If you were to travel back in time to the tenth century, you probably wouldn’t be able to understand a sentence that anyone said to you. They’d be speaking Old English. Talking to a tenth-century Englishman, you’d probably only be able to understand a few words like “a” or “the”. Only about one-sixth of today’s English words have an Old English root(词根) , with the rest having foreign influences.

Gradually Old English turned into the Middle English that Chaucer wrote in—but still the official language of England was French! It was only in 1362, during Chaucer’s lifetime, that English was used at the opening of Parliament(议会) for the first time. During the same year a law called the “Statute of Pleading” was passed, making English the official language in Parliament in 1399, King Henry IV became the first king of England after the Norman Conquest whose mother tongue was English.

English was still a language of low status(地位)—especially when it came to writing poetry(诗歌). During the 14th century, the Italians and French were creative. Great poets like Dante were writing in totally new ways. But English had no such great writer. This was where Chaucer made a difference. He took the language of the man in the street and turned it into many famous works, such as The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer proved poetry written in English could be every bit as good as books in French.

Of course, the English language has continued to change since Chaucer’s day. For example, Shakespeare’s English is quite different from Chaucer’s. And it is still changing now. Until just a few years ago, “C U L8R”(see you later) was just a set of letters and numbers, but now most people know what it means!

I first visited Greece when I was 5, and have spent every summer there since. As the granddaughter of four immigrants and inheritor of their purely Greek bloodline, annual trips to our homeland became a routine. But whether with relatives or at a beachside cafe, I was forced to speak Greek, not a word of English was acceptable. That was Greece over a decade ago.

Today, while walking down Syntagma Square in Athens, you’ll find a Starbucks on your right and a McDonald’s on your left, You’ll pass an H&M and American Eagle. At local bars where I try to practice my conversational Greek, waiters often respond in English. Every summer when I go back, I hear less and less of my native tongue.

The tourists are everywhere, They crowd the narrow paths by day and stream into the clubs by night, The hotels of Athens are filled to capacity on any given day, and the Parthenon is filled with visitors following placards (标语牌) held by tour guides.

Don’t get me wrong. I want tourists to witness the spectacular landscape and experience the rich history, culture and beauty of Greece, But I don’t want them to overrun the place. The increase of tourism in Greece, while benefiting the economy, challenges the preservation of Greek traditions and culture. In addition, it poses a serious threat to the natural environment.

As a tourist in a foreign country, it is your responsibility to respect the land you are stepping upon. Don’t expect the locals to speak English. Instead, buy a pocket e-dictionary. Read about Pericles and his vision of democracy before you visit the Parthenon.

Respect the country the traditions, and the people of the counties you visit. If you get to know the locals, you will soon discover the true meaning of Greek hospitality that will make you long for your next visit to the Greek isles.

Who knows, maybe I’ll be around on your next visit. Let me know and I’d be glad to show you around my second home.