Pan-Eliakos Society Scholarship Essay

H κ. Χρονοπούλου Πρόεδρος του Πανηλειακού Συλλόγου Βοστώνης

με την φοιτήτρια Κατερίνα Καυκά που πήρε την υποτροφία του Συλλόγου

By: Katerina Kafkas, February 7, 2010
Φοιτήτρια πρώτου έτους, University of Massachusetts

Elia, Ηλεία, Greece

The name Elia comes from the many olives trees, olive means ελιά. Elia is a great state for agriculture and has a rich history in mythology. According to the myths, Hercules with the help of Zeus began track and field events and these games were held periodically. In 776 BC, the Olympic Games were born. So, today the whole World knows Olympia and Eleia from the Olympic Games.

I know Eleia because my father was born there in Simopoulo. I have had the opportunity to visit Eleia eight times. Last time was at the 2004 Olympic Games where I went with my family. In Ancient Olympia, in the stadium, for the 1st time after 2,400 years an Olympic event was held. It was the 2004 Olympics shot put (σφαιροβολία) for men and women. Thousands upon thousands of people from all over the world gathered at this historic place to be part of history, I was among them. As a matter fact we went twice on the same day, the preliminaries in the morning and the finals in the afternoon. I was proud to be there, to be of Greek decent, to be an Ελληνίδα. People read about these things, I was there when it happen.

In Simopoulo, we have a house where my father was born and where most of my father's family lives. My pappou was Dimitrios Dionysiou Kafkas and my giagia was Dimitra Kafka-Apostolopoulou, both now deceased. I have many friends of my age in the village that I have met through my trips to Simopoulo. And although I cannot see them while I am at school I am friends with many of them on social networks on the internet, like Facebook. We communicate through messages and talk about what types of music we are listening to, among many things.

Many of the friends I have in Simopoulo I met at a young age from playing krifto and getting souvlakia at the platia. Every time we go to Greece we go to Kourouta Beach outside Amaliada. This beach is a wonderful beach with warm brown sand, umbrellas, reclining chairs, deep blue waters, and ocean front refreshments. Also we went to several other nice beaches of Ηλεία like, Zaharo, Agios Elias, Skafidia, Katakolo, Kastro. Some of places I’ve been to are Pyrgos, Amaliada to the stores, and to Laiki.

Theo Gianni, my father's brother was employed at the local High School in Simopoulo and because my uncles had a tailor shop there for years everybody knows my family many kilometers around Simopoulo. My other uncle Gerasimos has a taxi and he is well known in the area too. Both married with families. Theios Gerasimos was in the United States as an immigrant many years ago. My theia Gerogia is what you would expect out any Greek mother: hospitable, an amazing cook, and very kind.

While in Ηλεία we visited several ancient historic places among them, Ancient Olympia, Ancient Elis, Kastro Hlemoutsi. We went to several churches and monasteries too, like Panagia Skafidia, Panagia Kremasti, Epitaleio, Panagia Eleousa-Vlaherna. This last one is a religious but a historic place too like many others in Greece. It was here that during the Greek revolution General Sisinis was collecting food and he was hiding it and at night time with horses and donkeys was sending the food to General Kolokotronis in the mountains to feed the troupes.

Growing up here in America I found out that many times we were attending events and functions of Elians in Boston and elsewhere. My father is one of the founders of Paneliakos Society of Greater New England and we attend several events here in the Boston area but also in Toronto, Montreal, New York, New Jersey, Chicago and in Greece. Although we don't have a very big family being in the Paneliakos Society we were a big family.

Paneliakos Society was established in 1990 and consisted of people of an Elian decent but anybody could apply to become a member.   Its major goal is to maintain Greek Culture, Language and Religion. I know that during the last 20 years several events were sponsored by the society. Cultural events, like the Greek dinner & dances. Philanthropic events like helping needy kids to come from Greece to the Boston area hospitals and helping fire victims and earthquake victims. To help the Children's Hospital and the "Cardiac Fund". Participate in Hellenic issues and the Greek Parade in Boston.

I want to thank Paneliakos Society because it gives me the opportunity to apply for a scholarship. The fact that I apply makes me proud just to know that there are people like the members of Paneliakos Society that recognize our effort in education.