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Post by artisans on Oct 7, 2008 18:29:14 GMT 2
To Petra & Nikki
Remember the old adage that my former boss used to quote - 'it's only a good idea if you do something about it'
and don't forget the 'what if' problem - 'what if we'd emigrated to Corfu twenty years ago?'
Does that help or hinder? ;D
Steve
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Post by petra on Oct 7, 2008 19:38:56 GMT 2
To Parsonsgang and Steve: It's o so true, we were already talking about this 15 years ago, but still we are living in holland and dreaming about coming over. Although, something has changed: Our son ( 17 years old) really wants to come and live in greece . Our daughter ( will be 12 soon) had some doubts about leaving her BFF ("best friend forever"),and living far away from her grandparents, but this summer she decided she wants to learn greek (as I do) to be able to talk to little Alexandros Provatas when we visit Roda next year. Not sure if he will be able to speak by then though, he is only 1 years old now. So she is looking forward to come over too. I don't think it will be difficult for me to live in greece , but I am not sure about my family, the kids did get used to a certain life where much is possible and it could mean a different lifestyle..... And my husbands life consists of working and football, so I am not sure what he 'll do without it (football I mean). He would like to look after some appartments , to hire them to the dutch . He used to work as a plumber, an electrician and also in the metalconstructionbusiness of my father, so he knows a lot about a lot of things, but as I said before we are not sure about this plan, looking at the problems the greek have. We don't want to be " in their way" / taking their customers away. We have to look for something we can "bring" from our country, something they don't have or know of yet, and that's not easy. Because some things are so"normal" to us that we cannot imagine people in other countries like greece , not having / using/ selling (buying) them. Steve, I did ask Fanis about AOKerkyra, but he didn't answer yet, he must have been very busy the last few months, and I am not sure if he has contacts in the football"scene". As for myself, I hope to be able to get a job somewhere because of the languages I speak, at school english german and a bit of french and since 2 years ago greek (still hard to learn, but well... at least I started, and little by little I understand more and more). And maybe my hobby(s) could help me aswell, I like to create "stefanis" (garlands) and other decorations, as well as making babystuff like babyclothes and babypresents ........ Well, long story but I am looking forward to your "story" parsonsgang!!!
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parsonsgang
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2009 - 2013
Posts: 1,722
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Post by parsonsgang on Oct 7, 2008 21:17:18 GMT 2
Hi Petra We've talked about living in Corfu for years but it's only in the last couple of years that I've been quite serious about the idea. Just a few major things seem to be standing in our way. One is that my husband Mike feels that he would struggle to earn enough money to support us. He is a delivery driver and an almost retired disc jockey. He is a very good DJ but at 49 years old I can't see many Roda businesses being desperate to hire him. Also with three children it would be hard for me to work although in England I am a childminder and I may be able to do something similar in Corfu.
Our eldest daughter Alisha who is 10 would love to live in Roda, she wants to be a doctor when she's older so I think she may need to go further afield for her training. Our youngest Melissa is 4 and would probably go along with everything quite happily but our son Tyler who is 6 is very sentimental and gets upset at the idea of leaving home.
Also there's the parents. I'm a bit of a mummys girl and would find it hard being away from her (I could probably persuade them to come too as it was my parents who first took me to Corfu) and Mikes mum is in her 70's and never has and NEVER will go on an aeroplane.
Oh well, must keep doing the lottery. Nikki
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Post by artisans on Oct 7, 2008 21:36:15 GMT 2
Hi Nikki Can't answer all of your questions, but I think training to be a doctor is better here than in most countries. There are more doctors per capita in Greece than any other European country. After all, Hippocrates started it all under that fig tree in Kos, and long may it continue. We heard of someone who lives here returning the the UK to use the service that is 'the envy of the world', & guess where their doctor was born & trained - you've got it! By the way, after six months, Alisha & Melissa will be teaching you all the Greek you ever need to know. Steve
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parsonsgang
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2009 - 2013
Posts: 1,722
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Post by parsonsgang on Oct 7, 2008 21:52:15 GMT 2
Hi Steve Melissa was actually delivered by a Greek doctor which we thought was quite amusing at the time. Do you know where Alisha would train to be a doctor. Would it be in Corfu or would she need to go to the mainland?
I've told all of the kids that they'd be fluent really quickly and would speak better Greek than me (which isn't hard). Alisha was actually counting to 100 in Greek when she was 5 and knows all of the shapes because of this i.e. she can work out that a 12 sided shape would be called a dodecahedron or dodecagon. Nikki
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Post by petra on Oct 7, 2008 22:08:41 GMT 2
Hi Nikki, I can understand why you have so many reasons not to go. But maybe one day you might have more reasons to go than not to go.... so why don´t you start off by learning the greek language, maybe just for fun at first... One of our reasons to decide to leave our country (maybe earlier than we expected), is not such a nice one....... Last april our son who was 16 at the time, was molested badly by someone in a nearby park just because he and his friends were " at the wrong place at the wrong time". They were just waiting for someone early ( at about 21.15 h) at night at a parkbench, when a few boys arrived who claimed the park was theirs, and when my son didn't leave immediately he was hit hard and when he was lying on the floor they kicked him at his head and his back. He was lucky enough not to have real bad injuries , but this week we went to the doctor because he didn't sleep that well and had nightmares. He also doesn't go out that much anymore and if he does, he is very cautious. It now seems he has PTSS ( post traumatic stress syndrom), not sure wat this will bring him and us...... Our country has changed a lot the last few years and although we live in a normally quiet village, things like this do happen. There is much hate against foreigners and people are not socially involved (I hope I translated this right) anymore, seems they don't care for other people, and I can't stand seeing this happening. What I hope to find in greece (if we get there) is a totally different life, I don't need that much and I hope the children will learn that they can have a different life too, without all the "luxury" they got used too, and not taking everything for granted ......... And ...we get the sun and the beach for free!!
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parsonsgang
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2009 - 2013
Posts: 1,722
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Post by parsonsgang on Oct 7, 2008 22:27:52 GMT 2
Hi Petra I'm so sorry to hear about your son. It must have been a really hard time for your whole family and I can understand that moving away would seem like a good option. Greece does have a very low crime rate and the people are so friendly.
One of the reasons I'd like to live in Corfu is that unlike in the UK the people aren't materialistic or judgemental. We have a nice house and everything that we need so like you we would have to get used to life without luxury. But then 'luxury' doesn't have to mean rich in material things but can also be about health and happiness. Nikki
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Post by petra on Oct 7, 2008 22:47:30 GMT 2
Nikki, I couldn't agree more.... and happiness you can find in small things.......... you just have to open your eyes for those "small" things , like listening to a wonderful Greek singer named Antonis Remos or watching a beautiful sunset at the beach of Roda........ Well, for now I wish you a kalinichta !! bye, Petra
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Post by artisans on Oct 8, 2008 8:21:40 GMT 2
We absolutely agree about health & happiness Nikki - Julie & I were given the opportunity to spend more time in Roda as a result of bad health. Julie still has ill-health to cope with every day but, in other ways, we have never been happier.
On the other side of the coin, we know people who have lots of money and they seem less happy. I think that the magic word is 'contentment' - a personal state of mind that is positively theraputic. We seem to have found it - we hope that you do too.
Steve
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parsonsgang
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2009 - 2013
Posts: 1,722
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Post by parsonsgang on Oct 8, 2008 8:27:10 GMT 2
Thanks Steve, that's very encouraging
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Post by casanovas on Oct 8, 2008 13:23:28 GMT 2
Hi Nikki, no chance of going to uk, its too cold for me, ha ha. take care Lisa xxx
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