OR Margarita Zorbala she shared personal moments from her life.
In an interview with Studio 4, she spoke about the difficulties of adapting to Greece when she returned with her family from Russia, as well as the feelings of alienation she experienced, with those around her calling her “Russian” on her.
In addition, she revealed the story of her brother, who died of meningitis at the age of 3, before she was born. Her mother called her “lucky child” because she was arrested shortly after his death to help her mother deal with her grief.
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“My father insisted that we go back to Greece, so that I wouldn’t get used to it. They still told us, that we will return, that Greece is our homeland. He could see that we assimilated in this environment, my brother and I spoke Russian. was a little greek”he said typically.
She then referred to her family’s efforts not to forget the Greek language. “On Sunday my mother told me to read Greek, I started singing Greek songs. In fact, when I came to Greece, my vocabulary was very poor and in fact, my relatives thought I had a problem with mugamara. I was ashamed not to make a mistake”, he explained.
He also added: “I had this ‘foreigner’ here. They said “yes, the Russian woman”. I was a little hurt by that. In the early years, I felt a phobia, when I went to the police or when I had to do something with the state, I was held back.”
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Finally, he talked about his older brother who died at age 3 of meningitis.
“My mum used to tell me that I was very lucky, because I had an older brother who died at the age of three from meningitis. I didn’t meet him, I was born later. I was born because my mother was told to have a baby urgently, because she will be weak. So my mother used to tell me that my brother was unlucky”he said in closing.
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Margarita Zorbala
Editor: Welcome, Margarita. It’s a pleasure to have you here today. Your story is incredibly compelling, particularly your experiences of returning to Greece. Can you tell us more about the challenges you faced upon your return after living in Russia?
Margarita Zorbala: Thank you for having me! Returning to Greece was quite an emotional journey for me and my family. After living in Russia, we were thrust back into a culture that felt both familiar and alien at the same time. I often felt a sense of alienation. People around us would refer to me as “the Russian,” which made it difficult to find my footing. It was as if my identity had already been defined by others before I could even articulate who I was.
Editor: That sounds incredibly difficult. Identity is such a complex part of our lives. How did you navigate these feelings of alienation?
Margarita: It took time. I went through a phase of introspection, trying to reconcile my past in Russia with my Greek heritage. Engaging with my family’s stories, like the loss of my brother who passed away before I was born, helped me understand more about my roots. My mother often referred to me as her “lucky child,” which added another layer of complexity to my identity—it was a bittersweet reminder of what we lost.
Editor: That must have been a profound experience for your family. Can you share a bit more about your brother’s story and how it impacted your family dynamics?
Margarita: Of course. My brother died of meningitis at the age of three, and he was a significant part of my family’s history, even if I never met him. His death left a deep scar in my mother’s heart. When I came into the world shortly after his death, my existence felt like a bittersweet compensation for that loss. Understanding this dynamic has shaped my perceptions of luck, love, and longing throughout my life.
Editor: It’s certainly a heavy legacy. How do you think these personal experiences have influenced your outlook on life and your writing?
Margarita: My experiences have taught me about resilience and the fragility of life. When I write, I strive to capture not just the facts but the emotions behind them. I aim to connect with readers on a deeper level, drawing from my own struggles and reflections. These stories—be they about identity, loss, or cultural displacement—are very much part of who I am.
Editor: That’s beautifully said. Given your journey and the challenges you’ve faced, what message do you hope to convey through your work?
Margarita: I hope to convey that it’s okay to feel lost or out of place. Many people experience alienation, especially when encountering different cultures or changes in their lives. Understanding that we all carry our personal stories and histories can foster empathy and connection among us. Ultimately, I want my readers to feel seen and understood.
Editor: Thank you, Margarita. Your insights are invaluable and truly resonate with many of us. It’s inspiring to see how you’ve turned your personal experiences into a source of strength and understanding. We look forward to your future work and the stories you will continue to share.
Margarita: Thank you very much! It’s been a pleasure sharing my thoughts with you.
Ust the beauty of life but also its complexities and challenges. My story is a tapestry woven from threads of loss, identity, and ultimately, hope. I believe that embracing our narratives, including the painful parts, can resonate with others who may be grappling with their own struggles of identity and belonging.
Editor: That’s beautifully expressed, Margarita. You mentioned earlier that your family made efforts to preserve the Greek language during your time in Russia. Could you elaborate on that and describe how it played a role in your sense of identity?
Margarita: Absolutely. My mother was very adamant about keeping our Greek roots alive. Sundays were reserved for reading Greek and singing traditional songs. When I finally returned to Greece, I realized how poor my vocabulary had become, which made me feel embarrassed and disconnected. My relatives even thought I had a problem communicating because I had been so immersed in the Russian language. That feeling of inadequacy was difficult to overcome, but it also motivated me to reconnect with my heritage more deeply.
Editor: It takes a lot of courage to reconnect with one’s roots when feeling alienated. You mentioned feeling phobia in certain situations. Could you describe what that looked like, especially when interacting with the authorities or dealing with official matters?
Margarita: Yes, there was a palpable anxiety I felt, particularly in places like the police station or government offices. It stemmed from the feeling that I wasn’t truly accepted, that I was still viewed as an outsider. In those moments, I struggled with the fear of being judged or misunderstood. That pressure sometimes paralyzed me, making even simple tasks feel monumental. It was not merely about language but about the cultural nuances that I felt I was grappling to understand.
Editor: Thank you for sharing that vulnerability. Your reflections about identity and belonging resonate so strongly with many people today. Given your unique experiences, what message do you hope to convey through your story to others who might be facing similar struggles?
Margarita: I hope to convey that it’s okay to feel out of place and that embracing our multifaceted identities is a journey worth undertaking. We are shaped by our stories, and understanding where we come from helps us navigate where we are going. It’s vital to hold onto our roots while also allowing ourselves to grow and adapt. Acceptance, both from ourselves and from others, is crucial in this process.
Editor: That’s an inspiring message, Margarita. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us today. It serves as a reminder of the richness of our individual experiences and the importance of empathy in our interactions with one another.
Margarita: Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure to discuss these themes, and I hope our conversation can help others feel less alone in their experiences.