When Sydney-based student Simonn Nguyen won a free plate of Greek food at the International Night Markets, he never envisaged that a live video on social media in which he expresses his love for all-things Greek would go viral.

“The response from people has been incredible,” Simonn told Neos Kosmos.

“My account has been saturated with messages of friendship and support by the Greek communities all over Australia and I love it.

In the popular video, the 21-year-old, who was born in Vietnam and migrated to Australia when he was just a few months old, declared his undying wish for a Greek wife.

“I am Asian, but I must admit there is nothing I don’t like about the Greeks except for one thing: I still haven’t been able to find a Greek wife,” he says.

Simonn’s real connection with the Greek culture began from a young age, during his regular visits at his mother’s place of work.

“I used to go past the beauty salon where my mother worked. I grew up in there and I enjoyed hanging out with mum’s Greek customers. They used to tell me stories about the past, teach me how to speak their language and introduced me to real authentic Greek food. The only thing I haven’t managed to do is convince those wonderful ladies to allow me to marry one of their daughters and granddaughters,” he says.

“Whenever I ask, it’s never a straight out ‘no’ by them, because deep down they do think I am a good boy, but they can’t bring themselves to give their whole-hearted blessing. ‘If only you weren’t a kinezo Simonn’ they say, but I still live in hope that maybe now that my video has gone viral, I will be lucky enough to get my break. Otherwise I might have to consider giving up my dream of marrying into a Greek family,” says the student.

Currently studying a Bachelor of Arts and Education at the University of New South Wales, Simonn’s dream is to pursue a career in comedy and currently works part-time, ironically, at a wedding venue.

“We have a few Greek couples that hold their wedding receptions there and on the nights that I am working I make sure I go up and introduce myself to the guests as their waiter for the evening. I tell them they can either call me Simonn or kinezo and that I respond to both names. That’s when everyone bursts out laughing,” he says.

“It actually works as a great ice breaker and we all end up having a great night.

“I don’t mind the Greeks calling me a kinezo. I love it. I am Asian after all. Sometimes, I just wish we could all use our sense of humour a bit more and embrace all the different cultures that we are lucky enough to experience by simply living in a country like Australia.”