I remember having to wear a white pleated skirt with 300 pleats to honour the years under occupation by the Ottomans. I remember having to recite poems in high Greek on the stage. I remember they sounded good, but I do not remember any of the poems. We recited the poems to feel patriotic and…

Life with my father always had expectations but was not based on achieving awards. Yet, when we received awards he was visibly proud of us. I remember him saying on those occasions: “You have set your own standards now.” He was implying that we had to strive to be better than ourselves. He received many…