INTERVIEW WITH TRIFONIA KECHAGIA ABOUT THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

By Chatzigiannidou Stefania

INTRODUCTION

My name is Chatzigiannidou Stefania and today I will be interviewing my grandmother Trifonia Kechagia about the climate change topic. My grandma was born and raised in Archangellos, Pella, Greece and she is eighty two years old today. (The interview was conducted and recorded in greek language, then later translated into english. This file presents the english translation in writing, the original interview acoustically and a photo of the interviewee).

INTERVIEW

Me: Good evening grandma, thank you for being here.

Grandma: Good evening, my darling.

Me: We want you to answer to a few questions regarding climate change. 

Grandma: Whatever you want! With pleasure.

Me: Let's get started with the first topic concerning climate changing through your eyes. I want you to tell me what wanter was like when you were my age; 14 years old.

Grandma: Winter back then was really hard. It used to snow from October up until Easter. It was very cold.

Me: Did it use to be windy?

Grandma: Yes, it was a bit windy and the roads were slippery, we often tripped and fell. We had no water...

Me: What did you do to cope with that?

Grandma: In order to do our laundry, we melted snow in a pot and washed our clothes with it. There were three faucets in the village, one on one side, one in between and one on the other side and that's where we got water from to drink and cook. 

Me: Ok. Moving to the second topic, I want you to describe to me what kind of activities you used to spend your free time with. What did you do during winter when you were free?

Grandma: I used to weave, I had my weaving loom, I loved it. I also embroidered, I have a collection of embroidery from when I was little. Furthermore, I used to help my mother with the household duties and chop woods to keep us warm. 

Me: Very well. Now, on Topic 3, I want you to tell me, what did the forest provide you with? All year round or even during winter time.

Grandma: The forest supplied us with timber. We would go wood-chopping and store the wood to be prepared for the winter. Moreover, there were some cherry trees from which we, as young girls, used to eat. Then it was the oak trees, from where we picked up acrons to feed our animals with.

Me: Those were things the forest provided everyone at the village with?

Grandma: Yes, everyone.

Me: Great, thank you very much.

Grandma: Thank you.

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