The music of the outcasts tells a story
Markos Vamvakaris, Vassilis Tsitsanis, and Grigoris Bithikotsis shaped Greek music with the sound of the bouzoukia and baglamades. The sounds of the two instruments accompanied their characteristic voices as they sang about poverty, pain, drug addiction, police oppression, prison, unrequited love, betrayal and hashish.
The bouzouki, a lute-like instrument with a pear-shaped body (skafi) made of staves and baglama are the backbone of the rembetika, a popular genre of Greek music.
From its rise in Pireaus and Asia Minor through the Metaxa era, and from the occupation throught the civil war until today, the rembetika invite Greeks to dance, sing, and drink.
The rembetika tell the story of another era. “This music is all about… Continue reading
Art Exhibition 2005
The Art History Society displayed several selections of student art during the last week of classes. The Art Techniques, Drawing and Painting classes contributed to the collection.
The exhibit was also meant to promote the study of art history. Pamphlets were available to students that informed them of the various art history courses offered by the college and the potential career opportunities associated with the discipline.
“One must have an open mind”
“I adore dance,” said Kalliopi Kopanitsa as she sat behind the desk of her study in Lycabetus. “In fact, I was once recommended for the Royal Ballet School.” Kopanitsa, a costume and set designer, has been hooked on the arts since she was a little girl. “When I was six, I was taken to see Sleeping Beauty,” she said, “and I just fell in love with ballets.”
Born and raised in London, Kopanitsa spent all her summer holidays in Greece. “Both my parents are Greek,” she said.
Kopanitsa’s family has a propensity for the arts. “My mother was an opera singer and my father, although he’s a lawyer, writes stories,” she said. “I also have a younger sister who… Continue reading
Vive Mexicano!
It’s like Mexico in my mouth. The spices from south-of-the-border tingle on my lips. I wash images of sombreros and ponchos down my esophagus with a crisp Corona. I have one thing to say: Me gusta la comida mucho!
Mexican bar and restaurant Amigos Locos has opened in Aghia Paraskevi. It’s everything an American living in Greece didn’t expect it to be: Mexican! Or Mexican-American, more fittingly. Anybody familiar with Mexican cuisine in the United States will definitely appreciate the menu.
There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. It combines the American favorites of TGI Friday’s and Applebee’s, and introduces a Mexican tequila twist to the Greek mélange of multicultural food choices. From onion rings, to loaded potato skins,… Continue reading
XXX Deree College Invitational Debating Tournament
The Deree College Debating Club organized its thirtieth annual Debating Invitational Tournament with 52 teams participating, including a team from Turkey and a hybrid team composed of a Greek and Croatian debater. The winning team of the November 4-5 tournament was “Equality for men” with George Krezias and Christos Samelis.
For the first time in its history the tournament featured two Masters’ rounds, in which eight of the best Greek debating teams participated. The winners of the Masters’ tournament were Tasos Katehis and Philip Abatzoglou, both Deree College alumni.
“The XXX Invitational was a huge success because it brought alumni together with the new generation of debate; it brought together old ideas with new,” said Maria Avgitidis, an organizer of… Continue reading
All in the Mall
Small stores and boutiques fill the streets of Athens from one side of the block to the other. Door-to-door shopping, each store adjacent to the next, creates an old-fashioned shopping experience. Is all that about to change? November 25 marked the grand opening of Athens’ first indoor shopping center, The Mall.
Located on Andrea Papandreou Street in Maroussi, The Mall is one of the biggest shopping centers in southeastern Europe..
“I’ve never seen anything like it. So many stores, I don’t know where to go first,” said George Nicolakis, a Deree student.
The Mall consists of 200 retail stores and entertainment choices for all ages, covering wide areas of interest. Stores such as Sephora, Marks&Spencer, Nautica, Claire’s, Bed&Bath, among others… Continue reading
Athens in the 20th century; an exhibit
Athens , 1940: A little girl admires her new, shiny, black shoes while gripping her old, tattered ones by the shoe laces. Men go to work, barefoot. An omnipresent army reminds Athenians of war-wrought decade.
The exhibition, Athens in the 20 th century, The Big Changes, assembled by ERT and the Mayor of Athens, brings Athenians closer to the events of the past 100 years. The exhibit is on display in Technopolis, in Gazi, and will run through January 2006.
“To see Athens without skyscrapers and condensed apartment buildings is truly refreshing,” said Eirini Orfanidou, a visitor. Orfanidou, who attended the exhibit with her husband, said that some of the pictures feel familiar.
“My grandparents were very poor during… Continue reading
Three countries, three advantages to study
Students interested in applying to graduate schools abroad learned what to expect at the annual “Overview of American, British, and Canadian Universities” event hosted by the Deree College Office of Career Services.
Nicholas Tourides of the Fulbright Foundation, Kathy Angelopoulou of the Canadian Embassy and Katerina Fegarou from the British Council provided information and advice. They discussed everything from academics to living expenses while studying abroad.
“Canadian universities have the lowest tuition fees in the English speaking world,” said Angelopoulou. She continued, one of the best things about going to Canada to study is that “you see people literally from all over the world, on campus, in students, and in faculty.”
The Canadian Embassy’s education adviser, Angelopoulou, added that there… Continue reading
Mousaka that melts in your mouth
It’s an odd thing, this obsession with eating home-cooked meals once you are away from home. For many students and businessmen, taverna Papayiannis is the best substitute for those days when mom’s cooking is sorely missed.
Papayiannis is not an ordinary taverna. After just your first visit you feel right at home. They’ll call you by your first name, greet you with a smile and nod every time you enter. This is, after all, a family business.
Papayiannis, located in llisia, has been around since 1974. Owner Vassilios Papayiannis left his village in Nafpakto to find a job in Athens. He soon discovered that he could offer a great deal to Athenians who missed food from the village.
“When I… Continue reading
Greek-American war veteran visits Deree
He sits back and adjusts himself on the bench. Colonel Nick G. Pappas, wearing his Special Forces cap, appears eager to begin. Two hours into the interview with Deree students, Pappas is teary-eyed. “I can’t believe I can remember all of it,” he said.
He came to Deree College to share his World War II stories with student volunteers of the Veterans History Project. These students, in turn, do their part to ensure Pappas’ stories, and those of other veterans, will not be forgotten.
The Veterans History Project is supervised by Ron Curry, a 63-year-old retired lieutenant who lives with his wife in Athens. Curry is president of the U.S. Retiree Association in Greece. Also a World War II veteran,… Continue reading