Transitioning back to the states (Chicago to be more specific) from Greece at 5 years old, one thing’s for sure, I learned how to fight/defend myself real quick! I will never forget the beatings I took from multiple kids at once between kindergarten and third grade, all because I was “different.” I didn’t speak English. After all my first language is Greek, raised by Greek parents that is all they spoke to me growing up. We still speak Greek, I really enjoy it. Back to the story.  I remember my parents trying desperately to fight for me with the principal and teachers but apparently no one cared enough about a couple of immigrants, both my parents were and are legal immigrants from Greece. My parents had no choice but to took a financial hit by sending me to a private school called Transfiguration, a Catholic school. There, the beatings ended and I made some very good/close friends that I have reconnected through FB. But the beatings outside of school continued. That neighborhood back in Chicago was horrific. I remember taking on 2 kids sometimes 3 but after that it was too much! Little punks, I’d kick their asses one-on-one, they knew better.

I could defend myself but I know for sure that a major reason why I did not like to instigate fights or hurt others as I transitioned into the pre-teen and teenage years, was because I knew what it felt like getting kicked all over my body and punched in the face, and getting bullied, not good!!! So why do it to someone else? I still can’t believe I thought that way as a kid. You see normally a child being abused eventually becomes THE abuser him/herself. I can say I was blessed with some abnormal wiring. How I made it through those first 7 years after getting back from Greece was a miracle on its own, not only from a physical point of view but from an educational one. How did I keep up with grades appropriate enough to move me to the next grade? Those memories still haunt me and I, once in a great while, wonder whatever happened to those bullies? What saved me was moving 4 blocks south of the Greek Orthodox Christian Church we attended to 4 blocks north from it, just an 8 block difference. The neighborhood was nicer, safer and I got plugged into the church, where I made some life long friends. I started playing soccer
and basketball which then the next page of my life began. Those were the glorious days!!!!

I will post more soon!