Dear reader,

Welcome to the first edition of the SAE Canada Youth newsletter. Our aim is to provide you with up to date information on diverse topics such as Greece's national issues, recipes, biographies of Greek-Canadian youth, current events and information about local attractions in Greece and in Canada. We would love to hear from you!

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Kind regards,
SAE Canada Youth

Catherine Zoumboulakis is a Greek-Canadian speech-language pathologist (S-LP) working for the English Montreal School Board (EMSB). She was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, and her life up until now has been the model upbringing that Greek, immigrant parents desire for their children in Canada. At 28, she has managed to remain true to her Greek heritage while establishing a successful professional career.


Catherine's education began at Souvenir Elementary School. Her parents opted to send her to a bilingual school to ensure a proper learning of English and French. She then followed a French curriculum at École Pasteur. She learned to speak, read and write Greek by attending after-school Greek classes and Saturday school during primary and secondary, respectively. Meanwhile, she maintained a solid list of extra-curricular activities such as piano and swimming lessons, international synchronized figure skating competitions and weekly dancing lessons at the Sykea Society of Montreal. In Marianopolis College, she pursued studies in the Health Sciences. During a Career Fair Day in cegep, a professor of McGill University's School of Communication Sciences and Disorders introduced her to the field of speech-language pathology. In 2004, she acquired her Bachelor's of Science, major in Psychology at Concordia University, where she also held the position of President of the Undergraduate Psychology Student Association. Catherine was then accepted to a 3-year graduate program at Plattsburgh State University. In 2007, she acquired her Master's of Arts, major in Speech-Language Pathology and is now licensed in the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec, American Speech and Hearing Association and New York Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She returned to Montreal after graduating in hopes that being an S-LP of Greek origin would increase her chances of building a loyal Greek-based clientele.

The "rescue" plan signed by the Papandreou government (May 2, 2010) was designed to prevent Greece from defaulting on its debt. It also signaled the end of an era (the metapolitefsis period 1974-2010) in a dramatic way and took the country in uncharted territory. What lies ahead for Greece? A few days later (May 9, 2010), the euro-zone came under attack by speculators and was rescued at the very last minute from collapse. This led Europe to the realization that the road ahead could only be through a stronger union. But what is the way to a stronger union?

On May the 9th 2010, at an emergency meeting just before the opening of the markets in Asia on Monday, the ministers of finance of the euro-zone countries, announced that the European Union (EU) was ready to do "whatever it takes" to ensure the economic stability of the euro-zone in the face of a sustained speculative "attack" against Greek, Portuguese and Spanish government bonds, which was threatening to overwhelm the banks and to spread panic across the region and around the globe with potentially catastrophic consequences.

The announcement that the EU, together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was ready and determined to use overwhelming financial power (nearly one trillion U.S. dollars) to defend its vulnerable members in the south and, most importantly, the announcement that the European Central Bank (ECB) would act in coordination with the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and other major central banks to ensure liquidity in the banking system, sent a powerful message to the markets that Europe was more united than they thought and that it was in Europe's own enlightened self-interest not to let anyone of its members fail. The "party" of profiting on the expectation that Greece would default and that this would trigger a domino effect on Portugal and Spain seemed to be over.

However, the euphoria following Greece's apparent determination to address its problems and Europe's show of political will did not last for long. Market volatility is back and the euro keeps depreciating relative to the U.S. dollar on renewed concerns about Greece's ability to avoid default and Europe's capacity to tackle its mounting fiscal problems collectively.

How did it come to this? Who/what is responsible for it? What are the lessons? What needs to be done?

Summer Greek Potato Salad (Καλοκαιρινή Πατατοσαλάτα)

Potatoes in Greece had an interesting beginning. Legend has it that the New World crop arrived, during the tenure of Greece's first Prime Minister, Ioanis Kapodistrias, in the 1820s. The ever shrewd politician understood the nutritive value of the potato, but also understood the innate suspicion of his countrymen, when confronted with anything at all supported by the state. So, he ordered that a shipment of potatoes be kept under lock and key overnight in the, then, capital of Greece, Nafplio. Needless to say, the next day the potatoes had been stolen. Thus began the Greeks' love affair with the "patatoula". Now, it would be hard to imagine the Greek table without potatoes. They play center stage on daily, as well as festive tables. Everyday fare might include a heaping platter of Greek fried potatoes in olive oil. Potato salad is another classic on the daily table, and there are regional variations to be found all over the country. Potatoes form the base for several of the best-known Greek spreads, such as taramosalata and skordalia.

Today's recipe will feature the Summer Greek Potato Salad (Καλοκαιρινή Πατατοσαλάτα) which is a great compliment to any dish especially during the Summer BBQ season.

To prepare dressing, combine and whisk:

6-8 Tablespoons of olive oil

3 Tablespoons of wine vinegar

To prepare Potatoes:

	Peel six red medium potatoes
	Cut in half and place in pot and cover with water

Cover pot, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes until fork tender

Cool off the potatoes, grab a piatella then cut into thick wedges or cubes

1 small red onion cut into thin rings or if you want to salvage your social life and not risk having bad breath then finely chop 2 green spring onion shallots or you can do without but it won't taste as good!

2-3 springs of finely chopped dill

2-3 pinches of Greek oregano

Salt and Pepper to taste

Toss gently with onion, dill and dressing and serve at room temperature or cold. Enjoy!

Kalh Orexei