Thiana: AVDELA-A Macedonian Village in the Northwestern Greece-Thiana's Native Land

By P.E. REA-SILVIA COSTIN

Thiana is the first book in a trilogy that spans the lives of three generations of strong women, the author’s grandmother Calliope, the author’s mother Thiana, and the author herself.

Thiana depicts Calliope’s and Thiana’s struggles with life’s adversities, and Thiana’s courage and determination i

• Language: English
• Publisher: Go To Publish
• Release date: Sep 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950073627

P.E. REA-SILVIA COSTIN

"... about me The need to write came into my life unexpectedly and with such force that it left me no choice but to follow. I published my first book Short Stories: The Story of a Refugee with Vantage Press in 1997. In 2003, I published the first book of a trilogy, Thiana-AVDELA-A Macedonian Village in the Northwestern Greece: Thiana's Native Land, and in 2004 I published the second volume of the trilogy ATHENS with iUniverse. American Publishing Company has published the third book of the trilogy America-The Final Destination on February 2006. My poetry is published in The Best Poems and Poets of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005, The Theatre of the Mind, and The Celebrations of Honors as well as Who's Who in Poetry 2004 and 2005, editions by the International Library of Poetry. In May 2002, I obtained my Laureate Certificate from the International Library of Poets. I am the recipient of the Editor's Choice Award, 2002, 2003, 2005, from the poetry.com site as well as the President's Award for Excellence in Literature from the National Authors Registry. In January 2019, I was presented with the "Albert Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award" by Marquis Who's Who for my work as a professional engineer and author. My first poetry book Pearls on a String was published by Publish America on December 18, 2006, and the second volume Pearls on a String: Love songs-Volume II was published by Publish America on June 29, 2009. Publish America has also published my book Different Tales: A Children's Book in 2010. I was born in Greece and raised in Romania. I am a Professional Engineer. What does poetry mean to me? It's a way to express deep feelings, to share with others my philosophy and understanding of life, and to give testimony of my faith in God."

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Thiana

Avdela—A Macedonian Village in the Northwestern Greece

—Thiana’s Native Land

Thiana

AVDELA—A Macedonian Village in the Northwestern Greece

—Thiana’s Native Land

Copyright © 2019 by REA-SILVIA COSTIN, P.E.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher or author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

ISBN-13: 978-1-950073-62-7

Printed in the United States of America

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Thiana

Avdela—A Macedonian Village in the Northwestern Greece

—Thiana’s Native Land

BOOK I

2nd Edition

BY

REA-SILVIA COSTIN, P.E.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

Chapter I

The Cambara (The Church Bell)

Chapter 2

Bechiul

Chapter 3

The Viper

Chapter 4

Furii (The Thieves)

Chapter 5

Migdala

Chapter 6

Iani

Chapter 7

The Easter Picnic

Chapter 8

Thana, The Mail Bride

Chapter 9

Kiaua

Chapter 10

Turtukoaia

Chapter 11

Salonika

Chapter 12

Costin

Chapter 13

The Courtship

Chapter 14

Olga

Chapter 15

The Engagement Party

Chapter 16

Salonika II

Chapter 17

Tirgoviste

Chapter 18

The Hospital

Chapter 19

The Russian Soldier

Chapter 20

The Train

Chapter 21

Gorg

Chapter 22

The Freight Train

Chapter 23

Gully al Spanou.

Chapter 24

The Iron Curtain

Chapter 25

Bucharest

Chapter 26

Cucotul al Sioutzouki

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER:

STELIANA SIOUTZOUKIS COSTIN

AND HER BELOVED NATAL LAND—AVDELA

To Mother:

I’ve had these suits for twenty years,

Mother said, pointing out to the neatly

hanging suits, looking as good as new.

"How can anyone wear same suits for twenty

years?" I was silently wondering,

a small girl looking up to my mother.

Now, the suits are still neatly hanging

in the closet.

My mother is gone… Me… a grown woman.

Now, I dream of Mother,

like I dream of her every night,

wearing a big, straw hat with a green ribbon,

a flowery, spring dress,

my mother young, her face smiling,

walking on a green pasture…

"She always liked hats,

she always liked walking," I was thinking,

"I’m so glad she’s happy over there,

She doesn’t have to wear the suits any longer."

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever given any thought as to why certain nations migrate, continuously changing where they live, while others are content to remain in the same place?

There are Nations known throughout the history as the migratory or nomad nations, like the Gypsies, the Mongolians or, the Macedonians, just to name a few.

Why do these nations and people move to other places?

These nations and people are restless, and need to continuously change—they have the desire to improve, the desire to see new places, the courage and determination to seek a better life for them and for their families.

And then of course, there are the adventurous people that live for the trill of the unknown—even the danger that comes with it. They are the explorers and finders of new frontiers.

What about destiny? Have you ever given some thought about destiny? Is there even such a thing as destiny? Is our life predestined by a force bigger than we are? Is our life mapped out before we are even born? Did you ever try to change the course of your life, or the circumstances of it, to no avail? Did you go with the flow, so to speak, or did you tried to change it?

No straight answers to those questions exist that I know of. Each one of us is embarking on life’s journey and trying to do the best one can. Each of us has our own story, our own yet-to-be-determined destiny.

Thiana is the first book of a trilogy that spans the lives of three generations of strong women: Calliope, the author’s grandmother, who lived in Avdela, a village in northwestern Greece; Thiana, the author’s mother, who made her life’s journey from Avdela to Romania and married a Romanian man, Costin; and the author herself, who migrated from Romania via Greece, to the USA.

It is a saga of a family striving to find a better life.

The events, the stories, and the characters are real.

Here is Thiana’s True Story.

Chapter I

The Cambara (The Church Bell)

Thiana opened her eyes and glanced around. The great room was frigid. The sturdy, wooden window shutters were all wide open and the cold, brisk, mountain air invaded the room. Golden rays of sun streamed through the open shutters and tickled her face, not really warming the air. She could see her own breath forming like a small, white cloud coming out from her nose and mouth. She burrowed deeper into the wall bed, her small, thin body lost within the white flocata, the thick wool blanket that covered her up to her nose.

The great room had wooden beds, canapeles, built along all four walls. The room was paneled with hand-carved pine wood the color and smoothness of honey. Lions and intricate leaf design were carved on the doors of the armoire, also built into the