Programme Erasmus + Europe on the move : Migration Biographies Interviews
Q : How did they reach Chalkidiki ?
A : Someone who they had met in the past , brought them here for a job and they ended up here without thinking about it a lot .
Q : Τhat means , incidentally . A : They knew that there were agricultural areas , they could work in the fields . Q : Did they know the job , had they worked in the fields before ?
A : No , they didn ’ t know the job . They asked some workers to help them , they told them for example “ go and pick the olives ”.
Q : Nice . Now , what do you remember about yourself when you came here ? What were your first pictures ? What was the most exciting thing for you ?
A : I think I only remember some things from photos . The first year we came here in March and it was snowing . We had some photos in front of the house ; it was snowy . From my childhood years I remember my two neighbors who were very good . One of the two had a granddaughter and she called me sometimes to play with her . I can remember the center of the village where we went out to spend our time . I can ’ t remember all the names of the children . Οn the one side of our house was Ms K . and Ms Tr . on the other side but she died a long time ago .
Q : Are you friends with the grandchildren , were they students in our school ? A : No , they didn ’ t study in this school . Q : Did you really hang out with those kids ? Didn ’ t it bother them that you were foreigners ?
A : No , no they took care of us . We stayed sometimes with them because our parents were working in their fields . When our parents had to leave us alone in our house , they took care of us . They also used to give us treats .
Q : You also answered the next question . Who were the people , who helped you , when you arrived ? A : Yes , our neighbors . Q : Great . They really helped . But were there any other people , who thought that you were different ? A : No . In the beginning I did not notice this behavior . Q : Is there anything you want to share with us ? We will not press you to say something that you don ’ t want . A : No , in the beginning there was nobody . Now I am nervous . Q : Don ’ t be . Did you notice anything weird later ?
A : I never really felt like I was a foreigner . They never made me feel bad for my origins . I don ’ t remember well . Maybe there were some small embarrassing situations .
Q : You were always a really good student . Did your teachers use to say : “ Good Job Iliana ”? A : Yes , yes . Q : Have you ever faced any problem with some teacher ?
A : Yes , once in 5th grade . I never really understood why . Maybe I am a little bit dramatic . I had a problem with a teacher in my village , but I don ’ t know if I should talk about it .
Q : You can either share your story or not , it ’ s up to you . You can also tell the story , without mentioning the names .
A : Yes , because my family had some short of relationship with this teacher . My mom used to go to his house , once or twice , in order to iron his clothes . Then she found out that he also had another lady to help him with the housework . My mom thought that they might not be pleased with her work and that was the reason she stopped going . As a result , suddenly even though until then he claimed that I was a really good student and he used to
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