Sunday 26 November 2000
It's just Greek to me
I'm reading "Loaded" at the moment by Christos Tsiolkas. It's giving me a good indication of the difference or even division in cultures and thinking between Anglo-Celts and Southern Europeans. I realize these differences run so very deep. When it comes to Family especially. I would consider my own family a close one. I have regular contact with my brothers and sisters plus parents. If I don't see them on a weekly basis then it's by phone or email. My own experience of early family life was fraught with a constant struggle for independence. I wanted my own room and my own space. When I started work as an apprentice fitter and turner it was expected I had to pay board. Due to getting a regular wage, I suppose it was my parents way of saying I was an adult, and I had to pay my way in this world. If I made mistakes along the way it was the philosophy of "You've made your bed mate, now you have to sleep in it"
Emotions were dealt with in a straight forward manner. If a crisis came my way, anger, grief, depression were all short lived. It was always this forward way of thinking "There is always sunshine after the rain"
Now, my partner is of Greek heritage. If I was to compare her upbringing to mine the distance and difference would be measured in light years. I still cannot yet understand the bonding aspect within say a typical Greek family. A person like myself would find this a tad suffocating, but then, how would I know? This has not been my realm of experience. I have always believed in my own thoughts and own instinct. Fighting for what I believed in was fundamental to me as breathing. Free thought, independence of mind, individuality and to be who I am without being ashamed or living in fear. I know this is not always the case with a wog family, whether it be, Arab, Greek, Italian, Chinese..whatever.
I have made mistakes in my life on my own merit and moved on and got on with it. I have found it difficult to try and comprehend the complex arrangements within the wog mind. The sense of security is more fragile, emotions less controlled, grudges more easily held on to, honor and reputation kept close to the heart.
Believing I should absorb this way of thinking, has held be in good stead with the wog world. I of course, continue on as I always do, single-minded to the max.
If ever the day comes when I have children, there would be a big difference in child rearing to the one I had. I would instill aspects I think that are of value from the wog world and the anglo world.
The only world I really have to worry about at the moment, is the present one.____________________________________________________________
With the weather about to heat up, I usually start to hibernate. Rip-roaring heat sends me to dark and cool rooms. Today though was just beautiful. 26 Celsius. Perfect. The photos to the above right were taken 2 weeks ago when the Melbourne weather could not make up it's mind (as usual). I tend to take shots when there is lots of cloud. The blasting blue summer sky in the middle of the day casts downward shadows, socketing the eyes, making everything so lit, yet so contrast.
I have started a short story which I am having a lot of fun with. Of course I am basing the main character on a conglomeration of people I have met, including myself. The writing process (once you get into the swing of it) can be very rewarding, even if you are the only reader of your work. Getting back to it after starting is the hard part. Following it through to the end, almost impossible. Once again, it's the finely tuned time management between working full-time and pursuing several projects at the same time.
I'm buggered if I know why I even bother.
I suppose it is knowing the difference between what I call mediocrity (my full time job) and the true calling.
What ever that is
As promised last week, click to enlarge
C O N T A C T