opa!

The St. Sophia’s Grecian Festival, more popularly referred to as the “Greek Fest” has been a staple in my childhood. Every May I spend a weekend watching my Greek friends dance in full costume and fill up on gyros, baklava, loukoumathes and spanakopita. The Greek Fest always means running around with friends and not being able to walk a foot in the crowded tent without seeing a familiar face: parents of friends, teachers or friends I maybe lost touch with but happen to see every year at Greek Fest. It’s loud music and sundresses that have been hiding in my closet all year. A parking lot of high school students sneaking vodka out of water bottles and a tent full of the Greek population of Albany drunk on ouzo. I grew up going to Greek Fest and being surrounded by people that I knew from every aspect of my life in “Smalbany”, as locals affectionately call my hometown.

Tonight was the first night that Albany didn’t feel small. Except for a few friends that I had planned on meeting up with, I had never been faced with so many unfamiliar people. The parking lot, instead of being a meeting ground for friends from school, was crawling with kids I didn’t know. My friends that usually dance in costumes every hour were now standing with me, watching the kids of the church dance those same dances we knew so well.

Home doesn’t feel like the home I’m used to. After being away for so long, things have changed. Every time I think about things changing and being uncomfortable with growing up I get upset, but tonight was the first time I accepted what was happening. I’m glad I didn’t know the high school students drinking behind their parents’ backs and I’m glad I didn’t run into a thousand people I can smile at and make small-talk with, knowing they know my parents and our entire life-story.

I’ve always been nervous that I won’t be able to let go when I need to grow up and call a new place my home. I don’t think it’s going to be so hard. I’m not there yet, but I can see that in a few years, when I graduate and need to move on to a new point in my life, it will more or less happen organically. I’m changing, but for once I can say, I’m not afraid.