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| Eirini and Barbara enjoying mezes - appetizers |
Many people are surprised that I am learning Greek. "But it's so difficult!" they say. "How do you do it?"
Well, if you learn one word a day, in any language, soon you will be able to communicate at least on a simple practical level. Don't worry about memorizing the alphabet - you won't need it for a long time. Not until you want to read Greek newspapers because most street names and menus in Greece are also written in English.
Start with a simple, "Yassas" - hello and just use it whenever you meet another person or walk into a shop or restaurant. In return you will also get a "Yassas," or "Herete" - greetings, or "Kali Mera" - good day, and a smile or an acknowledgement. You will make someone's day. Try it.
And don't worry, no one will expect you to be fluent if you say it, and if you don't understand their reply, just shrug your shoulders and smile. Body language is after all 80% of communication. You can point and draw pictures if the person you are trying to communicate with doesn't speak any English, but that won't likely happen - most Greeks who work in the tourism industry, speak it. Only the very old people might not.
The second most useful word is, "Efharisto" - thank you. You can go a long way with just those two words but if you want one more, then say "Parakalo" - please.
So, three words: Yassas, Efharisto and Parakalo will help make your holiday in Greece so much more special.
After that, if you find yourself drawn to Ellada - Greece over and over again, like I have - and really want to learn more, then get yourself a Pimsleur Greek language MP3 download. It's the easiest way to learn. Listen to it at home, on a plane or a bus and you will absorb it naturally, without any effort like a child of two learning to speak for the first time. And then use what you have learned in your every day conversation.
Keep using your new words even if the person you are speaking to replies in English. I often have perfectly comprehensive conversations with Greeks this way - me speaking in Greek and the other person replying in English. We both get to practice.
And soon you will meet someone who will say to you with astonishment in their voice - "I didn't know you could speak Greek - isn't it difficult"?
