As a greek, I would like to point out that housing is much more difficult and expensive in Athens, than in smaler cities, like Patras, which is 200 km away from Athens. Also, for people looking for a more relaxed lifstyle, smaller cities may be a better choice. Athens is a bit overcrowded, which means that prices aer higher, in hoysing, food etc.
@@agirlandherpassport not necessarily, bus service for out of city trips is quite good. For urban trasportation, things are not worse than in Athens. Depends on the city offcourse.
I'm French and I live in the US and I am so frustrated with the food too, everything is wrapped under plastic and the food mostly available in supermarkets is of poor quality full of preservatives and hormones. I dream of French cheese stores with cheese that taste like chee, going to the butcher store or to the bakery for pastries or baguette. Food in the US is not the best. Enjoy Greece, they have some of the most amazing food, their cuisine is one of the best in the world.
You can find better food in the US but you will have to go to specific shops like a butcher. Although bakeries are not as common as well as a cheese shop. Do you have a Whole Foods near you? The quality might be better there. Good luck!!
That’s true I used to live in Germany and when I was visiting again in Germany, the bread and cheese and everything tasted so much better satisfied me quicker than the food in the United States and I ate less naturally came back, losing weight.
Hi Tiffany! Great video, just one tiny comment - as you probably know by now, buying (and eating!) food is a totally different thing over here, and while supermarkets sell everything it's always worth checking out smaller shops and different street markets. As an Athenian who loves hanging out with expats, I'm happy to go for a coffee / walk anytime :)
Thanks! I do know but it’s something people should be aware of is all. I have a hard time finding things here as it takes time to learn where things are sold. I would love to meet up. I am going to the US for the holidays Monday but will reach out when I am back!!
Oh that’s awesome! I’m from the DFW and have been wanting to visit Greece pretty soon. The more I learn about the culture and studying Greek, the more I’m falling in love. Love to follow your adventures and thoughts!
Actually what you have pointed out are the very simple and common facts of living in a european/mediterranean country. Most of the US citizens in these countries face the exact same issues with very same frustrations. This is purely stemming from the clash between american way of living and the european. You can not change so you will have to adapt. Everything aside: there is NO WAY you can complain about food in Greece. Forget what you have tasted or what you had fed on till now and open your doors wide for the best culinary experience you can ever have.
Thank you. I appreciate this information. Most usually talk about the beach and food. I have Greece on my radar to relocate. I always wanted to be by the ocean., But there’s so much to take into consideration. As I get older, healthcare becomes essential as does cost. Yes, living in another country does have a learning curve.
Great channel, thank you. I have been going to Greece twice a year for 15 years now, I have good friends in Athens. More recently, I am currently using my holidays time to explore Greece with the view to buy a bed & breakfast so this information is very useful. I am aware that the NHS is not as good as in my country, Spain or the UK, where I currently work and live. In general, the country lacks the infrastructure that other EU countries have and it is a shame that Greece is not at the same level, they deserve better!
Very true, its not EU, its more 3rd world country standards. If you know this and its okay, its better to have the appropriate expectations. I say this from personal experience.
Hey, thanks for the video! Just one comment. I understand comfort food and all, but adapting to what is local is a big part of living abroad, I think at least. And given that greek cuisine is one of the best on earth, I missed your opinion on that.
You’re welcome. As a long term expat, I can tell you that you will want to eat food from home sometimes. Also, cooking Greek food is not something I know how to do yet. And since I am not a big cooker anyway, I make what I know.
Another thing, makings friends is very tough. I am of pure Greek background but born and raised in Massachusetts. When I first moved to Greece, a Greek person told me I will always be viewed as an outsider and my mother who was still alive at the time told me the same thing. Nothing wrong with that but just something to have rolling around in your head. I love Greece and I enjoy living there, but I miss Americans. I hope to meet more expats on my next round.
@@segurosincero4057 it's because of their feeling of insecurity which is genetic. Greeks living in other countries are much more sweeter than the locals in athens. My Big Fat Greek wedding was not a movie, it was an accurate documentary 😂
You should note that some things you said apply to non-EU citizens. Some things are easier for EU citizens. The insurance of other EU countries in valid in Greece. So is the driving licence, no visa, etc.
YES...nailed a lot of points! Listening to my daughter's saga for the past 2 yrs. living in Athens.......but it is still a hell of a lot cheaper than NYC She does have a Greek & US tax number...she is self employed..Swears by the EU Healthcare as opposed to the US healthcare system. One thing that is virtually impossible......finding a parking space near where you live!!! She has no problem meeting people or "ex-pats" because she is an Artist. The food is awesome!! GMO is banned in Europe.
Thanks! Glad I am not the only expat with these issues. I am not a huge fan of the healthcare system not because it's bad but it operates in a way I find confusing. I am sure that it is just so different from the US. I don't have a car here so no parking issues for me.
This video was really informative, especially the banking and taxes part. It's definitely the most "boring" thing to talk about, but those things are really important to get right so that you can enjoy the rest, right? Maybe you or someone else has a video about the importance of speaking the language that I'll find after this; but you definitely make the possibility of enjoying life and moving far, far away seem attainable, so thank you for the video.
Thanks! They are important things to consider for sure. I don't have one of those but I am sure someone does. I am not fluent so I can't really talk about it. It definitely helps if you can speak some Greek.
Thanks for the video! We are still planning to Golden Visa it in 9 years. Taxes and language are my two biggest worries, though climate change is catching up
0:31 Depending on the context sometimes these 2 words can have interdependent meaning. For instance "υπομονή" can be stoicism, tolerance or even perseverance.
@@giannistatsiopoulos331 I'm fascinated with how different languages work and how the language itself influences how speakers think, and that is SO COOL! Just had to say.
Thank you for your honest feedback unlike all those youtubers that only post some propaganda videos for whatever country they immigrate too. Most of those videos are misleading and unreal. That's why I enjoyed yours.
Interesting video. I’m planning to move to Greece next year with a friend who has an apartment, so I won’t have to jump that hurdle. I’m a U.S. immigrant still searching for a home as I will not move back to the US, but all of these things you’ve pointed out I’ve experienced to one degree or another in all the countries in which I’ve lived since leaving the US. It’s a part of living abroad and to me you deal with it if that is the life you have chosen. None of those things are necessarily good or bad they are just different and Imo you have to be open to new things if you’re going to live outside your home country. I like your peanut butter example, because I used to love eating it too but not Skippy or Peter Pan as they are filled with preservatives and other harmful garbage. I only ate all natural peanut butter, at least that’s what it was labeled, but they only added salt and nothing else. I can’t find it so I don’t concern myself with eating peanut butter. My point is you adapt. And for those who are new to this I say it’s a good video.
Actually in the United States, they should also do that with a hot water heater because when you have it on all the time that waste electricity and also money. If you do have a timer on it, then it doesn’t matter so much you don’t have to think about it
Yes, but very few rentals have solar as it is expensive to install. And it still has to have a boiler in case there are several cloudy days, not that it happens often. I looked at over 25 apartments last year when trying to find a new place and not one had solar.
I just returned from Greece and found it odd that you did not mention the outdated sewage system in Greece. If the pandemic taught us anything about Americans it is our obsession with toilet paper. I have since transitioned to a washlet but still consider the toilet paper restrictions in Greece a deal breaker.
another reason why we don't let the hot water heater all the time on, is because it could be really dangerous to use the water while that is on, since electricity is passing through it
The factor of cost is a widely spread misconception. Actually you consume less KWh by keeping it on all the time. The same applies in the case of central heating.
From 2007 to 2018 I lived in 3 houses in Thessaloniki and every one of them had Gas and 24/7 hot water. There was a state subsidy program for homes where owners only had to pay 30% of the costs and I thought most of the owners would take advantage of that, but I guess in Athens they did not!
@@agirlandherpassport I mean instant water heating! Hot water when you turn the tap on. They have it everywhere in Thessaloniki. Its rare to find old style boilers these days
I've spent time in Greece, and I could get dual citizenship with America and Greece, and I might once I retire possibly in Greece 🇬🇷. I afraid with all the foreigners retiring in Greece I could be out priced out of a home.
I don't think that is the case. Most foreigners don't want to pay more than market price as that is one of the reasons they are choosing to retire here.
I'm 53 years old single with no kids and thinking about selling my house and trying to move to Greece. But what I see about the process about getting work is disconcerting. I do not have a high paying job with a degree and I understand that employers have to go through locals first to get permission from the government so that you can even apply as an expat. I would have money to buy a small home or apartment and I would be looking for something very small and cheap nowhere near Athens, but it seems getting work that would pay just enough to get by would seem impossible. I would burn through what money I have very quickly and then end up homeless in another country. I really do want to move there but it seems to be a very tricky and scary process. I really don't know what I do. Do you have any suggestions of where to visit if I took a small vacation just to feel things out? I have heard the island of Corfu and maybe kyos? Do you have any suggestions?
It is very hard for a Greek company to hire someone from outside the EU. I don’t work here so I can’t offer many suggestions. What are you looking for in a location?
@@agirlandherpassport something very cheap on one of the islands probably. I do come from Spartans on my mother's side but it's only a small percentage of my heritage. I think they are Maniots now and I believe they are on the middle lower peninsula. I wouldn't mind living inland either just not sure what I would do for work. I have a house here and I would sell it of course and be able to afford a small house or buy a small apartment but I would need work. I have been trying to research this and it seems very difficult. Not sure if I could be a merchant Marine or work on a boat which I would gladly do. Something like that. Just sick of the US and the rat race after 15 years of truck driving I am tired of it. Just looking for something nice and peaceful but I would need employment.
Hector of Troy : " I know your favour , Lord Ulysses , well. Ah , Sir....there's many a Greek and Trojan dead since first I saw yourself and Diomed in Ilion , on your Greekish embassy . " Written by Shakespeare of course but somehow they capture the noble Spirit of Greece better than any others !
Moving to Greece isn’t on my agenda, but I love coming for a month or so every year! Your adventures are fun to watch. Thanks for sharing them. I admire your spirit! One thing I noticed is that to get groceries I need to go to the vegetable market, supermarket, bakery, drugstore, and fish shop to get everything. Is it different in Athens? Usually I’m only in Athens a couple days coming and going, but once I left my pencil case on a bus. It was quite an adventure finding pencils and sharpeners in Athens. In the end they were in bookstores and the selection was magnificent! :)
Thanks!! There are some larger supermarkets in Athens that carry more. I can usually find everything I need in one place but it you go to the specialty place the price are usually better. I love the Greek bookstores. So fun to see what’s available.
if you dont work then obviously you are not contributing to National Insurance (or whatever its called in Greece) the contribution isnt taken from your wages as for example in the UK coz you havent got wages. so i think it is pretty fair system.
@@agirlandherpassport Okay all good. Just an FYI for future. Nice to see you are loving in Greece. Which cities would you recommend, that aren't too quiet or too busy. Maybe a quiet suburb of Thessaloniki/ Athens, with easy access to centre? Or Patras / Larissa / Heraklion?
Are you looking for places to live or visit? I have only been in Athens of all the places you mentioned as I tend to travel to smaller places in Greece. I do live in Athens in the center. I am a city girl and I can't imagine not living in the center. Many people do and they love it.
@@agirlandherpassport Ah I see okay. It'll be to live. Which area of Athens are you near: south (coast)? Centre, or north? I am in Melbourne Australiia from a city of 5 million so yeah, Athens would be best for me.
There where some Graphic errors and the pronunciation was another language 🤣😂🤣 Υπομονή - Ipomoni = Patience Επιμονή - Epimoni = Persistence, Tenacity And I will add Εμμονή - Emoni = Obsession
I looked up the words for the Greek so I can only go on what it said. I said I just learned the word so you should understand that it is hard to learn and pronounce
Greece would be a destination I'd like to test. I visited it during my year long adventure 50+ years ago but such a visit only gives a hint of the reality of day to day living.. Unfortunately for me my age and heath render my dream to be only a dream.
if you're gonna move there. i suggest finding a lawyer from the country you want to move to. you get to avoid all the hassle and all the paper that is necessary is taken care of at one time. then you can move. thats what i would do
These are things to consider before you make that decision. And for Greece you probably don’t need one till you arrive. The process for my visa to go to Greece was all done by me.
@@georgeklimes7604 Everyone in Greece is on Greece time! Haha. But it is really up to you to chase them to get things done. If you don't, it will never happen.
@@agirlandherpassport True. The problem is that if you're far away, you have to hope you find someone who is responsive. But, as you said, most Greek "professionals" are on Greek Time. I have been trying to get Greek citizenship for years (my grandfather came from Greece to the US over 100 years ago). Lawyers promise the moon but cannot be trusted to do what they promised. I had to harass them constantly. They only seem to reemerge when they want more money. My wife and I were considering buying real estate when we were there in September. The agent sent one e-mail response and have never responded since then - 4 months later. Add in the apathy and/or open hostility of some government workers, and it can be extremely challenging and frustrating. If I could move there, I would be able to rattle some cages, but that possibility won't come for years. I don't expect people there to be on top of their games 24/7, but I don't think it's unreasonable to ask a person to do his or her job after a week or two, at least...
It’s going to be hard to get them to do a lot when you are not here unfortunately. For the citizenship, look for a Greek attorney in the US. They might cost more but things will move faster.
Most people know the positives of moving to Greece or they wouldn’t consider it. However these things are things to know before you come. Many times I said this shouldn’t stop you from moving here but you need to know them.
I m planning to move to Greece, I m just wandering about some accountant reliable.... I was in Athens, I loved Greek people, Greek food and all the environment ❤
Hi, I retired at the end of last year and I am thinking maybe moving to Athens to enjoy my well-deserved retirement; I am told that I need about 2k a month to live fairly well and that I can actually apply for a Resident visa and or permit here in the States. Is that true?
Keeping your water heater on all the time?! In Ireland everybody waits for it to heat up. Maybe it’s a cultural thing or electriciy here is also expensive, not sure
@@agirlandherpassport Yes, I have sen more of them on the islands, but they do exist in Athens. We have electric water heaters in the US as well, but people do not turn them off. But, then again, electricity is way cheaper, and the citizens are far wealthier relatively.
Im 37, from Ireland but have been living in Australia for the last 10 years. If I see my Da’s number come up on my phone my immediate thought is “I’ve left the immersion on!” Puts the fear of God into me.
@@agirlandherpassport That's awesome! Do you become eligible for a resident permit if you own a property? Or does it have to be above a certain value ? Thanks.
Hello sweetheart, I am from Florida, 71 years old and I really want to buy something for vacation, not to live permanently. I really want, a small town, with everything around, not to drive. Is this possible?? Thank you 🙏
Hi! Yes, I imagine there are plenty of places you can live without a car in Greece. I do not own a car here and its fine. You will need to come and see what will work. I also suggest come in the winter as life is different in small places then.
This video couldn't come more timely, as I applied for a job in Greece. Not my dream country in the EU, I'm afraid. I've read that dealings with state authorities come with a lot of blind alleys and rabbit holes. And Greece is too sunny. But pay is good and I wouldn't stand out among other southern Europeans.
omg tex mex I'm Californian living here and cannot find cholula or black beans !!! or small corn tortillas..or decent salsa at all..guess I should just make Pico de gallo
They are so hard to find but someone sent me something yesterday with a place to order them from. It’s salamat.gr. They have stores in Athens apparently or you can order online!
You should upgrade to Marie sharps hot sauce. The flavor is fantastic. You won't go back to cholula. I used to use cholula all the time before discovering marie sharps. Easy to buy it online, but idk about Amazon in Greece. From a Texan with Greek father 😅
@@agirlandherpassport I know what you mean by Greece needs a lot of patience!!! So true especially if you are from the USA where everything is so fast paced and you can literally buy anything overnight with Amazon prime.
I don’t think we know how good we have it until we leave. I now know that I can’t just go to the grocery store and buy everything. I have to go to a bookstore to buy envelopes even!
You mean it sounds similar to life in the Meditarranean countries in Europe, I suppose. I live in Germany and I have traveled to Greece, Portugal and Spain and their system is very different to Northern European countries. I love Greek food but there are some real challenges in Greece such as the sewage system, dirt etc. that are hard to live with if you decide to live there permanently.
HI THERE,THANKU FOR YOUR IMFORMATION YOU ARE AMAZING. I WANT TO RENT A MOTORHOME FOR 1 MONTH THIS SEPTEMBER AND TRAVEL AROUND GREECE TO SEE IF I LOVE IT ENOUGH TO LIVE THERE..DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN RENT FROM A RELIABLE COMPANY?OR DO YOU KNOW A FRIEND THAT WILL RENT OUT HIS MOTORHOME.?THANKU JENNELL
You are welcome! I am not very familiar with motorhomes at all so I don't have a recommendation but here are a few I have found. rolling-turtles.com/ and www.lunatrips.gr/campervan-rental-greece/
I will be moving to greece in few months from africa am lil nervous about how the life style is in Greece. I need a friend to assist me when i arrive 😊
My tenants all have solar! They have portable solar! You really need to do you due diligence! Greece is one of the best places to live ! I can’t wait to move back home ! Banks are a pain in the ass yes but at least they are very knowledgeable
re. Bank account. Yes as difficult as in Latvia with ridiculous requirements even for EU citizens. I wasted so much time and in the end, the requirements were so inappropriate that I chose not to open one and paid cash for all my utilities. Not convenient but unfortunately, I didn't have much of a choice ! Outdated banking system.
Keep away its a real nightmare been here for 8 months and getting the hell out without looking back. If you want Greek food just go to your Greek town in your city
Got a job there in 2019, I could only get the afm, couldn't get an apartment, couldn't get amka, couldn't get a bank account... The company didn't help (Webhelp, terrible! They couldn't pay us at the end because we couldn't get the papers done)and I had to go back to France 😂 I love Greece, cannot wait to go back, but as a tourist 🙄
life in athens is boring but there are nice cities nearby up to 2 hours NAFPLIO, PATRAS, NAFPAKTOS, CHALKIDA security, hospitals seaside cheap rent nightlife also in some of them Greek-American clubs from
I am originally from Nafplio and live for the past years in Athens. I have traveled to over 40 countries have you seen how dead cities seem to be in the rest of Europe after 9pm? Athens has it all. The southern suburbs are the best in my opinion. Clean, full of bars stylish places to hangout ,sea , places to walk by the sea such as Kavouri etc. Downtown Athens around the historical center you have a incredibly lively area that is 24/7 alive! An underground soho style scene ,classy, traditional places such as Anafiotika etc..Athens is a city that has it all also every single suburb has its own center with their own markets and cafe's, restaurants to go out to. Plus nearby Athens you even can enjoy several mountains and picnics in their forests.
By your voice inflection and facial cues I can see that you are a bit of what you warn not to be at the start of the video. , Many of the things you say are true, the bureaucracy is certainly challenging and has it's own peculiarities. A lot of the frustration of foreigners has to do with not speaking the language , that as I can tell you don't from your pronunciation of the words you were so kind to share with us at the beginning of your vid. When you don't speak the language it is easy to miss or misunderstand an explanation that leads to misunderstandings. As someone who has lived in many foreign countries for long lengths of time , I promise you it was true in every one of them. I am In Thailand right now and coming to Greece in three weeks, I have both a US and a Thai drivers license, Obviously I cant get an international license with my US license, so I attempted to get one with my Thai license, that I was told it was easy to do. Long story short, After killing a few trees for the paperwork, and a number of squids for the ink to print them, LOL, I could not , The reasons why was explained to me, but I misunderstood them. Same thing, about opening a bank account. There is no country in the world where a foreigner can walk in , and with an ID, open an account, Do you think A Bolivian can walk into a US bank with an ID and open a bank account? In addition to the ID , he/she would have to provide a number of supporting document pertaining to the validity and status of your Id and visa, also US money laundering regulations regulations require that the foreign bank repots your deposit if more than a certain amount, so they need that information also. . Also as to needing an appointment, with bank. That's not true with every bank and at every location, Obviously every bank has it's own requirement and not every branch location is as busy . I opened a bank account in Greece in the past by simply walking into a branch, But it was in Oropos, am sure they are much busier in Athens Here in Thailand I had to have my pass[ort and visa page translated and notarized by the US embassy in BKK. Provide official evidence of my residence etc. Anyway some of the other points you made are valid and indeed helpful. Thank you for taking the time to make the video. PS: if i might be so forward as to make a suggestion, I would propose joining a FB expat FB group, that way you dont have to rediscover the wheel, and get some advice from those who have been there and have done that. I have posted several questions and have always got good and helpful advice.
You make a lot of assumptions about me here. This is my third foreign country to live in and I am in many expat groups. This video is aimed at people who want to move here not for me to vent. COVID has changed everything and now you need an appointment to get a bank account. Thanks for watching.
@@agirlandherpassport I did not make any assumptions, I made an observation that might or might not be correct. Some times we make this facial expression and sounds without even realizing it. Al Gore lost his debate with George Bush because of it. This facial expressions and sounds imply value judgment applied to the comment made. At least it did to me. I apologize if I was wrong.
Great video!! Im not sure Greece is for me. I really want to ask you about living in Qatar? Do you have any vids on your living in Qatar? Curious..were you single living in Qatar? If so, did you feel safe? I see you are white with blond hair, do you feel that you stuck out as a foreigner? Why did you leave Qatar? Im asking because I am interested in Qatar but it is difficult to find many American that have experience and especially and single women. Thanks. Oh, and BTW I get you about the black beans lol
Thank you! Unfortunately, I did not have a TH-cam channel when I lived in Qatar. I am single. Qatar was extremely safe and I never had any issues there with safety. Yes, in Qatar, I stuck out a lot. It took sometime to get used to being stared at. Eventually, I got used to it and didn't give it much thought after about six months. I left because it was time. It can be hard to live there as a single person since it is very family oriented. I also wanted to travel more and work remotely. Let me know if I can answer any other questions. I have a blog, which is linked in the description box that has some older things on Qatar. Keep in mind I haven't lived there since 2017.
Hay how lgbt live in greek is it nice plac for us too as some one who live in iran as Armenian i need move for my life as free lgbt i just white to finish my university i learning to be architect and i am artist too we have lot of simulation in foods and people coulter that why its one of my favorites i like greek history lot too one of my favorite counters to live?
@@agirlandherpassport ôm from lôs Angeles so ôm used to Laegue cities. This seems liké añ endless matrix og concrete buildings. I can only imagine hié beautiful the land was at one timé
@@agirlandherpassport Nothing personal... Just what I have seen since the 70´s.. Probably due to the arrogant conduct of UK, Germany and Washington politics. Those are considered as condescending towards the southern/ eastern Europeans.
expat: to withdraw (oneself) from residence in or allegiance to one's native country immigrant: a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence Seems like they go together.
If you are moving to Greece from the US, take a look at this video to see what you might need buy at home. th-cam.com/video/Cj143VvYQQA/w-d-xo.html
As a greek, I would like to point out that housing is much more difficult and expensive in Athens, than in smaler cities, like Patras, which is 200 km away from Athens. Also, for people looking for a more relaxed lifstyle, smaller cities may be a better choice. Athens is a bit overcrowded, which means that prices aer higher, in hoysing, food etc.
This is true. However, you will need a car in those areas so that is an added expense.
@@agirlandherpassport not necessarily, bus service for out of city trips is quite good. For urban trasportation, things are not worse than in Athens. Depends on the city offcourse.
@@charalamposkatsenis2698 I lived in Patras for 45 years . Total crap !
@@charalamposkatsenis2698 do you recommend kavala to live in?
@@boobie17 so why live there so long ?
I'm French and I live in the US and I am so frustrated with the food too, everything is wrapped under plastic and the food mostly available in supermarkets is of poor quality full of preservatives and hormones. I dream of French cheese stores with cheese that taste like chee, going to the butcher store or to the bakery for pastries or baguette. Food in the US is not the best. Enjoy Greece, they have some of the most amazing food, their cuisine is one of the best in the world.
You can find better food in the US but you will have to go to specific shops like a butcher. Although bakeries are not as common as well as a cheese shop. Do you have a Whole Foods near you? The quality might be better there. Good luck!!
Have you considered going back to France?
The U.S. is terrible.
That’s true I used to live in Germany and when I was visiting again in Germany, the bread and cheese and everything tasted so much better satisfied me quicker than the food in the United States and I ate less naturally came back, losing weight.
you are an angel for making this video. thank you SO much. I've been looking for this kind of video!!
You're welcome!
Hi Tiffany! Great video, just one tiny comment - as you probably know by now, buying (and eating!) food is a totally different thing over here, and while supermarkets sell everything it's always worth checking out smaller shops and different street markets. As an Athenian who loves hanging out with expats, I'm happy to go for a coffee / walk anytime :)
Thanks! I do know but it’s something people should be aware of is all. I have a hard time finding things here as it takes time to learn where things are sold. I would love to meet up. I am going to the US for the holidays Monday but will reach out when I am back!!
Oh great!! Enjoy your time and yes do get in touch!
did you guys get together for the coffee?
Oh that’s awesome! I’m from the DFW and have been wanting to visit Greece pretty soon. The more I learn about the culture and studying Greek, the more I’m falling in love. Love to follow your adventures and thoughts!
I can relate to that. I hope you can visit soon.
Actually what you have pointed out are the very simple and common facts of living in a european/mediterranean country. Most of the US citizens in these countries face the exact same issues with very same frustrations. This is purely stemming from the clash between american way of living and the european. You can not change so you will have to adapt. Everything aside: there is NO WAY you can complain about food in Greece. Forget what you have tasted or what you had fed on till now and open your doors wide for the best culinary experience you can ever have.
Thank you. I appreciate this information. Most usually talk about the beach and food. I have Greece on my radar to relocate. I always wanted to be by the ocean., But there’s so much to take into consideration. As I get older, healthcare becomes essential as does cost. Yes, living in another country does have a learning curve.
Great channel, thank you. I have been going to Greece twice a year for 15 years now, I have good friends in Athens. More recently, I am currently using my holidays time to explore Greece with the view to buy a bed & breakfast so this information is very useful. I am aware that the NHS is not as good as in my country, Spain or the UK, where I currently work and live. In general, the country lacks the infrastructure that other EU countries have and it is a shame that Greece is not at the same level, they deserve better!
While the infrastructure is not the greatest, most of the doctors I have dealt with have been good. I am glad you found my video useful!
Very true, its not EU, its more 3rd world country standards. If you know this and its okay, its better to have the appropriate expectations. I say this from personal experience.
Great video, very informative and no nonsense, thanks !
Thank you!!
Well said. You hit all the major issues. Thank you.
Thanks!
Yes same things in Portugal except that it's much easier to open a bank account. However, making Portuguese friends is almost impossible...
Hey, thanks for the video! Just one comment. I understand comfort food and all, but adapting to what is local is a big part of living abroad, I think at least. And given that greek cuisine is one of the best on earth, I missed your opinion on that.
You’re welcome. As a long term expat, I can tell you that you will want to eat food from home sometimes. Also, cooking Greek food is not something I know how to do yet. And since I am not a big cooker anyway, I make what I know.
soooo helpful!! i really appreciate your honesty and insight. thank you!
You’re welcome!
Another thing, makings friends is very tough. I am of pure Greek background but born and raised in Massachusetts. When I first moved to Greece, a Greek person told me I will always be viewed as an outsider and my mother who was still alive at the time told me the same thing. Nothing wrong with that but just something to have rolling around in your head. I love Greece and I enjoy living there, but I miss Americans. I hope to meet more expats on my next round.
It definitely is hard to make friends.
Yes, they laugh at us Greek Americans, because they think we are posers.
@@segurosincero4057 it's because of their feeling of insecurity which is genetic. Greeks living in other countries are much more sweeter than the locals in athens. My Big Fat Greek wedding was not a movie, it was an accurate documentary 😂
@@airmag there are two sides to every coin and I suppose. But yes, I agree with your comments. Good observation.
@@agirlandherpassportwhy is that? I spent some time in Athens recently and I found the locals nothing but friendly and hospitable. Just curious…
Great and informative video as always!
Thank you!!
You should note that some things you said apply to non-EU citizens. Some things are easier for EU citizens. The insurance of other EU countries in valid in Greece. So is the driving licence, no visa, etc.
Of course but I assume most EU residents know this. This is mostly aimed at third country nationals. Thanks though!
YES...nailed a lot of points! Listening to my daughter's saga for the past 2 yrs. living in Athens.......but it is still a hell of a lot cheaper than NYC
She does have a Greek & US tax number...she is self employed..Swears by the EU Healthcare as opposed to the US healthcare system.
One thing that is virtually impossible......finding a parking space near where you live!!! She has no problem meeting people or "ex-pats" because she is an Artist.
The food is awesome!! GMO is banned in Europe.
Thanks! Glad I am not the only expat with these issues. I am not a huge fan of the healthcare system not because it's bad but it operates in a way I find confusing. I am sure that it is just so different from the US. I don't have a car here so no parking issues for me.
This video was really informative, especially the banking and taxes part. It's definitely the most "boring" thing to talk about, but those things are really important to get right so that you can enjoy the rest, right? Maybe you or someone else has a video about the importance of speaking the language that I'll find after this; but you definitely make the possibility of enjoying life and moving far, far away seem attainable, so thank you for the video.
Thanks! They are important things to consider for sure. I don't have one of those but I am sure someone does. I am not fluent so I can't really talk about it. It definitely helps if you can speak some Greek.
Thanks for the video! We are still planning to Golden Visa it in 9 years. Taxes and language are my two biggest worries, though climate change is catching up
You’re welcome. Don’t worry about language. 80% of people speak some English. It will be interesting to see how climate change affects Greece.
I am retired 49 years old cypriot English teacher l am thinking of living in Crete what is the cost of living comfortably l am single
Very informative and a professional presentation. Makes me think a lot about retiring there and I would like to find out more.
Thank you so much! I have many videos on moving to Greece.
Great video. Indeed patience and persistence go a long way to living properly in Greece
Thank you! I’m glad it’s not just the non Greeks who feel this way
0:31 Depending on the context sometimes these 2 words can have interdependent meaning. For instance "υπομονή" can be stoicism, tolerance or even perseverance.
That’s interesting. But it makes sense.
@@agirlandherpassport after all the one means to be under (υπό) a certain thing whereas the other to be on (επί) that same thing.
@@giannistatsiopoulos331 I'm fascinated with how different languages work and how the language itself influences how speakers think, and that is SO COOL! Just had to say.
Thanks for another great video!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching
Thank you for your honest feedback unlike all those youtubers that only post some propaganda videos for whatever country they immigrate too. Most of those videos are misleading and unreal. That's why I enjoyed yours.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!!
Excellent. Thank you for all the info
You’re welcome!
Interesting video. I’m planning to move to Greece next year with a friend who has an apartment, so I won’t have to jump that hurdle. I’m a U.S. immigrant still searching for a home as I will not move back to the US, but all of these things you’ve pointed out I’ve experienced to one degree or another in all the countries in which I’ve lived since leaving the US. It’s a part of living abroad and to me you deal with it if that is the life you have chosen. None of those things are necessarily good or bad they are just different and Imo you have to be open to new things if you’re going to live outside your home country. I like your peanut butter example, because I used to love eating it too but not Skippy or Peter Pan as they are filled with preservatives and other harmful garbage. I only ate all natural peanut butter, at least that’s what it was labeled, but they only added salt and nothing else. I can’t find it so I don’t concern myself with eating peanut butter. My point is you adapt. And for those who are new to this I say it’s a good video.
Going to study in Greece for a year. Thank you for the useful tips!
You’re welcome!!
Very useful video!
Thank you!
I’m totally into the Calve brand crunchy peanut butter they have here, it’s sooo good. It’s different from what we are used to, but in a good way!
It’s okay. I don’t do crunchy though.
Love Calve peanut butter too, smooth though.
It’s okay. There is a Dutch? Brand here that is more like what I am used to that I like
Thanopoulos Supermarket in Kifisia has a lot of US food items. Lots of Americans live in the area.
Yes but I am not going to go to Kifissa to go grocery shopping. It’s too far
Actually in the United States, they should also do that with a hot water heater because when you have it on all the time that waste electricity and also money.
If you do have a timer on it, then it doesn’t matter so much you don’t have to think about it
Texas! My wife and I can send you stuff! Let us know. We go every summer. Good video!
Thank you. Very helpful video.
You’re welcome
Thank you for the great information.! We are spoiled in Canada and the United States. Hot water on demand is a luxury.
You’re welcome!
In the center of Athens there are old buildings, in the other places in Athens there are solar panels and the hot water is free 24/7
Yes, but very few rentals have solar as it is expensive to install. And it still has to have a boiler in case there are several cloudy days, not that it happens often. I looked at over 25 apartments last year when trying to find a new place and not one had solar.
Old song by a folk singer Grigoris Bithikotsis called ipomoni 🎶 One must never forget patience but especially in Greece! 🙏🏼
I need to hear this! Thanks!
@@agirlandherpassport th-cam.com/video/h54ZzRXD1HU/w-d-xo.html
I just returned from Greece and found it odd that you did not mention the outdated sewage system in Greece. If the pandemic taught us anything about Americans it is our obsession with toilet paper. I have since transitioned to a washlet but still consider the toilet paper restrictions in Greece a deal breaker.
another reason why we don't let the hot water heater all the time on, is because it could be really dangerous to use the water while that is on, since electricity is passing through it
That used to be the case but modern hot water heaters do no work that way anymore. Totally safe to leave it on, if you have a new one.
The factor of cost is a widely spread misconception. Actually you consume less KWh by keeping it on all the time. The same applies in the case of central heating.
That is only true if your boiler is energy efficient and your house is well insulated
Thanks! Very helpful!
You're welcome!
Heating is also challenging
Yes! And more and more buildings aren’t turning on the heat as petrol has gotten so expensive.
Just like in Portugal then where most Portuguese apartments don't have a central heater or a heater at all !
Yes, i heat my boiler before i want to take a shower, saves so much money 🤘
I agree with everything you said
Hi Tiffany, my husband and I are headed to Athens in a couple of days to look at real estate. Do you have any suggestions on neighborhoods?
From 2007 to 2018 I lived in 3 houses in Thessaloniki and every one of them had Gas and 24/7 hot water. There was a state subsidy program for homes where owners only had to pay 30% of the costs and I thought most of the owners would take advantage of that, but I guess in Athens they did not!
That sounds great! Not many places here have had for hot water only heating.
@@agirlandherpassport In Thessaloniki almost 99% of the houses have hot running water
They do in Athens too but you have to turn it on for it to work.
@@agirlandherpassport I mean instant water heating! Hot water when you turn the tap on. They have it everywhere in Thessaloniki. Its rare to find old style boilers these days
I see. I wish that was the case in Athens. I bet it’s because it gets much colder there in the winter!
I've spent time in Greece, and I could get dual citizenship with America and Greece, and I might once I retire possibly in Greece 🇬🇷. I afraid with all the foreigners retiring in Greece I could be out priced out of a home.
They'll
I don't think that is the case. Most foreigners don't want to pay more than market price as that is one of the reasons they are choosing to retire here.
I'm 53 years old single with no kids and thinking about selling my house and trying to move to Greece. But what I see about the process about getting work is disconcerting. I do not have a high paying job with a degree and I understand that employers have to go through locals first to get permission from the government so that you can even apply as an expat. I would have money to buy a small home or apartment and I would be looking for something very small and cheap nowhere near Athens, but it seems getting work that would pay just enough to get by would seem impossible. I would burn through what money I have very quickly and then end up homeless in another country. I really do want to move there but it seems to be a very tricky and scary process. I really don't know what I do. Do you have any suggestions of where to visit if I took a small vacation just to feel things out? I have heard the island of Corfu and maybe kyos? Do you have any suggestions?
It is very hard for a Greek company to hire someone from outside the EU. I don’t work here so I can’t offer many suggestions. What are you looking for in a location?
@@agirlandherpassport something very cheap on one of the islands probably. I do come from Spartans on my mother's side but it's only a small percentage of my heritage. I think they are Maniots now and I believe they are on the middle lower peninsula. I wouldn't mind living inland either just not sure what I would do for work. I have a house here and I would sell it of course and be able to afford a small house or buy a small apartment but I would need work. I have been trying to research this and it seems very difficult. Not sure if I could be a merchant Marine or work on a boat which I would gladly do. Something like that. Just sick of the US and the rat race after 15 years of truck driving I am tired of it. Just looking for something nice and peaceful but I would need employment.
Hector of Troy : " I know your favour , Lord Ulysses , well.
Ah , Sir....there's many a Greek and Trojan dead since first
I saw yourself and Diomed in Ilion , on your Greekish
embassy . "
Written by Shakespeare of course but somehow they capture the noble Spirit of Greece better than any others !
Moving to Greece isn’t on my agenda, but I love coming for a month or so every year! Your adventures are fun to watch. Thanks for sharing them. I admire your spirit!
One thing I noticed is that to get groceries I need to go to the vegetable market, supermarket, bakery, drugstore, and fish shop to get everything. Is it different in Athens? Usually I’m only in Athens a couple days coming and going, but once I left my pencil case on a bus. It was quite an adventure finding pencils and sharpeners in Athens. In the end they were in bookstores and the selection was magnificent! :)
Thanks!!
There are some larger supermarkets in Athens that carry more. I can usually find everything I need in one place but it you go to the specialty place the price are usually better. I love the Greek bookstores. So fun to see what’s available.
Thanks for the info! I'm planning on moving to Crete. Any tips??🙏
if you dont work then obviously you are not contributing to National Insurance (or whatever its called in Greece) the contribution isnt taken from your wages as for example in the UK coz you havent got wages. so i think it is pretty fair system.
I never said it wasn’t fair. I am letting people know what to expect.
@@agirlandherpassport yeah I know, great video btw
Thanks!
this is great ❤
Thank you!
@@agirlandherpassport most welcome 🤗
Hi, great video. Just to point out, patience is Υπομονή = Patience. (Not Υρομονι), as p in Greek is π (ρ is r). 🙂
Thanks! Someone told me right when I made it. Can’t be fixed now and of course, I know now.
@@agirlandherpassport Okay all good. Just an FYI for future. Nice to see you are loving in Greece. Which cities would you recommend, that aren't too quiet or too busy. Maybe a quiet suburb of Thessaloniki/ Athens, with easy access to centre? Or Patras / Larissa / Heraklion?
Are you looking for places to live or visit? I have only been in Athens of all the places you mentioned as I tend to travel to smaller places in Greece. I do live in Athens in the center. I am a city girl and I can't imagine not living in the center. Many people do and they love it.
@@agirlandherpassport Ah I see okay. It'll be to live. Which area of Athens are you near: south (coast)? Centre, or north? I am in Melbourne Australiia from a city of 5 million so yeah, Athens would be best for me.
I live in the center of Athens. I don’t have a car so I prefer it. I also like the vibe better
There where some Graphic errors and the pronunciation was another language 🤣😂🤣
Υπομονή - Ipomoni = Patience
Επιμονή - Epimoni = Persistence, Tenacity
And I will add
Εμμονή - Emoni = Obsession
I looked up the words for the Greek so I can only go on what it said. I said I just learned the word so you should understand that it is hard to learn and pronounce
Greece would be a destination I'd like to test. I visited it during my year long adventure 50+ years ago but such a visit only gives a hint of the reality of day to day living.. Unfortunately for me my age and heath render my dream to be only a dream.
Maybe just for a visit then?
if you're gonna move there. i suggest finding a lawyer from the country you want to move to. you get to avoid all the hassle and all the paper that is necessary is taken care of at one time. then you can move. thats what i would do
These are things to consider before you make that decision. And for Greece you probably don’t need one till you arrive. The process for my visa to go to Greece was all done by me.
@@agirlandherpassport A number of the lawyers are on "Greek Time" and are not great at getting back to people promptly. So people should ask around.
@@georgeklimes7604 Everyone in Greece is on Greece time! Haha. But it is really up to you to chase them to get things done. If you don't, it will never happen.
@@agirlandherpassport True. The problem is that if you're far away, you have to hope you find someone who is responsive. But, as you said, most Greek "professionals" are on Greek Time. I have been trying to get Greek citizenship for years (my grandfather came from Greece to the US over 100 years ago). Lawyers promise the moon but cannot be trusted to do what they promised. I had to harass them constantly. They only seem to reemerge when they want more money. My wife and I were considering buying real estate when we were there in September. The agent sent one e-mail response and have never responded since then - 4 months later. Add in the apathy and/or open hostility of some government workers, and it can be extremely challenging and frustrating. If I could move there, I would be able to rattle some cages, but that possibility won't come for years. I don't expect people there to be on top of their games 24/7, but I don't think it's unreasonable to ask a person to do his or her job after a week or two, at least...
It’s going to be hard to get them to do a lot when you are not here unfortunately. For the citizenship, look for a Greek attorney in the US. They might cost more but things will move faster.
it's just a bit weird that you talked everything negative about Greece
Most people know the positives of moving to Greece or they wouldn’t consider it. However these things are things to know before you come. Many times I said this shouldn’t stop you from moving here but you need to know them.
I m planning to move to Greece, I m just wandering about some accountant reliable.... I was in Athens, I loved Greek people, Greek food and all the environment ❤
I didn't hear anything negative. Really helpful to hear the truth about what to expect
what lawyer did you use please
Hi, I retired at the end of last year and I am thinking maybe moving to Athens to enjoy my well-deserved retirement; I am told that I need about 2k a month to live fairly well and that I can actually apply for a Resident visa and or permit here in the States. Is that true?
for padlocks etc you can go to leroy merlin or praktiker (leroy merlin is better in my opinion)
Leroy Merlín is not easy to get to. Well at least for me. I don’t have a car and for something so small I don’t want to go that far.
I am moving there in a month 😅 I don’t
Know how to feel
What are you concerned about? Maybe I can help.
Keeping your water heater on all the time?! In Ireland everybody waits for it to heat up. Maybe it’s a cultural thing or electriciy here is also expensive, not sure
In the US, we never turn ours off. It’s gas operated so it wouldn’t be good to turn it off.
@@agirlandherpassport Some places have solar water tanks (heated by the sun), but you might still need to use electricity if temperatures are low.
@@georgeklimes7604 Those are the best! But they can be hard to find in Athens. I have found they are more common on the islands.
@@agirlandherpassport Yes, I have sen more of them on the islands, but they do exist in Athens. We have electric water heaters in the US as well, but people do not turn them off. But, then again, electricity is way cheaper, and the citizens are far wealthier relatively.
Im 37, from Ireland but have been living in Australia for the last 10 years. If I see my Da’s number come up on my phone my immediate thought is “I’ve left the immersion on!” Puts the fear of God into me.
Ken would do well to listen to you about patience and persistence 😘
Haha! Thank you!
Are you able to live in Greece permanantely all year round ? Or is it only a certain amount of days a year ?
I am but I have a resident permit.
@@agirlandherpassport That's awesome! Do you become eligible for a resident permit if you own a property? Or does it have to be above a certain value ? Thanks.
@@lodersracing For the Golden visa, you have to buy property at €250,000 or more. However, that is not the kind of visa I am on.
@@agirlandherpassport If I was to buy property it would be under €250,000, so hopefully I could also get a permit visa. Thanks.
@@lodersracing You can't get the Golden visa for less. There are other options, but it doesn't involve buying property.
Hello sweetheart, I am from Florida, 71 years old and I really want to buy something for vacation, not to live permanently. I really want, a small town, with everything around, not to drive. Is this possible?? Thank you 🙏
Hi! Yes, I imagine there are plenty of places you can live without a car in Greece. I do not own a car here and its fine. You will need to come and see what will work. I also suggest come in the winter as life is different in small places then.
Some say Kavala City is nice..and people there are hospitable
This video couldn't come more timely, as I applied for a job in Greece. Not my dream country in the EU, I'm afraid. I've read that dealings with state authorities come with a lot of blind alleys and rabbit holes. And Greece is too sunny. But pay is good and I wouldn't stand out among other southern Europeans.
Great pay in Greece is hard to beat as you will live well here.
@manuel did you move to greece?
Not slightly wrong but almost totally wrong but you've tried at least. Patience it's Υπομονή(Ipomoni) and Persistence is Επιμονή(Epimoni)
Yes many people have pointed out the mistake
Thank goodness I am a citizen.
Alot easier for me
For sure! Want to adopt me?!? 😂
@@agirlandherpassport I could use a daughter
Haha! Not sure how useful I’d be
You mention “your lawyer”, bit you do not mention how much you paid him. Lawyers in Greece are a mixed bag but all equally outrageously expensive!
That is because rates change and things I had done may not be what someone else may need. I felt his price was fair though.
omg tex mex I'm Californian living here and cannot find cholula or black beans !!! or small corn tortillas..or decent salsa at all..guess I should just make Pico de gallo
They are so hard to find but someone sent me something yesterday with a place to order them from. It’s salamat.gr. They have stores in Athens apparently or you can order online!
@@agirlandherpassport thanks
You’re welcome!
You should upgrade to Marie sharps hot sauce. The flavor is fantastic. You won't go back to cholula. I used to use cholula all the time before discovering marie sharps. Easy to buy it online, but idk about Amazon in Greece.
From a Texan with Greek father 😅
if you have full greek residency is very easy!!
But how did you find a lawyer in the first place??
What if you are a citizen of Greece but never worked there ? Would you be eligible for the Greek public health system.
I am not sure. Since I don’t have access to it, I don’t know all the rules. I don’t think so but it is worth looking into.
@@agirlandherpassport yea I would have to ask my relatives in Greece. Thank you though Tiffany.
They might not know either. They should check with the AMKA office. They are the ones that issue you the number and can tell you more.
@@agirlandherpassport I know what you mean by Greece needs a lot of patience!!! So true especially if you are from the USA where everything is so fast paced and you can literally buy anything overnight with Amazon prime.
I don’t think we know how good we have it until we leave. I now know that I can’t just go to the grocery store and buy everything. I have to go to a bookstore to buy envelopes even!
Sounds similar to living in Spain, and I suspect much of Europe.
Probably!
You mean it sounds similar to life in the Meditarranean countries in Europe, I suppose. I live in Germany and I have traveled to Greece, Portugal and Spain and their system is very different to Northern European countries. I love Greek food but there are some real challenges in Greece such as the sewage system, dirt etc. that are hard to live with if you decide to live there permanently.
I have lived as an expat in France and Crete, Greece. There is no comparison.
HI THERE,THANKU FOR YOUR IMFORMATION YOU ARE AMAZING.
I WANT TO RENT A MOTORHOME FOR 1 MONTH THIS SEPTEMBER AND TRAVEL AROUND GREECE TO SEE IF I LOVE IT ENOUGH TO LIVE THERE..DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN RENT FROM A RELIABLE COMPANY?OR DO YOU KNOW A FRIEND THAT WILL RENT OUT HIS MOTORHOME.?THANKU JENNELL
You are welcome! I am not very familiar with motorhomes at all so I don't have a recommendation but here are a few I have found. rolling-turtles.com/ and www.lunatrips.gr/campervan-rental-greece/
I will be moving to greece in few months from africa am lil nervous about how the life style is in Greece. I need a friend to assist me when i arrive 😊
Me too
Things to consider before moving to Greece:
1. Don't
0:34 "Ipomoni = Υπομονή "Epimoni = Επιμονή
My tenants all have solar! They have portable solar! You really need to do you due diligence! Greece is one of the best places to live ! I can’t wait to move back home ! Banks are a pain in the ass yes but at least they are very knowledgeable
I wish I had solar! But that was hard to find. Finding the place I am in took a long time too.
re. Bank account. Yes as difficult as in Latvia with ridiculous requirements even for EU citizens. I wasted so much time and in the end, the requirements were so inappropriate that I chose not to open one and paid cash for all my utilities. Not convenient but unfortunately, I didn't have much of a choice ! Outdated banking system.
It’s such a pain. I did get mine eventually so all good now.
Keep away its a real nightmare been here for 8 months and getting the hell out without looking back. If you want Greek food just go to your Greek town in your city
Sorry you haven’t enjoyed it. However not everyone feels as you do.
😂
Can someone suggest me an accountant?
I don’t have one but maybe someone here will.
Got a job there in 2019, I could only get the afm, couldn't get an apartment, couldn't get amka, couldn't get a bank account... The company didn't help (Webhelp, terrible! They couldn't pay us at the end because we couldn't get the papers done)and I had to go back to France 😂 I love Greece, cannot wait to go back, but as a tourist 🙄
It’s all very hard. That really sucks as they should help you. I hope you can come back and enjoy it.
life in athens is boring but there are nice cities nearby up to 2 hours NAFPLIO, PATRAS, NAFPAKTOS, CHALKIDA security, hospitals seaside cheap rent nightlife also in some of them Greek-American clubs from
I don’t think Athens is boring. But there are other cities that are worth checking out for sure.
I am originally from Nafplio and live for the past years in Athens. I have traveled to over 40 countries have you seen how dead cities seem to be in the rest of Europe after 9pm? Athens has it all. The southern suburbs are the best in my opinion. Clean, full of bars stylish places to hangout ,sea , places to walk by the sea such as Kavouri etc. Downtown Athens around the historical center you have a incredibly lively area that is 24/7 alive! An underground soho style scene ,classy, traditional places such as Anafiotika etc..Athens is a city that has it all also every single suburb has its own center with their own markets and cafe's, restaurants to go out to. Plus nearby Athens you even can enjoy several mountains and picnics in their forests.
another comment that you can not find things???
SKLAVENITIS souper markets are all over Greece and Athens and they are the largest in Europe
I think you might have forgotten that Greeks (especially Athenians) tend to be a little rude, uncivil, and arrogant. Driving there is insane
By your voice inflection and facial cues I can see that you are a bit of what you warn not to be at the start of the video. , Many of the things you say are true, the bureaucracy is certainly challenging and has it's own peculiarities. A lot of the frustration of foreigners has to do with not speaking the language , that as I can tell you don't from your pronunciation of the words you were so kind to share with us at the beginning of your vid.
When you don't speak the language it is easy to miss or misunderstand an explanation that leads to misunderstandings. As someone who has lived in many foreign countries for long lengths of time , I promise you it was true in every one of them. I am In Thailand right now and coming to Greece in three weeks, I have both a US and a Thai drivers license, Obviously I cant get an international license with my US license, so I attempted to get one with my Thai license, that I was told it was easy to do. Long story short, After killing a few trees for the paperwork, and a number of squids for the ink to print them, LOL, I could not , The reasons why was explained to me, but I misunderstood them. Same thing, about opening a bank account. There is no country in the world where a foreigner can walk in , and with an ID, open an account, Do you think A Bolivian can walk into a US bank with an ID and open a bank account? In addition to the ID , he/she would have to provide a number of supporting document pertaining to the validity and status of your Id and visa, also US money laundering regulations regulations require that the foreign bank repots your deposit if more than a certain amount, so they need that information also. . Also as to needing an appointment, with bank. That's not true with every bank and at every location, Obviously every bank has it's own requirement and not every branch location is as busy . I opened a bank account in Greece in the past by simply walking into a branch, But it was in Oropos, am sure they are much busier in Athens Here in Thailand I had to have my pass[ort and visa page translated and notarized by the US embassy in BKK. Provide official evidence of my residence etc. Anyway some of the other points you made are valid and indeed helpful. Thank you for taking the time to make the video.
PS: if i might be so forward as to make a suggestion, I would propose joining a FB expat FB group, that way you dont have to rediscover the wheel, and get some advice from those who have been there and have done that. I have posted several questions and have always got good and helpful advice.
You make a lot of assumptions about me here. This is my third foreign country to live in and I am in many expat groups. This video is aimed at people who want to move here not for me to vent. COVID has changed everything and now you need an appointment to get a bank account. Thanks for watching.
@@agirlandherpassport I did not make any assumptions, I made an observation that might or might not be correct. Some times we make this facial expression and sounds without even realizing it. Al Gore lost his debate with George Bush because of it. This facial expressions and sounds imply value judgment applied to the comment made. At least it did to me. I apologize if I was wrong.
You look beautiful and I like your video
Thank you!
🙏😊
Thanks!
Ypomonì and epimoni
Great video!! Im not sure Greece is for me. I really want to ask you about living in Qatar? Do you have any vids on your living in Qatar? Curious..were you single living in Qatar? If so, did you feel safe? I see you are white with blond hair, do you feel that you stuck out as a foreigner? Why did you leave Qatar? Im asking because I am interested in Qatar but it is difficult to find many American that have experience and especially and single women. Thanks. Oh, and BTW I get you about the black beans lol
Thank you! Unfortunately, I did not have a TH-cam channel when I lived in Qatar. I am single. Qatar was extremely safe and I never had any issues there with safety. Yes, in Qatar, I stuck out a lot. It took sometime to get used to being stared at. Eventually, I got used to it and didn't give it much thought after about six months. I left because it was time. It can be hard to live there as a single person since it is very family oriented. I also wanted to travel more and work remotely. Let me know if I can answer any other questions. I have a blog, which is linked in the description box that has some older things on Qatar. Keep in mind I haven't lived there since 2017.
Hay how lgbt live in greek is it nice plac for us too as some one who live in iran as Armenian i need move for my life as free lgbt i just white to finish my university i learning to be architect and i am artist too we have lot of simulation in foods and people coulter that why its one of my favorites i like greek history lot too one of my favorite counters to live?
I’m not really sure. It seems okay but I have been told it’s not great. I would find someone in that community who would know better than me.
Wow thanx what fast reply 👍👍
Athens is dibôñga mé añ anxiety attack. I prefer the qiuet beauty og Tinos 🇬🇷
Why is it giving you anxiety or is it just city life?
@@agirlandherpassport ôm from lôs Angeles so ôm used to Laegue cities. This seems liké añ endless matrix og concrete buildings. I can only imagine hié beautiful the land was at one timé
LA is not the same though. New York is the same.
@@agirlandherpassport in tjé pást i libéé visiting London and New York, but um over ôt now. I prefer being around natural beauty
Well that is understandable!!
In few words too much paperwork.
Yeap...we Greeks suffer too, for whole decades.
Haha! Greece does love paperwork.
I can't eat blackbeans in Greece? Thanks for spoiling my dreams 😂
Just joking, thanks for the video
You need a lawyer? Sounds like a place for the rich
Not really. Lawyers here are not expensive and if you need immigration assistance it is the only way to get help.
One thing to consider is that we in general don´t like Anglosaxans.
(same all over Balkan and Mediteranian)
That hasn't been my experience here and you assume a lot of other countries and people with this statement.
@@agirlandherpassport Nothing personal... Just what I have seen since the 70´s.. Probably due to the arrogant conduct of UK, Germany and Washington politics. Those are considered as condescending towards the southern/ eastern Europeans.
Why? We helped you escape nazi Germany and are your military ally?
I am so pleased to see this. I have certainly felt that to be true since I moved to Greece.
You|re an immigrant, not an expat.
expat: to withdraw (oneself) from residence in or allegiance to one's native country
immigrant: a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence
Seems like they go together.
Moving to gr permanently, in a couple of months , from the us, have friends and family, if you still need friends contact me here bu sending a msg
Thank you! I have friends. Just making people aware that it can be hard here
Thank you..really practical advice ...
You’re welcome!!