Kefi

Kefi was something that was introduced to our group before we came to Greece and it has stuck with us since. It's a Greek word and the definition is hard to pin down. How I define kefi comes from both the textbook definition and how it has been explained to me by Greeks. Kefi is joy, fun, passion and good spirits. It can be personal or communal. For example, the times that I have felt down (tired, homesick, etc) I've explained to those who asked that "I don't have any kefi today" or that "I lost my kefi". Or on the other hand if we have gone out as a group and a good vibe has created a kind of happy frenzy we have said that we have good kefi that night. It's an interesting example of how one Greek word can convey so much more than any one word in English. 

How we have looked at kefi has shifted since we have been here though. Before we saw the word kefi as proof that the Greeks were carefree. Through the research we had to do in order to prep for this trip most of us held that belief. Greeks take coffee breaks and nap and dance when the going gets tough (like in the movie Zorba the Greek), how could they possibly have any worries?

But once we got to Greece and were immersed in the culture, we came to realize that kefi doesn't mean no worries. It isn't evidence that the Greeks are carefree. In fact, Greeks generally have the same worries as Americans do. But the key difference is their willingness to let loose. To take a few hours to enjoy coffee. To stop in the middle of whatever they are doing to greet a friend. It isn't that they have nothing to worry about, its just that they choose not to let their worries dictate how they live their life. 

I really admire the Greek way of life. I am amazed by how they can still make time for things that Americans don't value, like sitting in a cafe or taking a nap, despite the fact that they are dealing with a debilitating crisis. Most are unemployed or underemployed. Many struggle to make ends meet. And yet the Greeks still find a way to exude kefi. They have a zeal for life and living life to the fullest that has no parallel in the soul-sucking culture of corporate America. Hopefully kefi is one thing that I can bring back with me to the States.