Welcome to the hearth of The HappyNEST
Rooted in the Greek spirit of parea (togetherness) and kefi (shared aliveness), The HappyNEST Greek Socials create space for people of all ages and backgrounds to meet around food, stories, music, colour, and simple presence.
You don’t need to be Greek, confident, outgoing, or know anyone already — just open to arriving as you are.
These gatherings are informal and unhurried.
There is no agenda, no pressure to participate in a particular way, and no expectation to perform or fit in. Some people come to chat, others to listen, some to bring children, some to come quietly on their own.
All ways of being are welcome.
What matters is the shared field of care, hospitality, and respect.
At their heart, the Greek Social Gatherings are about remembering connection — to ourselves, to one another, and to the joy that naturally arises when people feel safe, welcomed, and at home.
They are about creating the conditions where belonging can unfold in its own time.
What unfolds at The HappyNEST Greek Socials
☀️ Each Greek Social Gathering offers an immersive, welcoming experience rooted in a shared love for Greece — its culture, gastronomy, history, landscapes, and way of life.
Every gathering gently centres around a different part of Greece, often places less known and cherished by travellers rather than tourists, shared through an interactive presentation that invites curiosity, imagination, and conversation.
"A different language is a different vision of life"
Federico Fellini
Follow the rainbow in the sky.
Follow the rainbow on your plate.
The rainbow of foods on our plates exists because of the rainbow of light in the sky.
Plants translate sunlight into colour through pigments and phytochemicals.
When we eat colourful foods, we are consuming condensed sunlight, carrying information that speaks to our cells, hormones, and rhythms.
In Greek culture, vibrant food is not decoration, it is nourishment shaped by land, light, season and care.
Following the rainbow on the plate is a way of remembering our connection to nature, culture and
the body’s innate wisdom.
Most Popular Content
An A to Z Guide to Greece
How to make a Greek Salad and other recipes and ideas to explore authentic parts of Greece
Why learn another language
What ChriSOULa's students say ...
👉🏼 Do you wish to expand your language skills by learning a new language?
👉🏼 Have you always wanted to connect with the ancient traditions and culture of Greece, but it seems like a world completely distant from your own?
👉🏼 Do you want to plan your dream trip to Greece, but you are afraid that language might be a limitation?
I am here to tell you that together, we can break through your fears and embark on an extraordinary journey to discover a unique and amazing language!
Discovering a new language is like opening a window to a whole new world.
Together, we will explore the fundamentals (and more) of the language and everything there is to know for those who, like you, are starting from scratch (or perhaps wish to refine their language skills).
My role as your teacher is to guide you on a learning path that will help you see improvement day by day!
Stop waiting, and start your journey into the amazing world of Greek today!
That's why I've created my course "Greek From Scratch" – to help you quickly reach your goals. Let's make learning Greek an achievable and fulfilling journey towards realising your dreams! Let's get started!
Yia sas, I'm ChriSOULa
....................
Personally speaking, Greece is not just in my heart. The land of philosophy, myths, gods, muses and warriors, mountains and sea coursed through my veins with every beat of my heart. Like another Odysseus, my passion for my homeland has grown year after year away from home.
Expat living and qualified teacher of languages, meant continuing passing on knowledge about the language, history and culture of my country. So, I turned to creating after school clubs at the secondary school I was teaching and offering to young teenage enthusiasts educational trips to Greece as rewards incl. Athens, Aegina island, The oracle of Delphi etc.
Through my research about my country in order to pass this knowledge to my students of all ages, I came to realise and appreciate my homeland more.
My Greek Socials in Cheshire, England brought Grecophiles together to taste authentic Greek food, Greek dancing (oh yes!) and inspiring them to explore the real Greece through my colourful presentations and quizzes.
All of the above prepared me and brought me closer to Greece than ever before. As an ambassador of Greece, I feel privileged to share my love for my homeland and inspiring language learners of all ages to learn to speak Greek.
In 2010, I founded EXPLORAMA School of Languages, connecting with Greek language and culture enthusiasts on social media and hosting retreats in Greece. Through my 30yrs+ teaching experience and expertise, I'm offering a course that aims to be the benchmark for those who want to learn new languages and immerse themselves in new cultures. It's so much more than learning Greek!
Teaching has been my vocation and I have never stopped teaching Greek since 1996 when I got certified to teach modern languages to adults by Cambridge University.
What my students say
"I can heartily recommend ChriSOULa for her expertise, enthusiasm and patience. Also for her delightful sense of humour that simply encourages me to want to expand my vocabulary, improve my understanding of Greek grammar and not to worry about making a few mistakes. Do you remember back to when you were at school, and one teacher made learning a pleasure? Well, that teacher is ChriSOULa."
Gillian Edwards
Imagine being fluent in Greek
Imagine yourself in a few months:
✅ You've finally taken your Greek From Scratch Master Course
✅ You can finally understand the basics and everyday conversations in the language.
✅ Now you can realise your dream of visiting Greece, speaking with your Greek friends, and understanding the country's culture because now you are no longer afraid of not being understood by the local people!
How does that make you feel?
You've waited a lifetime to take your dream trip: to finally see the Acropolis, visit Santorini, hike in the Olympus, or swim in the Aegean Sea.
In the course, we will work on vocabulary, expressions, and grammatical structures that will enable you to speak fluently and confidently in the most common and useful everyday contexts.
Whether you want to relocate, travel, or experience Greece, you will need to know Greek, at least at a basic level, to fully enjoy this adventure. If you do not know basic Greek words, you will miss out on much of the conversation.
Let's start this exciting and enriching journey together!
At the end of the course you will be able to:
Understand everyday conversations!
You will deepen your knowledge of Greek culture. You will be able to understand everyday situations, expressing yourself with basic words and phrases, so you don't feel lost in situations of need!
Speak clearly and confidently!
It is not enough to know typical words or expressions. Interacting with other people also requires knowing how to pronounce words in the correct way. In this course, we will work on your pronunciation!
Integrate yourself into social events
You will be able to actively participate in group conversations, interact with local people, and understand basic conversations so you can fully enjoy your experience, fighting the anxiety of conversing in the language!
Course Content
The course is designed for English speakers. Because English and Greek are very different languages, I explain things in English for most of the course so that you can understand the main concepts more easily, and the transition to Greek is smoother and easier to understand.
No previous knowledge of the language is required.
The beginner's course is designed for those who are starting from scratch, which is why it starts from the absolute basics. However, the course is also perfect for advanced beginners, as the difficulty of the lessons will gradually increase.
In my course you will learn:
Basic Expressions and Grammar
Introduction to basic greetings and addressing people in formal/informal terms. We will analyse basic grammatical structures that will enable you to understand increasingly complex topics.
Daily Life Expressions
I will provide you with skills to deal with everyday situations: You will be able to ask for your name, age, and time, introduce yourself, talk about where you are from, your nationality, your family, where you live, say thank you and apologise. You will be able to order food and drinks without problems and ask for the price. You will be able to make travel arrangements and purchase train, ferry or bus tickets. These expressions will allow you to enjoy your experience abroad to the fullest!
Numbers, Alphabet and Intonation
In addition to the basics, you will be able to pronounce letters, numbers, and words correctly. Sometimes, it is pronunciation that also makes a difference in understanding a dialogue. Building a solid foundation in pronunciation will be essential to help you master this language!
Vocabulary
Through the course, you will enrich your vocabulary lesson by lesson, covering colours, places in town, directions, food, seasons, days of the week, and much more. Through listening, lots of practice, and the exercises that I've created for you and in your course book, you will be able to manage the language and understand basic dialogues in Greek.
