Omilo Newsletter October 2012

7/27/2019 Omilo Newsletter October 2012

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Hello from Athens!

(if you would like to receive the Greek version, please subscribe)After a long summer break and a lot of (very pleasant) work

during the summer courses, it is time again for the Autumn

Newspaper! We delayed a bit for the simple reason that it

was impossible to get in the autumn-mood, with constant

blue skies, sunny days and temperatures between 22 and 30

C! The summer lasted till the end of October, but the

beautiful autumn colors in

many regions of Greece as

well as different fruits (no

watermelon anymore!) on the

weekly markets, reminded usthat we are indeed changing

season!

From this week we are enjoying our warm nes, Greek coffee or cappuccino again, instead of the

summer frappe and cappuccino fredo!

This week we are also taking care of our participants for the one-week intensive course in Athens.

Time again for the beautiful Athens walks in the afternoon, while exploring the interesting cafes,

museums and restaurants.

Time again for the many musical and theatre performances in this very Greek but also very

cosmopolitan city!Time again for all the courses taking place in our OMILO School in Maroussi, a pleasant

municipality at 15 km north of the Acropolis! With OMILO, you never get bored!

For those that had computer problems or viruses, for the lucky ones that were on holidays and did

not check their emails for 3 weeks or for those that for some unknown reason did not receive our

email of three weeks agoour 2013 program is ready! The web-site is updated (for 85%) and

all new data available online. Have a look at

http://www.omilo.com/cms/index.php?

option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=15&lang=en

In this Newsletter we will write about :

1. OMILO news

2. The Greek school year

3. Medals in sports and science

www.omilo.com

Greek Language and Culture

October 2012 OMILO Newsletter
http://www.omilo.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=15&lang=enhttp://www.omilo.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=15&lang=enhttp://arathra.eu/~omiloco/cms/http://www.omilo.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=15&lang=enhttp://www.omilo.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=15&lang=enhttp://arathra.eu/~omiloco/cms/


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4. Distinction for the Greek cinema

5. 101 years of the Greek kiosk

6. May I treat you a spoon treat

1. OMILO news

A. We are trying hard to organize a course in a new course location at the end of May.

Unfortunately we are not ready yet since we still need to discuss further with the owners of theteaching location. Hopefully we will have more news in about 3 weeks.

B. Our teacherMairy Loukaki, who was successfully teaching groups and private lessons in our

Maroussi school, decided in August to move to Germany. Due to the very difficult financial

situation in Greece, even more so for a single mother with two children, Mairy took the decision to

leave Greece. We wish her and her children all the best in Germany and hope to work with her

again in the future. Mairy speaks fluently German and English and now lives and works in Munich.

Anybody looking for a very good teacher in that area, feel free to contact us.

C. After the success of the 1stcultural week in Andros, we decided to continue and offer it again

on the island of Andros from 6/7 till 12/7. However, with some changes! This time the cooking and

dance lessons will be offered in the afternoon. All the information about the cultural week will beonline by December.

The Greek lessons offered will be normal group courses in the morning, as usual from 9.30 till

13.30. Private lessons are still possible, but only between 15.00 and 19.00.

For those in the mood to visit two Cycladic islands, it is possible to combine a one-week course on

the island of Andros with a one week course on the island of Syros (from 6/7 till 19/7). On

Saturday, you can travel by boat from Andros to Syros (2 hours)

D. Our various courses and options forprivate lessons in Maroussi (North Athens) as well as the

cultural walks in Athens, take place during the school year, from September 10 till July 10th.

Maybe a good opportunity to explain you a bit more about what means school year in Greece!

2. The Greek School year

When a Greek student or parent speaks about the school year, usually this goes together with a lot

of stress and financial worries. Why?

A typical Greek school year starts around

September 15th and ends around June 15th.

After that, Greek students have 3 months of

holidays! However, apart from the Christmas

and Easter breaks, there are no other school

breaks and few national holidays.

As so many things in Greece, also the

educational system is very different from other

countries in Northern Europe or elsewhere.

Non-Greek parents, having children in the

Greek school system, need to adapt a lot to a

different mentality and way of thinking.

The system is based on tons of homework, learning by heart and making sure your child

practices sports and/or music and learns at least one or two foreign languages. Greeks know and

usually accept that this is not achieved or offered by the normal day-school ! Therefore a parent

with a child in primary school needs to help every day with homework (+/- 2-3 hours) and/or

spends an average 200 euro/month/child for extra private lessons/programs.

Because every parent hopes his child will enter the university (other options are not comparable
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.470596256307262.115435.113515072015384&type=3&l=1c317e2dd1http://www.omilo.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17:one-to-one-lessons&catid=3:general&Itemid=23http://www.omilo.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30:cultural-walks-in-athens&catid=3:general&Itemid=39http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.470596256307262.115435.113515072015384&type=3&l=1c317e2dd1http://www.omilo.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17:one-to-one-lessons&catid=3:general&Itemid=23http://www.omilo.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30:cultural-walks-in-athens&catid=3:general&Itemid=39


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with European standards!), most of the children (17-18 years old) do the national examinations at

the end of the last high school year. Since the examinations are very difficult and the materials

usually not covered in the normal day-school, the amount spent for extra afternoon lessons in high

school goes up to 400-700 euro/month/child.

We know, it is hard to believe, but (fortunately) even in a Greek crisis, the education is the "no. 1

priority" for every Greek parent.

Every single government has tried to change the way of teaching, the way of entering the university,the university system, etc.. Unfortunately, until now, not any government succeeded! Why? Well,

this is another story again!

We understand you might have many questions now! Many students ask us every year how the

Greek school system works. This is a difficult question. When we give answers though, we are

aware that many students only believe half from what we describe or just think we are loosing it! In

theory the Greek educational system does not differ that much from other countries, in practice

though..its another story!

A story, too long to write down in a Newsletter.

A story, you probably will only believe or understand if you have experienced yourself!

During the summer courses of 2012, upon request, Dimitris organized a coffee-morning withquestions and answers about the Greek crisis. Following its big success, we might organize

another coffee-morning about the Greek educational system! Prepare your questions and the

OMILO team will try to answer them, while enjoying your coffee in Greece!

To end the school system story, here a small interview between the Athens News and Olga.

Olga Koutsika was among the 116,173 high-school graduates who took university entrance exams

last June 2012. She came first.

She got a perfect 20 out of 20 in biology, Ancient Greek, Latin, literature and history. Modern

Greek was the only exam she did not manage to get full marks: 19.3.

In an interview to the Athens News (mid-September), Olga speaks about her hopes and dreams andreveals the origins of her success.

(note: this success goes as much as to the sacrifices and financial means of the parents as to the

commitment of the student, but is not mentioned here!)

Athens News: You achieved the highest score overall in national exams this year. What is the

secret of your success?

Olga Koutsika: The secret is good planning. I was lucky to learn discipline from an early age at my

ballet classes. It is important for a high-school student who takes national exams to know what she

has to study every day and

follow a plan. The curriculum is overwhelming and it is almost impossible to follow it unless youhave good planning.

Can you describe a typical day of the past year?

I woke up at 7.30am and left for school. I came back at around 2.30pm and left straight for the

frondistirio (private tutoring school) in Marousi, where I had classes from 3.30 to 7pm, every

weekday. After that, I came back home, to study again. Three times per week, I went to the ballet

school from 8 to 10pm.

How many hours per day did you spend studying?

Around four hours every day on weekdays, but many more at the weekends.


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How long have you been practising ballet?

Since I was five. For the past three years, I have been taking ballet lessons in the National Opera

School in Kallithea. (South Athens)

That is pretty far away from where you live.

The schools about an hours drive away from my home. My mother, who is a teacher, held the

history book open, checking my recitation of passages by heart.

Who was driving then?

My mother! But the car was stuck in traffic most of the time!

Do you plan to continue your ballet classes now?

Of course! I will take the culture ministry exam. The exam includes both classical and modern

dance, as well as improvisation.

If you pass, how will you be able to attend both law school and National Opera Ballet School?

The programme in the National Opera is tough and demanding. I will have to attend classes every

day from 9am to 4pm. I wont be able to attend the lectures at law school. But I hear that the

professors in the university are planning to go on strike, so I wont face a problem!

You belong to a generation that many analysts see as a lost one, its plans overturned due to

the severe financial crisis. What do you think?

Being young means being more romantic. We believe that within the next few years, by the timewe graduate from university and try to enter the job market, things will have gotten better.

If not, we will have to seriously consider moving abroad to find a job. It would be very

disappointing, however, to know that you study hard to enter university and then to get a degree and

that all your efforts will go in vain.

OMILO wishes Olga and all the other students and parents the best of luck.

3. Medals in sports and science!

This summer we enjoyed the Olympic Games organized

with great success in London. The major international

sport event offered us suspense, records, excitement and

fine spectacle!

Despite the financial difficulties, (the state does not fund

sports anymore, because of the crisis) Greek athletes won

high places.

a. - Tae kwon do - Bronze medal

b. -

Womens lightweight double scull - Bronze medal

c. , ,


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- Mens quadruple scull without coxswain - 4th place

d. - 10 km open water swim -4th place

e. - Pole vault - 7th place

f. - Javelin throw -7th place

g. - Mens lightweight double scull - 8th place

In addition to this, this summer, Greece had a great success in another Olympiad.

The 6th international Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics took place in Rio de Janeiro

from 4 to 14 August. Thirty countries and 150 pupils took part in this Olympiad. The Greek 5-

membered delegation won 1 silver, 2 bronze medals and 2 honorary distinctions. The pupils

were selected through national exams organized by the Hellenic Society for Astronomy and Space.

A very intense preparation before the Olympiad resulted in these important distinctions.

Athletes and pupils, do not give up and make Greece proud again!

4. Distinction for the Greek cinema

The famous Greek director Yannis Smaragdis completed his new movie God loves caviar. The

movie was first presented in the 37th Toronto International Film Festival (6-16 September) in thesection of World Contemporary Cinema. It is a great distinction as it was selected between the

films of famous artists such as Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, and Billy Bob Thornton.

The film is dedicated to the life of Ioannis Varvakis, a national benefactor (1750-1825). At first,

Varvakis was a pirate. He managed to reach the royal court of Empress Catherine II of Russia,

where he became a successful caviar transporter. After of a lot of misfortunes and disasters, he

decided to donate his fortune to the Greek State, believing that altruism is the most important ideal.

Sebastian Koch (The life of others) stars in the role of Varvakis. Also, stars Catherine Deneuve,

Nick Ashdon (el Greco) and a lot of famous Greek actors.

The movie is now playing in Greece and maybe soon in your countries as well.Click here to have a look at the trailer .

5. 101 years of the Greek kiosk

A. -Im going to buy cigarettes and my weekly newspaper.

B. Please, buy also aspirins for me, because I have a headache.

C. -Oh, since you go, get some chips or ice-cream for me please!

Where you think person A is going to? Where could you

find all these things even at midnight? In case you are in

Greece, of course at the kiosk!

Greece has this original concept: small independent

shops on the pavements or on squares, which are open

every day (Sunday included) from early morning till late

night (often 24H) and sell almost everything: magazines,

cigarettes, refreshments and beers, chocolates, chewing

gum, ice-creams, bus tickets, safety-pins, razor-blades,

condoms and the list goes on. (Recently, some companies

put their CDs on the kiosk market).

100 stores in one!

The kiosks first appeared 101 years ago. The first kiosk was constructed in the PanepistimiouStreet, in 1911. On the occasion of their 101 anniversary, this summer a small celebration took place

at Syntagma Square and that was a nice opportunity to learn its history! In 1911, Greece was
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsy21x_god-loves-caviar-by-iannis-smaragdis-official-international-trailer_shortfilmshttp://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsy21x_god-loves-caviar-by-iannis-smaragdis-official-international-trailer_shortfilms


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suffering because of the Balkan wars. The kiosk solved two problems. The Greek state had no

money to pay pensions to disabled ex-servicemen. So, it gave them permission to open kiosks.

Apart from the social offer, the kiosk operated also as a source of taxes: it was the first organized

point of selling cigarettes! The state earned a lot of money!

The kiosk owner was the star of the area: he knew the neighborhoods gossips, he was selling on

credit, and he accepted the calls, when people did not yet have telephone at home. Years went by,

the kiosks changed and they adapted to the new society needs.Today, maybe the most important service of a kiosk owner is not to sell a wide range of things but

to give information. He knows all the surrounding streets, which pharmacy is open at night and

which flat is available for rent.

So, whatever you need to buy or ask, you will definitely find a kiosk (or more) to solve your

problem!

From the moment we go abroad, we really miss the kiosk and wonder why it is not implemented in

other countries. Maybe an idea for Greeks to introduce abroad as well?

6. May I treat you a spoon sweet?

One of the famous tastes of Greece is the spoon sweet. It is about sweets that are eaten in smallportions. A teaspoon of them is as sweet as an entire cake!

The recipe is simple: sugar, water and season fruits! We often add lemon juice so that the fruits

preserve their color and little pieces of almond for a richer flavor. In old times, the spoon sweets

were a must have in every house and of course they were handmade. They were the most

important and typical treat to offer to your guests : a little crystal dish with the sweet, accompanied

by a Greek coffee and a glass of cold water.

There is a great variety of them: cherry, sour cherry, grapes, quince, orange, figs and the list goes

onbut it is not only fruits. Greeks are creative! Initially the aim was to find a way to conserve

their production which was not consumed. Therefore, depending on the area and its production, you

also find the tasty rose-sweet, the lemon-sweet, the walnut-sweet, but of course also the mastiha,

known as ypovrihio (=submarine).Ypovrihio comes from the mastic resin. It is produced

only in Chios, the only island where mastic-trees grow. The

mastic resin is industrially mixed with table sugar and the

sweet spoon is ready. The serving suggestion is simple: we

immerse a spoon full of mastic in a gold glass of water. In

Chios, this spoon sweet used to be the typical treat at

moments of great joy, as for example in weddings or

engagements.

Are you in the mood to taste a spoon sweet? If you cannot

prepare it on your own, next time you buy it in Greece

or ask Marina to prepare one of them during the

cooking classes in Andros!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So far our autumn news!

Maybe you expected to have more news about the Greek financial troubles, the Greek crisis and the

new Greek tax system? Since the information about those subjects is changing every single day, it is

not possible to cover this in a 2-monthly newspaper!

Needless to say, the situation is difficult! Probably the most difficult for young people trying to find

a job (without having experience) , or for pensioners losing their pensions and therefore dependingcompletely on their children, or for parents with children not being able to cover the school fees

anymore, or for the disabled being cut from any subsidies, or for those in need of the health sector


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which is out of money, or for those having spent all their money over the last years to buy a house

and not able to pay the new property taxes now, or for those having to close down their small

businesses because of the new tax calculations, .or for the ministers not knowing how to

handle this situation??

However, speaking with so many non-Greek students on a daily basis, people able to compare

different cultures and systems, the positive sides of living in Greece are also still there! No doubt

about that!

OMILO remains positive, as always, and will try everything possible to organize high-

standard programs with a smile!

One of our students wrote us the following:

Hello :) :) :)

I would very much like to give you my feedback about my OMILO experience!

What most impressed me was your ability to combine absolute professionalism with the simple

warmth of a "family feel". Quite magic and rare actually.About my beautiful teachers I can say that they not only know the subject they are teaching, but

also have the talent for explaining and pedagogic, which blew my

mind and helped me understand so much in just a week.

On top of this amazing experience, the dancing lessons were a blessing and such a great way to

dive into the culture with your whole heart and feet !

thank you, thank you, thank you !

We also thank all of you for your positive energy and support.

Many greetings from Athens en enjoy your autumn,

while tasting some Greek chestnuts!

The OMILO-team

OMILO, PO Box 61070, 15101 MAROUSSI, ATHENS

Tel. (0030)210-612.28.96

email: [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

Documents

Omilo Newsletter October 2012