The first lockdown of this pandemic proved to be pivotal for the civil engineer, Katerina Ioannidou who decided to leave her life in Nea Smirni behind and live a different life in Chios.
Her family has origins from the island and she’s always wanted to strengthen her links to it. Together with her dog, Gilly, she moved to Avgonima, an iconic, medieval settlement on the island. Life here has its own pace, away from the tension and strict daily routine, while the relationships of people, as she tell us, are more sincere, true and at the same time more discreet.
Tell me about the moment you decided to radically change your life. How did you decide on Chios?
Everything started when the first lockdown ended, around April-May of 2020. I had just gotten out of a 10-year relationship while my civil engineer practice was falling apart, as one partner had left in the beginning of the year while with the other we ended our collaboration during the lockdown.
It was a difficult time for me, since I had to do the work of three people for the projects that restarted after the end of the lockdown, in addition to any new projects. As you understand I didn’t even have time to mourn my relationship, it was a time filled with work. And then, amidst this busy mess, I thought I’d treat myself. I said, enough is enough. This isn’t a life. I’m going to go to Chios, in the fatherland, that I haven’t been to in 13 years.
I’d been thinking about the island, missing it, and I’d wanted to return to the island since the summer of 2019. I didn’t have a home on the island, just some relatives and family origins. My great grandfather, my grandmother’s father, on my father’s side, was from Chios. But he left after the great earthquake of 1881 and he went to Istanbul. That’s where he got married for the second time, he was a widower, and with his second wife he had three children, my grandmother, my uncle Apostolos and my uncle Giorgos.
When I was a student we would come to Chios some summers, with my brother and sister. We liked taking part in the Sotiros festival, on August 6, at Exo Didima. We had relatives, cousins, uncles, aunts, you get the picture. And of course, we liked going on excursions, rides, walks and swimming in the sea. Magic.
Does moving to Avgonima mean you’re creating a new relationship network?
So, with my return, after 13 years, I decided to not stay in Hora, but to find somewhere more traditional, more quiet, more secluded. I wanted to clear my head, to be alone, to focus. At the same time, I decided to completely change my work, and dedicate myself 100% to teaching, tutoring university students. Mechanics, math, concrete technology. I searched online to find pet-friendly accommodation, since my only companion is my dog. I found a few, kind of modern, but not really to my taste, option, and then I saw Giorgos Misetzis’ little houses in Avgonima. And I said to myself: “Look at that, they seem pretty and traditional and they allow dogs.” And that’s how I ended up in Avgonima.
What was pleasantly surprised you in your daily life in Avgonima?
The first element I loved was the calmness. Or actually, more correctly, the quiet. It’s a very quiet village. In fact, sometimes, if I arrive at night, I’ll leave my things in my car so as to not make noise with my suitcase’s wheels on the cobbled street. I also love the village’s medieval character. The architecture, the house, the structure, the square, the stunning view. I remember on the first night looking at an amazing sunset on one side and on the other the moon making its appearance on the sky. I was filled with awe. I also like the people. Everyone is welcoming and willing to help, you strike conversations with them, you exchange opinions.
When you visit Athens and compare it to your life here, what is it that you miss most?
Now, whenever I’m in Athens I feel intense anxiety. Even though I’m a “city girl” I can’t bear the noise anymore. I grew on two avenues, the Vouliagmenis Avenue, near Mets, and Eleftheriou Venizelou Avenue, near the square of Nea Smirni. The sound, or better said, the noise of the cars has imprinted on my nervous system and that’s definitely not a good thing, and my system just can take it anymore.
How do you feel about the visibility that life in the countryside entails, this feeling that many pairs of eyes are on you? Or are they not?
I’m generally not used to what people mean when they say “this is a village”. But, until now, I haven’t felt anything annoying. I’m sure people talk, and news spread between people, but I don’t have anything to hide. Here people mind their own business. It’s very quiet and I’d say discreet.
What project are you working on at the moment?
I’m preparing some videos that I want to upload to my YouTube channel, that I’m just setting up. One part is about exercises and their answers for my tutoring, while the other part concerns some speeches I give, as a member of a Rhetoric Group connected to Toastmasters. I’m also exploring real estate options, I’m learning Italian and I’m completing my studies in the department of Mathematics, I’m in the fourth year.
What is the most stunning element of the island’s architecture in your opinion?
I’d say its very special villages. My favourite – besides Avgonima – is Pyrgi, Mesta, Olimpi, Vessa, Anavatos, Volissos, Agiasmata with the thermal springs, Kardamila, Agio Gala, Pitios, Kampia, and of course also Hora is great to explore. Even in the town, you’ll see different architecture styles.
