I feel... mostly Greek. I was born there and lived there all my life until I moved to Maastricht last summer. My father is half Greek, half Syrian; my mother is from Lebanon. I’ve never been there, though – I only passed through the airport once on my way to Syria. My mother’s family moved there years ago. And some of my father’s relatives still live there. I used to visit regularly as a child, but we went less often after the civil war broke out. The last time I went was in 2018. Luckily, my family lives in a safe area.
When we were younger, my siblings and I were always at each other’s throats. Not me so much, but my little brother and older sister were constantly arguing about trivial things. I usually stayed out of it. All three of us are completely different in terms of both personality and interests, so we clash sometimes. I’m a lot like my mother; I’m full of energy, and I talk and laugh a lot. My sister sometimes struggles with that. She’s also studying in the Netherlands, in Wageningen, but we haven’t visited each other yet. It’s just never the right time. [Laughs] The last time we saw each other was during the holidays, at our parents’ place.
"Celebrating Carnaval was fun, but the music was awful"
I always wanted to live abroad. Yes, I knew quite early on that I wanted to leave Greece eventually. There’s not much of a future for me there. Jobs are scarce, there aren’t many options for studying what you want and the quality of education is poor. I was enrolled in a nursing course, but I never went to class, like many young people in Greece. Tuition is free, but you get discounts with your student card. In the meantime, I looked at courses abroad – first in Italy, but I didn’t get into medicine there. My sister suggested the Netherlands, and here I am.
I like to listen to… bands like Scorpions, Nirvana, Guns N’ Roses, but also music from the 2000s or classical music. It really depends on my mood. I can’t stand Dutch Carnaval music, though. I celebrated Carnaval last year and I had fun, but the music was awful. All I could think was, my poor ears!
Athens or Maastricht? Both are beautiful cities, but moving from Athens to Maastricht was a big change and not an easy one. In Athens, I lived near the centre, surrounded by constant noise and activity. I need to feel that hustle and bustle around me. Now I live in Heer, where it’s so quiet most of the time. I’m still not used to it. Thankfully, I’ve made some good friends here, and we spend a lot of time together. Thanks to them, it’s starting to feel more like home.
I always keep up with the news. Actually, no, not at all. Even when it’s about what’s happening in Lebanon or Syria. There’s so much misery in the world, countries being destroyed. I don’t like watching it. I can’t change any of it anyway.
"When I draw, I’m completely focused. That's a nice feeling"
I’m artistic. Not particularly, though I can draw quite well, especially when I’m copying. Drawing things like the human ear, heart or brain helps me memorise them for my studies. I sometimes draw random things when I’m feeling low – a mushroom, a clown, cartoon characters. When I draw, I’m completely focused and not easily distracted. It’s a nice feeling, because I generally find it hard to concentrate.
What do you miss about Greece? The food, the weather, my parents and brother. And the cheap public transport – cycling isn’t really my thing. I even miss the dirty streets and cockroaches. Don’t get me wrong, I like how tidy and well-kept the Netherlands is, but there’s just something about it. What I don’t miss are the hordes of tourists in Athens. They walk so slowly, and I’ve got places to be. They get in the way – it’s so annoying. Yes, there are tourists here in Maastricht too, but it’s nothing like that. Would I ever go back to Greece? For holidays, yes, but not to work.
Favourite film? That’s a tough one. I watch a lot of films, and there are still plenty on my to-watch list. If I had to pick, I’d say What Dreams May Come (1998) with Robin Williams. It’s about a man who dies and goes searching for his wife in the afterlife. It’s a sad film, but I love the idea that their love binds them together even in another life.
"I sometimes watch surgery videos on YouTube, it’s fascinating to see"
Love comes to you. I think so, yes. I’m not on any dating apps. You shouldn’t go looking for love; it’s supposed to find you.
Dream job? Surgeon, cardiothoracic surgeon in particular. I sometimes watch surgery videos on YouTube. It’s fascinating to see how surgeons can fix a problem within a few hours and completely change a patient’s life. I’d love to do that myself. After completing my degree, I’d like to study medicine. I was planning to do the English-taught track, but I found out last year that it’s being discontinued in Maastricht. So now I’m working hard on my Dutch.
In ten years... I’ll maybe be in a relationship, but no children. I’m not interested in having kids. They need attention – they don’t just raise themselves – and I don’t think I’d have the patience for that. Nor the time, really, if I’m also pursuing my dream job. Where I’ll live? Canada, maybe. I love snow.