Opposition or Adaptation?

Jason If I were to each accept and reject one aspect of Greek culture and bring it into my American lifestyle, I think I would have an easy time making my choices. First, I would look to adapt my lifestyle to the restaurant scene. I love that restaurants and cafes generally do not post closing hours; they tend to have a time when they'll begin closing up, but they simply refuse to bully or hurry you out the door. You're welcome to linger as long as you'd like; the outdoor cafes are especially pleasant, with heaters keeping away the cold and comfortable couches perfect for lounging. My favorite moments in Greece so far have come from sitting at late night cafes the last two evenings, until well past 1am. The waitstaff is always pleasant, happy to work around our lack of Greek language and also happy to help us practice it (and practice their own English a little bit, as our waiter at dinner tonight indicated.) I think late night cafes offering this environment would be a very welcome addition to the American nightlife.

What do I reject about the Greek culture? The mid-afternoon siesta. It seems that from about 1pm to 5pm, most things tend to close (not just restaurants.) This is supremely frustrating for someone not used to this practice, and especially more for someone who is here for a limited time and wants to make the most of it. I won't say it's a bad practice to close for the afternoon, it's just different from what I am used to, and I don't really care for it. I have things I want to do and see, and it's unusual to have many things unavailable in the middle of the day. I would reject the afternoon siesta from being incorporated into my American lifestyle.