interview: Debbie of In Whirl of Inspiration

I would like to introduce a wild-at-heart woman of Greece, with science and nature at the core of her soul and a spirit of creative endeavor: Debbie of the inspiration blog, In Whirl of Inspiration . Discover what inspires this creative lady, her sustainable living routines and her passion for the biological. So, here are 10 questions for Debbie, the scientist and adventurer:

First, tell me a bit about yourself:

Well as you already know I study Biology, I am in the Molecular Faculty. I am interested in Neurology most, very fascinating to be surrounded by brains. To the other parts of my life, let’s say that I adore: playing the flute, wilderness, gastronomic adventures, voyages and my best friends, books too.

1. What is it about nature that inspires you the most?

The freedom that you feel when the breeze hits you on the face, freedom to tasty all this wilderness around you. I just find that Evolution did a magnificent job, like everything is so symmetric and perfect and reasonable. Good job nature!

2. How do you bring that inspiration into your daily living?

Firstly, I bring nature’s plants in my house. You can find them everything. (Mom says that I will die in my sleep, because of a CO2 overdose. I don't think so ma'. )Then the inspiration just comes, thinking of all these colors and shapes and balance can be quite overwhelming. So the a time comes that you just need to take them off your head in the shape of creation.

3. Do you have a favorite spot in Greece that you feel most at home with nature? Tell me about it.

Hmm, what a dilemma. We have a pretty amazing flora and fauna collection around here. I should go for the forest of KaraDere, one of the most beautiful protected woods of Greece and the only all over Europe which is totally self-regulating, which is the only one in the whole Europe. That means that it grows and thrives without being altered by the human activity. It is even forbidden to enter some of the forest's parts without an authority of being a scientist. [we have several islands off Puerto Rico like that too!]

4. How does nature inspire your creativity? What do you enjoy creating the most?

I get inspired by nature’s symmetry and bold shapes. Also, I really like the earthy color palettes. I really enjoy creating plant arrangements, things from paper and color [make] messes.

5. How did you come to love Biology? Can you find design in nature?

In my family we have a environmental friendly behavior love affair with the environment. So I suppose that it was natural for me to gravitate towards environmental science. Needless to say again that along the way I fell in love even more with the molecular and cellular biology.When my classmates in elementary school were saying that they wanted to be astronauts and ballerinas, I was saying “I want to be a Genetic Biologist!”. Like this, with all my 8-years-old pomposity. As for the design, oh sure! Starting from the cell’s level to the biggest mammals, everything is designed so ingeniously. All these complex competitive and coexisting relations between the organisms that keep the systems running, surprise me every single time. If that’s not design, then what is design? [interesting concept!!]

6. What are some unique things you do to live sustainably?

I am a firm believer that we would not try to reduce our waste, if in the first place we wouldn’t produce so many of them. So firstly, I try not to buy too things with plastic wrappers. If I do I recycle everything that isn’t an organic waste. I don’t use sprays for my hair or air fresheners. Hey, remember the –damaged- ozone layer? I also don’t buy products that are tested on animals. Ok, they are not so unique ways, but they do their job!

7. I see you recently harvested sea urchin caviar. Do you like to catch your own food whenever possible? What are some of your favorites from the sea?
Hell yeah, what a day! Yes, but I am also happy if I know where my food comes from and under what conditions was the animal raised. Oh, I will go for a tasty cuttlefish stew. But I will probably change my mind in a week after another delicious "sea" meal. 

During my camping in the island of Crete. From ancient protected forests to emerald waters! Total bliss!

8. If you could pick one place in the world to travel, where would it be and why?

Hands down, Australia! Among other things, the Great Barrier Reef and some of the most exquisite mammals on earth can be found there. I will be really lucky if I succeed in scuba diving in the GBR before it will be damaged once and for good due to the severe climate changes.

9. Name your favorite local spot in town and why you love it.

With such an exhibition coming soon, guess where I will spend my days? [a dinosaur and geological exhibition in her hometown, as illustrated in her photo here]

 

10.Finally, pick one and tell me why you love it the most: the sea, the mountains or the meadows.
I spent half of my life in the meadows and the mountains. Lately I live in a city by the sea. Although I was always fascinated by the sea, I kinda respect but fear it too. This dark blue unknown gives me the chills sometimes. But when I am in the mountains I feel a whole different person. The sunrays that pass the trees’ thick shadow in the summer and the crisp snow under my snowboard in the winter don’t leave room for anything else in my heart!

To find out more about Debbie, check out her links:

Blog // Follow Your Heart Project //  Facebook // YouTube

Until tomorrow my friends,