Yaya & Papou
Every summer we go to Greece for a month or two to meet up with Tasos’ family and friends. And for every year that goes by I feel more and more at home. I love his family, they have really welcomed me in their family and I have become one of them (although I don’t speak Greek yet and I am still pale and always want to sit in the shadow). Normally we spend the most of our time in Nafpaktos (a small city next to the sea) were Tasos parents live though we also visit Athens for a few weeks. But this summer we packed our car and drove two hours up on the mountain. We drove through many small villages with animals grazing next to the road but we ended up at the highest and biggest village in the area Ano-Hora.
Tasos grandparents (Yaya & Papous) are both born in the village. They lived in Ano-Hora until the 1960’s then they immigrated to United States, they moved to New York. Yaya got a job as a seamstress and Papous worked in various restaurants but ended up being a owner of his own restaurant (together with his brothers). Their kids stayed back in the village until they had to attend high school. Almost everyone in Yaya and Papous' generation (from the little village) immigrated, some stayed in the US and got Greek- American kids and built a new life, others returned when they had to retire. But every summer you can be sure American or not they all meet in the mountains and talk half Greek half American.
Yaya & Papou
Hver sommer tager vi en maaned eller to til Grækenland, for at besoge Tasos familie og venner. Og jeg føler mig mere og mere at hjemme for hvert aar det gaar. Hans familie har taget virkelig godt imod mig og jeg er efterhaanden blevet "en af dem" (selvom jeg hverken taler græsk og altid vil sidde i skyggen i frygt for at blive krabbe-rod).
Vi tilbringer som regel det meste af vores sommer i Nafpaktos (en lille by ud til havet) hvor Tasos forældre bor. Men sidste sommer pakkede vi vores bil, kørte to timer op i bjergerne. Vi passerede skove, vandfald og små landsbyer men vi endte vores tur i Ano-Hora (den storste og hojeste landsby i bjerg omraadet). Tasos bedsteforældre (Yaya & Papas) er begge født i landsbyen. De boede i Ano-Hora indtil 1960 hvor de udvandrede til New York. Yaya fik et job som syerske mens Papous arbejdede i forskellige restauranter og paa bedste "American Dream" maner, startede han som opvasker og endte som medejer af en restaurant i NY-Astoria.
Deres born blev tilbage i landsbyen, men (naesten) alle i Yaya og Papous generation (fra den lille landsby) udvandrede, nogle bosatte sig i USA og fik græsk-amerikanske børn, mens andre vendte tilbage som pensionister.
Yaya cultivate the land and make pies with her own vegetables.
Yaya dyrker jorden og bager tærter med hjemmedyrket grøntsager.
Yaya's kitchen.Yayas kokken.
These three little guys showed us around in the area by walking us!... They went in front, decided the route and
made sure we didn't get lost.
Disse tre hunde viste os rundt i området ... De gik i front, bestemte ruten og sørgede for at vi ikke farede vild.
Kostoula is one of the oldest resident of Anahora (100 years). When I asked her for a pic she said "wait, I first have to make me
look pretty"... Well I guess some things never change for us women!
Kostoula er en af de aeldste beboer i Anahora (100 aar).
During winter only three people live in village.
Kun tre personer bor i landsbyen aaret rundt.
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