Comparison of Greek & American Cultures

America's freedom and opportunity have drawn immigrants from all over the world to her shores to join together in one of the largest melting pots in the world. In the streets of America, Italians can live next door to Germans, and Africans can live next door to Native Americans. Since immigrants bring elements of their culture with them to America, knowing someone of another ethnicity or even growing up in an ethnic family can convince us that we are acquainted with that culture. However, when immigrants arrive here, they gradually become assimilated into American society. They may still speak their native language and live in neighborhoods where others from their land congregate, but as time goes by, they gradually and almost imperceptibly adapt to the American culture. This is why knowing the French lady across the street is not the same as knowing French people who live in France.

It is usually surprising, then, to travel to a foreign country for the first time and discover how different its culture and lifestyle are from ours in terms of priorities, fellowship, and entertainment. Such is the case with Greece. Even American Greeks are struck by the differences between our culture and the native Greek culture. One of the first things that Americans notice in Greece is contrasting priorities. Americans are always pressed for time. They are juggling many responsibilities, stressed, and "trying" to make time for their professed priorities

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Category: Psychology - C