“On the outside, he looked completely British; blond, fair-skinned… Imagine my surprise when I discovered that he was, in fact, half Cypriot.”
And it was her job that acted as a matchmaker for her own marriage. She first caught sight of her future husband as he sat behind a computer at the Shell offices, where she had gone for a business meeting. “On the outside, he looked completely British; blond, fair-skinned… Imagine my surprise when I discovered that he was, in fact, half Cypriot. He had just started working at Shell and had come from England to train in Holland. He would only be working there for a year, and when I met him he was already in his second month. It did not take long for the romance to blossom.” They were married in 1989. Tasoula chose to defy conformity and her wedding dress of choice was a fuchsia skirt and jacket with black buttons - the very latest in 80s fashion. With the groom in a navy blue suit, the couple were a sight to behold. Together they had Andreas, who is 18, Sophia, who is 16, and eight-year old Marina. “My son feels Dutch when he is with his friends, supports British football teams, and loves our family in Cyprus.” But if there is one thing that troubles her, it is that her children do not speak Greek. “My second daughter has special needs, and it is already difficult for her to speak both English and Dutch. Our doctors have warned us against introducing a third language into the household.” Her experience with a child with special needs has taught her to reevaluate what she calls the truths of life, and has brought her closer to its real essence. “My time with Sophia is precious. She has taught me a lot about what my priorities are, and it is in situations like these where you begin to realise how unimportant many of life’s grievances are. The real value lies in the things we usually take for granted.” Tasoula explains how happiness is, after all, merely a decision one makes. It all boils down to the age-old story with the glass… and for Tasoula her’s is always half full. “When something tragic happens, something
30 THE CYPRUS WEEKLY FLAIR NOVEMBER 2008