Black pepper (6 of 6)

Athens, GreeceWhen Saanya and I were in Lesbos, we got a Facebook message from Fahim with the ultimate news: he got a call that day that his papers had been approved and that he will soon be reunited with his mother in Germany. Saanya and I both screamed with excitement. Of course, Fahim was overjoyed; but feeling cautious until he could confirm the news several times with the authorities.We wanted to celebrate with Fahim and decided to come back early from Lesbos so we could spend a day at Skaramangas camp before returning to the U.S. I contacted our friend Kim in California who had connected us to Fahim and friends, and asked about Fahim’s favorite foods – spinach and cheese pies, olives, fruits, and lots of black pepper, she said.We went to the market and bakery and picked up a variety of foods, and a plastic bag of freshly ground black pepper. Fahim made his famous eggs with onions and tomatoes, in his caravan on a small burner, with four friends, chopping, dicing and frying. Friends in the caravan across made an Afghani rice and chicken dish; others brought drinks and shwarma sandwiches. Before we knew it, we had a feast. There must have been a least 15 of us, adults and kids sitting on the floor, laughing, talking, eating, sharing, drawing, holding on tight to a bit of good news that spelled hope.And Fahim was smiling, dousing his eggs with heaps and heaps of black pepper.(6 of 6)Photo: Saanya AliTo support the immediate needs of refugees in Skaramangas and other camps, please donate through this link of the Multicultural Institute, and indicate “Greece/refugees” in the designation section. http://mionline.org/donate/