'I used to be one of those Greeks who would say, why go abroad? There's no place better than my country. I've since found so many other places better than Greece,' says the university lecturer.

On that list must surely be Singapore, which he headed to after getting his postgraduate degree.

Now 27, he has been teaching data management at Singapore Management University's School of Information Systems since 2006. He is SMU's second youngest faculty member.

He gives the thumbs up to Singapore's nightlife, cleanliness, efficiency, year-round summer and, of course, food.

Weekends are spent sipping coffee in the Dempsey area. He also chills out - when he is not grading students' papers - by having a drink at Emerald Hill or clubbing at the Ministry of Sound.

Despite his brooding good looks - he is SMU's poster boy and has appeared in several of its corporate photo-shoots - he insists no student has passed him any love note...yet.

'I don't get such vibes when I'm wearing my professor hat,' says the Macedonian, who is dating a Singaporean professional.

Q Name your favourite Greek mythical character.

A Ulysses (or Odysseus), the main hero in Homer's Odyssey. His resourcefulness, not the weaponry, led to Greece's victory in the siege of Troy.

After the 10-year Trojan War ended, it was again his cunning and strong will that helped him, a mortal, overcome the anger and traps of the gods, and return safely to his kingdom.

Q With 6,000 islands and islets under Greece's name, how does one decide which one to hop on to?

A This is a tough one; it depends on what you are looking for. Not only are there numerous choices, but they are all unique too.

For a start, I would recommend Santorini, an island made for romantics and lovers. If you are looking for a cosmopolitan island with an intense nightlife, then Mykonos is the place.

If dreamy beaches are your first priority, head for the Ionian islands. The list could go on and on.

Q According to Socrates, the unexamined life is not worth living. Agree?

A This is in line with an ancient Greek aphorism, 'Know thyself'. I definitely subscribe to it. As an academic and researcher, 'examining' is almost all I do.

Apart from thinking about job-related topics, I often spend time examining my life, usually over coffee or during an evening walk in solitude.

Q What's the trick to 'kamaki', that charm game Greek men are supposedly so good at?

A 'Kamaki' literally means a sharp fishing tool, and I guess it reflects our view that flirting is like hunting.

The general rule is to be straightforward and make a smart introduction, as opposed to using stereotypical, silly pick-up lines.

Past the initial approach, the Greek sea and sun are natural aphrodisiacs that give us a great advantage.

Q Is there anything Greece and Singapore possibly have in common?

A In an era of globalisation, both places are very successful in balancing modernity and traditional values. For instance, both Greeks and Singaporeans have a strong belief in the concept of family, and honour it devoutly.

Q What's your own take on how the saying, 'sounds like Greek', came about?

A Greek is a very complicated language that sounds and looks like none other. Also, Greek words are common in scientific terminology, which is hard to understand.

I must mention, however, that the corresponding phrase we use in Greece is 'It sounds Chinese to me'.

Q Which woman of today would you describe as a 'Greek goddess'?

A I am generally against idealising or obsessing with Hollywood stars and top models. I believe that one can find 'godlike' beauties in everyday life.

In any case, if I were to describe the perfect female body proportions, I would have to refer to Aphrodite of Melos, an ancient Greek sculpture kept at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

dawntan@sph.com.sg