"From the first time we met they were very friendly to me, as if they had known me for years. Zorsare and Mirali study computer science at the University of Constantinople and Kismet studies economics. The latter impressed me with his kindness. We had an appointment yesterday morning outside Dolma Bahce, but I was about half an hour late and he was still waiting patiently for me under the heavy snowfall. We then went to his place, where he played the guitar and sang for me. He has his own rock band and they play many gigs. He lives alone, away from his parents, because he wants to be independent. The decoration in his house is very simple and his interests are not much different from mine".

They immediately connected

Ares Dermitzakis, a young mechanical engineer from Athens, was having fun in a tavern of Constantinople, where he met a group of Turks of his age. When the band played a Greek song, the Turkish students invited the young Greek to dance with them and from that moment on they became inseparable.

During the following days, they enjoyed each other’s company several times and agreed to meet again soon in Athens. The young Turks never spoke Turkish when their Greek friend was present, so that he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. They have exactly the same habits and reactions with Ares, they like music and dancing, they easily express their feelings, they eat the same foods, they dress in the same way, they laugh at the slightest joke.

Ares isn't surprised by the kindness of his Turkish friends and he doesn't feel superior or inferior to them. He feels totally equal to them and thinks that the mutual respect amongst them is very natural. He is a modern Greek, who is not dominated by anger against the Turks.
TEXT-PHOTOS: GEORGE ZAFEIROPOULOS
SOURCE: www.greecewithin.com

MORE PHOTOS

Kismet is a guitar player and has his own rock band.

Turkish women never lose the opportunity to dance.

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