14 Years Living in Greece 🇬🇷 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (An Honest Review)
Have you ever thought about packing your bags and moving to a new country? It’s a big decision, filled with excitement, challenges, and lots of personal growth. Having lived in Greece for 14 years, I’ve gathered experiences that might help you if you’re considering relocating to a new place. Here’s a look at my journey, the hurdles I’ve faced, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
The Language Barrier: A Continuous Battle
When I first moved to Greece, I had a basic grasp of the language. But let’s be real—learning a new language, especially as an adult, is tough. Even after years of studying Greek, attending classes in London, and practicing at home, I still find myself struggling with fluency. Yes, I can speak Greek fairly well and understand most of what’s being said, but there are still gaps—especially when it comes to writing.
One of the biggest challenges is that I work from home, online, so I don’t get as much daily interaction with native speakers as I’d like. This has made it harder to immerse myself fully in the language. It’s a constant effort to push myself out of my comfort zone and socialize with locals, but it’s crucial for integrating into the community.
Some people say you don’t need to speak Greek to live here—English is enough. But if you want to truly be a part of the culture, learning the language is essential. Even after all these years, I sometimes feel like an outsider. That’s just part of the experience of living abroad.
Work and Survival: From Unemployment to Online Success
When I first moved to Greece, I worked at a café, which seemed like the perfect way to earn money and learn the language. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and that job didn’t work out. I found myself unemployed in a foreign country during the Greek economic crisis—a challenging situation, to say the least.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and that’s how my journey as an online entrepreneur began. With no other options, I started exploring ways to make money online. It wasn’t because it was trendy or cool, but because I had to survive. Over time, I turned my passion for music and content creation into a sustainable online career. Today, I’m grateful for those early struggles because they pushed me to think creatively and find new opportunities.
If you’re thinking about working online, my advice is to focus on what you’re good at. What skills do you have that others might pay for? Don’t try to force yourself into a field that’s completely foreign to you—start with what you know, and build from there.
The Struggle with Friendships and Family Ties
One of the hardest parts of living in a foreign country is the loneliness that can come with it. Building meaningful friendships in Greece has been a struggle, despite cultural similarities between Greek and Latin American communities. I moved here at 35, and making friends as an adult isn’t easy, especially when you’re not immersed in a local workplace environment.
Family ties are another challenge. My family isn’t Greek, and they don’t live here. My daughters see their grandmother only sporadically, and missing out on family moments—birthdays, celebrations, even losses—has been tough. My grandmother recently passed away, and I couldn’t be there. These are the sacrifices you make when you choose to live abroad, and they weigh heavier as time goes on.
Reflections on Family and Reconnecting with My Father
Living abroad has also made me reflect deeply on my family relationships, particularly with my father. We had a complicated relationship, partly because of the distance and partly because of past misunderstandings. I left Venezuela when I was young and didn’t reconnect with him until many years later, thanks to the internet.
When he visited Greece, it was a chance to bridge that gap. Unfortunately, not long after returning to Venezuela, he passed away. That experience left a deep mark on me—one of regret and sorrow for the lost time. It’s a reminder of how important family is, and how living far away can strain those bonds in ways you might not anticipate.
Final Thoughts: The Realities of Living Abroad
Living in Greece for 14 years has been a journey of ups and downs, filled with learning, adaptation, and personal growth. If you’re thinking about relocating to another country, be prepared for challenges—language barriers, work struggles, and the emotional toll of being far from family and friends.
But also know that these experiences will shape you in ways you can’t imagine. They’ll push you to grow, to find new paths, and to appreciate the connections you have, both near and far. Living abroad isn’t just about changing your location; it’s about transforming your life.
If you’re ready for that kind of journey, go for it. Just remember to pack a lot of patience, resilience, and an open heart—you’ll need them all.
