Athens, Greece Report of what it's like to live there - 06/20/08
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?
Yes.
2. How long have you lived here?
10 months.
3. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
I am here for a Government assignment.
4. Travel time and best routes to this city from Europe or the US:
JFK to Athens, 10 hours.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
We live in Kifissia. It takes about an hour to get to the US Embassy when the traffic is heavy, which is any time after 8 am. There are some back ways to get around the heavily congested Kiffissias Avenue, but it takes time to figure them out. I highly recommend using a GPS device.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
I'd estimate I pay double what I pay at home for groceries when you consider the exchange rate.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Ingredients, larger children's toys like Little Tikes playhouse sorts of things, diapers. I did bring a lot of dry goods with me.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Lots. McDonald's (that's the only drive-thru I've seen), Starbucks, KFC, Auntie Anne's, Pizza Hut, Applebees, TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesday. Lots and lots of inexpensive tavernas. Some nice upscale Greek and European restaurants.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Our housekeeper is 7 euro an hour. Lots of help to be found here.
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?
I haven't had any problems. I had heard that ATMS run out of cash on the weekends, but I've never experienced that.
4. What English-language religious services are available locally?
Catholic is all I'm aware of.
5. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
I used Earworms and found that helpful. Start with the alphabet-- that helps make eeeeverything easier. I use about 100 words and get by.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Innumerable. The sidewalks are cracked and have giant holes or trees planted smack in the middle. They stop and start randomly. I haven't tried to travel with a wheelchair but travel with a stroller can be quite a challenge. The larger the wheels on a stroller, the better. A side-by-side double stroller has limited use here.
Transportation:
1. Do you drive on the right hand side of the road or the left?
Right.
2. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Yes and yes. You buy bus tickets at the magazine/soda stands.
3. 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 a Jeep Grand Cherokee and I love it. It does use more gas, but it didn't make sense for us to sell a car that was already paid for to buy another one we'd then owe money on. I enjoy being a little higher up than most vehicles since I'm toting a toddler and concerned for her safety. Parking can be difficult but not unreasonable. I've become intimately familiar with the *exact* size of my vehicle and have managed to do everything I've wanted to do here, including going down to the historic narrower streets and been just fine. Something like a Suburban or a wide minivan would not have made it through, but I did okay.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
We have DSL for 24 euro a month.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
I have a phone with a plan and we have a prepaid phone as a backup. Both are easy enough and cheap enough to use. The folks at the stores are usually helpful with initial setup and problem solving.
3. What is the best way to make phone calls back home?
I got Vonage and love it.
Pets:
1. Quality pet care available (vets & 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?
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Greeks like to expose skin in public.
Health & Safety:
1. Pollution index (Good, Moderate, Unhealthy, or Very Unhealthy)?
Unhealthy in city center, moderate in suburbs.
2. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Fewer than in the States for general crime. A bit of a concern as an American abroad during war time, but we try to keep as low a profile as possible. Meaning-- we do everyday things but we don't wear American flags our anything like that out in public.
3. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
I've found good pediatricians who speak English and were trained in the States.
4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
We had 10 inches of snow in January, but I'm told that only happens once every 10 years. Very hot and dry in June, July, August.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
From what I've heard parents have to work to make their own accomodations, such as finding an aide to accompany special-needs kids in the classroom.
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?
We use a Sri Lankan babysitter one day a week and one night or so a week. We pay her 7 euros an hour.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Pretty large and varied.
2. 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 things to do, pretty safe to be out at night.
3. Morale among expats:
Good for the most part. Seems to get worse overall the longer people are here, just because people start to lose patience with some of the inconveniences/difficulties of daily life here.
4. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Yes to all of the above if you're flexible and can handle a few challenges.
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
There are general issues with what U.S. folks would call polite behavior here-- things that are just normal for Greek life. People don't form lines, they tend to jump in front of others and push things around. I have seen Gypsies treated poorly, but not having a firm grip on the language it was hard for me to understand what was going on.
7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
So much history to see and beaches and islands to visit. Plaka and the Acropolis, for kids there's a nice zoo with enclosures that allow you to be very close to animals. The food is wonderful.
8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Textiles, pottery, jewelry.
9. Can you save money?
A little, but not much.
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:
Expectations that Greece is anything like anywhere else in Europe. It's very unique.
3. But don't forget your:
Patio set, dual voltage appliances like hair dryers and curling irons. Bring plenty of patience to deal with how Greeks do things slowly...
