I made a new friend here. One of those “I’ve known you forever” soul connections. Let’s call him, John. I want to protect his identity. I have to protect his identity.

He is a musician. He’s a street performer here in Athens and sings and plays the guitar. I would describe his style as “acoustic alternative.” He’s fucking talented. (Sorry mom, on my blog I say fucking) God, he’s fucking talented.

He’s not Greek! He’s from South America (exact country not stated on purpose for his protection). He was homeless starting at 5 because his family was into gang stuff. By 11 years old he got the opportunity to escape the dangerous life on the streets in his home country. He came here with a fake passport all alone as a young child, not speaking a word of English or Greek and has been here trying to make some sort of life for himself ever since. He lives gig to gig, calling his singing and guitar playing on the streets “work.” I totally agree with him! It is “work”. But it’s sad that he isn’t able to have another “job” if he wanted to. The Greek government basically views and treats street performers the same as homeless people. John’s ability to pay his rent depends on how many days and nights he sings, which location he’s lucky enough to get within the city and how generous tourists are feeling at the moment they walk by. He lives in a constant state of uncertainty. And yet, when he performs… you’d never know. His glowing energy is contagious.

This is my first experience truly getting to know the pain of an “illegal alien”. What I see is a human who wants a full life and is capable of so much…but is trapped by a system that doesn’t work and offers few to no options for remediation. At 11 years old – how could he have known what coming to Greece illegally would mean for his life? How can we as a society blame him? Let alone “banish” him?

John has had numerous opportunities to sign a record deal for his music (he’s THAT talented) but he always says no because he’s terrified of what happens when they want him to sign a contract… what name does he use? Or what about when the limelight shines on him and it is discovered that he doesn’t have proper “papers”. And with the economy what it is here in Greece, he hasn’t been able to save enough money for lawyers, court, plane tickets to try and fix his situation and he’s scared to start even if he had the money because he’s all alone in this world aside from the small community of people he’s grown close to here. He’s scared that if he tries to “fix” his situation, he will end up kicked out of Greece, no place to go, no family, no friends. It’s actually devastating. He’s a victim of a broken system. My heart hurts for the difficult life he’s had and knowing such a talented human doesn’t get to shine full strength brightness because of fear of consequences from choices a young child made to try and get a better life.

Along with living here illegally. He suffers from really severe depression. Which is easy to understand why. He experiences super low lows where he feels so hopeless, so stuck…. So lost and alone that he feels suicidal and sometimes acts on those feelings. He doesn’t have health insurance or access to a doctor (because of being here illegally). He can’t get prescribed anti depressants. He feels alone (and like something is wrong with him) because here in Greece nobody talks about mental health issues like we do in the States. People don’t understand chemical imbalances here. People here in Greece don’t understand that children who are horrifically abused understandably would have mental health issues as adults.

I feel that meeting John was like seeing a shooting star. I know I’ll never see it or him again. It was a once in a lifetime thing… hanging out with the local street musicians and drinking beers on the sidewalk until the wee hours of the morning. I’m grateful he trusted me to share his story.

I feel… John’s…. mortality. I don’t know how to say this but I can tell that he doesn’t have much time left in this realm. It’s heartbreaking. He’s so young and SUCH a bright star. Such a bright human. Such a beautiful soul. And this broken system that doesn’t have a place for him…. it’s going to kill him. He’s been fighting and fighting and fighting for so long. And he’s tired. Rightfully so. And there’s nothing I or anyone can do to help him. Other than, hear his story. Laugh with him. Clap for him. Tip him (and tip all street musicians!!!). And in my case…..tell him he’s magic. And not to lose hope ✨