Back to the Desert!

After what seems like a whirlwind of school-related life from August to now we were finally able to take a bit of a breather. The weather is starting to get better (though you can tell summer really doesn't want to let go to easily) and this, of course, brings that longing to get out of town and see what the yonder world has to offer. So this weekend - a four day weekend in the UAE - we headed out to Sharjah to enjoy some time in the desert. It had been a while and we were ready. 

Together with two other families we made the 1.5 hour drive (or so) to what felt to us like "out of the way" to settle down and find some space in the sand. Our spot was great, with a backdrop of high dunes and an expanse of desert going as far as the eye could see. What is hidden here, though, is the sounds of cars without mufflers zooming in and out of the dunes around us. Deep into the night they roamed from one side to other adding a sense of stress to our evening as we tried to determine if they would see our campsite or run us over. One car got stuck nearby and kept trying to force its way out of the sand, an impossible feat. It was past midnight by then and any chance for a calm, quiet night was gone. In the distance there was a party going on (perhaps a wedding evening?) with music making its way to our site as well. 

But in there somewhere was also a sense of nature. Little sounds here and there. Tracks in the morning. A moment where the kids ran back to the tents having seen a small mammal (perhaps a desert fox?). And then there was the playing, the fire, and dinner and smores. All those things that make heading out to the desert worth while. We suspect that as the specifics of the night make way for the things that stick in our minds, the sounds and missing mufflers will give way to the sunsets and the friends. Just as it should. 

Friendship Then and Now

 

We'll keep this one for itself, right here. When Leanne left town she posted this on her social media and it took us a while to realize just how amazing a photo is was. The last time we saw Leanne was seven years ago, in the year we arrived. It was October, we believe, and we were trying to work out what living in this place was really all about. It was hotter than we were used to and the city was so different from anything that we had ever experienced before. It was also difficult for the girls who had recently given up their friends to follow their parents to this new, for them, world. 

And so Leanne's arrival back then was a bridge to the known, to what we had been used to. To what we continue to cherish. She is, in so many ways, a member of our family and her return this year was a reminder of the fact that though the people in these pictures have changed over time, so much more has stayed exactly the same. 

And life, we suppose, is like that. What do they say?  The more things change the more they stay the same. Here's to a lifetime of such photos, with Leanne, with biological family and with chosen family. It takes a village and we certainly love ours, no matter where we all might be in any given moment. 

Love. To all. Everywhere. 

Got Four Days? Fly to Dubai!

Ever since we've become a family of four our flying/traveling days have become a bit harder to come by. Certainly buying four air tickets is not as simple as it was buying one or two. And we don't live in SE Asia any more, where airfares allowed a lifestyle of travel and semi-luxury. Now we're a bit more static in our approach to life, but not beyond a nudge from time to time. 

Thankfully our friend Leanne - who we worked out we've known for 20 years now! - is still as energetic about travel as she's ever been. We all shared a Thanksgiving holiday so she decided she'd had enough time without us and bought herself a ticket from Singapore to Dubai for the long weekend!  And what a weekend it was!  It had been seven years since we'd seen each other but with Leanne that kind of detail simply disappears into the here and now and sharing of stories and dreams and plans and such!

With her in town we did some roaming of our own - albeit in the UAE - and made our way to Abu Dhabi (which she asked to do as a "new place" on her list) and the Louvre and Corniche there as well as a 'new' for all of us beach on Saadiyat island (what was it called?). Of course it would not have been appropriate to not also work our way around Dubai where it had been too long even for us. Al Seef. The Spice Souq. Jumeira Madinat. And, of course, our own little neighborhood including making our way to a Thankgiving dinner hosted by our ASD friend Elizabeth!  All great things!

And, since the World Cup is on you might as well make our way to the large screen to watch some soccer. As it turned out it was the France-Denmark game which, despite a simple 1-0 score, was quite fun to watch as well!  

We don't have the photos, but in there somewhere our doorbell rang one morning, followed by the surprize arrival of one of Irini's best friends, Katerina!  She's moved to Greece this year and this was surprise for us all!  So, as Leanne and Amalia and mommy and daddy made their way across the city, Irini happily ran around town with her friends - sharing the surprise with Katerina in every passing home they visited!  

When we took Leanne back to the airport our hearts were full even if we all shared that "why did it have to be so short?" kind of thinking. We're hopeful that later this academic year we can reconnect with Auntie Leanne!  Thank you so much for coming to visit us!!

Time

The girls are getting older (and bigger) and the parents are getting wiser (and whiter haired) and with activities and jobs and this and that there are looooooong swaths of time that seem to go by without a chance to sit back and revel in those things that are meaningful and to communicate them out. Not that the routine has taken over entirely. There are many moments that are appreciated, celebrated, noticed and cherished but the time (or energy) isn't quite there to sit down, take that necessary deep breath, and communicate our those very same amazing moments with the world and, through this blog, with ourselves.   

But today we woke up a bit earlier than normal to take Leanne (it's been 20 years of friendship already!) to the airport after what has seemed like a whirlwind visit from Singapore. She came, we did a whole lot of things and as we write this she's over Oman somewhere on her way back home. Memories and photos are still with us, of course. Until, that is, memories too will fade making those photos necessary accessories in giggling our minds to reconnect with our past, in whatever way that takes form. 

So this moment, right now, is a moment to think about communicating, to think back (to what we're communicating) and to think forward (to the 'why' of our communication) and to, even for a fleetting moment, connect them through this very post. 

Love. Past, present, forward. Everywhere and any way. 

Volleyball Stars (Re)Aligning...

 

Two weeks before tryouts we weren't even sure that Irini was going to try out. The summer had been an amazing trip through Europe, the UAE heat was hitting us hard and the friends weren't trying out. In addition, daddy had decided that he wasn't going to coach this season (or year?) and, instead, focus on being a parent. As Irini tried out, and with the sheer number of girls trying out, daddy was stressed about whether or not Irini would make the team. On the last day of tryouts he snuck into the Fieldhouse and made his way upstairs to take a look at Irini playing below. He was determined to be there with her - even at a distance - in the event that she didn't make the team. As the final call in was made by the coaches he stood above, crying quietly and looking lovingly at his daughter below. Was it enough?

Two days later we all sat in an Italian restaurant and, as we waited for the meal, an email arrived informing Irini that she had made the team. Celebration all over... and daddy started crying again. Filled with pride and joy and the knowledge that volleyball will remain an important part of Irini's life. 

Two weeks later, and once the tears had subsided, he was approached by the Athletics Director to see if he might consider returning to the court side. A shift in the coaching staff meant that there was an opening for the assistant position. Daddy had a chat with Irini, to make sure that was okay with her and, given the all clear, agreed to join the team (as long as he was not involved in making personnel decisions). From there on it was an amazing journey of rediscovery for him. Rediscovery of a love of volleyball coaching (and, in particular, the 'fit'). Rediscovery of coaching his daughter (who he had coached a few years earlier). Rediscovery of the dynamic nature of teenagers in emotional circumstances and the cultivation of a sense of 'us' from a post-COVID siloed life experience. 

And so, as Irini and her teammates were celebrating their successes and dealing with the frustrations of their learning from the not-so-successful days, daddy did his thing in the background. He cheered. He yelled. He applauded. He reminded. He spoke and he listened. He did his best to grow and learn and help the team in whatever way we could. When the final whistle of the MESAC ended (after a two-hour bronze medal match) his heart was full. The stars had aligned - after a very difficult year or two - to bring a semblance of balance back to life, through volleyball. 

Irini's First MESAC

When Irini was born her parents had all sorts of dreams for her. Some were under the larger umbrella of "happy" or "successful" but some were of a more particular nature such as "be engaged in the community" or "play sports". It was in one of those more focused ones that dreams (perhaps more a particular father's dreams) came true this year. Irini tried out - one of 52 girls - for the JV volleyball team. Now in ninth grade her involvement in sports was at a cross roads of taking it 'seriously' of calling it a day. 

As things would turn out this season was a pivotal for our girls. Though this post focuses on our oldest, the truth is that Amalia also had her own similar journey (to be discussed in a different post). Irini came into the season - and into high school - carrying herself well but with the natural lack-of-confidence perhaps typical of a middle schooler growing into a new space and culture.  She was quiet, and rather shy, but over the course of two months blossomed into a confident, engaged, positive leader. At one point daddy reflected on Irini's growth by noting "you're so much more confident now", to which Irini, without skipping a beat, replied "in volleyball and in life". 

Coming out of her shell was not simply a figure of speech in these past three months (since the beginning of the school year) but also a transition that she has done through confidently and with open arms. She is meeting new friends - some through this very volleyball team - and growing each and every day. 

Which. brings us back to this season and the MESAC tournament, in particular. When tryouts took place in early September daddy wasn't so sure that our girl would make the team. He snuck into the Fieldhouse to look at tryouts from the track above, and to give her unspoken support and love. But one thing lead to another and Irini worked her way from the 52 who tried out to the 16 who made the team, to the 10 who made the MESAC roster and, finally, to the starting six. With every transition described here our girl was coming out of her shell. Communicating. Focusing. Listening. Playing.

Until finally the MESAC tournament came and she was - for two games - a critical piece in the success of the team. Coaches often have an unwritten rule of "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" and this ebbs and flows throughout tournaments. And not every player will have a high point all the time. For Irini there was a two game stretch, in particular, on the first day of MESAC that she was (according to her father, anyway) that indispensable piece of the team. This is all arguable, of course, but in this family we're seeing it that way. So 52, to 16, to 10, to 6 and finally to 2. Amazing growth and nothing but love and pride in all she does day in and day out!  

We can't wait to see where this journey takes her but our hearts and full and our sense of pride simply through the roof!

Amalia's a Volleyballer!

It's interesting to see how interests come and go in our girls. A year ago Amalia would have told us that dance was her favorite activity in the world with volleyball probably classified as an "interest", but one year on she's gotten the volleyball bug. Daddy's always said that volleyball is more fun as one get's better at it. The timing required of volleyball makes it a hard sport to start with, especially at a young age, but as baby steps start adding up, things start getting clearer. 

Amalia showed interest before the school year formally began and she and her sister and daddy went out several times before tryouts to play in the back yard or in the green patch down the street (with other friends from the neighborhood). At the time, of course, we wouldn't have known that attempts to make the team (for both her and her sister) would be successful and that growth would come in leaps and bounds. 

Over time she grew into a setter for the MS Falcons team (a team she was fortunate enough to be on with her sister last year) and kept working on her overhand serves (which was her goal) but, having mastered that she kept working on her hitting approach and timing. Is it perfect. Not quite yet. But she's learning about the nuances of timing and positioning, and she's growing day by day to better herself. And as she learns, and is able to do that much more, she is developing an affinity for the sport. 

Her coach, Mr. Cook, played her outside hitter for a bit during their end-of-season tournament, and was very very impressed with her ability. A number of eight graders will be moving up to the HS next year, opening the way for new leaders. Perhaps it's just the type of opening our girl might see herself filling. Either way, she's turning into quite the volleyballer, and we're loving it!

We are so very proud of our not-so-little girl for the time and effort that she puts into bettering her understanding and skills each and every day!  We love you, Amalia!  You are awesome and don't forget it!

Vienna: Spirals on Spirals

 

And so, here we were, once again in Vienna. This time with our friends John, Mariam and their daughter (Amalia's best friend since they were three years old) Eva. They've been living in Vienna for a few years now and, as soon as they found out about our plans to head to Slovenia, invited us to their place. But with our arrival in Vienna also came more connections and, as pappou calls them, spirals. Vienna, of course, was also the place where pappou and giagia had met, in earlier, younger days, when their life was still ahead of them and they had dreams and plans which had not yet quite been intertwined. 

Among other things was a walk through memory lane. Not our memory, mind you, but giagia's. Committed to following the steps spelled out (to the extent that they could) in giagia's journal, we made our way to Votiv Cafe. It was where they first met, on that fateful day in 1960 (we believe) and where they were introduced by a mutual friend who was also going to the University of Vienna. Pappou was looking to make some extra income by teaching English. Giagia was studying translation (focusing, in the university, on Greek-German) and wanting to broader her language repretoire. According to giagia's journal when pappou walked in she was immediately attracted to the tall, handsome man before her. But what stole the show was his response to "how much do you charge?". His answer, which is about to go down in history, was "one shilling and a glass of milk". It was that glass of milk that did it. Who would have thought that such a seemingly benign request could form the basis of a lifelong journey and amazing family that was to come. But so it was.

In our return to Vienna there was a bit of this and a bit of that, from trying to catch up with the journal (Turks park, anyone?) to sharing the present with our friends - including walks in the vineyards. Time is an amazing thing and when you can share both the past and the present with those who mean so much it's truly very very special. And so, sweet time, tick on, and take us with you, in spirals upon spirals. 

Bled with Friends!

 

Ever since moving to Vienna, being with our friends John, Mariam and their awesome children has required a little more deliberation and coordination. But just as they made their way to Paros earlier in the summer, so too were they able to make their way to Slovenia! Our arrival in central Europe opened to the door to a potential reconnection with them that would be a pity to not take advantage of. And so, as we made our way to Lake Bled they also did the same and we were able to spend a few quality days there, in the town and the countryside and, in the process, managed some time in nature (including an introductory rafting experience for the girls)!

Lake Bled did not disappoint. Neither did that entire corner of Slovenia. It seemed like every other kilometer a turn one way or another would take you Italy or Austria as much as it might keep you in Slovenia. Pretty cool concept for us all antsy with anticipation of whether or not we'd end up in a foreign country without intending to (in the end there were no missed exists). 

All the while we recognized just how special this place is. This particular corner of the world seems to be one of those places where wonderful things happen yet it's only just being discovered. Sorrounded by forests, filled with opportunities for being outdoors it's as if you wouldn't dare to stay indoors, especially in summer. We were filled to our heart's content with the natural beauty that stood there, holding our attention as if to say "you can't help but stare". It was (and is) simply amazing, really. 

And so, in there somewhere, friends came together (yet again) to re-connect and experience one more stretch of the world together. In a world where we all live in different corners, such opportunities are wonderful ways to build on a strong friendship will, simultaneously, celebrating new discoveries!  How awesome that, though living so far apart, we are able to do this so often!  We love you!