How life as an Expat can prepare you for difficult times, like Covid19

Let's be honest, nobody was prepared for what we are living globally the last few months. Not even the most wild mastermind would have thought such an extreme plot for a Hollywood movie. Although to be honest scientists had predict it... This Covid-19 or better invisible terrorist, that have made billions of people #Stayhome for weeks! Huge health, physical, and psychological challenges for every age, every nation, every religion and every financial status. A virus that equalized the world, maybe something that happened for the first time ever, since the existence of civilization? No one knew, and lets face it still do not know, how to deal with this. But there is maybe a group of people that are a little bit more trained and resilience on a physiological level at least, than the rest of the world, and these are the Expats*. The world nomads, the people that have to restart their lives in new horizons. The people that have to start from scratch, over and over again. The people that know how is to be isolated, with no friends, with some restrictions, far from loved ones, and yes, who know how is to feel lonely. 

My interview at Expatfinder

Couple years ago I had the opportunity to share my experience as an Expat of 18 years now, to one of the most experience sites about Xpats, the Expatfinder. Here Is following my interview that very kindly was hosted on their site. Please share with me your expat experiences, by leaving a message in the end or at my Instagram account! 

My Greek Summer: Chania - Crete

"You are not alone or limited, you have your nice memories from people and places, to go back anytime you like so to help you keeping going." That is exactly the sense that we are getting from the social media, in our current situation, where social distancing is the only way and the lack of physical socializing with friends and family really affects our whole being.  People are posting favorite places they have visited, calming pictures or videos from the nature or pets, or themselves on their younger version, from babies to college years. Past summer holidays is my best happy place that I like to dive in! So, lets take a trip to my memory lane from our last, family, summer holidays in the beautiful Greek island of Crete.

Our move No 6 and ..."The most wonderful time of the year!"

After 4 whole months i am back here on my blog! Just a week before the holidays, to report and give you a hint about our second round in the States. Our 6th move, second overseas, is now behind us and we are running to adjust to our new reality, new house, new neighborhood, new friends along with the old ones, and new school routines for our little one.

It was 4 very stressful months that i am slowly trying to overcome, and i am so thankful that Xmas is in the corner. This year it took us longer to be ready for the big holiday, but we made it!

My Greek Summer - Mykonos island

Oh holidays! Music to me ears, especially this year that our life has been so hectic with traveling, saying (again) goodbyes to people we care, and most importantly with moving continents... one more time. So before we leave behind our lovely Netherlands, we packed our 4 suitcases with whatever they could fit for the summer, we load the rest of the house to a container for an oversea destination and off we left for our dream holidays place, Greece. This year we head to Mykonos. One of the most famous islands in Greece together with Santorini. Our only mission to just relax, eat, sleep and enjoy the Mediterranean sea and sun. No parties for 2 tired parents of 2. But is this possible, when Mykonos is known for its VIP profile, its crazy parties and extravagant events? Well, yes! if you know where to go you can have quite family holidays like anywhere else in Greece and if you feel like it you can always rub shoulders with the rich and famous visitors of the island. Here is my photo journal of our trip. Seat, look, and enjoy the view!

Next chapter soon: Why i will miss the (North) Netherlands...

Another move, another set of goodbyes, another time for wet eyes, and emotional farewell dinners and coffee mornings. The Netherlands welcomed our family so warm, that it is very difficult to let things go. I never expected to feel so at home in a country where, we just came for work, where i don't speak the language, (although my time in Belgium helped me a lot) where i knew nobody, and where i had to start from 0. Well everything happened so easily, effortless, and calm. We found a house close to my ideal kind of house, in an area where you can easily find anything you need on a walking or biking distance. In a beautiful setting surrounded by nature and animals. Where the rhythms of life are relaxed and organized. Nothing fancy or glamorous, just pure normal living. And of course i had the luck to be at the right place at the right time to meet my first friend here at the gym, who she generously open her house, her hug and her other friendships and shared them with me. They say, or i say, you only need one person to connect so to stop feeling alone in a new place. Well, i had the privilege to meet more than one wonderful women, mothers and seekers of a better life for them and their family. Netherlands has been a box full with surprises!

Traveling with kids...

I still remember the time that my parents were getting ready for our summer holidays, loading our car until the wheels looked almost flat from the extreme weight of our stuff and me trying to squeeze myself on the back seat having to battle with the falling hats, beach chairs, umbrellas and other summer paraphernalia. Sandwiches and some cold drinks for the road, and for entertainment the scratchy music of the broken radio signal or from a favorite /boring cassette of my parents. Windows open, no AC at that time, and ready to roll to our destination. No planning ahead from my parents for what to bring to keep me happy, no worries if I am going to get bored in the car, no stress about how they will keep me entertain. Some books and magazines, dolls when I was younger, and maybe a Walkman (and for the younger audience Walkman means small portable cassette player similar (not) to cd player, to mp3 or the smartphones/iPad now) were the only options and of course actually looking out of the window to the scenery around me. But traveling with kids now is a total different story and sometimes if you are not well prepared can be scary and painful... for you and the others around you!

Greece's beauty motivates the Greeks

Greece is in an economic turmoil for a long time now. Is on the news everywhere in the world almost every month. Bubbles that burst and flooded the streets, the businesses and the homes with despair, financial uncertainty, unemployment and sadness. But Greeks are trying to take everything day by day, and right now the only motivation I see in their eyes is the country by itself. Greece is the gas that makes the motor run everyday. The beauty that this land was given is the driving force for Greeks to wake up and move on with their day. The hope of a bright, sunny day that will warm their skin and light the darkest spots of the cities. The blooming trees and flowers along the roads. The smell of lilac flower, and jasmine from the house fences. The barefoot feeling on the sandy beaches and the first touch of the Mediterranean sea after months of waiting. Greece is a feeling, it gets in to you even if you are not Greek, and it stays with you forever.

Cry me a river, its ok!

My mother used to say, when I was a kid that it was as if "I had tears in my pocket". I wasn't a drama queen, but I was and still getting emotional very, very easily. I might cry from happiness, sadness, empathy, injustice, anger, tiredness... I can be a crying machine 😂 and I even weep to social events like my son's play at school, from proudness of others achievements, or from being sympathetic to a friends story that shares at a café. I am definitely not ashamed about me crying in front of others!  For some crying is a weak thing to do, embarrassing, uncomfortable, not for adults and especially not for men -yes still is considered a handicapped. Other people they just cannot cry, which I find dangerous, mostly for their own health. For me crying has been as much comforting and cathartic, as laughter has been. So crying and laughter in my world are holding hands.

What's your job? (pause) Stay-at-home mom/dad... Hmm

On my role as an entertainer!

In the years I have been traveling and meeting other moms like me, and by saying like me I mean stay-at- home moms (sorry didn't met any stay-at- home dads although i know they exist and are doing a great job), there was always a cloud over us when somebody was making the very logical and normal question: "Do you work?" The short answer was "no, I am a stay-at- home mom" but most of the times a "but" and "because" had to come after that answer so to defend ourselves that we are not those women, that you see in the American reality shows that are pampering and drinking wine all day. Believe me our lives have no glamour, sparkles (well maybe if you have little girls in the house) and we don't live in a pink fluffy cloud, although it sounds nice.

2017 health resolution: Go to an Osteopath!

When I was back in Greece and working for the media sector, I was at one point specialized to write and report for alternative medicine and therapies. I was also keen to find new super foods, the next big effective diet and therapy or technique, anything new, interesting and different.  So for example I knew about the Alexander technique (great therapy for dancers and people with problem with their posture), but for one reason i never came across osteopathy, although it is not a new therapy since it was founded in the late 1800s by physician and surgeon Andrew Taylor from Missouri, USA. I knew physiotherapy and the work of a chiropractor, but osteopathy was never one of those techniques and therapies that fallen under my attention. Not until I moved to the Netherlands. And funny enough the first encounter was for my baby boy, and not for me!

Home away from home

Merry Xmas everyone! A day like today celebrating away from Greece and most of our family and friends thoughts jumped in my head. "Home", one simple word that is very difficult to define when you are an expat or when you have just moved to a new place far away from home. Is home a place or a feeling? Can you feel at home in more than one places? Can home be something that you had and you were use too, or something that you can built and have to adjust? Is it the people you are surrounded or the things? Is it all of the above?

Give Xmas a chance, and get some Xmas lights now!

Happy December everyone! 🎄
If you are a friend of mine in FB or Instagram you are already know that Xmas has arrived this year in our house mid of November. That is the case sometimes when you have kids. But for me my kids is the excuse, because i simple love Xmas! And Xmas is not an easy period for me and i will explain later why. But Xmas is not easy for many. Others feel more lonely, in others brings bad memories from unhappy childhood or family times, others feel that are obliged to be and feel happy. And you have every right to feel that way, but before you do give Xmas a chance there are many reasons out there that will  help you to feel happy when you see red ribbons and flashing lights and get you in to the festive mood, only if you open that window and let the magic in.

My festive Dutch photo-diary (long version!)

Autumn in the Netherlands has been great! It is mid November and the weather decided to wear its fall costume just last week. But it has been great also because it is full of so many activities, festivities and celebrations that it seems like a looong party! Well for our family its the first fall in The Netherlands so we had to explore everything! So with the help of the good, sunny weather we visited other cities, we followed flower parades, we sang and took candies on the night of St. Martins and of course we met Sinterklaas and his helper(s) Piet(s)! Sooo exciting months for the kids and all the families. Here are some of the wonderful things we saw the previous months. Enjoy the Dutch festivity greatness!

Laugh it up, it's good for you!

They say "when life gives you lemons, make some lemonade", i say "laugh it up as hard as you can!"
In the most difficult times of my life, the moment of stress, unknown, pain, or fear i would always try to find the strength to keep my smile and even joke about it. And you know what? That really helped me to keep going. That is something i want to pass to my sons too. To laugh it up, even if you have just got slapped from life. A laughter and a smile is the best defense mechanism that will and can protect and help you to overcome almost everything!

Parents:Childhood guardians*

Since i became a parent my life, like all of you that are parents, has changed forever! There you are with a tiny little creature that awaits from you to built a world for him/her, to love and protect and keep it alive actually. With no studies, manuals and previous experiences you have been chosen to handle this job, this project, the biggest  project of your life. Its more than a job title, it's a lifetime commitment. Congratulations you have been chosen to be a parent! Welcome to the unknown.

My Greek summer - Paros island

Another summer, another trip back to homeland. Every year we joke with my husband that we finally have to travel somewhere else, it is enough with Greece. But we never manage to tick all the boxes of our list when we look somewhere else. The safe sea, the food, the sunny days with some so needed breeze on August, with family and friends, with bright blue colors, with trees next to the sea to keep you cool. Greece has places for every taste, every budget and with an energy that will make you want to go back year, after year. Greece might be home for us, but it is also the best place to create beautiful summer memories.

And finally men's behavior makes sense

Oooh, how many books, discussions, women's blogs and conversations with girlfriends that have as a subject: "Why men are sooo different from women?". All these hours of conspiracy between women on how can we change them, make them think more like us, alter their DNA and input a microchip to their brain so to get us! Hundreds of magazines have been writing countless tips about this matter, but still the question remains. "Why we don't get each other?"

Your inner kid needs you, or better why you need it?

Captured by my son being silly on mother's day

There was a period of my life that i had to dive very deep, so to start moving up and meet the surface for a good breath of fresh air. It was the time that i left my serious adult self to take over -together with some heavy unavoidable situations life throw you sometimes- and made me send to the corner the inner kid which until then was always my helping hand so to cope with difficulties.

Never on a Sunday!

A typical Sunday in Greece -This one is taken at Chios island

 I always had mix feelings about Sunday's. It is consider a family day, and the day of rest but still it is a day that confuses me.

Don't get my wrong i know it is the day you can sleep more and don't have to rush,  but since sleeping in is not an option for me that i have a 1 1/2 year old kid, it means that my day starts very early, and therefore i have to start being creative since 7.00 in the morning!