Returning to my roots in Greece
By Renee Pappas
On Thursday, November 27th I gathered fifteen friends for Thanksgiving dinner. This was a tradition that I kept during the years that I lived in Greece from 1990 to 2013.
Moving back to Greece in April after twelve years in the U.S., brought me back to a place I knew well. The familiar landmarks were all in place, but the country had changed dramatically, and in most areas, the changes were positive.
Greece used to be a place where every interaction with the government, utilities, banking and other services needed to be done in person. Now I can bank online, pay bills and get the documents to renew my passport from the comfort of my home office. I can buy everything online from groceries to planting soil to stoves and dishwashers. And all these things can be delivered. During my previous time in Greece, it seemed like everyone paid with cash, and in many instances, there were no receipts. Now people pay for coffee in a café with a credit card or with their phone, and the guy selling fruit in Monastiraki Square gives you a receipt for the 2 euros pomegranate.
At the same time, cafes are still filled with people getting together with friends, and Sunday lunch is celebrated at the seaside and in tavernas in neighborhood squares. Another change which I personally welcomed is the proliferation of nail salons in every neighborhood. Before I left in 2013, you could get a manicure at your hairdresser, not at a stand-alone salon.
What I discovered upon my return was that most of these shops were owned by female entrepreneurs. Many women who had been aged out of the workforce or had children to raise, now had a way to earn a good living, flexible working hours and provide a service to other women. All in all, a win-win situation.
Is Greece perfect? No, but the adoption and incorporation of new technologies, as well as the growth of the service industry, have made life easier for most of the population.
My Thanksgiving dinner was a success; my Greek friends love cranberry sauce and pecan pie.
Kai tou xronou,
Renee Papas
