Listening to the Next Generation >> Anthony

I’m in Astoria probably three to four times a week. That’s the place to be. I grew up there for 14 years of my life. So I always find a way to get there. My grandparents still live there. I like going to the cafes there. It reminds you of Greece in a sense. It gives you that feeling you are in Europe. It makes me forget that I study in New York City and live on Long Island. When you’re in Astoria, you know that you’re going to be surrounded by Greek people, and you can relate to them in the way they dress and just the way their body language is. It’s comfortable being in Astoria. It’s like a little Greece basically.

Got Greek? interviews Anthony M. from Queens College CUNY

My father is from the island of Rhodes in Greece. His village is called Koskinou. He came here when he was about 17 years old. His father had passed away and he came to start a new life basically and to start working to help his other brothers and sisters who were back at home. He was one of the eldest ones. My mother was actually born in England but went to Cyprus when she was two years old. When she was 11 years old, she and her family came to the United States. They started a family business and restaurant. That’s how it all came down.

Q: Does your family still own a restaurant today?

A: Not anymore. But my grandfather recently passed on his bakery business to a family friend. His bakery was in Astoria on 30^th Avenue.

Q: What was it like growing up with your grandfather running a bakery?

A: It was a good experience because I got to see all the stuff he did like how to make the bread, how the ovens worked, how long they need to be prepared. Even in the restaurant business, he would tell me stories how things happened. He actually had a heart attack, which is why he had retire. But he would always tell me stories about his businesses.

Q: Did your grandfather ever talk about life back in Greece?

A: Not so much. But my father would tell me stories about how he grew up in a family of 12 people. His family had a farm in Greece. They raised various animals from cows to horses to chickens. Part of my father’s job was to help his father and mother raise the animals; make sure all the crops in the field were cultivated and irrigated. My father’s father was a butcher. So they would always have something to eat. Back then, it was really hard to find a job. They were living very poorly. They would have to wait to wear someone’s shirt to go out into the field because they didn’t have enough clothes to go around…But when my father came to the United States, he worked as a furrier in the mink business. Then later on, he started his own plumbing company, which he still has today and expanded.

Q: What values do you take away from your family members?

A: The number one value my family taught me is to work hard and persevere through the hard times because nothing in life is easy. What that really means is what you are going to accomplish in the end. For me, for instance, I want to be a chiropractor. My uncle was one. Throughout college, he had some rough times. He persevered and he worked hard and eventually accomplished his dream. Now I look at him living this lifestyle where he’s always on vacation three, four times a year. He has a successful practice now. Just watching my family grow gives me motivation to want to excel in life…Usually the Greek mentality is how everyone came here from being poor. They started a new life for themselves. I think the hardships they had back in Greece, bringing it here, gave them more motivation to want to a better life. So that kind of ties into the Greek heritage how we’ve struggled throughout the years. Even our history of becoming independent [from the Ottoman Empire] and all that. It’s just a struggle to survive.

Q: In terms of your identity, do you terms like Greek American, American with Greek roots, American or something else?

A: I always have to say that I’m Greek American because that’s just how I was brought up. I went to a Greek American day school for eight years. Then, my family moved out to Long Island where I finished high school. But ever since I was in first grade, I was learning how to read and write Greek. My grandfather is actually a chanter in church. So I used to go to church and was  an altar boy for a few years. But it all ties back to my identity how my family was raised. They brought the same exact qualities that their parents gave them to me. Knowing that I’m Greek American, I feel that it’s just a way of life basically. I know that I’m a true Greek by knowing how to speak the language, knowing how to read it, being able to even do Greek dances and songs. Just learning the culture and all that. That’s how I identify myself.

Q: Do you visit Greece?

A: Occasionally. I haven’t been there in a while. But I’m planning on going this year. We also have family on Cyprus. So we have to dedicate some time to go there, and of course to Greece because that’s where everybody mostly is.

Q: How do you feel when you’re in Greece or Cyprus?

A: I’m always alive. It’s a very laid back atmosphere. It’s a change from the United States. The scenery is different. You just feel like you’re in a place where it’s indescribable. You always feel good. The people around you are always smiling. I also think of the stories my parents and grandparents have told me, and see how they are connected there.

Q: What’s your connection like right now to your Greek background?

A: I’m in Astoria probably three to four times a week. That’s the place to be. I grew up there for 14 years of my life. So I always find a way to get there. My grandparents still live there. I like going to the cafes there. It reminds you of Greece in a sense. It gives you that feeling you are in Europe. It makes me forget that I study in New York City and live on Long Island. When you’re in Astoria, you know that you’re going to be surrounded by Greek people, and you can relate to them in the way they dress and just the way their body language is. It’s comfortable being in Astoria. It’s like a little Greece basically.

Q: My Big Fat Greek Wedding? What’s your take?

A: I thought it was a pretty cute story. Basically the customs of how you’re supposed to marry a Greek- that tradition we have. That is to keep the Greek tradition alive by marrying a Greek. When you do marry a non-Greek, it’s not like your family doesn’t support you. They just want you to stick with that especially with raising children…If you speak English at home, even though you’re Greek and your partner does not, teaching the children the language can be sidetracked and they won’t get the full effect of what Greek stands for…Greek is such a rich language. So many root words from the English language come from Greek. It just shows how rich and how everything descended from our ancestors.

Q: Thank you for your time.

A: Thank you.