Dear Friend,

As I promised, I’m back to share more of our summer in Arfara. Our last week and a half there with Jason and Auntie Karin flew by, but was packed with wonderful people, food and adventures. We all savored every experience and in the few quiet moments I looked back on the summer with awe. We did it! I never had any real doubts, but there were questions that floated through my mind before our adventure… Would we fit in?, Would we be happy?, Would we be able to put down roots in another culture different from our own? I’m ecstatic to be able to answer a resounding “Yes!” to all of those questions and many more. But, before I sound to prideful about our accomplishments, I humbly share that there is no way that our experience would have been as fulfilling without the strong well-spread roots that my Great Aunts lay down. The village that once embraced them reached out and embraced us. We were extremely loved this summer and I highly recommend being that loved.

Before I go back in time to Arfara, I want to share a few things that I miss about our “second home”:

• The Coffee House – this was our family away from family… Greek coffee after nap time and company in the evening… and of course Kolya would add … sweet treats from Yaya Stavroula!
• Our house in Arfara – filled with memories of other visits with my Aunts and new memories as well.
• Picking fresh figs in the garden and eating them!
• Church – walking there, lighting the candles and incense for my Aunts, being still, listening to Father Michael sing, feeling a part of the village.
• Walking everywhere.
• Fresh bread, Donuts and Bougatsa from the bakery.
• Pita and French fries.
• Mini ice cream cones.
• Hanging laundry on the line and then folding the crisp sun-dried laundry later.
• The sea.
• Looking out at the mountains.
• Kolya’s freedom to run around and explore.
• The sounds of farm animals.
• The feeling of community.