Thalia Argyris

Born and raised on the small Greek island of Naxos, Thalia spent the first eight years of her life running rather wild in the streets of her home village of Apollonas. She and her younger brother, Ignatios, were close enough in age that they grew up mostly as friends and rivals. By the time Petros was born, however, Thalia's mother needed more help keeping up the household and caring for the baby. Thalia, as the oldest and a female, became her mothers helper. After Petros came Chara. Then Stavros. By the time Iliana was born Thalia barely remembered what it was like to be a child even though she was still only fourteen years of age.

Thankfully Thalia found she had a liking for babies and small children in general. She enjoyed looking after them, teaching them and helping them grow. It may not have been her choice to mostly raise her younger siblings along side her aging mother but that didn't diminish the joy she felt for every first. First laugh. First step. First word. First day of school. First kiss. It didn't take Thalia long to realize her ideal career would be as a teacher.

Sadly the same year she began applying to college was the year her mother's health took a turn for the worse. A heart attack left the sweet, over worked woman bed ridden and Thalia, loyal and caring to a fault, threw away her acceptance letters and stayed home. Two years later, after her mother had recovered (despite her constant complaining to the contrary) Thalia finally managed to begin attending school on the other side of the island. It was rough at first. She'd never spent so much time so far away from her family, but she found that college life suited her. Despite the fact that she was a few years older than most of the other freshmen (and eventually sophomores) her fun loving nature and motherly tenderness earned her a place as the universally adored 'foititís mamá.'

The summer between her sophomore and junior year, while she was home visiting her family, she received some grave news. Her father's business, a small fishing and boating supply store located near the docks, had fallen on hard times. Drastic measures would have to be taken if her family's livelihood was to survive. Thalia dropped out of college and returned home for what she assumed would be the last time.

However, one year later she found herself on a plane with a single suitcase to her name and a one way ticket to America. Now an immigrant living in the states on a student visa, she smiles, laughs, makes friends, goes to school and does her best to move forward and not miss her family too much. Besides, not all family is blood.