Listening to the Next Generation >> Cybele

Whenever I’m having a stressful moment or time, I just want to go back to Greece and Cyprus and be there. It helps me here when I’m stressed out. I just kind of regress back there in my mind. Maybe it’s the people and the environment, but I just felt really peaceful and at home there.

Got Greek? interviews Cybele Z. from Loyola Marymount University

My mom’s family is Cypriot. My grandma came to the United States from Cyprus in the early 1940s to marry a man from Cyprus who was already living here at the time. They lived in Virginia, Ohio and some other places. My mom grew up speaking Greek, and still speaks the language fluently. My father’s family is Mexican.

Q: Were you exposed to both your parents’ cultures while you were growing up?

A: My parents divorced when I was about five. So I was brought up more in the Greek household. I was also baptized Greek-Orthodox. Today, I’m still primarily exposed to the Greek culture. It’s always been a part of my daily life between food, family and religion. We would go almost every weekend to my grandma’s house to spend time with her.

Q: What do you remember about going to your grandmother’s house?

A: This is going to sound cliché, but the food. That’s what I remember. She always brought out the nice traditional pretty plates and the food. We used to watch the Greek TV programs on Antenna and we would listen to music.

Q: Did your mother and grandmother speak Greek around you?

A: Yes, but I never learned the language and no one formally ever taught me. When my parents were still married, my dad didn’t want me to speak Greek because he couldn’t understand the language.

Q: What has it meant to you to have this Mexican and Greek Cypriot cultural background?

A: I didn’t really come full circle with it until I got older in high school and came here to college. Growing up, I would always tell people that I was Greek and Mexican. But I didn’t know that what that meant. Growing up, being Greek was never as profound and meaningful to me as it is now that I’m older.

Q: Were there specific moments in your life that you think made you feel more connected to your Greek heritage?

A: Traveling to Cyprus. I went when I was younger but I was too young to take it all in. I went again during my junior year of high school. I think that’s when I just really connected with the culture, the family and the language. That kind of sparked an interest in me and made realize this is my history. From then, it’s just progressed. Now in college, I’ve taken Greek classes. I went back to Cyprus last summer for two weeks to visit family. That was the first time I had gone back since I was 17, which was four years ago. It was great. I didn’t want to leave. I even felt more connected to Cyprus and the culture this time around because I had been taking language classes here at college. I was able to cross that language barrier a little bit more this time and feel more connected to it.

Q: What part of Cyprus were you on?

A: My family is primarily in Limassol. Some of them are in Nicosia. But they used to be from Famagusta but are no longer there.

Q: Because that is now the Turkish side of the island?

A: Yes.

Q: Considering the 1974 Turkish troop occupation of Cyprus, what did you hear about that growing up?

A: Typical resentment, which is understandable because my extended family lost their homes. I grew up always hearing “The Turks! The Turks!” It’s hard. I don’t want to dislike them. But at the same, I can’t forget. They’re not bad people. I don’t dislike them. But it’s still kind of hard. That’s our island, and they came and took it. So I’m trying to balance those feelings. I’ve made sure to tell my close friends about Cyprus and what happened to my family. In my eyes, Cyprus is occupied illegally.

Q: You mentioned before that you have taken Greek-related classes here at college.

A: When I was looking where to apply to college, I happened on LMU and the Modern Greek program. That was a huge contributing factor to me really wanting to go here. It was my top choice. I really like the whole Greek department program and all the classes here. I have taken two years of the Modern Greek language: beginning and intermediate. And I’m currently in a theology class: Orthodox Christian spirituality. Then next semester, I’ll take Greek Orthodox tradition. I’m working on a Greek Studies minor.

Q: Have you ever considered wanting to live either in Greece or Cyprus at some point?

A: I have. When I left Greece and Cyprus this past summer, I told myself that I need to go back.  Besides being in Cyprus, I did a four-week Greek language program in Thessaloniki. Both experiences changed me. I definitely see myself going back somehow for six months or so to live.

Q: Can you elaborate on this need to go back?

A: It’s hard to explain. I just really felt connected and comfortable. It was just another world for me, and I really felt connected to my history and my culture and to be able to practice my Greek as well. I don’t know what it specifically is. I just feel really connected there.

Q: And when you’re here in the United States, how do you feel?

A: That I want to be back there. Whenever I’m having a stressful moment or time, I just want to go back to Greece and Cyprus and be there. It helps me here when I’m stressed out. I just kind of regress back there in my mind. Maybe it’s the people and the environment, but I just felt really peaceful and at home there.

Q: Where you live right now, do you have objects that you associate with your Greek Cypriot heritage?

A: Oh goodness, yes. You know what side of the room is mine. I have komboloi, which are Greek worry beads. I also have a print of Greece and a Byzantine icon. I have a map, too. Even at home, we have little Greek things everywhere, like the evil eye…I listen to Greek music, but mainly the new artists and pop music. I go online mostly to find music. There’s a Greek music store on the East coast where I buy music from and look at things they have.

Q: Did you see the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding?

A: I loved it mostly because I could identify with a lot of it. It’s a very funny and touching movie. I could relate to the mother character in the movie because she reminded me of my grandma. And the aunt also reminded me of some of my extended family members.

Q: What are some of those characteristics you could identify with?

A: Feeling guilt, and the part about eating meat. I personally do not eat red meat, and in the movie the aunt says to the main guy who’s vegetarian, “I’ll make you lamb.” My grandma has said the exact same thing to me before along the lines of, “I’ll make you filet mignon or something.” So when I heard that, I thought wow, it’s true! So those are two things that stick out in my mind. Also the constant poking and prodding for information. Very relatable. In my family, everyone knows everything about everyone. Even in Cyprus, they know what’s going on here as soon as the next day.

Q: One of the big themes in the movie is about relationships. For you, does your Greek Cypriot heritage play a role in your relationship choices, or even thinking about having a life partner in the future?

A: No. It’s never been a requirement that who I’m with has to be Greek. My mom has never pressured me in that way. Her only restriction is that I can marry whoever except a Turk…It’s understandable the family is still upset about Cyprus. I try to keep an open mind still and not be too influenced by it. But I still understand where they’re coming from. So I’m still trying to find a balance between what they think and what I think.

Q: How do you see yourself in the future staying connected to your Greek Cypriot heritage?

A: Probably through my family, staying involved with community activities, and the language. I have a couple of friends who are of Greek descent. We talk about Greek things like music or speak the language a little. I try to see them from time to time and stay in touch.

Q: Thank you Cybele.

A: Thank you.