I feel I owe everyone who was forced to listen to me chant, “Thirty on Thasos, Thirty on Thasos!” for ten months the story of how the big day went. It was my landmark birthday. The crossing over into the next decade. The fulfillment of my cleverly coined phrase! But underneath the alliteration there is important question to be … Continue reading Thirty on Thasos
On Tuesday, my writing workshop left Thasos. They boarded the bus to Limenas, where they would catch the ferry to Keramoti, and then continue north to Thessaloniki. They left amid hugs and tears, smiles and sadness. And I couldn’t stop thinking: wasn’t it only yesterday I wrote about their arrival? Have four weeks really gone … Continue reading Effects of Thasos
I met Vasilis during my pre-workshop days at Archodissa. He is one of Tassos of Thassos’ best friends. They grew up in Theologos together, and he was the person who “bapticide” Tassos’ son, which means he was made the godfather. Vasilis’ voice is deep and rasps, almost as if he needs to clear his throat … Continue reading The Greek Table
(Click here for Part 1) So. The difficult part of my journey. It was compounded by the fact that I ran out of credit on my Greek phone, and while I could use the internet, my battery was dying. Most of the planning of this adventure took place en route, changing as I went, which … Continue reading Arrival to Thassos (Part 2)
Thassos is the island where I fell in love with Greece. I hadn’t planned to arrive until the writing workshop starts on June 9th, along with the rest of the cohort, but the Siren Song was strong. I could feel it calling me. Come back. Come home. One of my favorite books growing up was … Continue reading Arrival to Thassos (Part 1)
I only spent three full days on Naxos, but I can already tell you about Yiannis, the advocate of Ammos restaurant, always boasting of their excellent seafood and small menu. He greeted me every day with, “Hello, Lady” as an answer to my, “Yia sas.” His resilient smile won me over for my last supper—well, … Continue reading “Kouvendes” on Naxos
I thought this day would never come. I sit here writing on the ferry from Athens to Naxos, having returned, finally, to the country that changed my life. Eleven months ago when I returned from Greece, I felt like part of me was missing. It was if a piece of my soul remained on the … Continue reading Return to Greece
[Note: This essay first appeared published on The International Writer’s Blog at Brown University, which you can find here]
It’s Greek To Me
The day before I flew to Greece for a month-long writing residency program, I called my Greek friend to ask for advice.
“It’s summer, the weather is beautiful, you’ll be on the beach. What’s there to know?” he asked. Continue reading “It’s Greek To Me”
Nikos the shepherd ushers me over, and I kneel beside him in the crowded sheep den, the roof so low that even I — a solid 5’2” — have to hunch over to keep from hitting my head on the ceiling. He pulls the wandering sheep by its udders, positioning her over the white plastic … Continue reading Milking Sheep*
(Or less melodramatically known as, “The Day I Swam Alone Around the Peninsula”) There were three beaches in Alyki that we frequented, when we weren’t studiously working on our writing (ahem), called Beach 1, 2, and 3. Our workshop leader introduced us to the beaches in this way, but it took me nearly three weeks to … Continue reading The Day I Almost Died Swimming
They Call Me Fushilou 