Being Greek-Australian is the essence of my identity and I am starting to develop a balance between both of my cultures. However, I’d be lying to you if I said that I have sewn myself a seamless mix of lambs on the spit and shrimps on the barbie…Here are 5 of my experiences as a Greek-Australian… or as an Australian-Greek…I’m not sure which one exactly…

Spitting

In Australia, pretending to spit on someone and actually doing it, is considered one of the most degrading insults that you can do to someone. But for Greeks, they do it to show love and as an offering of protection. So when you’re taking a walk in a Greek village and a group of yiayiades go to spit on you, relax- it’s a good thing.

“Tha me kaneis rezili!!” –“You’re going to make me a laughing stock!!”

The Greek village/small town life is a bit like Hollywood-everyone is talking about you. Don’t be fooled by the charming surroundings and kind looking ladies in aprons. Every move that you make and every word that you say- they’re watching you. Is there a stain on your top? What a rezili! Dear God, change your top because they’re going to talk about that stain, (which must mean that your mother is neglecting you), for the next year! So when my mum tells me that “tha tin kano rezili” because I didn’t iron my jeans, I think back to the aunties and grandma’s patrolling the village.

Church

Church is a place to pray and be respectful. Ha, what a silly Aussie I am. Every Australian-Greek girl knows that church is where you find a ‘good Greek husband’ and you must attract said ‘good Greek husband’ with the highest heels and tightest dress. Basically, look like you’re going to hit the clubs. When you walk into church, think of the aisle as a runway because everyone turns around and stares at you until you make your way to your seat. Then you’ll hear the whispering—“who’s that?”, “Oh she’s so and so’s daughter”, “Apparantly she ….” Meanwhile, you don’t understand what the priest is saying or when to stand up or sit down. Luckily, the group of yiayiades sitting in the front rows know exactly what to do and you follow their cue. You do your stavro about 150 times and then the battle to the antidoron begins. Five hours later, it’s home time.

Am I Greek, or am I Australian?

If you’re of Greek heritage, chances are that your name has about 50 syllables in it. This means, that when the teacher calls the roll in school, they’ll get it really wrong, the class will laugh and you’ll get the inevitable question of “so, is that Greek?” You’re the ‘Greek one’ for as long as you live out of Greece. Growing up in Australia, my identity was defined by my ‘Greekness’ and I was so proud to be one of the only Greeks in my suburban Australian schools.

Then I went to Greece…I was now the Australian girl-for the first time in my life. In Greece, when they ask me where I come from because of my Australian accent when I speak Greek- I tell them Australia. When I’m in Australia and they ask me where I come from, because of my looks, my name and my slight accent when I speak English; I say “I’m Greek.” It’s confusing!

I will never forget when I was 17 years old, in Greece with one of my dearest friends who lives there. I told him that I considered myself to be Greek. He laughed and said, “but you were born in Australia!” I took forever trying to defend myself and became emotional when I talked myself into confusion. I was born in Australia so that technically makes me Australian but my parents weren’t born here and they are Greek. I grew up in Australia with Greek customs and traditions and I always stuck out like a fly in milk when I was in crowds of ‘Australians’. When I go to Greece, however- I’m the token Aussie girl. I don’t feel exactly Australian in Australia, or exactly Greek in Greece. Are you confused yet? Same!

The ‘Mati’- The ‘Evil Eye’

In every place that you go to in Greece, there’s an evil eye somewhere in there protecting us. Most people in Greece that I’ve met really believe it and most Aussie-Greeks that I’ve met, don’t.

When I’m with my relatives in Greece, I try not to yawn. If I yawn, my aunty immediately begins reciting that special prayer, (that only certain people can learn), to rid me of the mati. “Se matiasane!” she tells me in a panic! If someone is admiring you in any way, that apparently puts you in danger of the infamous concept of the ‘mati.’ Similarly, if someone is envious of you, their jealousy could bestow upon you a curse driven by the ‘mati.’ This curse can range from yawning, headaches or even worse things. My friend in Greece claims that her body felt paralysed for a while and she believes that it was a result of someone giving her the mati.’

I can’t say that I, myself, haven’t had some weird experiences in Greece to do with the ‘mati’. But the Aussie in me says, “it was surely a coincidence.”

So when you hear someone say “You look so beautiful, pou sou! Na mi se matiaxo!” They are expressing that they are too scared to admire you in case they curse you. Spooky, huh?

Well there you have it. This isn’t it…Stay tuned for part two, three and four…I have many stories to tell you. Confusion aside, I am thankful for the way culture enriches my life and I am thankful for this accepting and multi-cultural society. I hope you can relate in some way, if you are integrating multiple cultures.

Lots of love,

Magda xx