Greeks in America - eBooks4Greeks.gr

Chapter HITHE GREEKS IN AMERICA (Continued)SOCIAL. CONDITIONSImproved social conditions.—Now, as a rule, peopleare living in more sanitary conditions than formerly.Greeks, like other immigrants, adapt themselvesto circumstances. Those who arrive at anyport in the United States searching for work areglad to find a place to put their head. The wholefamily of four, ^ve or more get along for a timein one room, but as soon as they get work and improvetheir circumstances, they seek better quarterswith improved conditions of living.RECREATION-Coffee-houses.—Greeks have brought to Americatheir customs and modes of recreation from the oldcountry. Coffee-houses provide the principal recreationfor men. People flock to these places day andnight, sitting around tables, sipping black coifee,smoking cigars, or more commonly cigarettes, or thenarghile, and discussing everything,—business, newsof national interest, and of course the politics ofGreece and the attitude of Americans towards them.At times they discuss American politics. There areoften animated discussions that might be taken forquarrels by those who do not understand Greek, butit is all verbal, no blows exchanged excepting theblows the tables or chairs receive. Greeks, like theLatin people, accompany their words with multiplegestures of hands and head, maybe even the foot,or the whole body.88