Athens, Greece Report of what it's like to live there - 09/07/13
Personal Experiences from Athens, Greece
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No, previously posted to Kathmandu, Nepal.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Our home base is Las Vegas, NV. Flights generally stop in Europe and then direct to East coast. Travel varies, but expect to travel to last at least 20 hours.
3. How long have you lived here?
3 years, 2008-2011.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
U.S. Embassy.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Housing is primarily apartments: closer to the Embassy is more crowded and less space, but shorter commute time. The northern suburbs are larger, but the commute, for less than 10 miles, takes an hour or more. Driving is horrendous in Athens. The drivers do not follow laws and basically drive like idiots. The first time I stopped at a stop sign near my home the driver behind me honked (note: they do not stop at stop signs).
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Import brands from the States are available, but very costly. Local produce is very reasonable, especially the farmers market (Laiki) and local produce markets, seasonal only. Groceries especially meat and soda is expensive. I ordered online as did many Embassy friends, since the DPO was cost effective.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
You can find most things locally for a price. The Pharmacies have terrific prices and no prescription is needed, but kid medicine is very different, so stock up on acetaminophen, ibuprofen and cold medicine; also Nyquil for adults.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
The only drive through was McDonald's, but there are many U.S. restaurant chains and the best part is everything can be delivered. The Greek Tavernas all have similar choices and are very good, fairly reasonable as well. You can also find high-end restaurants. Mexican is available and there is one I found that was rather good, but not spicy.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Mosquitos are a bother and fuzzy caterpillars that are poisonous to touch.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
DPO is available and takes any where from 1 to 2 weeks. It's slower at Christmas so plan ahead.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Cost is not too expensive, around 8 euro an hour. he Embassy community passed around some favorite workers and they spoke good English.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
The Embassy has a small gym and there are local gyms for a larger cost.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
No problems using ATMs and credit cards at the grocery store, but most Tavernas and Kiosks(newsstands) only accept cash.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
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6. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?
Yes newspapers and magazines are available. We had AFN, but you could get local cable which I believe had a few English shows.
7. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
You need to know the alphabet at least. Most people spoke at least some English, but the street signs are only in Greek. The smaller villages you will need to use Greek more than inside Athens. I learned only about 20 words and only had trouble communicating a couple times.
8. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Extreme difficulties! Narrow streets, non-existent sidewalks due to trees and cars and lack of accessibility to the historical sites.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Taxis and the Metro are reasonable and easy to use. Calling for a taxi works better than trying to hail on the streets. Taxi drivers are known for picking up multiple fairs if they are going to the same area. You have to yell to the driver what part of town you want and they may or may not stop for you. Can be very frustrating, so keep the taxi number handy.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
I brought an SUV but it was a challenge driving downtown on the old narrow streets. Parking is slim, so that was a challenge also. Gas prices are very high around US$8 a gallon, so a smaller car would be better.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
High speed is available for about US$100 a month. It goes out frequently and is slow at times.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
No trouble with cell service. My service even worked outside of Greece in Italy. The cost depends on the service. Buying a cell phone is expensive, but you can buy a SIM and use it in a U.S. phone.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
2. Quality pet care available (vets & kennels)?
I had a friend you would house sit for pets when people traveled, but not sure about vets and kennels.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Teaching jobs are available and jobs at the Embassy were slim.
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Business for work, casual Fridays, and the Greek women really dress up to go out. Bikins worn by all body types also and even saw some nude sunbathing on some of the islands.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
There were daily protests while we were there - all downtown and sometimes at the Embassy. I never felt unsafe, even when we ventured near the protest area. That said, the Embassy issues warnings and restrictions for a reason, so be careful!
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
The med unit at the Emabassy is great. I loved the nurses and doctors while we were there. I needed to use local dentists and hospitals and did not have much trouble other than language issues. The Greeks rely on a bribery system, so I did have some friends who experienced some problems with hospital stays, especially lack of bedside manners where children were involved.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Good air outside of Athens. Athens is very similar to downtown Los Angeles. Lots of traffic, graffiti, pollution and rude drivers. The winds bring dirt of from Africa, so at least once a year there will be "mud" rain and also a dusting of yellow pollen in the spring.
4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Beautiful in fall and spring, mid 70's F. Winter is fairly mild, and we lived in the northern suburb where it snowed every February. Summers are very hot, 90's F. The Embassy has a swimming pool, for a fee, and there are many beaches to cool off at. The best time of year is August when all the Greeks travel so driving through Athens is finally decent.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
The American school is behind the times. We sent our child the first year and were not pleased, we had friends who liked it though. The other 2 years we used the British school St Catherine's and loved it. It was closer to our home which was also a benefit.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
ACS was not very accommodating for special needs. St Catherine's has "shadow" teachers available for hire. They are hired by the school, but parents pay the cost and the "shadow" teacher sits with the child usually half the day to keep the student focused or works on specific skills and subjects.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
Many, many preschools; very costly.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
St Catherine's had an afterschool program that we really enjoyed, but I am not sure about anything local.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Large.
2. Morale among expats:
Overall pleasant until driving comes into play that makes it very stressful and frustrating. The Greeks love children and tend to be friendlier to us when we were out with them, but to adults not so much.
3. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Lots of late nights! The Greeks go out to dinner around 9 - 10 pm, so they tend to stay out much later. Bouzoukia clubs do not even open until after midnight! I made great friends within the Emabasyy and expat community, so we had game nights, book clubs, cooking classes and dinner/club outings.
4. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Good for all.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Yes.
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
Yes. Usually with Albanian, African and other refugees. Also some older Greeks have issues with women.
7. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
The islands, ruins, weather and mostly the wonderful lifelong friends I made (fellow Expats).
8. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Beaches, ruins, islands, restaurants, and great expat community.
9. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Pottery, jewelry, and travel.
10. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
So much history! I loved the ruins. Travel is easy and you can really find deals through Aegean Airlines and Easy Jet. The Metro is nice when travelling downtown due to limited parking available.
11. Can you save money?
No.
Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes!!
2. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Surf boards, skate boards and roller skates. Biking is a challenge also, but doable. Strollers are a challenge also. Terrible infrastructure!
3. But don't forget your:
Patience and Greek/English dictionary.
4. Recommended movies/DVDs related to this city:
My Life In Ruins was very funny in how closely it related to actual life in Greece. You cannot flush toilet paper, narrow streets, crazy driving and amazing historical sights.
