amea
EN , GR
Episode 4

A participant shares beautiful memories from her childhood in a village near Thebes. As she nostalgically shares her memories, she has her hands crossed on her chest as if in a prayer position.

F.=Facilitator, P.=Participant

P. 5: My suitcase has many beautiful memories, games, and songs. I was a child who lacked nothing. My mother was from a village, specifically from Thespies in Thebes. She had many brothers and sisters. We used to go to the village, and I would see the little donkeys, hens, and roosters. I have very nice memories, celebrations, and dances.

F. 1: What kind of dances did you do?

P. 5: We danced to folk songs.

F. 1: Tsamika, kalamatiana, and such?

P. 5: Yes, kalamatiana, things like that. All kinds.

P. 4: Circular dances.

P. 5: Circular dances, yes. My grandmother used to make various types of pies. There are many photos from the village.

F. 1: Can you pick up a photo and show it to us here?

P. 5: To pick up a photo [makes the motion of picking up a photo with both hands]. Well, here's the photo.

F. 1: What is in it?

P. 5: Now, what comes to mind, right here [points with her hand] above, is the kindergarten I attended. Eleusis had private kindergartens and high schools at the time.

F. 1: More advanced.

P. 5: More advanced, yes. My aunt had one. I remember in the kindergarten a huge tree in the middle and there she used to put us in detention. Of course!

P. 6: We're documenting everything!

P. 5: I can't remember what I had done; I was a very young child, poor thing. I was grounded in the tree too.  The tree still exists in a cafe in the town called "Iliopoti",the Sunspot. Well, I remember elementary school. Oh, you should have seen the joys and celebrations there! What used to happen... Back when I went to the Elementary school, to the Second and First Elementary of Eleusis [points in a direction].

F. 1: t's this way  [points in another direction]?

P. 5: Yes, that's where they were. They were nice schools. The buildings were imposing, but the teachers... We had a little problem with the teachers.

F. 1: What was it?

P. 5: Very good [waves her hands intensely and ironically].

F. 1: Very good?

P. 4: Of course...

P. 5: What can I tell you! First of all, they were old. That, of course, is irrelevant. But they used to hit us, kid...

F. 1: With a stick?

P. 5: You know where? [Shows her fingertip] They used to use a ruler, and off they went! And what had we done to them? Nothing!