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In this Newsletter we write about:1. Some Greek grammar and useful expressions2. Easter in Nafplion3. Greeklish4. Ouzo or Tsipouro5. News from the Greek community in Soudan!6. The famous Rio-Antirro bridge
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- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 1 of 10
Dear OMILO friends and students, The clock moved one hour forward and the days are lighter and brighter again. Spring is there and
summer getting closer. For the OMILO-team this means that we start
the busy season with many intensive courses in various locations. We
cant wait!
In this Newsletter we write about:
1. Some Greek grammar and useful expressions
2. Easter in Nafplion
3. Greeklish
4. Ouzo or Tsipouro
5. News from the Greek community in Soudan!
6. The famous Rio-Antirro bridge
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1. Some grammar and expressions: Kalos ton- Kalos tin
In a few days we will experience the megali evdomada (holy week) and welcome the participants
at the Easter course in Nafplion. The end of May we will move to the island of Lefkada and again
welcome the OMILO students to this wonderful island. In both courses there are many known
faces to OMILO, as well as many students that became friends during an OMILO course and will
meet each other again in Nafplion or Lefkada. We are very happy that so many students keep
contact and become an international parea with a common hobby, Greece and Greek!
So what do you say in Greek when you meet your friends or teachers again?
Picture this: after a cold or rainy winter in your country, you finally make it to Greece again! You
are enjoying the sun at a lovely coffee-shop by the sea waiting for a friend/ friends of yours! And
there they are! Instead of just saying jasou, kalimeraor kalispera, give them the impression
you had been studying Greek all winter long, and use something different!
- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 2 of 10
So, you only need to use the word
and the Accusative Case
of the name of the person you are
talking to. For example, you are
expecting or . The
moment they show up, you say:
! or !
(In case you forgot the concept of the Accusative Case, generally speaking, when talking to a
man, simply use and his name without the final s, and when talking to a woman, simply
use and her name!)
Most of you probably know already the expression /! (= Welcome!), so its
easy to figure out that when you say !, you mean something like Welcome,
Peter! or actually Good to see you, Peter!. So practically you use this structure in order to
say how happy you are to see a friend (or friends)!
Some examples of how this expression works:
You are meeting up with Kostas
!
or
just
!
You are meeting up with Eleni
!
or
just
()!
You are meeting up with male
friends
!
or
just
!
You are meeting up with male and
female friends
!
or
just
!
u are meeting up with female
friends
!
or
just
!
You are greeting your friends
children
!
or
just
!
- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 3 of 10
In case you are very fond of the person you are meeting up with, you can also use the expression
! ( = the eye). Its like you are saying to this person that they
are as precious to you as your eyes are!
Always keep in mind that this structure is only used when the person(s) you are expecting
show(s) up! You should never use it when you arrive at a place and you see your friend(s)
waiting for you! This means, be on time!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2. Easter in Nafplion
This year the Easter
holidays in Greece
start on Saturday
12/4 and end on
Sunday 27/4. For the
11th time, OMILO
organizes the Easter
Course in the
beautiful town of Nafplion.
Easter is a special time in Greece and has many celebrations
and traditions. For more information, have a look at the BLOG
article http://www.omilo.com/greek-orthodox-easter-food-and-traditions/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 4 of 10
3.Greeklish or the Greek Alphabet?
The Greek alphabet is unique and special. It has survived
thousands of years without significant changes. From the times
of Omiros and Platonas, in Byzantine and Kavafis, it ended up
in our times with barely any changes to it. Will it survive our
times though? Now it has to respond to changes that are not
particularly favored. In the environment of computers where
everything happens quickly and obligatorily in the simplest way
possible, it seems that the Greek alphabet has started losing
ground.
For sure youve heard of the term Greeklish: writing Greek with Latin characters! This trend
started with cellphones. It was easier to write with Latin characters: 1) Less letters are used and
hence more writing space, 2) there are no grammar rules so the writing of the messages becomes
a faster procedure. Of course this trend started from the younger generations, but today Greeklish
is also used by the older generations.
There has been a huge debate about whether or not the Greek
language is in danger due to Greeklish. On the one hand, many
support that the danger is high for the particular nature of the
language is getting lost. The spelling they say signifies a lot about
the roots and the meaning of each word. On the other hand, there
are the advocates of Greeklish who claim that a language must
serve the needs of the people who use it. The internet requires quick
actions and an easy way of writing. Besides, the language is an alive
organism which keeps on evolving and we have to observe it without
being stuck to the past.
There are no grammar rules for Greeklsih. In general terms it has to
do with the pronunciation of the language, for example: Ti kaneis/kanis? Ola kala? Moreover in
Greeklish abbreviations are very common: :filakia flk :ta leme tlm. Ofcourse
the English terms and abbreviationsm are also used often: asap, btw
Below are a few rules for the translation of the words:
: th or 8 ex. : thalassa/8alassa
- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 5 of 10
: ks,x, 3 ex. : ksenos, xenos, 3enos
: ps, y ex. : psema, yema
: o, w ex. : tora, twra
: d, 6 ex. : den, 6en
: i, h ex. : ilios, hlios.
The difficult part though is not really in writing the Greeklish but rather in reading it! Try for
example to read the below conversation. Can you do it?
-kalhmera! ti kns?
-kl. esi? Pws paei shmera?
-Pl douleia sto grafeio. 8a se dw to vra6i?
- eda3ei. T wra?
-9-9misi.
-ok. tlm.
If you are interested, you can also use the new tool in the internet, to find out how your Greeklish is actually written in the real Greek and vice versa! Have a look! http://www.ellinikoarxeio.com/2010/05/greeklish-to-greek.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4. Ouzo or Tsipouro : or ;
Which Greek drink do you prefer? Ouzo and tsipouro (raki) are two highly favored drinks for the
Greeks that match perfectly with their appetizers. For sure youve visited an ouzeri or a
tsipouradiko in Greece and have gotten a bit dizzy by drinking ouzo or tsipouro under the sun,
accompanied by fish appetizers or appetizers of another variation.
If not, next time have it on your list!
Do you know how exactly those drinks are made?
- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 6 of 10
Ouzo is a mix of alcohol, water and various aromatic herbs, the main one being anise. The
distillation is done in special boilers which are made of copper. In the first stage the mixing of the
ingredients happens and in the second, the boiling of the mixture multiple times. The final product
usually is comprised of 40-50 ABV.
The history of ouzo is unknown. Maybe a similar drink was produced in ancient times. For sure it
was known in the time period of the Byzantine Empire. During the Ottoman Period ouzo was
known in the location of todays Turkey as well as in
many other places in the Middle East as well.
Tsipouro is produced by the distillation of the grapes
left after the pressing which is a process in which
the juice of the grapes is extracted for wine
production. During distillation sometimes various
flavourings are added such as anise, fennel, etc.
Tsipouro is often distilled a second time as this
improves its quality.
Tsipouro production dates back a long time ago but
it is said that it started in the 14th century in Mount Athos by the monks. Throughout the years it
expanded to different places of Greece, like Macedonia, Epirus and Crete where it is known as
raki or tsikoudia. Moreover with raki the famous rakomelo is made: Raki is heated together with
honey and baked raki which is raki boiled with cinnamon and other flavorings.
In older times, tsipouro (or raki) was produced at houses. Today though there are many organized
production lines for tsipouro which follow specific rules during the production based on the
legislation. Beside, legislation only allows for the distillation of tsipouro to take place at specific
times of the year (end October to beginning December).
In all of Greece there are distillation centers that one can visit and watch the procedure as well as
try these drinks straight from their source. OMILO usually visits the local distillation center of
Nafplio during our intensive courses during Easter. Cheers!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 7 of 10
5. News from the Greek Community in Soudan, by Kostas Papadakis
A mid-February Night
This one night in mid-February I was given a chance. A chance to work for a few months in the
Greek school located in Xartoum, Sudan. It was
as if a train was passing by me heading in
another direction than mine. I could either reach
my hand out and get on it or I could let it pass by.
Finally I reached my hand out and since then I
travel on that train.
That is how in a time span of a few days I ended
up from Greece, the country of light as its name
signifies, in Sudan, the country of the black by
definition in the Arabic language. One could say that the contrast between these two countries
was evident on all aspects of life, even the names.
Starting from the life in Xartoum (I havent had the chance to visit other places in Sudan as
besides the time you also need special permission to leave the city) I would characterize it as
completely different from the life in Greece. For a European citizen to adapt flexibility and an
open-mind is highly needed. The every-day costs, the quality of life, the means of transportation
and the interaction with other people all start from a different base. For my transportation the first
few days I chose the buss. The buss had a certain
destination as busses usually do and hence I stayed seated
for a while. I didnt know though that in Soudan, when the
busses do not have enough passengers, the driver chooses
to change route so as to pass from places with more people,
therefore changing the destination! Not knowing Arabic I
didnt understand much from all this and hence I ended up
somewhere completely different than I expected. Things like
these make every-day life here an adventure as nothing can be taken for given!
As far as the cost of life here is concerned I categorize it in the positive contrasts. For example,
the price of gasoline in Greece at the moment is approximately 1.60 euro. Here the equivalent
price in euros would be approximately 40 cents and take note that the price has gone up a lot the
- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 8 of 10
past years due to the secession of North Sudan (in which 75% of the countrys gasoline production
was situated). Generally the people live and are happy with very few things. Even that way though
they are always willing to share a piece of bread with the
person next to them and Id say this is another contrast
with the western word. Here, the families and the
neighborhoods mutually support each other substantially
and authentically.
The Greek community is constituted from something like
an oasis in the centre of the city but you cant help but
follow the way of life of the locals in some things. At
some point I had a problem with mosquitos. Xartoum is situated exactly where the two Niles meet
each other, the white, which emanates in Uganda and the Blue Nile that comes from the highlands
of Ethiopia. Hence mosquito problems sometimes become quite evident. Trying to face the
problem I tried several mosquito sprays and even mosquito nets but without any significant results.
I then went on to ask a neighbour thats Greek to see how he deals with it and he gave me the
solution. He himself didnt use any industrial means. In his house he has a slow worm, a small
lizard that comes out at night and walks on the walls! In Greece we have something similar, only
that here the slow worms are bigger since the mosquitos are bigger. That way any mosquito that
made its presence would be killed.
Society is one of the most conservative in Africa. In recent year the Muslim law of Saria (the path
that leads to Allah) holds with all the stringent provisions with the result that Sudan gradually gets
isolated from the rest of the Arab world. There are no movie theatres, entertainment centers and
many more which we consider given in our daily life. This
fosters the introversion of a regime that in recent years
has become more and more conservative.
In Sudans market Turkish, Chinese and Indian firms have
moreover entered strongly which reveals the aversion of
society from anything western. Sudan is a country with
rich subsoil and fertile soil. I have to say that before I
came here I did not know the real taste of mangos,
bananas, grapefruits and many other products which reach Greece unripe and processed.
- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 9 of 10
On the 25th of March, on the national day of
Greece, we organized our schools feast and the
memorial in memory of the heroes and I can say
that it was one of the most moving moments in my
life, especially when I delivered the solemn speech
for the heroes of the revolution in the Orthodox
Church. It was strange for even though I was
kilometres away from the motherland I felt closer to
her than ever. As if Hellenism from the diaspora holds within it another Greece, a Greece which
has not been alienated from the conditions of an international crisis, as if keeping a character that
has not been hurt by impositions and requisitions. I came to this country to teach at the Greek
school, but my stay so far allows me to say that Sudan is itself a school for me.
I wish all the teachers and students of OMILO good luck, happy holidays and to discuss even
more from up close!
Alaikum Salaam, Kostas
(Kostas was teaching for OMILO in 2013. We expect he will join the OMILO-team again from June 2014 onward ,
unless he decides to stay longer in Soudan.we are looking forward to his next update of this great adventure!)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
6. The RioAntirrio Bridge
The 1- or 2-week intensive Greek course on the island of Lekdada will take place from 25/5 till
6/6/2014. Lefkada is an ionian island, south of Corfu and
connected with a bridge to the mainland. More information on
Lefkada you can find at: http://www.omilo.com/lefkada/.
Although Lefkada is an island, it is possible to travel by car or
bus, since the island is connected to the mainland by a
bridge. Students traveling by bus or car from Athens or from
Patras, first also cross another bridge : the beautifuful Rio-Antirrio Bridge ! It is a real joy to cross
the bridge by car (10 euro), by public bus or on foot.
For those traveling by plane to or from Athens towards North/West Europe, half hour before
- The OMILO Newsletter Greek Language and Culture Courses www.omilo.com April 2014
Page 10 of 10
arriving or leaving Athens you many times can see the bridge from your plane window! (look
carefully at the photo taken from the sky in March 2014!)
Read here some more details about the masterpiece, and have a
look at the great video!
http://www.omilo.com/the-famous-rio-antirrio-bridge/
Just for your info: if you would
like to enjoy the bridge even more, you can also take the
ferry from Rio to Antirrio, which gives you the opportunity to
sail for 40 minutes along the bridge , relax, have your coffee
and take beautiful pictures! (6 euro to take the car on the
ferry and 1 euro/person). This is what the OMILO staff many
times prefers to do!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hope you had the time and finances to arrange your holidays in Greece.
Looking forward to hear from you or see you in one of our courses.
Many greetings from Athens,
The OMILO-team
OMILO Greek Language and Culture in Greece
Pan. Tsaldari 13, 15122 Maroussi, Athens (GREECE)
Tel. (00 30) 210-6122896 Fax. (00 30) 210-6122706
Email: info@omilo.com - URL: www.omilo.com
FB: www.facebook.com/omilohellas - Twitter: www.twitter.com/omilohellas
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