I live in the town of Volos, at the foot of Mount Pelion, the place of Centaurs according to Greek mythology, in Thessaly, central Greece. I am a musicologist, working as a music teacher in schools in the Volos vicinity, married and have two children.
As a young child, I was mesmerized by the stories of my grandma. I would listen to her with my mouth and eyes wide open, excited and thrilled by her tales of her exploits when she was a CW operator during the Greek Civil War, just after World War II. My grandpa would carry the heavy radio for her with donkeys or mules on the Greek mountains. Since my childhood, I have been hooked on the idea of CW.
I had such a thirst for radio listening that I would listen as an SWL to the websdr of the University of Twente, Enschede, NL, and I even kept a book with the callsigns I copied, but only in SSB then. I was informed about the amateur radio hobby and licensing by some acquaintances of the family, and I immediately decided to sit for the radio amateur exams. I got my license in 2021, while the COVID pandemic was ongoing. CW was not a mandatory skill for an amateur radio license in those days, but it was always my keen desire.
In 2022, SZ1A announced an initiative for CW lessons with CW Academy, in Greek for Greek radio amateurs with limited command of English. I instantly applied. My English is quite good, though, so I was registered in an ordinary class in English.
During my CW journey with CW Academy, I experienced a lot of excitement and satisfaction. I recall my very first listening to CWT, when I said to myself, “No way! I will never manage to do this.” However, after the Advanced class, not only was I able to copy and send in CWT, but now I enjoy it a lot and am frankly happy when I run a CWT. My next target is to improve my ragchewing skills.
I must thank my advisor Buz AC6AC not only for his advising and support during my CW Academy courses but also for nominating me for CWops membership. I also express my gratitude to my co-advisors John W7JKC, Tracy WM6T, Jim KO4LAO, Heather AH7RF, Marv W5DT, Shirley M0WXG, Rich N4DPM and all those who supported my nomination, and more specifically Rich, Shirley, Jim WI6X and Manos SV1DAY.
Hopefully meet you all on the air.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.