My Greek Roots Anonymous

I am convinced that I only have friends because of my mother’s cooking. Friends always seem to come through the door when spanakopita, tiropita, baklava, and other ethnic Greek foods are on the table. Watching others become infatuated with the food I grew up with is both humorous and normal by now. I welcome friends and acquaintances to step into my alternate life so I can share with them a taste of my culture.

For many, the perception of Greek-Americans ends with Classical Greece--the Parthenon, ancient gods, the birthplace of democracy, and various famous philosophers. Today, however, growing up in a Greek-American community involves attending Greek School, being a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, going to Greek dance after school and in between soccer games, and of course being a part of a Greek family. At a young age, I started learning the language in Greek school, learning relevant phrases like, “Nikko has one goat.” Not until later in grade school, when I started to decipher biology terms, did I start to appreciate knowing a language that is the root of many of my vocabulary words.

The Greek Church, the largest organization in the Greek-American community, has enabled me to be a part of a group of people that...