My Grandparents came from a small country in the Mediterranean Sea, some may know it as Italy….although it's not even close! They come from Greece, the cradle of modern democracy, math, science, and culture all across the eastern and western world. Il list 5 things that all of us with Greek Roots living in the U.S. and Canada Can relate to.

1. Greek school

Most of us I'm sure can relate to this one. After the long difficult day at the American school, Mom loads you and your siblings into the family car and take you to the church. From 4 PM until 7 PM you spend the evening reading, conjugating verbs and writing in Greek, Niko he has one goat! Of course, this was my idea of hell back then but I'm now thankful I'm able to speak, read and write in Greek. It's all because of Greek School!

2. Greek dance

Yiasou Levendi!! Something Heard by most Greek boys as they were performing the Traditional kicks in a Greek Dance concert! They know just as well as you do, the long hours of practice you went through to look so good while dancing! I stopped dancing earlier than most of my Greek friends, and it's one of my biggest regrets. Defiantly something I would like for my Children to do.

3. Yiayia and Papou raised you just as much as your parents

After moving to the U.S. from Montreal, the biggest shock i had was not being able to spend as much time with my Grandparents. Although my Yiayia Maria is no longer with us, i still cherish every day we spent together. Both my Yiayia Maria and my Yiayia Erini would spend hours with me cooking, helping in the garden and just sitting down. For Papou Yanni It was Spending hours at his Garage looking at all the cars and learning tricks of the trade, Papou Niko was going around to his buildings and spending summers at his house in Greece…which is a whole other part il get into! I love my Grandparents and even though we live hundreds of miles away. Seeing them is like we never left each others side. S'agapo Papou kai Yiayia!

4. Summer in Greece

The thing I looked forward to most was spending as many summers as i could in Greece. Although i haven't been since 2011, the memories of all the stuff we did in Greece as kids sticks with you forever. With the Shisha thats free with a drink on tuesdays, to hanging out in the Village with Thio George! Its the memories il cherish forever an with any luck, il see Greece again in 2017!

5. You're Greek first and foremost and you're proud of it

Although we live in North America, have Canadian or American Passports, and other legal documents, you are always Greek First! In an interview Telly Savalas (AKA Kojak) did in the 1971 with a Greek TV station he stated in Greek, i will translate to english, " My father Raised us with much pride that we are Greeks, it doesn't matter that we are living in a foreign land, America, the language we cannot forget, we only spoke Greek at home as kids. The blood is not water my father said to us, and Hellenism never is lost, nor does the love for the Country"

This is something that when I heard it myself I took it to heart. His words are words i live by everyday, Never forget the Language, the Religion, and never stop loving Greece! Im Proud to be Greek! I will forever identify myself as Greek and its a vital part of my life.