FOINI KOUN TA A 2021 interview
CON T ENTS Introduction
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Clichés
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Language
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Lifestyle
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Introduction
INTRO DUC TION A short interview focusing on the differences between British and Greek culture. This interview explores the stereotypes and clichés surrounding Greek culture as well as focusing on Greek lifestyle.
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Introduction
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Introduction
Could you give a description of Foinikounta? Foinikounta is a small Greek fishing village in the South of the Peloponnese in Greece. There is a population of about 700 that live in the village. Foinikounta is notable for its beautiful beaches and green hills filled with olive trees. There are many taverns lines along the village beach. The food has no changed much over the last sixty years, serving mainly traditional, local Greek dishes.
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Clichés
Are there any stereotypes or clichés associated with Greek culture that you can identify or have experienced? Greek people tend to have a reputation of being lazy. They can live at a slow pace but are generally quite hard working. This is a stereotype that has arisen mainly due to the Greek economic crisis. Another common stereotype is that Greeks are loud.
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“‘GREEK PEOPLE TEND TO HAVE THE REPUTATION OF BEING LAZY.”
Foinikounta: An Interview
Clichés
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Clichés
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Clichés
- Proverb one: ‘‘Eyes that don’t see each other quickly forget each other.’’ Meaning: Out of sight, out of mind. You soon forget people or things that are no longer visible or present.
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Clichés
What are examples of ways design has been used to project Greek culture? Colours that are associated with Greece are mainly blues and whites, this most likely stems from the colours of the Greek flag. Fonts like Lithos are inspired by Greek inscriptions and therefore have become associated with Greece. The letter forms are geometric and are inspired by letter forms chiselled into stone on temples in ancient Greece. The font Lithos is still used to market Greek products despite not having any direct links to Greece’s history. 13
Foinikounta: An Interview
Language
Did you find Greek a difficult language to learn, if so what are some aspects you struggled with? “Yes, learning Greek is very difficult, English is very basic most sentences are constructed differently in English than most other languages. In Greek everything is either masculine, feminine or neutral, plural or singular. There are about eight different ways to say the word ‘the.’”
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‘‘THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHT WAYS TO SAY THE WORD ‘THE’ ”
Foinikounta: An Interview
Language
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Language
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Language
Are there any popular Greek expressions or phrases that you can identify? “There are many Greek expressions or phrases in Greek that I like - many are terms of endearment. “My dolly” and “where are you?” are both expressions used to show you are pleased to see someone.”
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Language
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Language
- Proverb two: ‘‘My home, my little home, a little house of my own.’’ Greek equivalent of ‘‘Home, sweet home.’’
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
What are some major differences in culture that you notice living in Greece compared to England ? “The pace of life is definitely slower in Greece - even in some of the cities. Outdoor living and socialising, drinking and eating are a big part of family life.”
How does the cuisine in Greece differ from the England? “Greek cuisine is almost always made using fresh produce. It consists of loads of vegetables cooked in Greek olive oil, fresh salads, lots of meat. Fresh bread is served with all meals. Greek wine has certainly improved over the last few decades and is now similar to most other European wine.” 22
‘‘VEGETABLES COOKED IN GREEK OLIVE OIL, FRESH SALADS AND LOTS OF MEAT.”
Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
Do you find that Greece have as much focus on social issues as we do here in England? "I don’t see Greece moving with the times as much compared to the UK especially on social issues like gender inequality, climate change and racial discrimination. And unfortunately in the village I have noticed racism for the first time in the last few faces against Albanians, Bangladeshis and other nations that have flooded into Greece."
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
How are celebrations / Public holidays celebrated differently to England? "Christmas has only become commercial in the UK in the last few decades. Easter is the big celebrated holiday in Greece. It consists of family and friends having a feast with music and dancing. Name days tend to be celebrated more than birthdays along with the Virgin Mary day which is August 15th. Each Greek name day of the year is dedicated to the memory of a saint or martyr; and there are usually more than one on the same day. Each saint or holy person has their own feast day."
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
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‘‘THE EVIL EYE IS THE MOST POPULAR SUPERSTITION”
Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
Are there any Greek traditions or superstitions you can identify? "The evil eye is the most popular superstition. ‘Mati’ is the word for eye. The evil eye is a curse thought to be given by a malicious glare that can cause bad luck. People can knowingly wish negative thoughts on you, but the power of the eye is that some people unknowingly and innocently cast the curse on others. Lots of Greeks wear a symbol of the eye for protection."
How would you describe Greece during the Winter season? "There are always tourists in Athens all year round. However the islands and villages are extremely quiet. Many hotels, shops and restaurants all close for the winter." 31
Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
- Proverb three: ‘‘The unripe grape becomes as sweet as honey, at a slow pace’’ Meaning: It takes time to grow ideas, projects or people into something beautiful, bigger or better. If you are patient you will get what you want.
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Foinikounta: An Interview
Lifestyle
What are some differences in the Greek education system compared to England’s? "It's quite similar, however there are less tutition fees in Greece. Greek university courses take a lot longer, they’re not as well-structured. But in Greece degrees are free, so you can retake them as many times as you want."
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Foinikounta: A 2021 Interview Rebecca Blackmore