home in athens
A Home in Athens
The Charda family invites viewers into their home.
Vocabulary
guest | thing (2) | be our guest |
simple | elegant | practical |
wood | tone (2) | keep (2) |
dark | way (2) | sandy (2) |
till | even if | traditional |
really | connect | go back and forth |
suit | outside | as you please |
frill | feel (2) | space (2) |
wall | overall | light (3) |
sand | still (2) | over for dinner |
design | even (2) | keep an eye |
tailor | breathe | architecture |
special | fall (2) | impression |
humor | valiant | well being |
sew | kind (2) | spend (2) |
inside | late (2) | sense (2) |
quite | balcony | barbecue |
Video
Video
Georgia: “Hello please come in. Please be our guest.”
Georgos: “Young families like us like things simple and elegant. No frills. Take dark wood tones and light sandy shades for example.
Georgia: “We have the TV on from eight in the morning till midnight when we go to bed. That’s traditional in Greece, even if no one is watching it, the TV is always on.”
An apartment costs 200,000 euros.
Georgos: “For the past fifteen (15) years, Greek homes have been built this way.
The living room and kitchen are connected, so you can go back and forth as you please. It really suits women who spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
Overall we have the feeling of more space because there aren’t any walls or doors.
The design is beautiful and open. And it’s practical when we have friends over for dinners.”
Georgia: “It’s also practical when our daughter was still young. I could work in the kitchen and still keep an eye on her playing in the living room.
Our impression is that an open kind of architecture breathes and special sense of well being and good humor.”
Georgios: “The valiant little tailor.”
Sofia: “What’s that?”
Georgios: “Oh, that’s someone who sews, see?”
Georgia: “We often have friends over and we sit outside from spring to late fall. It’s our second living room. We can even watch TV.
In summer we have barbecues on the balcony with our friends and family.
But we also like sitting out here when we have something to talk about.
We’re quite happy with our balcony.”
Questions
1. Their apartment is very luxurious. Yes or no?
2. Do you think their electricity bill is low, medium or high?
3. Is this a traditional or modern Greek home?
4. The living room and the kitchen are entirely separate (by a wall). Is this correct or incorrect? Why is it practical for the kitchen and living room to be open or connected?
5. Are they hospitable? Are they introverts or extroverts?
6. Do they like open, fresh air?
7. The family are vegetarians. Is this right or wrong?
A. Do you live in an apartment or house?
B. What sort of furnishings and decorations do you have or like?
C. Are you from Greece? Do you live in Greece? Have you ever been to Greece?
D. Have you met anyone from Greece? Who were they? What were they doing?
E. Describe the climate and geography of Greece.
F. Describe the economy of Greece. What does it import and export?
G. Does Greece have any problems or challenges?
H. What is the food of Greece like? Describe Greek cuisine.
I. What are some tourists attractions (cultural, historical, natural)?
J. What comes to mind when you think of Greece? What do you associate with Greece?