Other Stories from Cyprus

Papou waited in Cyprus for a year before he was able to come in to the U.S. He had to have his uncle, Nick Phillips, get him a VISA and ticket to the country. When he finally got the right paperwork, he walked to the boat with his cousin Stelios, and said goodbye to him, and the life he knew. 

​

 

 

 

Before Papou came to America, another Nick Zingas (Papou’s uncle) came to the U.S., but he was forced to change his name to Nick Phillips (using his mother’s maiden name). Luckily, when Papou came in 1946, he kept his name of “Zingas” — a possible sign of changing times in Detroit.

​

​

​

​

Papou was working in a hotel restaurant in Limassol, and he became more assertive of his rights as a worker. He didn’t want to eat the leftovers anymore — but ended up settling for them anyways.