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Home || Ministries & Organizations || Our History || Calendar || Contact Us || Donations Alexander Kosta Autobiography - Chapter 5 <-- Chapter 4 || -->Go to Chapter 6 My mother knew there were some neighbors who were bandits, and she says to me, "My child, the thing for you to do is to put the money in the bank because you are lost. I don't feel sorry for the money but I am afraid for your life." And thus, the next day, I dress myself like a count and take the money and go to Piraeus. Then the relatives and neighbors, seeing me all dressed up, saluted me with smiles. But I spoke to none and stopped all companionship with them. On Sunday, I take my mother, dressed in clothes I had bought from Marseilles. Also I take my sisters and father, and we all went to church. As we went to St. Nicholas, I crossed myself, I kissed the saints, according to custom, and put one dollar in the tray, for a candle. The council of the church lose no time but bring the cross of Jesus, where the tray was with a big candle. I kiss Jesus Christ and throw in the tray a $20.00 gold piece, for the candle. Then the liturgy began, and I became silent. After the mass, they brought out the trays, and, then, in each tray I put $10.00, and then God willed it that the mass ended. At last, I kissed the hand of the priest, I took holy bread, I kiss the saints again, and I take my mother, my sisters, and my father and we return home, where we had lunch. The same night, at midnight, there came neighbor bandits to rob me; but I had nothing with me, only an American pistol with six bullets. Then I lose no time, go to the trap door (καταρράκτην: the piece of wood used to close the upstairs from the lower part of the house and which was closed at night for protection), and began to fire. The bandits had broken the door and began to come up the stairs. And I emptied my gun. Then, afterwords. I wore the pistol on my person as protection. The bandits, seeing that they could get no money, went to the kitchen-coop and stole all the chickens. I go out on the balcony and see the kilts (φουστανέλλας) running with the chickens towards the hills. I lose no time, I begin the fire, but they escaped. There existed neither city hall nor policeman to save you, only your hands. So I went to the navy school, whose teacher was Balatsos. I went for six months, and then the teacher tells me, "Now you are ready to take your diploma for officer." Then I was with two others to go to Athens, to the Navy Department, for examinations. One to get the diploma was Haros, but he, having friends, was given his diploma. Then came my turn. Every word and answer I did well. Then the teachers told me, "Bravo, Alexander Kosta. Your diploma is yours, and we hope you will become a fine officer." Then I lose no time: I see the map, the globe of the world, and I started laughing. They asked me why I laughed, and I said, "Do you see that ball?" I have circumnavigated it, all of it." And then I told them, "I speak five languages." And they said to me, "Where did you learn them?" I said, "On my way around the world. I have the pleasure to have all of you to supper but I want you to bring me an Englishman or an Italian, so you may hear me speak." And so they brought me an Englishman and an Italian, in an restaurant, and we ordered our dinner, whatever each wanted. Then, while we were eating, I began talking English and Italian to the guests. The teachers were astonished and said, "My boy, where on earth did you learn all those words?" And I told them that, when one goes all over the world, that is what he learns. Then they say. "My boy, what a fine thing it would be for such a man as you, with knowledge of so many languages, to remain in your own fatherland, to be of use to your country." But I answered, "Now that I have my diploma, I am going to the ends of the world again and, if God gives me good luck, I shall remember you again." Then I took boat from Piraeus and went to Galaxidion. I saw my folks and bade them adieu. I take a Galaxidion caravel (καράβι), captain being Zagoras, and we go for Rumania. When we reached Galatsi, we saw before us an English ship by name Athens. I lose no time, I go to see the purser and the captain of the ship and tell him if it is possible for me to go with them and I would work without pay until we reached England. Then they tell us to go with them at any time I wanted. I asked them what day they disembark. "After two days," they reply. Then, having my clothes ready, that last night I was guard until the captain came; and I was thinking in what way I should escape. I had my baggage on deck. At about that time the captain came, and I did not have the ladder to get down. I hear a voice saying, "Who is on guard?" "I," I answer. "You donkey," he says, why don't you have the ladder ready when the captain comes!" Then I tell him, "If donkeys were like you, they would not talk in that way." He loses no time, gives me a slap, and I begin to soak him with my fists. But he began to cry, and I let him alone, unconscious. Then I take my bag and go to the English ship, and the next day we left for England. Then I didn't know what to do. The captain asked me what position I wanted to have, and I told him cook, where one receives a big pay: 45 lires a month. He asks me if I could manage, and I reply that I had been cook on American ships for three years. Then he tells me, "My boy, take the position, plus valet." After I started on the job, I knew what I had to do. Then the captain, seeing my work, said to me that that was fine and praised me. He did not expect me to know the cuisine so well. Then we loaded coal for Aden, Africa, where England has a station for ships. When we reached the canal of Alexandria, we reached Aden, and we unloaded the coal. We went, then, to the East Indies, to load wheat for Bremen. When we reached there, I learned that there was a countryman of mine married to a German lady, and he had a boarding house for the sailors. His name was Skoularikis, with whom I used to go to school. Then, when we were ready for England, at midnight, there came up a storm that made the whole sea foam. The captain was an expert about the sea. At once he put the ship sideways towards the sea because he well knew, if it were prow first, all of us would be lost, as on that night there were as many as ten boats lost: but we saved ourselves. After two day we reached North Seals, England. At that time I had plenty of money, enough to go to America, and I at once go to Cardiff. There were Greeks, too, whom I brought with me to California: George Maniati, Lathita, and a deaf one from Kassitin, who was born with a great mole on his face. When we reached San Francisco, we were wondering what work we should do. We became fishermen, some here, some there, like sheep. I found out in what place were Galaxidiotes and I went to Benecia. There I find my countryman Leontsakos, from Galaxidi, and I took work as fisherman, near him. I see the others and ask them how long they are there. And they reply, "Ten years," and they did not have any clothes to wear at that. Then I said to myself, "If I remain here, with these, I too shall become like them." Then, when the fish came in, I made $100.00. They wanted me to play poker, but I told them I did not know how to play cards and asked them for the money that was my due. Whereupon, they told me that I would get paid on the morrow. When I took the $100.00, at once I came to San Francisco and met a countryman, Manimani, who was working on Fifth St., near Mission. I ask him if he had any work for me, and he tells me, "Dishes." I tell him, "Alright," and I go to the dishes and work from 6 o'clock in the morning to 10 p.m. and for $15.00 per month and did not say anything. There they had a Spanish cook, from Alameda. Then I did my best to please him. When he went out, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m, I did all the work he was supposed to do, have them ready for the night. He sees my work and says to the boss that he was going to Alameda, near his family, and, "I want to make Alex first cook, and you will be pleased with him." Then the boss tells him, "Dishwasher to cook?" And he tells him that I was fit to take the cook's work better than both of them. And he told him that he would put a bet of $100.00. Then the boss gave me the job, from $15.00 to $75.00 per month. I worked for four months and, when I made enough, I dress like a count, take all my tools of the kitchen, and tell my boss that I wasn't feeling well, and I would like to rest. I go to the offices of the cooks' employment agency and find a job in Stockton, California, as cook. <-- Chapter 4 || -->Go to Chapter 6 |