Niki, Chania, Greece
Mother, wife, woman, friend, science teacher from island of Crete, Greece!
Read about Niki’s life and thoughts and get inspired: story is somehow mesmerizingly beautiful and timeless and takes you suddenly into back-to-basics.
If you have a dream, go for it, cherish it and never stop learning! It’s an advice that can back up your decisions and plans about your dream job or just a road trip adventure.
And “Don’t worry about things you cannot change.”
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Meet Niki from Chania, Greece.
She is married and has two sons: the older one, 21, studies medicine in Athens and the younger one, 17, is in the last grade and should take the exams for the university this year if covid-19 won’t change everything.
Niki teaches Science at the high school.
And how she knows Mirka and Tiina? Niki’s husband works for the travel tourism and both girls worked with him for years and became friends.
EVERYDAY LIFE
Niki’s normal Tuesday is a combination of teaching in the morning and householding and preparing lesson in the afternoon. Morning starts with a breakfast at home: milk and cereals and sometimes a slice of bread with honey and tahini. Schooldays, from Monday to Friday, start at 8.15 and end, for children, at 14.05. She has lunch around 14.30 after which work at school continues. From 17 to 18 siesta-break – which of course makes the day longer.
As a teacher her summer routine is completely different: there is time to swim, to go out with friends and to do some gardening. In her summer house grow roses, oregano, thyme, tomatoes, peppers and much more.
Niki has always wanted to become a teacher. She was excellent student and could have studied anything, but as she wanted to work also with children, she chose to study chemistry in the university of Athens.
The very best in everyday life is when the students are in a good mood and willing to learn and joke! On the other hand, the worst and the most stressful are bad days at school and those moments when there is simply not enough time to do everything right.
How is she taking care of herself? She follows fundamental guidelines: a minimum of cosmetics, one day cream, not too many calories, Mediterranean diet and 3-4 months of yoga per year.
And after all, positivity and energy are growing from essentials: spending time with friends and having a good sleep!
Corona-has changed routines also in Crete. The schools were closed from 10th of March until 20th of May and all the teaching and studying was done remotely. Schools opened again at the end of May, but parents had to decide if it was safe to send children back to school and many families decide to keep them at home. Those who returned to school were instructed to use masks. Since 9th November schoolwork was moved back online due to lockdown. The situation often feels unpleasant, tiring and it is harder to cooperate with students.
All in all, covid-19 really changed life in Crete: the island that welcomes app. 3 million tourist every year, feel the dramatic impact. It means that the important part of Cretans has no work. The exceptional situation has brought an enormous amount of challenges and sorrow for those who all suddenly have lost all income.
Even if the situation is almost unbearable for many, there has been a small glimpse of something positively unique: for the first time in many years, Cretans have had their beaches as they remember them from their childhood. A touching trip down memory lane.
DREAMS & FEARS, PAST & FUTURE
What are your dreams?
“For me and my family, I hope we stay healthy! I would also love to start hiking.”
Niki’s hometown Chania and whole island of Crete is known for its beautiful landscape, gorgeous beaches, burning sun, olive groves, delicious food, amazing, warm people, welcoming atmosphere and so much more. Next time follow Niki’s tip and visit the hidden gems of Crete: rent a car and go for a hike to Cretan mountains and gorges (check for example gorges of Imbros, Agia Irini, Sirikari or Samaria).
What is your worst fear?
“That my sons wouldn’t be healthy and safe.”
What is the most important advice you have received?
“Don’t worry about things you cannot change.”
What has been the greatest global invention of your time?
“Internet.”
Where would you donate your time/money to?
“Children or animals.”
Has the position of girls/women changed during your lifetime?
“Yes, we are in a much better position now, although we have still a long way to go.”
If you could, what advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
“Learn as much as you can and never miss a journey.”
Where will you be in 10 years?
“Still teaching science in a High School.”
What would you say to a woman of your age who lives across the world?
“Keep dreaming and demanding your rights.”
How about Christmas traditions? Christmas is a warm family period. Some special desserts (melomakarona and kourabiedes) are prepared, houses are decorated, children sing Kalanda (sort of Gingle Bells) and families gather together for the Christmas dinner!
STORY
“It was many years ago back in July of 1997 where not many people had mobile phones in Greece. Three young women - me, one friend of mine, Margarita and a friend of her, Lena - decided to spend Sunday on a beach, here in Crete. We hadn’t decided where to go, so I had a brilliant idea. I had a book, «The Unexplored Crete”. It was written by a journalist who spent months in Crete, touring all around the island, visiting every village by his motorbike. According to him Triopetra in South Rethimnon, about 80 km away, was the most beautiful beach of the island and he proposed a unique route to get there.
So, we took all we needed, Lena was the driver and the journey had begun. All the way we were talking, laughing, singing. We followed exactly guide’s directions. After one hour, we arrived in a small mountain village. It seemed that the road was a dead-end. We stopped at village’s square where some men were sitting in “cafenio” and we asked them the way to the beach. They pointed in the right direction and one of them bended and looked under our vehicle. “Oh! Yes, I believe you will make it!” He said. We felt a bit surprised, but we didn’t ask for any explanation. We just followed the road they pointed out.
Very soon we got in an unpaved road. There were no signs, just fields with olive trees and vineyards. There was no straight way and we constantly had to choose between various crossroads. We were driving for at least 30 minutes without knowing where to go or how to return to the village. We could see the beach in front of us, but very far away: we were miles away up on the mountains. We had no idea how to get there. Lena stopped the music and grasped the steering wheel very strong. I asked her if we had enough gas and Margarita started reading the travel book again. I was thinking, “thank God, we have no wolfs, bears and poisonous snakes in Crete”. If it was necessary, we could walk to the south, we had some water with us. It was obvious that all of us had scary thoughts, but nobody said them loudly.
Suddenly, after one curve of the road, we saw a house with many cars outside and a lot of people having lunch. We felt both surprise and relief. We went straight to the house. A man came out, he spoke Greek with a German accent and gave us precise directions. Very soon we reached a wide road that led straight to our beach. We realized that the travel book was written for off - road motorbikes, not for cars! We had followed the most difficult route! When we got to the beach, it felt like in paradise. Lena admitted that she had been really scared, because she had never driven at that kind of conditions before and she was grateful that me and Margarita stayed calm and cool. We lied under the sun laughing because of our adventure and its happy end. An important advice for the future: Although surprises make journeys more interesting, take a minute or two to study chosen itinerary before starting to drive into the unknown!”.
QUICK ONES
Drink: Margarita
Favorite food: Stuffed vegetables (gemista)
Delicacy: Chocolate
Restaurant/Café: Chinese
Spice: Salt
Feeling: Calm
Music: Anything
Scent: Allure
Travel destination: Vietnam (never been there)
Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marques
Movie: The Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson
Favorite public holiday: Apokries (Greek carnival)
Artist/band: U2
Plant: Rose
Favorite piece of clothing: Dress
Animal: Cat
Scenery: Sea
Sport: Walking
Motto: “Eyes may flinch, but hands are spunky.” It means that your hands are smarter than eyes: sometimes we feel that we cannot make it, but when we start working on it, we will know what to do and succeed!