Here is the second part of the interview in English transcript format:

Interviewer: Good, let's put things in order now. So you returned to a house that had essentially been occupied and when exactly did you move to Athens?

Rachil Varouch: To Athens after the earthquakes.

Interviewer: Ah, so you stayed until the earthquakes?

Rachil Varouch: Until the earthquakes I was in Volos, yes.

Interviewer: Do you remember what year that was?

Rachil Varouch: I think the earthquakes were around 1955.

Interviewer: So this means that you normally started going to school in Volos?

Rachil Varouch: I didn't hear.

Interviewer: You started school in Volos?

Rachil Varouch: At school, yes, when we returned from the occupation I enrolled in the third elementary school of Volos. And initially I wasn't a good student. But the moment I started understanding myself and I said why others and not me, then I started studying and getting excellent grades. I had good classmates. Then I went to gymnasium and lyceum.

Interviewer: Which gymnasium did you attend?

Rachil Varouch: I went to public school. But because after some time my father had rented to a private lyceum in Volos and I was a good student, they said it's not right for your daughter to go to public school while we have the private one and so he enrolled me in the private Apostolou school and another partner he had. I can't recall his surname right now. It was a very good school. I finally graduated from there.

Interviewer: Your father rented from the house.

Interviewer: And where did you live when he rented the house?

Rachil Varouch: We also lived in the house.

Interviewer: Ah, you lived there. Good.

Interviewer: And your mother continued to work, what did she do?

Rachil Varouch: My mother helped with the household needs. She also helped a lot during the occupation with the Soldier's Vest, the Greek Red Cross and the Anti-Cancer Society. And after the war she continued to deal with these organizations. Yes, she helped.

Interviewer: OK. Now, when you went to school, elementary etc., was there any provision for Jewish education for you?

Rachil Varouch: No, for Jewish education the only thing that existed, I remember when I was little we went to the synagogue, the children played in the courtyard, we observed the various religious holidays, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and I remember then we didn't turn on the lights, it wasn't allowed to turn on the lights and we called some neighbor there to come and turn on and off the lights. Also, during that period, the shops of the Israelites closed on Saturday, they didn't operate and they came to the synagogue. Passover again, we observed Passover eating matzo all week and Yom Kippur always. Even my father and everyone and today of course I always observe Yom Kippur and my father although he was of advanced age and had diabetes, observed it.

Interviewer: How often did you go to the synagogue in those years?

Rachil Varouch: How often we went, once a week we went.

Interviewer: On Fridays for services?

Rachil Varouch: Yes.

Interviewer: And when you went, I imagine on Yom Kippur or some corresponding holiday, do you have any experience from those years?

Rachil Varouch: How many people came, how was the atmosphere, you told us today that you played with the children.

Rachil Varouch: Yes, no, people came then, they came.

Interviewer: And do you remember the Rabbi?

Rachil Varouch: I remember Pesach, yes. I remember Pesach and he had given me an amulet which unfortunately I lost. I didn't lose it. They stole it with my wallet, they stole my wallet and I had the amulet too.

Interviewer: What kind of amulet was it?

Rachil Varouch: I don't know, he had written something in Hebrew and I always had it with me.

Interviewer: Did this happen when you were a child?

Rachil Varouch: This happened when I was older, no, yes, a little older.

Interviewer: At school were there other Jewish children who went to elementary or private school?

Rachil Varouch: In elementary I don't remember having other Jewish children, no, there weren't any and we didn't happen to coincide. But I had very good classmates and the friendship was maintained afterwards, both with gymnasium and lyceum and after when I came to Athens we met again some of us and we still maintain contact among us today. And the good thing is that even at university when I later entered I didn't encounter any anti-Semitism at all, at least I didn't. At university, I'm not saying later, in friendly circles and such, there might have been. But I want to say that throughout this entire evolution of my life from elementary through university, I didn't feel any anti-Semitism at all.

Interviewer: When you graduated from the private Apostolou school, what did you do next, where did you go?

Rachil Varouch: Afterwards we had come to Athens, I spent some time in the summer at the Kanelos tutorial center to take exams, a preparation. Then I had taken exams at the University of Athens and I had also taken them at the Polytechnic because I was interested in architecture. But unfortunately I failed there by half a point and I had meanwhile succeeded in the School of Mathematics and Physics in the mathematics department, I liked mathematics. And so I continued there.

Interviewer: Where did you live in Athens with your parents?

Rachil Varouch: When we came here we lived in Plateia Amerikis. Initially on Limnou 31. Then we went to Patission 188 and then again across the street I think at 234. Anyway there in the area of Plateia Amerikis. And when we came here I went a lot, there was then the Club on Karneadou Street and there we had a very large group among us. There was Niketi Tampach, there was Ellios Hasid, my cousin Matathias who was sort of my escort. Anyway we had a very large circle and we constantly went on excursions, dances among us and all that at the Club.

Interviewer: So you maintained close relations with the community there in Athens?

Rachil Varouch: But many people from Volos had already come, yes. Quite a few had come.

Interviewer: How many women were there in your school when you entered?

Rachil Varouch: At university?

Rachil Varouch: Very few. When we entered only 100 people succeeded. And from the 100 we came out around and many entered without exams. From Cyprus where there were some and the rest. And from the 100 we came out in the end somewhere around 30 when we graduated. Women very few. We would have been around 5-6.

Interviewer: Because it's indeed somewhat rare for that era.

Interviewer: When did you graduate from university?

Rachil Varouch: When I graduated it would have been 1961. I don't remember exactly now.

Interviewer: And what was the next step after?

Rachil Varouch: I was appointed. Although I was in the last years although I was at university and assistant professor at the university. Of Mr. Papagioannou who was in engineering. I had also received a scholarship abroad but my father didn't want to, he said I wanted you to have security for your life. I didn't want you to become the Einstein of the family. Anyway then I was appointed in Lamia where I first served.

Rachil Varouch: From there after I stayed two years I was then transferred.

Interviewer: As a teacher.

Rachil Varouch: As a teacher yes.

Interviewer: In Lamia.

Rachil Varouch: Then I was transferred to Avlona. No I got a regular transfer to Avlona. And from there I had various transfers to Athens. Then in Athens I was in various schools again... At the 8th, at the 17th because then with each promotion we had a transfer. And I went around to many schools. Then I came to Terpsia Lyceum here in Glyfada as vice-principal. I served also in Agrinio and I went to Volos for some time. In the end in 1988 because I had in the meantime given birth to my daughter, I didn't want to leave her continuously in others' hands and I submitted my resignation. After serving around 26 years. And I became a gymnasium principal, lyceum principal.

Rachil Varouch: I participated in various committees that the Ministry of Education had appointed me to. I also represented Greece in two foreign conferences. In Liège. In Mathematics, related to Mathematics. I was also in the Greek Mathematical Society in Delta Sigma for some time. As library supervisor. I served in various positions in various grading and examination centers. They had also assigned me some inspections in tutorial centers.

Rachil Varouch: And then in various Jewish organizations. For many years I was a member of the school committee of the Jewish Elementary School. I was a member of the community committee in Athens. Of the cultural center which I am still now. And from the side of the Greek state I had been honored by Queen Frederica. With the Bronze Cross. For the services I offered to the soldier's vest. And I have received diplomas from the Greek Red Cross. And from the Anti-Cancer Society.

Interviewer: To go back a little to your life with your parents before you left home. Would you say your parents were religious?

Rachil Varouch: Look, they weren't religious in the sense that they would observe everything. Like the Chabad do for example. No, no. Within reasonable limits I think.

Interviewer: Did your parents pray?

Rachil Varouch: That is, I know for example, yes they prayed. But I also know that it somehow bothered my father that I didn't marry a Jew. Despite the fact that... He was an amazing person and they got to know him. Both a person and a scientist. He was a doctor. And... That's why we delayed getting married. Because we were waiting in case civil marriage might exist. But unfortunately civil marriage didn't exist in our time. And so I was forced to change religion. But then I returned to my own religion. Because he also knew that essentially I wasn't going to change. And I returned again to my own religion afterwards. But what impressed me. And of course my parents had also accepted him as a person. The only thing they wanted. But what impressed me about our religion. Is how right it was that when I asked again the rabbi who was chief rabbi then. To return again. He tells me you must have your husband's approval.

Interviewer: When did you get married?

Rachil Varouch: In 1977.

Interviewer: And when did you meet?

Rachil Varouch: Ooh! A decade before. Approximately. We almost got a state allowance.

Interviewer: Was it within some professional framework?

Rachil Varouch: It was some professional environment. No we happened to meet through friends. But he was many years in America. That is, after he finished medicine here. He had gone to America. And he associated a lot with Israelites there. His circle that is was more with Israelites.

Interviewer: Where was he in America?

Rachil Varouch: In New York and many other cities. And so when we got married. I continued to have our customs. To observe Yom Kippur, to observe Passover, to observe these holidays. And he also participated. That is, the memorial services I did later at home for my parents. He was always present and always supported me. That is, we might have had different religions. But one observed the other's. That is, he was... He was very open-minded that is I can say about these things.

Interviewer: This is very interesting what you said though. That is, you went through baptism to formally become Orthodox Christian?

Rachil Varouch: Yes, it was necessary.

Interviewer: And you married in 1977 and when did you return back?

Rachil Varouch: Now I don't remember that. It was shortly. Yes, it was shortly. But soon it didn't happen after a long time.

Interviewer: Now you told us about the reaction let's say of your father more, not your mother.

Rachil Varouch: And my mother and my mother, both wanted it.

Interviewer: With the in-laws?

Rachil Varouch: The mother-in-law didn't exist, she had died much earlier. Only my father-in-law existed. And who also I believe would have wanted someone of his faith but we had formal relations.

Interviewer: You haven't told us yet your husband's name.

Rachil Varouch: Evangelos.

Interviewer: Evangelos.

Interviewer: Do you have more than one child?

Rachil Varouch: No, one. From '87.

Interviewer: And growing up did you continue to observe let's say Passover and all these holidays. In your own home, your own family home.

Interviewer: Which holidays did you observe let's say annually?

Rachil Varouch: Annually. Yes, the important ones. Well, we observed Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Hanukkah, Tu BiShvat, Purim.

Interviewer: Did you also cook things systematically?

Rachil Varouch: Yes, we do some things.

Interviewer: Is there something traditional you know how to make or that you make?

Rachil Varouch: Well, basically what my daughter also likes is the bumuelos we make.

Interviewer: And tell me. In two words, what are bumuelos?

Rachil Varouch: Bumuelos are like loukoumades, they're a sweet. They're loukoumades made with matzo. With matzo, with oil, water. And I put them in the oven, I don't make them in the pan. And then we honey them.

Interviewer: Then you, when you left your parents' house and spent many years when you were an independent woman, on your own. Before getting married.

Rachil Varouch: Yes.

Interviewer: Initially in Athens, where did you live?

Interviewer: When you were a student, did you still live with your parents?

Rachil Varouch: Yes, I told you previously that when we left Volos, I came with my mother to Athens. And then my father came later too. And we all lived together. We lived until I got married. Together.

Interviewer: Yes, but earlier you had worked in Lamia and all these places.

Rachil Varouch: Yes, yes, yes. There I was alone of course.

Interviewer: Good.

Interviewer: And you married in a Christian church, right?

Rachil Varouch: Yes.

Interviewer: Where?

Rachil Varouch: In Psychiko. At Saint Dimitrios.

Interviewer: The priest there, how did he take that you wanted to...

Rachil Varouch: I think initially at some point they had told me that I must learn, I don't know, the liturgy, these things, the various ones. I said I can't learn anything of all these. But a relative of my husband intervened, who made sure nothing of all these happened. No catechism was done, that is, or something like that, I want to say.

Interviewer: Can you be a bit more specific about what you did within the community. That is, you said before, for example, that you were on the school committee of the school. From when to when?

Rachil Varouch: I was for many years, I don't remember now.

Interviewer: And what was the committee's responsibility?

Rachil Varouch: In committees it's the organization of the school, generally. Whatever has to do with the Jewish school. For teachers, for the children's progress, for hirings, all these. Whatever has to do with the school.

Interviewer: What grade did your committee go up to?

Rachil Varouch: I had also given some lectures at the Jewish school then, I remember. One related to new mathematics. And I don't remember, and some other one. I had given some lectures.

Interviewer: Do you remember who was the director when you stopped at the school?

Rachil Varouch: Was it Giorgos Kanelos?

Rachil Varouch: Kanelos was also there, I remember, for some time. Yes, he was for many years when Kanelos was there and I was also on the committee. And, in fact, I had taken care, I remember, because my daughter went to Pierce. And I had taken care to bring into contact. The gymnasium then, Pierce officials, to cooperate with the Jewish Elementary School.

Interviewer: Ah, you were and are responsible for this.

Rachil Varouch: Yes, I had brought them. I had brought them.

Interviewer: Good, tell us a bit more.

Rachil Varouch: I had brought then both the gymnasium principals who were there and the officials to see the space. And they saw all the spaces and we said how some cooperation could happen between the two. So that the children would be directed towards there. But during that period, at some time, they considered it wasn't easy. That it might be considered like a ghetto, that is, if the Jewish children are separate and something like that. And so it foundered then during that period. Anyway I had made the first contact.

Interviewer: Good.

Interviewer: Also, the Cultural Center which you deal with until today.

Interviewer: Also, how many years have you been dealing with the Cultural Center?

Interviewer: And what have you done. Tell us some things.

Rachil Varouch: What we have done. For example, we do all the events. All events that happen from the Cultural Center, whether theaters, whether excursions, whether of Jewish content, whether book presentations. All these are done by the Cultural Center. I have also presented many times the community of Volos. Recently I had presented the history of the Volos community at the Cultural Center too. I don't remember now. Book presentations. I had also done some other events. Together with Mrs. Kapon we had done some other event jointly. These are.

Interviewer: Have you participated in any other associations?

Rachil Varouch: Like Wizo, B'nai B'rith, such things.

Rachil Varouch: Yes, of course. With Na'amat. Where we usually held meetings every... Now we've slowed down a bit because many left from the south and have gone to the north. We usually held Na'amat every Thursday.

Interviewer: And what did you usually do as a group?

Rachil Varouch: First, to meet among ourselves. Second, to exchange views. And generally to meet and help. And to somehow maintain our own customs.