When even stores close from 2-6 pm, you get the message that lunch is clearly the center piece of every day. While we were eating, we noticed that only the men and older women were actually sitting at the table to eat. We wondered where all the younger women were, and when my sister snuck into the kitchen one day (against the orders of EVERY lady in the house, as they didn't want the guests clearing plates, doing dishes, etc.), she found them! They would do all of the cooking behind the scenes and just send out plate after plate for the rest of the family while having a smaller meal themselves in between courses.
Every sibling, cousin, and niece or nephew wanted their turn hosting us, and some had us over for lunch, while others had us over for coffee. After our third day of lunch, we exchanged some gifts. We gave one of Shabd's unique silk scarfs to each of the women, both as a gift and so that they could see some of her work in her professional life. They loved them dearly. Thea (auntie) Marianthi handed my mom a bag at the end. Inside were traditional crocheted white tablecloths that she had made herself over the course of months.
Through a translator, as she only speaks Greek, she told my mother: "I owe you this". My mom loved the gift but was very confused. "For what?" she mumbled to herself. I told her in excitement: "Mom, it's your wedding gift"! We all laughed out loud - it was such a nice moment because at the time of my parents' wedding, they had no contact with the family. Here it was after all these years!
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