Cultural Post #2

[Daniel Matthew Kunath]

I recently went out to dinner at a Greek restaurant with all the Greeks at UR.  The meal was a very long, loud affair, without a single word of English during those hours.  Smaragda had told me a little about Greek dining before we went, and I thought I was prepared for it then, but I realized I was mistaken.  I knew what to eat with the hands and what to use a fork for, what things were communal and which I had to take to my own plate.  I knew how to pair foods and sauces, and how to slop pita in salty oil and salad juices just right, but none of these seemed to matter.  Despite my trying to fit in, they paid me no attention.  It seems that something about Greek food reminds them of home, and puts them back into “Greek mode”.  The entire time, the table was just bursting with incredibly loud laughter and unbelievably fast talking.  I had hoped to pick up a few words during the course of the evening, but I came away far more confused than before.  Included is a picture from the beginning of the meal.GreekonCary.jpg