Summer has come to New York City with a lot of heat and humidity.  Yet this time of the year presents many opportunities for outdoor activities.  Our PC TECH student have been visiting places which are famous and others which may be “off the beaten track.”

There are field trips available to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and to small private art galleries in the Chelsea neighborhood, Union Square with its popular Greenmarket and Tribeca with its less-well know Amish Market, Times Square and not-so-touristy Battery Park City.

Today’s activities included one of the Metropolitan Museum’s most popular exhibitions this year, “Punk: Chaos to Culture” which the Museum describes as examining “punk’s impact on high fashion from the movement’s birth in the early 1970s through its continuing influence today.”

Another class visited Union Square with its extensive Greenmarket, where there are fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats brought to the big city almost every morning by local producers.  Even rooftop honey is sold there.  There are beehives on top of a number of buildings in New York!

Less well-known to out-of–towners are Amish markets, also with locally grown produce.  Besides the Tribeca market, there is another that is a ten-minute walk from PC TECH.  One of our classes took a leisurely stroll to the Amish Market on 45^th Street and 3^rd Avenue, where they could enjoy a late lunch.

 PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

From our previous blog post, Evgenia describes the importance of etiquette in the Greek family:

Family members sit, all of them, at the table to eat lunch or dinner.  They spend the evenings together at home, or they go out.  The parents respect their children and the children respect their parents.  The former teach the latter how to talk and behave politely.  For example, when you are in a small town, talk to the locals.  They expect it.  Help someone in need; give correct and clear to stranded people; don’t send cigarette smoke towards others’ faces; stop eating when you talk with someone else; cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing; be ever honest, reliable, and don’t lie under any circumstances.  Also, give your seat to the elderly; don’t go crazy when waiting in line; don’t push whoever is walking in front of you; don’t point at anyone with your finger.  When engaged in conversation, speak calmly, clearly, and give the idea that you have plenty of time.  But don’t be wordy.

The above-mentioned mentality and behavior reveals that the relations among family members are strong.  In reality, they are really strong and it is clearly shown when a member is admitted to a hospital.  The family is there 24/7 and never leave the hospitalized one alone.

The same polite behavior is shown toward the extended family members, friends, workmates, schoolmates, neighbors, acquaintances, bosses, etc.

In conclusion, the rules of etiquette are taught inside the family and are demonstrated throughout society.

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Students have been writing compositions about manners in various cultures.  Evgenia describes the importance of etiquette in the Greek family:

Unwritten rules of etiquette exist in Greece, as everywhere else in the world.  Even if the term “rules” may trigger a little bit of fear, it is relatively easy to understand the local mentality and behavior.

The fundamental factor in the smooth functioning of Greek society is considered to be the family.  The parents work and are responsible for the children, the house, the food, health problems, clothing, the children’s education, taxes, etc.  It is mandatory by law that the children have to attend the first nine years of school – until the age of 15.  But the Greeks love to see their progeny get a university diploma, so they sacrifice in order to support them.  The parents treat all their “angels” equally and promote the ideal of real and unconditional support among the family members.

Parents usually give their descendants the father’s last name.  However, in some cases, they leave the decision to the children about what name they want, their mother’s or their father’s.

The father is considered the head of the family, but many decisions are made by the wife.  She has the last word.  According to a statistical research completed one month ago, insurance companies canceled appointments with their clients if the wife was not present in the house.

 PC TECH: English Language School in New York City