Greece and third generation Greek Australians: a case study between students who had visited the country and those who didn't

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Date
2015
Authors
Kyriakopoulou-Baltatzi, Chrysanthi
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Modern Greek Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand
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© 2015, Modern Greek Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand All rights reserved. No part of this publication may reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
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Copyright in each contribution to this journal belongs to its author.
Abstract
Please note: This article is in Greek. Greece and Third Generation Greek Australians: a case study between students who had visited the country and those who didn’t: The paper examines how the journeys of third generation young Greek Australians to Greece is affecting their engagement with the country in comparison with those who did not do the journey. The findings demonstrated that four out of ten students have travelled to Greece, noteworthy number with given constraints, such as the high cost of travel and the long distance between Greece and Australia. The symbolisms of Greece, as a country of origin, culture, holiday and travel destination manifested in high rates for both comparison groups. Students who travelled to Greece compared with those who did not, are linked more closely with the Greek values, practices and knowledge. However, variations in rates between the two groups are not widespread. Therefore, it is not proved that trips to Greece are a key formatting factor of Greek values, practices and knowledge, although they play an enriching role. A substantive relationship of the third generation with Greece and Greek culture is structured through multilevel enculturation process in their family, school and Greek community environment. Within such context, Greece does not represent a refreshing destination, but mainly a starting point for a new relationship with their Hellenic heritage during the journey of Greek Australian adolescents towards their adulthood.
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Keywords
Greek studies, Culture
Citation
Kyriakopoulou-Baltatzi, C., 2015. Σχέσεις Ελληνοαυστραλών Τρίτης Γενιάς με την Ελλάδα: Μια συγκριτική έρευνα ανάμεσα σε μαθητές που την επισκέφτηκαν και εκείνους που δεν την επισκέφτηκαν. In: M. Tsianikas, G. Couvalis and M. Palaktsoglou (eds.) "Reading, interpreting, experiencing: an inter-cultural journey into Greek letters". Modern Greek Studies Association of New Zealand, 152-169. Published version of the paper reproduced here with permission from the publisher.