MazalA

         The movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" shows the differences between the Greek culture and the American culture.  The main character, Toula, is a thirty year old Greek woman who tries to break out from her father's old traditions.  Toula has been working in her father's restaurant since she was not married. As a result, she did not socialize and could not pursue her dreams. Later on, she found a brochure of a college that deals with her area of study. She knew that she would not be able to go there because at her age a Greek woman should have been married and have a few children. However, Toula did not give up and fought for her right to go to school. Consequently, she started to attend college and she found a better job. After working in her aunt's office for a while she met Ian. Ian is a white American high school teacher who fell in love with Toula. Even though, she also fell in love with him, she could not have any relationships with him because he was not Greek.  Yet, she did not care and kept on with her  feelings. Thus, her father could not do anything so he let her marry him. As a result, Ian has to get baptized and marry in the Greek Orthodox Church. Throughout the movie, many aspects of Greek and American culture and traditions were compared. For instance, wedding ceremonies, cultural behaviors, foods, etc.

        I could relate to this movie because it is portraying my family and how it is today.  The Jewish culture and the Greek culture have many similarities. For instance, in Jewish traditions a girl should marry when she is young or otherwise she would be considered old.  Moreover, every Jewish person has big families. As a result, whenever there are small family gatherings, it looks like a huge party.  In addition to that, every Jewish girl has to marry a Jewish guy, and there are no exceptions.   In my family though, it is slightly different. I, as a young woman, do not have to marry that early. My parents want me to get a higher education and then marry. However, the tradition to marry a Jewish guy did not change. I still have to marry a Jew. Toula did not follow her tradition and married a non-Greek guy. On the contrary, I will have to do so because I really believe that a couple from the same traditions and culture will understand each other better than inter-marrying.