Matheos Balafas

Be good to each other. Love one another. Get an education and always help your neighbor.

Matheos Balafas

My name is Matheos Balafas. I am from Greece. I was born in 1936 in a small, poor village with only 50 homes. People were nice and helpful. You could not survive without your neighbors. We celebrated and worshiped together. We had no cars, telephones or doctors in the village.

I went to a one-room school house, with no bathrooms and five different classes. I went to school for three or four years and then World War II broke out. The Germans went through the country and chased people out of their homes. They burned down homes and schools. They killed the priest and teacher. The teacher was my uncle. The Nazis were threatened by educated people.

I stayed home and worked in the fields with my mother and father. I carried bags of produce to the city’s flea market. This allowed my family to survive. I also helped with planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables. We did not have running water. For fun, we played soccer. We did not have a ball, so we filled up a stocking with grass and leaves.

Then the civil war broke out. They took all the horses and mules away, to be used for the army. We had no way to live from one day to the next. We saw soldiers come and we would hide in the bushes. We were without food and drink for days. We were in bad shape.

In 1956, I came to the United States with no language skills. For a living, I bused and washed dishes. I sent some money back to my mother and father. After 20 years [I] bought a restaurant business with a partner. I worked seven days a week. I quit after seven years so I would be able to spend more time with my family.

I met my wife Delores at Harry’s Cafe downtown. We were reacquainted at Marigold Ballroom and started dancing. We have been dancing ever since. She actually taught me how to drive. We have a son, Dino, a daughter, Maria, and now have four wonderful grandchildren. I attend church every day at the Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis.

Instead of birthdays we celebrate Naming Day in Greece. Ninety-nine percent of Greeks are named after saints. A saint is like Christ’s disciples. On Naming Day people come to wish individuals a Happy Naming Day. The women prepare snacks and the neighbors bring wine, and dance. In our tradition we name our boys after their grandfathers and girls after their grandmothers.

I am still learning English. I learned English in the United States through working with others and through my children. I still learn from my grandson, Matthew, everyday. If you do not go to school you do not get the job you want, or advance in life.