Memoirs of Peter Boudoures Chapter 14 Return to the Homeland

Peter Boudoures, 1920s wearing a foustanella

In the meantime, my partner, fortunately, recuperated, and in 1927 was allowed to leave the sanitarium and to return to work. I had reached the point where I was almost ready to go to a sanitarium, myself.

My wife, Martha, who during those years worked 5 or 6 hours a day taking cash, saw how weak I had become, and suggested that I take a vacation. I had not been home since I left Greece sixteen years before. Both of my parents were still alive and I thought that a trip, away from work for a few months, would help me to regain my strength. So, I took a trip to Greece.

I had a vivid recollection of the parts of Greece in which I grew up in and worked I knew little about the rest of Greece except what I read in books. In my dreams and fantasies the city of Kalamata was one of the most beautiful cities on the world and there were certain aspects of it which, to me, were like jewels. After I spent a few days at home, I was most anxious to see again the place that I had dreamed about and the store in which I had worked.

Well, as usual with young people who carry dreams, I was disappointed. Having lived in the United States for sixteen years, in a country that was much more advanced in every shape and form, all those dreams I had were shattered to pieces. The little store where I had worked was still the same, nothing had changed. My old boss was there and glad to see me. I could hardly wait to leave. On my return to the United States I almost kneeled and kissed the ground in New York.