Nikolaos Yiasemakis

GICREF047

Participants
Nikolaos Yiasemakis
Intervieweer(s)
Alexandros Balasis
Date and Location
February 9, 2024
Scarborough, ON
Languages
Greek
Permalink
Project
Greeks in Canada: A Digital Public History
Reference ID
GICREF047
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Categories
Tags
Decades Referenced
Locations Referenced
Chalkida, Athens, Pylos, Poland, Alexandria, Odessa, Havana, Novorossiysk, Emden, Veroia, Houston Texas, Mekong River, Vietnam, Dabaw, Philippines, San Francisco, Toronto
Occupation(s)
Ship's radio operator, welder, driver
Parents Occupation(s)

[00:00:29] His childhood and his passion for the sea

[00:04:54] Merchant Marine Academy and “social beliefs”

[00:07:11] His father's affiliation with the Communist Party

[00:11:40] Labelled a communist and becoming a radio operator

[00:24:40]  His first embarkation and the ship’s voyages

[00:34:00] Life at sea and the voyages in Africa

[00:38:57] Serving in the Army until 1965

[00:46:15] Returning to the sea and embarking for Vietnam

[00:49:30] Arriving in San Francisco and considering staying

[00:51:40] Docking in Vancouver and leaving his ship

[01:00:37] Arriving in Toronto and starting his first job

[01:03:10] Working as a welder

[01:07:03] Working at KFC and other "irregular migrants"

[01:09:14] Attaining legal status in Canada

[01:14:50] Meeting his future wife

[01:16:27] Sharing his impressions of Toronto

[01:18:25] Playing soccer at Omiros and working as a driver

[01:23:03] His parents' visit to Canada

[01:25:50] Thoughts to return to Greece

[01:27:07] Sending remittances to his mother