Yiayia's Journey Part 1

My Yiayia (that's Greek for grandmother) has never liked people making a fuss over her. But this loving granddaughter simply can't help it. Her life story ~ full of such grace, so many struggles and poignantly teachable moments ~ is truly inspiring. So with a humble heart, here goes: 

Penelope Vernardou was born to a poor but proud peasant family on the southern Greek island of Kythera in the village of Agia Anastasia on March 25th, 1910. See the picture below? She's the grumpy little "koukla" (doll) with the big hat ~ displaying even then the trademark sass for which she's become fondly known. As the photo also illustrates, her father was absent. Back then, tough times left the Greek economy faltering. So like many other Greek men, Yiayia's father left Greece to seek work in Australia, then send money home. He left when Yiayia was only an infant and would ultimately be gone for 15 long years. 

                             

So Yiayia's mother (the indomitable Damiani) was left to raise four children alone. They lived frugally on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean in a stone structure with 2 rooms. In one room, they slept crammed side by side on the floor. Their goats and the family donkey (named 'Keecho') slept in the other room. And they relied on an outside latrine and a well to meet their needs. Yiayia and her siblings would walk three miles along rocky terrain to attend school in a nearby village. 

But by the age of 9, her education came to an abrupt end. Without enough money to afford sturdy shoes - that walk to school proved too painful for her to endure. And Yiayia was needed at home and in the fields to help. So for many years, a barefoot Yiayia would work at her mother's side ~ caring for their livestock and tending to the olive orchards. But she steadfastly endured knowing happier times surely awaited her hard working family. 

When Yiayia turned 15 years old, the moment she'd dreamed of had finally arrived. Her beloved father would at long last make the journey home for the family reunion of a lifetime. Overjoyed - she eagerly awaited that ship carrying him home to Greece after 15 years apart. But only to learn that he had suddenly died onboard -mere hours- before it finally docked in their homeland. It would be the first of many terrible losses for my Yiayia.