Anastasia, Sipoo, Finland
This half Finnish-half Greek girl is a real family person! Thanks to Internet, her family is part of her everyday life though scattered all around Europe. Family comes first!
Appreciation for simple things in life. Cooking, watching TV, having sauna, taking care of her plants. And she always has unfinished project or seventy: drawing, knitting, sewing, painting – you name it!
What would she say to a girl of her age who lives across the world? “You are beautiful, you are worth all the love and appreciation in the world. Remember to do things that make you happy, don't try to please others and neglect yourself. And girl, spoil yourself as often as you feel like! And for the love of god, travel and see the world, it's a beautiful place!”
And Anastasia’s story about love at first sight, you don’t want to miss it!
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Meet Anastasia, 34, born in Finland, raised in Greece. Half Finnish, half Greek. At the moment living in Sipoo, Finland.
Anastasia’s family consists of her boyfriend Nick, her mother Marika, stepfather Thomas, uncle Toni and grandfather Rolf who all live close to her in Finland. Sister Alexandra lives in Bristol, UK with her boyfriend Nathan. Anastasia hasn’t seen them in over a year because of Covid-19. Her dad Antonis lives at the moment in Belgium with her youngest sister Era. Sister Ria lives in Germany and studies in Thessaloniki. Her stepmother Helen - Eras and Rias mother- sadly passed away earlier this year and she was a very important person also in Anastasia´s life. Her mother’s sisters, father’s siblings and her cousins live in different areas of Greece. Anastasia says: “My family is scattered around Europe and I miss them immensely right now. Nick’s family lives close by and they feel like family to me, so thankfully I am surrounded by loved ones.”
Anastasia has worked as a flight attendant for several airlines and that will always be her dream job. Today she is helping her boyfriend with his food truck and catering company. Working together is actually a lot of fun!
Anastasia and Mirka met when working at Norwegian airline: they were participating same training course and bonded over a few trips and layovers. Over a glass of wine, they have talked about men, work, travelling and other things that make this world go around!
EVERYDAY LIFE
When asked about her normal Tuesday, she laughs and says: “Is there such a thing anymore in 2020!?”. She wakes up quite late, drinks a lot of coffee while watching something and reading the news before getting to whatever she has waiting for her that day. Morning cuddles are just as important as the coffee, though.
The best in everyday life is family. Anastasia keeps in contact with her family a lot and thanks to Internet, family is a part of her everyday life. But the best are also routines, all kind of simple things that she does: cooking together or for others, having a dinner, watching a TV series, having sauna and a nice drink at the end of the day. That’s all she really needs.
Stressful she finds money. And she tends to stress about things caused by others. But then again, what would we be without having people in our lives? Yeps, we just have to learn how to cope!
The sun gives her energy. She is such a summer person that it’s not even funny that she lives in Finland! She does not appreciate the irony in it at all! She makes sure to get her share of vitamin D from sunbed during the winter. In addition to that she keeps herself in balance and happy by eating good food and trying to do exactly what she feels like doing. Keeping her home and skin clean gives already sort of a peace of mind! When spoiling herself, she is ashamed to admit that the answer is retail therapy even if she hates consumerism. It might be a new plant, new sheets, a perfume or pair of pretty shoes. Most of the times the retail therapy shows in a form of a cake or take out, though. Cake = happiness.
To the question “how do you talk to yourself in the front of the mirror” she gives a lovely answer: “Once in a while everybody has days when you look at the mirror and just know that there is no makeup nor pretty clothes that would make you feel like you look good that day. But most of the days I try to be happy with what I see in the mirror because how I feel about myself, is the most important of all opinions!”.
DREAMS & FEARS, PAST & FUTURE
What are your dreams?
“A life with less stress. But I have thrown an idea in the air to move somewhere warm (Crete, Mexico, wherever) even for a while, open our own little beach bar or food truck and just enjoy life in a warmer, happier place. I think in a year or two we'll be on our way to Crete, because, as it turns out, this is a dream that both of us have. ”
What is your worst fear?
“Losing someone dear. I know it's inevitable, but it scares me. Also f-ing spiders, ocean and heights.”
What is the most important advice you have received?
“You are the only one who has to live with yourself and your choices.”
What has been the greatest global invention of your time?
“Internet. No doubt.”
Where would you donate your time/money to?
“ I feel very strongly about girl’s possibilities for education and about animals and I have donated to both when I've been able to. I used to sponsor a little girl in India to help her to get an education. Unfortunately, my financial situation doesn't allow it anymore, but I hope my input helped her at least a little bit.”
Has the position of girls/women changed during your lifetime?
“For sure. During my lifetime, in some countries women have been granted the right to drive, vote, work and do other things that most of us take for granted.”
If you could, what advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
“Don't trust people too easily. Sometimes infatuation can feel like love, but it isn't, so be careful with your heart. Don't lose who you are because of someone else.”
Where will you be in 10 years?
“I have always dreamed of having a big family, but really the number of children is insignificant. Spending half of the year in Finland and the other half in Greece. All I know for sure is that I want to be happy and I want to see my family as much as possible. Hoping to have nieces and/or nephews to spoil too! Career is not that significant to me as long as I have my family and love in my life.”
What would you say to a woman of your age who lives across the world?
“You are beautiful, you are worth all the love and appreciation in the world. Remember to do things that make you happy, don't try to please others and neglect yourself. And girl, spoil yourself as often as you feel like! And for the love of god, travel and see the world, it's a beautiful place!”
STORY
“It's April 6th, 2018. I've had a rough winter and a pretty bad week. I'm on my way to pick up my mom. She's at a bar with her colleagues. Because of the shitty day I've had, I text her to say I'm coming to hang out for a while before heading home.
It's an old ship turned into a restaurant and nightclub. They are having a Latin night for exchange students and I have no idea, why my mother and her group would go there. I get there and already know where to find them because they are SO LOUD! Cabin crew sure knows how to party.
I sit down with them for a while, have a glass of prosecco and space out while they are being wild. I sit there and look around at people dancing, talking, laughing. I see a guy. A bearded guy to be exact. He has a top knot and a black chef’s jacket and he's wandering around just observing his surroundings. Why is there a chef on this shipwreck? Maybe they have a kitchen here, lord knows. He disappears and I turn back to the table and answer all the questions my mom’s colleagues are asking. Are you dating? How's work? We hear you're going on a road trip to the states, are you going to move there? Do you want another glass of bubbly? Can't you leave your car here?
Anyway, I think it's time we get my mother home now.
We get our coats and head out. There is a food truck outside. Mom says she's hungry and points at the food truck, I look closer and see the guy from inside. With the beard and the top knot and an answer as to why he was wearing that chef’s jacket. "Let's get you a burger, I also see something I want."
My mom starts talking to him and his father who is working there with him. Somehow their discussion is suddenly about me being half and half. He tells that they usually serve gyros, too. Mom goes: "well, it just so happens you have the world’s greatest tzatziki-maker right here" pointing at me.
Mind you, I haven't said a word at this point. That's how done I was. And I wasn't really interested in hanging out with men or having to deal with them at all for that matter.
He says his tzatziki is REALLY good though. I am not having this... so this got me to open my mouth and say, "well you know I have the special ingredient of Greek love". He looks at me and goes: "Oh yeah, well fuck you."
There is talks of having a tzatziki-off and my mom mentions parent-tinder at some point. She cannot stop talking! The guy says that he could bring his pet rabbit and we could make stifado to go with the tzatziki. It is all very weird. He suggests that his dad gives my mom a ride home and we go out partying, but I am not feeling it. It is just because of my mood today. But this guy... he cannot stop staring at me. It feels like we are in a staring competition and neither of us is backing down. But I don’t feel awkward or embarrassed. I am not looking for anything, so I don’t have anything to lose either. We say our thank you and walk away. I am slightly annoyed with myself: I should have just given my number. My mom almost turns around and do it for me because she thinks his behavior was so obvious. I say to check if I can find their company on Facebook and if not, I promise to go back and give him my number. I just cannot leave it there; it would bother me for the rest of my life. We get in the car and I find them on Facebook, so I drive away. But I cannot wait, so I stop at the gas station around the corner and write a message to him. About a minute and a half later he answers. Two days later we have our first date. A glass of wine and a stroll in the town turned to an overnight cruise, turned into an adventure of a lifetime.
I am a firm believer that everything does happen for a reason, so many coincidences had to be there for us to meet that night: my mom’s party in that random, weird bar and my mood that forced me to go and hangout with them for a while and there had to be that exchange students party to get him that gig for the food truck.
So, I guess what I want to say is thank you to the universe for crossing our paths.
I am so madly in love with this man. He has shown me what respect, appreciation, trust, support, commitment and unconditional love is. I deserve all of it and he makes sure I remember it every day. We stand by each other, supporting one another and I will keep doing that until the day I take my last breath.
To Neptune and back.”
QUICK ONES
Drink: Water / Prosecco
Favorite food: Greek
Restaurant/Café: Wherever Nick is cooking
Delicacy: Chocolate
Spice: Oregano
Feeling: Anticipation
Music: Dancing
Scent: Coconut
Travel destination: Warm
Movie: Moulin Rouge by Baz Luhrmann
Favorite public holiday: Christmas
Artist/band: Take That
Plant: Jasmin
Evening routine: Cuddling
Favorite piece of clothing: Little-black-dress
Animal: Baby
Scenery: Beach
Sport: Olympics
Motto: ”Winenot”