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Author: Nicholas Chondras
Storyteller: Nicolas Chondras
Community Language School: Community Language School of Burwood “St Nektarios”
Main School: Ashfield Boys High School

Harry’s memories of Greece and immigrating to Australia.

Harry lived in Greece on the island of Lesvos, in a town called Agia Paraskevi. The town he lived in was busy and beautiful. He lived normally with school to go to and a group of friends that he played with.

His mother was a housewife and his dad worked on the farm feeding and looking after the animals. At the end of the day Harry’s mum would cook some food. The food she usually cooked would be pasta, beans, pies, chicken etc. On special occasions she would cook lamb or something traditional. One of Harry’s special days would be Christmas when his dad would go to town and buy him toys and lollies.

Harry was 16 when he left for Australia. He came here to start a better life and a family. He made his way to Australia by ship. His journey was long, troublesome but exciting. When he came to Australia he started his new life in West Wylong.

Most of the funniest moments of his new life had to do with his efforts to learn English. He found learning English very difficult, disappointing and challenging. And at first he felt isolated and alienated because of that language barrier and by the fact that he was a foreigner in an unfamiliar place.

However, these days Harry believes that things have become a lot easier and Australia is a much more welcoming place. He feels at home here in Australia now.