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The
Daily Gyro March 5, 2007 Are Greeks Truly Happy? I find myself scratching my head and wondering how on earth those people can be so darn happy in the face of such high inflation, unemployment, a government-funded healthcare system of which National Geographic should do a documentary and call it “IKA: Idrima Katastrofon Anthropon”, and an education system that makes DC public schools appear Harvard-like. A recent European survey, published last week by Ekathimerini found that 80 percent of Greeks claimed to be truly happy, lagging behind the Danes of whom 97 percent claimed to be happy and way ahead of Bulgarians who came in last at 39%. The EU average is 87 percent. It’s astounding how Ekathimerini could spin this to say Greeks are “relatively happy” compared to their counterparts in the EU when they are part of the group bringing down the average This article really made me think, after having spent almost a year in the Big Olive. My first few weeks were spent acclimating myself to my surroundings, learning to get around using the Athens public transportation system, getting my Greek citizenship (newsflash my fellow GAs: we don’t “automatically” have dual citizenship – I had to sweat blood, tears, and threaten those lazy, inept, chain-smoking, frappe-drinking civil servants with bodily harm to get my “tautotita”! Getting a Greek passport was a nightmarish borderline comedic debacle better left unmentioned for now…) The ultimate reality check was finding a job (I’ll leave the Greek Employment Practices experience for a later article), earning the Greek “basic salary” and trying to live off this “bouzoukia money” (as I referred to my sub-standard monthly wages). I find myself scratching my head and wondering how on earth those people can be so darn happy in the face of such high inflation, unemployment, a government-funded healthcare system of which National Geographic should do a documentary and call it “IKA: Idrima Katastrofon Anthropon”, and an education system that makes DC public schools appear Harvard-like. Americans on the other hand, with such material wealth and relatively easy lives, account for this nation’s billion dollar anti-depressant industry - not even happy pills can lead to an 80 percent happy level! Having said this, let’s keep in mind that this was a “Eurobarometer” survey and polling Greeks in December when everyone receives a government-mandated “bonus” (called the “13th salary, or “mistho”) is probably akin to polling Americans on a Friday, en route to the proverbial Happy Hour on how “happy” they are. (I would always get asked by Greeks “ma giati olo lete ‘thank God it’s Friday’ stin Ameriki?”) Despite the difficulties and obstacles I encountered while in Greece, I can say with 100 percent certainty when I looked out of my Kolonaki office at Lycabettus hill, when I spent time with my beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and their children, when I swam (after work no less!) in the crystalline waters of Varkiza (if you haven’t gone to Yabanaki beach– go!), when I experienced the genuine Greek filoxenia , when I spent every 3-day weekend and holiday in a remote village, island or an equally picturesque European nation, or when I just sat in a café with friends, I, too could boast an 80% happy factor…Axxxxxx, Elladitsa mas…
Other Servings of The Daily Gyro
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