influx of tourists through their
busiest months, April through October, to keep their
shops, hotels, etc. afloat in the off-season. We met a
woman who sold jewelry made by unemployed
teachers.
With job cuts and school closings many teachers,
like most of the Greek population, are without jobs.
To earn a living they receive private loans to make
jewelry for tourists to sell in gift shops and receive
a cut of the profit. She said that the business of this
jewelry-making is entirely dependent on tourists
coming in to spend.
Graffiti
I spray the sky fast. Eyes ahead and behind. Looking for cops.
Looking for anyone I don't want to be here. Paint sails and the
things that kick in my head scream from can to brick. See this,
see this. See me emptied onto a wall.
- Cath Crowley, Graffiti Moon
Tourism
INFRASTRUCTURE
---I understand that Athens is huge, but I cannot fathom the fact that it can house 6 million people - not
counting tourists. This goes to show how essential infrastructure is to a city. These accommodations
have become increasingly necessary over time. An example of this adjustment came in 2004 when
Athens hosted the Olympic Games.
This event provoked the building of a new airport, an assortment of new stadiums (examples including
baseball, basketball, softball, taekwan do, etc), as well as other structures. Yet, with the production of
new, comes the inevitable ruin of the old.
On our drive to downtown Athens, I always find myself lost in the abandonment of the old airport. It is
covered in graffiti, and is used as a short cut from traffic. It amazes me that at one point, that airport
trafficked millions of people. Further, I am even more amazed that a larger airport was constructed
purposefully for Olympic tourists. This allows for a larger network of tourists in the area. Therefore,
with a convenient means of travel, people are more likely to attract to that area in comparison to others.
If we didnt speak
English, we couldnt
stay open.
- Gyro shop owner
If their preservation is not made a priority and becomes forgotten in the midst of the crisis then the
world loses a crucial piece of history. Through the ruins Ancient Greece teaches us about the world long
ago and we need to listen or risk forgetting.
As I walked through the ancient sites, trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible, I found myself
mentally reconstructing the ruins in my head. The broken pillars of the Temple of Zeus and the massive
statue of Zeus standing tall with Olympians around him. None of these experiences would be possible if
there is no funding for the preservation and restoration of these sites.
Austerity must not include the ruins of Ancient Greece. People will no longer come from around the
world to see the ruins of Ancient Greece if there is no money for preservation. The ruins we saw
throughout the trip have multiplied my love for history tenfold and I think it's important that the ruins
will be accessible for years to come so that generations can continue to be educated and inspired by
what the Ancient Greeks have left behind.
MARIZA
---The worlds description of Greeks as lazy
could not be more incorrect based on my
observations. Our tour guides serve as a prime
example. Mariza, a middle-aged woman who
has earned an education and is one of the most
passionate and intelligent people I have met,
still struggles to find work that will pay the
bills.
Personal
Encounters
CONCLUSION
---Four weeks later, these twenty-two students left Greece with a new knowledge and understanding of the
crisis and its effects on the people in this country. From Athens to Tolo, to Karpathos, the students were
able to experience and hear about what is going on in the locals lives.
One student reflects, I have a newfound appreciation toward the Greek people and understand what
theyre going through because it might not seem this way, but they are trying really hard to make a
change for their country.
As a whole, the students were able to really experience what is going on with the crisis first hand
through aspects such as graffiti, one-on-one talks with people, the infrastructures, the different places
we travelled to, and so much more.
REFERENCES
Cover Art and Queen/Beggar Art: Sara Warsing
Introduction: Emily Frye
Education Differences Between Greece and the U.S.: Bri Adamcik
: Alexis Donaldson
Greece in the Euro: Andrew Johnson
Greek Banks: George Epitropoulos and Andrew Johnson
Brain Drain: Audrey Collins
REFERENCES CONTINUED
Mariza: Alexis Donaldson
An Interview With a Santorini Native: Bri Adamcik, Michelle Stacko, Sarah
Warsing, Kelly Cressman
Taxi Driver in Tolo: Caitlin Haley
Conclusion: Roz Knapp
Photos: Andrew Johnson, Manoli Epitropoulos, Marina Sarcinella,
Alexis Donaldson, Isabela Tetino, Leanne Tabit and Sara Warsing
Layout and Design: Andrew Johnson and Ryan Lacy
1
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in.gr. 04 Nov. 2014. http://news.in.gr/economy/article/?aid=1231360954