Different Worlds: Photos 21 to 38

Nicholas John Nakis

Please keep us updated with what happens to you and Chelly. I have been reading your blogs with much interest!

Thanks for the history and views. It all falls right in with what I've been doing a good bit of lately- reenacting/redefining wars through the game "Medieval II: Total War". The Byzantines, Turks, and Venetians are playable factions in it. I am now more acquainted with Greece, having read this blog. And of yourself of course. Improvement of oneself is what it's all about.

You sound like a nice guy so I am giving you some advice. The chances of your relationship with Chelly will work are next to nothing. Do you really an African girl will be happy in the states?? It's totally different in every way. She will alone (except you), with no family or friends or job. PLUS, you are broke. All of this will cause a HUGE strain on the relationship. The idea that you can live happily ever after is not realistic. Wake up! The vacation is OVER! You will thank me later for this. You cannot and should not change your whole life for one person. You need balance. Please think about it.

Wow, I feel special I showed up in your blog and you even spelled my name right! LOL. I hope Chelly is ok!

where do I begin, i found your blog by accident, i'm sitting here in an internet cafe in a nameless airport in a nameless place, hand bandaged, mourning a friend, when i saw your blog about your brother, i read your blog briefly and found myself having sympathy for him but thinking of you "what a puke", then I read of your blogs about Chelly. I'm 8 years older and have been just about everywhere with the scar tissue to prove it, i have walked the road of moral exploration and have tried to make a difference, I have also worked hard, made friends and have succeeded around the world. In every way I am years ahead of you, but would start over again if I could meet someone with what I see in Chelly's eyes(from the blog pics). You look to your future and see hazards and problems to overcome, but you have each other, I can't believe it, I'm jealous.

...and I think it's total bullshit. At least it's not applicable to our situation. I know plenty of Africans who are happy in the states. And, actually, I as an American am rarely very happy here. There is a lot about America that I really hate (the attitudes you've expressed here, for example) and we'll need to be balancing our time in the U.S. with our time abroad, for sure. When Chelly arrives in the U.S., we will have money. We will also have a large network of friends and relatives to give her support. Already, I am imploring my friends to take care of her and show her around when she arrives, as well as beginning to reach out towards the African and Catholic communities in my area. By the time she gets here, we will do everything we can to make her feel at home. Changing my whole life for this one person has made me very happy so far, so I think I'll take my chances. Thanks.

Just read your blogs, wow! I hope you keep writing from the US. And don't listen to the naysayer above - you both sound like adaptable individuals and if it works, it works, and if it doesn't, it doesn't, but at least you'll have no regrets. Love is worth chasing! All the best.

Thank you taking the time to reply to my comment. I truly hope it works out for you and Chelly. Good luck kai kalo pasxa!

Hello, I have been an avid browser among travelblog for some time now, just reading blogs to occupy my boring time from within my gray cubicle walls and several weeks ago I came across your blogs. Nothing has captivated me as your blogs have. I read all of them. You write with an increadible knowledge, and reading about you and Chelly was like waiting for a story to unfold, your blogs are amazing !! I wish you both lots of luck and I do hope you'll continue writting once back in the states, you certainly have a knack for it !

As a latecomer to your journals here, I just wanted to say, extraordinary. And I'm happy to see you are not taking the advice of Kerry. We don't know the end of anything, but it's in the attempt to make a better life, even if we may not be successful, that makes life worthwhile. Good luck to both of you.

I just read Kerry's comment and am glad you responded and will not heed those words. As I said before, my mom came from Europe and it was hard to get her here but she loved it and made it her home. Chelly will do fine because she has people that love her and much support here and she has you, the love of her life. Good luck and she will be here soon. Let us know what we can do to get the tree house ready for her arrival. We are here to help you!

Wow.....what a trip Nick...Can't believe it is over. From a Kenyan in the US.....Kila la kheri ndugu....ask Chelly what it means :)