Lotz of thoughts

Growing up in Greece and only leaving when I was 23, all my Christmases were “white” (well, sort of but close enough) being cold (best excuse to wear scarves and gloves and new boots), smelling of hot chocolate and kourampiedes (the most delicious cookie EVER!), and listening to carols in every corner (I would have made it romantic and talk about the cracking of the wood in the fireplace, but let’s be realistic here). Since 2007 that I left, I have only returned in December twice – so the last decade, my Christmases have  turned “blue”- like the blue skies, the blue water of the ocean (or the swimming pool), and the blue of my swimming costume. My Christmases now smell of watermelon and sunscreen lotion, sound like the coal in the braai and taste like ice cream three times a day. There has not been one single year that someone (from Greece or the rest of Europe has not commented in one of my summer December photos in social media something like “oh how different”, “brrr we ar

Suppose one lives in a world without social media, internet, TV, or other means of news communication not to have heard about Serena Williams, famous champion tennis player, incident and arguments at the final of the US Open last weekend. Her voice advocating that women’s discrimination materializes in all aspects of tennis and particularly in the implementation of rules and penalties given was loud and clear. In another situation, I would have sat down and cheered for her as loud as she was. But now, I was in thoughts… We live in a world where all arguments and all difficult discussions are easily “won” by the one side if some sort of discrimination is put forward. No, I am not talking only in sports but also politics and all other facets of life. I found myself struggling to decide if I understood deeply her agonizing “scream” for fairness or myself being a rule-follower I was upset with any breaking of rules and not acceptance of the penalty/punishment. All that in t

“You have everything under control” “You can do everything you put your mind on” “You balance family and social life and work so nicely” “I am not worried about you, you are strong, you will manage” A few of the comments I hear every now and then from friends, family, and others. Comments that are derived primarily from my posts on social media, photos of activities with the kids, awards for work successes, running races, and check-ins at nice places. My boys call me a wonder woman that even has eyes at the back. Indeed, I live a busy life with full schedules and we are doing our best to do fun things with the boys and create memories. However, if you judge someone’s happiness and easiness of living from their facebook posts, it is as if you know all the drama that went on at a wedding by the photos in the album. When watching a movie or a play, you do not see any of the pain, effort and disappointments at the rehearsals. I don't post about the

It was about time that I travelled in another African country and experience what the African continent has to offer after more than 10 years in South Africa (only travelled for honeymoon to Mauritius and Zambia). An opportunity to travel to Nigeria for a conference came and I did not think about it much – I grabbed it. Of course, the reactions of whoever heard about the trip varied from looks of concern to “oh my word, aren’t you scared?”. Scared? I cant say I was before the trip. The mechanism that I decided to use was taking everything step by step and deal with the trip as with any other trip anywhere in the world where one does not know the conditions and the system. I did not ignore the voices of concern but I had everything neatly in my mind. Maybe the Nigerian delegates in some of the courses I taught had already given me a warm feeling, and I did not have enough proof to counter that – maybe call me romantic or even better naïve. Worse thing that can happen to ever

At first, it was a hello and a flickering cursor…. What continued was checking for messages the whole day…. The poems, the sweet words…. Then the KISS….. expected, desired, needed for days… years? Life started… Life as we never knew it before… Love…can there be more love? And more love? And even more love? From one to two, to family… From loving my life with you… To cant even breath without you... Ten years… Feelings, emotions, thoughts, moments, memories…. All you…every day you…. My forever and my reason….

Hello hello, I have not stopped writing and definitely, I have not stopped having ideas and confusions in my mind... The two latest have been published at the blog of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). International Day of Women and Girls in Science: why not to like it! Click here . The journey of a paper. Click here . I will come back soon ;) Beware! :)

Today we celebrate “South African first day at school” day. You live in Mars (or in another country) if you have not posted or seen or received at least one photo or post with “My baby is going to school today” or “Grade 1 here we come” or “First day of Matric”. I was one of these proud ones that my bigboy started Grade R. One of those that did not stop taking photos. One of those that put on their sunglasses to hide their tears. One of those that did not know if they should be happy or sad when my bigboy left me to go play with the friends. One of those that panicked the day before thinking that “I don’t have everything for the first day – what a bad mummy I am”. One of those that realised that her baby is not a baby anymore – he wears a uniform!!! But it did not actually hit me today. It hit me a few days ago. My bigboy lost his two front teeth. They were loose for some time and we decided to visit the dentist to check if everything is fine, where he said we nee