The Expat Life: Canadian Perspective on Living in Greece

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  • Опубліковано 1 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 63

  • @jsjs627
    @jsjs627 2 місяці тому +5

    What a great example of greeks (2nd or even 3rd generation diaspora) coming back home, living, investing, "adding" to our society. Wish them all the best !!!

  • @handmadegamesdev
    @handmadegamesdev 3 місяці тому +1

    I'm from the same area, and what they say about Canada is so true.

  • @captaingreek
    @captaingreek 7 місяців тому +7

    I don't know about Canada, but I believe you. Believe me as well when I'm saying that the customer service is amazing in Greece compared to most European countries. Not better. Amazing.

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  6 місяців тому +2

      In one of our favourite tavernas we serve our selves drinks, its a damn sight quicker than waiting for the staff to do it. Customer service here is generally below par compared to UK. Apart from in hardware shops and petrol stations where its like going back to 1975 and they still serve you and get everything for you. In fact in our local hardware store. It really annoys them if you just want to walk around and look at things. The staff tend to follow you and explain what everything is and does.

    • @captaingreek
      @captaingreek 6 місяців тому +3

      @@LivinginGreece It is the first time that I hear a foreigner complaining about the service in Greece. I have travelled in many countries in Europe and have lived in Denmark for many years. Service in the northern Europe is non-existent. Even in places where they serve (In not taking any self-service). They just bring you your coffee or plate, NO questions are allowed (they just turn and walk) and if you dare to ask for something extra or make a complain, you'll receive this: "I don't know, I'm just working here".
      This goes for restaurants, stores, telecommunication and energy companies etc. Immigrants from Southern or Eastern Europe are amazed by their lack of service.

    • @pvdppvdp6638
      @pvdppvdp6638 6 місяців тому +2

      @@LivinginGreece My experiences from the customer service in the UK is that it is far below par compared to the excellent service i have got in Greece for the last 35 years.

    • @despinakyraleos2234
      @despinakyraleos2234 3 місяці тому

      @@captaingreek no don't believe him, not true

  • @Coddiwompling
    @Coddiwompling 7 місяців тому +5

    Good to see new content from your channel. Thank you for the video and also Timmi and Frank for sharing their experience. Ευχαριστώ!

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  7 місяців тому +1

      Thank you so much for still watching after all this time. 👍🙏

  • @shanhad1572
    @shanhad1572 7 місяців тому +4

    Please do that "process" video! Great information in this video.

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  7 місяців тому

      I'll talk to Frank and Timmi, it's already agreed in principle, its just finding the time as we all have day jobs etc 😀

  • @0jellybeanie0
    @0jellybeanie0 7 місяців тому +3

    So good to see you guys! I was worried you weren't well as you hadn't posted for so long! Another interesting video 😊

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  7 місяців тому +2

      Yeah its been a bit of a rocky road recently but we are back on track now hopefully. Thanks for watching after all this time 🙏👍😀

    • @0jellybeanie0
      @0jellybeanie0 6 місяців тому

      @@LivinginGreece so sorry to hear that! Sending lots of healing wishes your way 🙏

  • @johngeorge5624
    @johngeorge5624 7 місяців тому +18

    GOD bless you guys.
    Greece is a wonderful place that's for sure.
    Hopefully one day our family will do the same.
    Cheers!

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  7 місяців тому

      Thanks John, come for a beer when you all get here👍🍻😀

    • @johngeorge5624
      @johngeorge5624 7 місяців тому

      Sounds wonderful!
      Keep it cold till we get there 😀

    • @marinermwraitis4328
      @marinermwraitis4328 7 місяців тому +2

      ​@@LivinginGreeceouzo with meze also. 😄

  • @dinoaivaliotis3827
    @dinoaivaliotis3827 7 місяців тому +2

    Very nice and informative video
    😁👍

  • @arisspyrou1163
    @arisspyrou1163 7 місяців тому +13

    I would like to dissolve the myth about the toilet paper in Greece. I have project managed the building of my house on the island of Lefkada. The regulation about sewage pipes for septic tanks are 10cm diameter. In the 60s, 70s and 80s perhaps there were properties that were built with a smaller diameter pipe. My parents house was built in the early 70s and it has a 10cm diameter pipe. I never had a problem with flashing paper and I always do. Since the early 90s all Greek cities and towns have central sewage systems which are designed to take toilet paper. Modern toilet paper is also designed to disolve so it can be absorbed by the system. As this wasn't the case in the 70s and generations have been raised with a paper bin in the toilet, and as the local authorities and the central government never did a campaign to change the perception of the people about the issue, we are stuck with this unnecessary habit, as with so many other things in Greece.

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  7 місяців тому +4

      Thank you so much for this, it sets the story straight. I have heard something similar but not in so much detail. Useful to know.

    • @kyrioskunder
      @kyrioskunder 6 місяців тому

      easy proof : when you buy a Villeroy & Boch or a Geberit toilet bowl made in Germany, you can use this in DEU in GRE in USA in Zimbabwe or on the moon !!!
      As long as the pipe diameter is 10 cm ! And in Europe the pipes are ALWAYS 10 cm !! My parents house in Athens from 1971 has 10 cm diameter !!!
      The real cause is, that the workers and the engineers and the owners are making endless construction mistakes to save money . If there is a problem, this is NOT ,
      that the Greeks are using DIFFERENT TYPE of toilet bowls ! We use THE SAME BRAND NAME MODELS AS IN THE REST OF THE WORLD !
      Just a stupid/slau method from the hotels / RBNB owners to avoid extra problems !

  • @jimvlahos1320
    @jimvlahos1320 5 місяців тому +1

    Great interview we’re an hour north of Toronto International Airport …. My daughters God fathers family is from Moulye how coincidental great couple btw he has holding back on his opinion of the government lol. I feel your pain sir. Looking for something around Porti Heli for my family. Will definitely look you up Andy and Tanya and bring some amazing Authentic Canadian Maple Syrup 😊

    • @despinakyraleos2234
      @despinakyraleos2234 3 місяці тому +1

      @jimvlahos1320 holding back? I don’t think so. He was seconds from sounding hostile. Canadian life is not how he chooses to perceive it. The minute the Canadian couple start having bureaucracy issues with the Greek government watch them run back to Canada and the Canadian government would be justified in not taking them back
      I am really tired of Greek Canadians bashing Canada. Your Canadian jobs and money are paving the way for all of you to travel back to Greece to live. Why don't you start appreciating what Canada gave you.

    • @despinakyraleos2234
      @despinakyraleos2234 3 місяці тому +1

      @@jimvlahos1320 I am really tired of Greek Canadians bashing Canada. So unappreciative

    • @jimvlahos1320
      @jimvlahos1320 3 місяці тому

      @@despinakyraleos2234 my goodness you sure have a lot to say. Bureaucracies? I had put in for a renewal of my aircraft licence 4 months prior to it’s expiration and guess what it expired tries numerous times to have it resolved and had to have my MP get involved with transport Canada to have it expedited. I won’t even get into the hospital fiascos my family has faced ….. it’s just disgusting….. how about the passport fiasco I could go on ….anyhow the hardworking people in private business built this country not the government. The government serve us or did you not know that ? I’ll take my dad’s advice when he said “ a true patriot is one who criticises his government and points out its faults to help make it better”. I don’t believe in worshiping our elected servants. I love this country too much to be blinded by some misappropriated allegiance to government. I don’t trust any party or politician and if you haven’t seen what’s happened the last 4 years then you’re in denial. Να σαι καλά

    • @frankdaneluzzi3503
      @frankdaneluzzi3503 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@despinakyraleos2234 those are very strong opinions, Despina, of someone you don't know. There was no bashing, just drawing on my 45 years of living and working in Canada. We love Canada and always will but it's not the same country anymore.

    • @frankdaneluzzi3503
      @frankdaneluzzi3503 3 місяці тому

      @@jimvlahos1320 hi Jim safe the syrup for us as Andy and Tanya have moved back to England, but we would be happy to meet up with you if you're ever in the Nafplio area. Take care.

  • @londonbabe2467
    @londonbabe2467 6 місяців тому +1

    Hello Andy and everyone. Would it be possible for me to live in Greece if I purchased a cheap home. I’m retirement age and want to leave the UK. I’m entitled to have an Irish passport. My pension won’t be very much. Could you please advise. 😊

    • @a.d.7042
      @a.d.7042 3 місяці тому

      If you have your own apartment or house in a village you can leave with 1000€ good and with 1500€ very good. But as always depence on your lifestyle

  • @YiannosG
    @YiannosG 5 місяців тому +2

    Local Greeks like to complain about everything, not being appreciative of their life. But there is one thing that is justified to shout about. Bureaucracy. Mentioned here by the Canadian fellows. The rest of the problems are usually tied to the country's low budget or other good reasons for being slow to resolve. But bureaucracy seems to be there for Greece forever, and slows everything down. It is absolutely horrid.

  • @JimmyTheGreek2000
    @JimmyTheGreek2000 6 місяців тому +1

    You are making Nafplio very expensive by promoting it so much. Other good options are Patra and Kalamata !
    What is the profit Margin of the Air B&B ?

    • @tpop3723
      @tpop3723 6 місяців тому +1

      You can’t really blame them for making things expensive, If anyone’s to blame you should blame the government for allowing it and allowing the spread of short term rentals.

  • @terjerendalsvik5461
    @terjerendalsvik5461 6 місяців тому +1

    why is it so long time between your videos. i would like to subscribe but you have so few videos this one was merely advertisement

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  6 місяців тому +1

      Yeah sorry, Terje, we have both had long-term health issues so we have been concentrating on recovery. We have also had very little work since last October. Online teaching rates have fallen by over 40% due to an increase in students using AI. So for fear of going hungry, we have been trying to establish a new business which we are due to launch in the next month. This has meant all our available time and energy has been spent on trying to survive and earn a crust. Whilst UA-cam is a fun thing to do and it's nice to share our experiences, each video takes around a day to shoot, edit, upload, optimise and share on social media. That's without managing the channel, answering emails, comments and Patreon. It also takes a fair amount of mental effort and resilience to fend off the trolls, most of which we remove before most people get to see the crap they spout. The donations of 1 or 3 euros are always greatly appreciated but are unfortunately not even close enough to live on and time invested vs returns gives an hourly rate of something like 0.15 euros an hour on a good month. Hence, video production has had to take a back seat for the last few months until our physical and financial situation improves. So I completely understand your frustration and can only apologise for the lack of content but please be assured that we will once again post more videos if and when we come out the other side of this bump in the road. Thanks for your valued support over the last few months.

    • @terjerendalsvik5461
      @terjerendalsvik5461 6 місяців тому +1

      i had hoped you had some financial aid like pensions etc but sorry to hear this. you could have done great as many other have with videomaking. but yeah you have to fit but physical and mentally and work hard. i had hoped for a full time comitment but of course i understand. maybe you should take down the patreon option? but anyway i really hope you will have a good life in Greece!

    • @terjerendalsvik5461
      @terjerendalsvik5461 6 місяців тому

      i really hope and pray for you because you are such sweet couple ! take care of your lady,she is a special one!😊

  • @nikosiliakis8954
    @nikosiliakis8954 7 місяців тому +17

    It is at least ridiculous to hear people complaining about the fact you can’t flush toilet paper when they never wash their butts after doing their business . Nothing personal.

    • @billmeret
      @billmeret 7 місяців тому +2

      It's about the impact of the environment, they don't have the facilities to treat solid waste from sewage

    • @frankdaneluzzi3503
      @frankdaneluzzi3503 7 місяців тому +1

      Ever hear of septic tanks it's what makes flushing paper in conjunction with 10 centimeter waste pipes in the homes possible in Greece as well as North America!​@billmeret

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  7 місяців тому +5

      Personally I'm a bum gun convert and have been ever since living in nepal in 2001. TP is a terrible idea and is even worse when you have to put it in a waste bin in the bathroom when its 42 degrees c.

  • @despinakyraleos2234
    @despinakyraleos2234 6 місяців тому +2

    Toronto Canada is a nice place, and you don't have to keep your head down.
    They made it sound like a dictatorship, and their depictions of Toronto or Canadian life is not true.
    I do love Nafplio though, spent some time there.

  • @speez3354
    @speez3354 7 місяців тому +2

    I dealing and heard horror stories about the red tape (bureaucracy) it’s too much. I hope the next gen. will try to change the system. It’s not the old days, it’s who you know or polish ( fakilaki). Some times they remind me of scavenging rodents to take you for a ride. I would pay if I would get my job done. But it wont

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  6 місяців тому +1

      Yes this is a problem here in Greece but it also happens everywhere else including the UK. It just happens in different ways and some of them are legal!

  • @billmeret
    @billmeret 7 місяців тому +3

    Two-tier medical system in Greece. Graffiti all over the place sidewalks in residential areas that you can't push a baby carriage. Yes, everything from far away looks like a picture postcard. Storm drains in sewer system is one not separate. You cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet in a lot of places.

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  7 місяців тому +8

      Yes but at least its sunny and has great food 🤣👍😎

    • @chrisnivo
      @chrisnivo 7 місяців тому +9

      Well stay where you are, if you're content living in a country like Canada that has a government actively working on destroying its citizens future stay there. As a Canadian born Greek I too can't wait to pack my bags and leave forever. I have no illusions of the issues Greece has but my oldest son lives in Calgary in an apartment you have to put toilet paper in the garbage as well, OH No!!!

    • @LivinginGreece
      @LivinginGreece  7 місяців тому

      In Calgary? TP in the bin? (Shock....horror!)

    • @billmeret
      @billmeret 7 місяців тому

      @@chrisnivo My friend I'm already there have been for years properties in Canada, properties in Greece. Taxes in both countries. In my father's hometown the town has named a street after us .

    • @TheGreekPoet
      @TheGreekPoet 7 місяців тому +1

      ​@@chrisnivo Akrivos 🇬🇷