Athens, Greece Report of what it's like to live there - 01/15/17
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?
This is our fourth post. We have served in northern Africa, far east Asia, and another Balkan country.
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?
There are direct flights to New York or Philadelphia in the spring and sumer, approximately 11 hours each. Otherwise, there's a London connection.
3. How long have you lived here?
We've been here for a little over a year now.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic mission.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
We live in a townhouse-style home in an upper class neighborhood, with a 20-minute commute to the American embassy and a 30-minute commute to our daughter's school. Other families live in apartments downtown, houses in a town 30 minutes away from downtown, and everywhere in between. Many houses are nice, but many are not. There is a good bit of dissatisfaction with housing.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
I've been able to find almost everything I have searched for, although many items are only available in smaller containers at higher cost than in the U.S. For diplomats, there is a NEX at the embassy that helps fill in the gaps.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
I am glad I did not have many consumable items shipped to post. There is not room in the house to store them.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
There are several great restaurants here, some downtown and some in outlying suburbs. For delivery, there is an online service called ClickDelivery--you can see menus, order, and in some cases pay by PayPal.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Mosquitoes and mold are common in housing.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
The local postal facilities are adequate although they have limited open hours. For American diplomats, there is a DPO.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Nannies and housekeepers are available for 8-10 euro/hour.
3. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are widely accepted. It is relatively safe to use them; skimmers are not a huge thing here yet.
4. What English-language religious services are available locally?
There are a few English-language churches, both downtown and in outlying suburbs.
5. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
You can get by with English, though you'll occasionally run into a taxi driver or shopkeeper who does not speak English. Greek language instruction is available.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Yes. Buses, trams, and trains are very reasonable, relatively clean, and mostly predictable. Taxis are relatively cheap and can be summoned using Uber, TaxiBeat, or similar apps.
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?
Most cars should be fine on most roads. There are some narrow ones where larger cars would have problems. Motorcycles are commonly used here as well.
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?
We did not have to quarantine our pets upon entry or even show any paperwork for them--they were brought in by car.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
There are lots of opportunities available to work with refugees.
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Typical clothing for Greeks is a little dressier than typical American clothing, but many do dress casually as well.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
There are protests almost every day. As long as you avoid them, you should be fine. Pickpocketing is an issue in tourist areas.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Medical care is generally good here.
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?
Air quality is fine.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
Cigarette smoke is ubiquitous. If you have severe food allergies, you probably should not eat at restaurants; between language difficulties and simply not understanding the nature of allergies (and that wheat and flour are the same thing, etc.), you may be served food you are allergic to even if you have been assured that the problematic ingredient is not included.
5. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
It is hot and dry in the summer. Winters are not extreme. It rains some during the fall and winter, but not excessively.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There are two international schools that most embassy personnel use, as well as a few others that are used by embassy personnel on occasion. Most people here are generally satisfied with the schools, though they often will not discuss specifics if they have a problem with one.
2. 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?
Preschools are available but, as we haven't used them, I do not know the cost. Many families hire nannies for 10 euro/hour. There are after school activities available from the schools, but no bus service for students participating in those services.
3. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
Yes, though they may be harder or easier to find depending on the neighborhood where you live and your willingness to travel to other neighborhoods to access them.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
There is a large expat community, but it doesn't always feel much like a community, as expats often are more integrated into Greek communities through marriage. There is enough to do and there are enough English-speaking Greeks that expats don't rely on expat friends as much as they may in other locations. People tend to either love it here or hate it; there are few in between. Those who love it here tend to have nice housing and love the beach and opportunities for regional travel. Those who hate it tend to have less nice housing.
