Q: How did you come to grow up in Poland?
A: My parents were left-winged and fought in the civil war (1945-47). After the war ended, they left Greece to save their lives, like many others who went to Eastern Europe as refugees. They walked tο Albania and then by train to Poland. There were 5000 people. The Polish state gave them a district, south of Kroscienko, where they made their home. They were given houses to live in and a timber factory was built for them to work. At first this village was pure Greek, but later Polish people came too. My father was then 25 years old, he married my mother and I was
born in 1958.
Q: What do you remember from those days?A: I have wonderful memories. I went to school there. We did lessons in Polish, but we had 2 hours of Greek α week too. Every summer we went camping to various parts, even to the seaside (Baltic). When I was at Primary school we had lunch at school after classes. Polish people didn't treat us as foreigners, we were friends.
Q: How did you keep your roots?
A: We practised the Polish customs, but we had the Greek traditions at Easter (red eggs, lamb on the spit). We didn't have a church. Religion and praying meant nothing to me, although we could see Polish people going to church. You must know, Polish priests were near the people and helped them.
Q: When did you realise you were Greek?
A: From the very start. We spoke Greek at home and there were a lot of Greeks in the village.
Q: How did you feel at school? Did you have problems?
A: Everybody treated us well. My teachers and classmates loved Greece, they knew about its history and civilization. They looked up to Greek people and they were happy we were among them.
Q: Did you have different rights from Polish people?
A: No, we didn't. We had the same rights as citizens. Life was calm and simple and we helped each other. What we earned was enough to live on and there was no unemployment. Actually, you were not allowed not to work.
Q: When did you come to Greece?
A: In 1979. After the dictatorship, we were allowed to come back to our country. First I came alone for a year to work and save money, then I went back to Poland to bring my parents. I had new clothes and more money and I passed off as rich. So, my parents returned to their country after 33 years away. My father was 58 and I was 22. My parents had left behind their friends and a whole life, that's why they weren't so happy at first, but I was thrilled. There was abundance in everything - cars, people, new things. It was a bit later that I started facing the real situation.
Q: What do you mean?
A: I felt I was a stranger in my country. I could manage with a job, but I didn't have friends, relationships. Everybody was in Poland. For the first five years, I went to Poland very often. My memories were there. Even now, after 23 years in Greece, my mind often flies back there. I have a holiday house in a village called Amfikleia. I go there every weekend, because it reminds me of my village in Poland.
Q: How do you feel when you meet a Polish person here in Greece?
A: I feel we belong to the same country. At first, I felt bad I couldn't afford to offer them what they needed, hospitality. What they had offered us for 33 years. I wanted to take them out to a tavern to enjoy ourselves together and talk as human beings. This is what it was like in Poland, even among complete strangers. Now things have changed and this makes me unhappy. Money has changed relationships. The Polish people I have come in contact with in Greece in the last years aren't the gentle, humane people I knew. They have all wanted to take advantage of me and do their job and in the end they didn't even thank me for the help I gave them. They are thirsty for money, for dollars. I consider Poland my second home and this behaviour kills the beautiful memories I have. I may sound bitter, but I get the impression they are losing their dignity, their culture, their identity.
Q: Tell me one memory you keep in your heart from Poland.
A: People's warmth and kindness. Very sociable, friendly people. I was happy travelling on trams, trains etc because therewas time to start conversations with them.
