Today we delve into the multi-faceted life of Cypriot-born, multi-lingual former civil engineer, architectural restorer, World Bank advisor, maths teacher, quilter and current yoghi, Sophia Tsirponouri Balaca who is developing a taste for padel in Madrid.
What was the biggest challenge about doing your degree and masters in Kiev as an overseas student?
When I was 18, I left the sunny climes of Cyprus to study Civil engineering in Kiev, Ukraine, which was then in the Soviet Union. I was more worried about surviving the long cold winter and the eternal queues at the shops than the fact that I didn´t actually speak a word of Russian.
How did your male colleagues perceive you as one of the very few, if not the only, female civil engineer in Cyprus?
In 1983 I returned to Cyprus and got a job as a site engineer in a construction company. Cyprus is a small Mediterranean island with a big macho male population! It was hard to be accepted by both the builders and my fellow engineers. Not to mention the fact that they told me my salary would be 20% less than my male counterparts!
I managed to overcome the problem with the builders by explaining to them why things had to be done “my way”. Adding water to concrete made their job easier on a practical level but once they understood the problems that would occur as a result, they agreed to stop doing it.
My fellow civil engineers, on the other hand, were more difficult to deal with and I had to work twice as hard to gain their acceptance.
Sophia enjoys Cypriot folk dancing at university
What was the most fascinating ancient relic discovered during some of your construction projects in Nicosia?
One of the projects I worked on was the reconstruction of a 3-floor stone building inside the walls of the old town of Nicosia. It was to be converted into a museum dedicated to Nicosia’s history. This meant we had to add a lift according to new regulations plus reinforce it with new foundations. We were forced to move that lift constantly! The first time we found the floor and part of the walls of a house dating to the 14-15th century. Our second attempt unearthed a hammam from the Ottoman period! Happily, both are now exhibits in the museum, together with several ceramic Venetian and Ottoman period plates that we also found.
Sophia delivers a lecture on construction contract in Belgrade
You spent your teens in war-torn Cyprus and many years later moved with your husband to Bosnia, what was it like living in another place ravaged by war?
Arriving in Sarajevo in 1999 was a big shock. It brought back sad memories of not being able to enter the occupied area* during the 1970’s in Cyprus, as a Greek Cypriot. This meant that I did not see the destruction on a daily basis whereas in Sarajevo I was surrounded by it every day. Burned down house, bullets on the walls, no infrastructure and the worse of all, cemeteries full of graves. Very sad.
Selling quilts in Bosnia
What did you enjoy about the International Women´s Club in Bosnia?
Moving to Bosnia signalled a huge change in my life. I went from working 10 hours a day in a job I loved to becoming a housewife in a foreign country. Horrendous at first!
Fortunately, I adapted very quickly as I joined the International Women s Club of Sarajevo (IWCS). The club offered a lot of activities in addition to an annual charity bazaar in aid of the women and children in Bosnia.
After a year I was elected president which I thoroughly enjoyed. Although I consider myself to be too old for that type of role now. [Editor disagrees].
I made a lot of lifelong friends and acquired a lot of skills and hobbies which have enriched my life such as bridge, quilting, yoga, Chinese calligraphy, ballroom dancing, mahjong, amongst many others.
Sophia at a kindergarten in Zenica that had benefitted from IWCS’s work
Whilst in Bosnia you put your engineering and restoration skills to good use, tell us about your time with Cultural Heritage Without Borders.
This was a particularly interesting project. We had to restore five 17th century houses and two small mosques in the war-torn town of Jajce using the original building methods and materials. Afterwards the owners had to re-occupy their houses.
I also lectured in construction to a subsidiary of the World Bank and taught maths at the American School. I like to keep busy!
Sophia sets her sights far
You´ve always been a keen sportswoman, how does your daily vinyasa yoga routine set you up for your day?
When I get out of bed every day all my bones hurt! Yet, after an hour of vinyasa yoga I’m ready mentally and physically ready to face the world.
Recently, I started taking padel lessons, at the youthful age of 66 years. To my surprise, my daily yoga session seems to keep any stiffness at bay.
I was really looking forward to moving to Madrid, even at 65! Life here is easier than any of the countries I lived in. I find Madrid very “retired people – friendly”. Free public transport is a particular bonus as we have no car. The city is full of interesting things to do, the shops are well-stocked and healthcare works well!
I have already signed up for Tai-Chi and beauty and make up courses at my local Centro de Mayores.
Visiting Chipiona, Cádiz
Tell us about how you have lived your life according to your motto of learning something new every day
I strongly believe that my life would be very boring if I didn’t try to learn something new every day. Even something tiny. People should not be afraid to leave their comfort zone.
Since travelling abroad for the first time at the age of 8 I have seen a large part of the world. I´m a great fan of courses and have done several online in areas of interest such as Ancient Greece and Rome, mindfulness, interior design to name a few.
At university, my professor of reinforced concrete once told me that the more languages you learn, the more human you become. I took his word and learned 6!
Sophia enjoys Florence
Your husband is Spanish, have you found any similarity between Cypriot customs and Spanish ones?
Cyprus and Spain are both Mediterranean countries so there are many similarities. We are both too loud! We tend to shout a lot, often on top of each other or all at the same time!
Sarajevo Bridge group
*Reference to the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
