Louisiana's Finnish friend and her fiance', who lives in Greece, writes to her. Sari, who lives in Finland, has moved to Greece for the spring and summer, to prepare for their wedding, and she is getting rather nervous as time quickly approaches.
Saturday, 23 April, 2005, Athens, Greece~
Dear Louie in America~
Yah soo! (I don't know how to spell this Greek word for Hello, seems that I will have to ask Nikky for the correct spelling! LOL) Or, as I say, Hai! Miita kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaas!
I am doing pretty good, still having a hard time with my fibro and my MS acting up; I am still not used to living with disability or having to rely on help for walking. I also am not used to the pain that is always present; I used to be so active; now I am a helpless cripple, and I just feel so bad a lot of the time! How do people with problems like this LIVE?? I would like to know how YOU do it; you have problems, too, just like me, but yet you seem so happy all of the time!
Well, Nikky and I are settled in his apartment in Athens, Greece, and even though it is only late April, the temperatures are too warm for my liking, and I am not used to this warmth. It is sunny here today, but we may have rain tomorrow; so it looks like I will be holed up in the apartment tomorrow while Nikky goes to Mass at the Greek Orthodox church just down the street from our apartment. Nikky's apartment is very big and roomy, and it is very nice; but I am not used to this place; I am used to my saunas and the Northern Lights, the cold and the snow, and working at university and seeing my brothers! Now I am in Greece, in Athens, and I am not used to the Greek food or the language; they (the Greeks) talk too fast, and their hands are always flying about as they talk! And boy do the Greeks love to cook and EAT!! YIKES! Nikky's grandma has been trying to fatten me up on her baklava or lamb, and I just can't eat this stuff; it is too rich for me!
The wedding is in a few weeks, and to tell you the truth, I am scared. I am afraid I will do something to make Nikky mad at me and then he will leave me; and then I will have nobody. I have been crying every night since leaving Finland and my family, and I am a nervous wreck! But I hope you are still coming; we did get your invitation when we asked for it, but still, I hope nothing happens to stop you and Bill from coming to Greece for our wedding! That would be awful!!
When we left Ivalo last week, I cried so hard; I haven't cried like that since Mother or Father died, and my brothers cried too. But we DID have a safe flight (it was LONG, but we got here without any problems whatsover!), and we DID make it here to Greece (Athens) okay; and it IS pretty; but it isn't what I am used to, and I am homesick for Finland. Very homesick!
But now I have Nikky, and he will helpl me through this rough time until I get used to my new home and my new surroundings. He is very good to me, treats me like a goddess, and I love him so much! I can't wait for you to come to Greece for our wedding; my husband and his family will show you a good time, Greek style, and I will be right in the middle of all this! I just hope they don't get me on the dance floor at the after-wedding party; I AM on a CANE (or CRUTCHES), you know! LOL What if I were to fall? That'd be too embarrassing, and I would just DIE!
Well, Louie, I just wanted to let you know that Nikky and I made it here to Athens okay, and we are settling in. We will see you in a few weeks; until then, take care, and have a safe trip to Greece! God bless you both, and God bless your beautiful Northern Lights family! Until later, Nakemiin, or, as they say here in Greece, An dee oh! (Spelled that wrong, too, I bet...LOL)
(((HUGS))) and much love, your Finnish/now Greek friend, Sari Annike Gustaffssenn (soon to be known as Sari Annike Constantinos! LOL). :D
Fire and Ice...nice anology, Susan! Yes, it fits perfectly! Two extremely different cultures having to give and take to make the other happy--I bet Nicky feels the same way about Finland as Sari feels about Greece!
Exploring the impact of literary icon Flannery O'Connor's noted legacy on the cultural realities of modern-day America, the world, and a certain author.
Saturday, 23 April, 2005, Athens, Greece~
