Nemika: The Story These Eyes Tell
The eyes. I knew when I looked into those eyes there was a story to hear. I was in Şirince, a little village built into the hillside not far from ancient Ephesus. Şirince used to be a Greek village, but when the population exchange happened between Turkey and Greece in the 1920s, the Greeks moved out of this village and the Turks moved in.
The little village of Şirince
Nemika’s eyes were blue, which made me wonder about her heritage. The land comprising modern-day Turkey used to be part of the Ottoman Empire, which had a rich mix of cultures living together. Nemika, the sweet blue-eyed lady selling handmade textiles, was born in Thessaloniki 92 years ago and moved from there with her family to Şirince during the population exchange.
She lives alone now. Her husband passed away and her four children moved to a nearby city looking for work opportunities not available in a small village. But every day she comes to the Şirince Bazaar and sells her hand knitted, stitched, and crocheted items. Her seasoned hands effortlessly create these works of art.
When she realized that we spoke Turkish the lines on her weathered face turned upward into a beautiful smile. It was a joy talking with Nemika that day and hearing from her own mouth the silent story that her eyes tell.
Nemika walking home at the end of the day
TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE WEST, KEEP LOOKING EAST!
Leslie Connors
Leslie is a co-founder of West2East. Originally from Tennessee, Leslie has called Turkey home for the past eight years. To read more about her, click here.