An American in Greece

Do we think that it is right for us to move into a foreign country and then try to show others how to "do it right"? Is our way the "right" way? Who knows.

I have traveled 25 years on a variety of cruise ships in a variety of jobs. I met my husband on board and decided to live with him in the exotic country of Greece. Is it so exotic? Is it what everyone dreams of as paradise and fun living every day? I don't think so. I built a house from scratch - exposing me to the way of life the native Greeks accept easily. The challenge mounted when day after day, the cultural differences between us showed themselves. A normal phenomenon to them continues to be a three-ring disaster to me.

Most home builders have a notebook with photographs. It documents the dreadful experiences, beginning many times from the agent and filtering down through the subcontractors. The tales are subject to oneupmanship but they are usually disaster stories.

From the natives here, there is no sympathy and no empathy. Their mantra is, "Eh, this is Greece. You have more than is considered the norm here, so kali tehe.(good luck)"

We are at a cultural impasse. I rationalize that there must be a comical side and when I hear of the life-altering events that happen to people here, I try to move on. At least I have not lost a loved one nor has my family been afflicted with a terrible disease. I am surrounded and outnumbered by an army of people who view what I think is abnormal as their normal. What is unacceptable to me in the way of shoddy workmanship is dealt with by a shrug of the shoulders and again, the mantra, "Eh, this is Greece."

The outright cheating, the disrespect even to one of their countrymen and the acceptance of it all, are a sad mystery to me. They all represent bricks and mortar in the continuing story of the house that Iordanis and Joyce built. Joyce the intruder, the Ugly American and the one who okayed the checks.