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help me out please

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help me out please

Message posted by dione3012 on 30 May 2007 at 11:54pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

dione3012

Can somebody help me out?

I have just sold my house and soon to be shipping up and moving out. The problem is we were supposed to be going to Cyprus but only because Corfu "shuts down for the winter" but, having looked at the different postings on this site, I dont know now.

I have friends who live on the island and so it would be great to be somewhere that you know somebody (even if it is the other side of the island)and my worry re schools is now no more after reading the info on here.

Its just my hubby who, is so used to working (as am i), is worried about the winter and the lack of jobs so, if any of you who are "living the dream" can help and tell me about your situations and how you coped, I would be really thankful - as everything else is pointing for us to come back to Corfu now instead of Cyprus.

p.s. No, he doesnt speak Greek

Message posted by Janw on 31 May 2007 at 1:42am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Janw

Corfu

I would love to move to Corfu...I would hopefully have come over the obstacles of selling and buying.

I would think ...though my hubby says I am a scatterbrain...you should try and do as the Corfiots try...that is earn enough in the summer to see you through the winter.

You can learn to speak Greek,it is not easy but can be done,I went to college for 6 months could read write and ok I am not so good now but I would have been if I had lived in Corfu.

Try to get work that is not so tourist orientated...I dont know... but I wish you well in your choices.

I am however sure you will get some constructive feedback from her

all the best in your future plans

Message posted by Terry and Julia on 31 May 2007 at 9:14am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Terry and Julia

Corfu

I think you are very sensible to be worried about the lack of work, the decrease in tourism makes it even harder for locals to find employment although the building trade appears to be booming.

It isn't easy to move over if you have children and have to earn a living. The schools are fine but very different to the UK. Just as in the Uk there is a social heirarchy in any community and as a foreigner you will be at the bottom of the heap, that will apply to your children in classrooms too. Of course, the younger they are, the easier it will be for them to learn the language and settle in.

I would strongly suggest that you learn some Greek first, do a lot of research and try to create a niche for yourselves in the employment market that will be your own. I don't know what your skills are, and it may require some lateral thinking but others have done it successfully so why not you? It won't be easy but it may make integration easier if you are working for yourselves and more likely to provide jobs than take them.

Why don't you come over and rent for a while to see how things go? If you don't like it it will be a simple matter to move on. I know it may mean upheaval for your children and their schooling but it is better to be able to leave easily if you want to rather than be trapped by a house that you may not be able to sell quickly unless at a loss.

Good luck with it all. This is a great adventure for you, and I think everyone needs some of that in their lives. I hope yours is really exciting and that it all goes as you hope.

Julia

Message posted by SpearTravels on 31 May 2007 at 9:52am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

SpearTravels

Corfu

With respect I think you have done this completely back to front, as many people do who burn their boats and move to Corfu (or elsewhere), not taking into account that 80% of them return to the UK within the first 2 years. 'Living the dream' is not a reality; the grass is very seldom greener on the other side.

I would not advocate anyone selling up in the Uk before moving abroad. You are far better off renting where you think you might like to live first. That way if it doesn't work out you can move back home.

However you are perfectly right to have doubts about what you are doing but you haven't done the proper research.

I cannot answer questions about Cyprus but I can about Corfu. As everyone says it isn't easy getting reasonably paid work in Corfu throughout the year. You have to be able to speak better than conversational Greek especially if you have a trade, in which case you need to be fluent in that as well.

You have to understand that €30.00 a day is the average rate of pay for a skilled craftsman as everyone has to compete agaisnt the Albanians now the same way as we are having to compete against the Poles in the UK.

The medical side of things in Corfu is not good as all. The reason we move back to the UK having lived in Corfu for 7 years and having a very successful business (which is still going today) is because of the lack of medical resources and, in particular, rapid response vehicles which are practically non-existant.

Re schooling, if you have children, again they will have to go into Greek schools but bear in mind that that isn't wonderful either and the large majority of people have to pay extra for out of school lessons.

All in all, as I have said above, take off the rose-tinted spectacles and look at the practicalities. Yes, Corfu can still be a wonderful place to live but it is full of serious compromises. You aren't going to come over and get a job making even £20,000 a year.

And as for if you get involved with Greek beaurocracy if you want to start a business, that is another story altogether........!!

Peter Cookson

Message posted by Stuart on 31 May 2007 at 10:12am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Stuart

Kefalonia

Quote: Originally posted by SpearTravels on 31 May 2007

You have to understand that €30.00 a day is the average rate of pay for a skilled craftsman as everyone has to compete agaisnt the Albanians now the same way as we are having to compete against the Poles in the UK.

It isn't just Albanians who are working for lower paid jobs - there are quite a few Brits on the island who would work for those rates of pay - especially during the winter!

Message posted by Graham T-A on 31 May 2007 at 10:56am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Graham T-A

Corfu

Quote: Originally posted by Stuart on 31 May 2007

Quote: Originally posted by SpearTravels on 31 May 2007

You have to understand that €30.00 a day is the average rate of pay for a skilled craftsman as everyone has to compete agaisnt the Albanians now the same way as we are having to compete against the Poles in the UK.

It isn't just Albanians who are working for lower paid jobs - there are quite a few Brits on the island who would work for those rates of pay - especially during the winter!

Most people in Greece would not earn even half that figure even with the long working hours. You hear all the people coming on here saying about moving to Corfu but very few ever come on and say anything about moving back. As Peter says, 80% move back within 2 years and I would guess that at least half of those who are still there after the 2 years are retired so don't need to work. Many cannot sell their house quickly. I still see houses for sale that were for sale 5 years ago when we were looking which have not sold. Very often they have to leave their pets as they only passported them to go one way as they are so convinced that they will stay forever that when the money runs out they have no alternative but to abanden them in Corfu.

Just remember that most people seem to earn 2 or 3 euro an hour with very little work in the winter.

By all means give it a go but don't think it will be easy. Be prepared to change your expectations and you may be OK. Good luck!!

Message posted by marymouse on 31 May 2007 at 11:59am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

marymouse

Corfu

In the past, although admitedly you could argue its "no skin off my nose" as it were, I have been exasperated by people who think that the grass is greener and they can just pack up and go - I'm sure some of them do so with great success.

I just want to say how refreshing it is to have "reality check" replies. Hopefully they may prevent people jumping in at the deep end.

Message posted by baywatcher on 31 May 2007 at 12:31pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

baywatcher

Glad to read such sound advice as everyone says it won't be easy. We are fortunate to have taken early retirement so when we move out we will have no worries about income. The health service out there is not like UK and you are better having private insurance but this does not come cheap either. I have lived in Cyprus and it is like the UK in more ways than one. Schools, Hospitals and driving on the left even their legal system is based on the UK's. So think long and hard before you take that big leap forward.

Denise

Message posted by dione3012 on 31 May 2007 at 4:57pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

dione3012

Thanks everybody for your advice, although I have to say I have lived in corfu before but only in the summer mind you and I did earn very little - so I do understand that it would be a struggle especially with the winter months.

The idea was to rent firstly and then decide after our first winter whether to buy or not. We have looked into private health insurance as well just to be on the safe side.

I know it wont be easy but the question is - is it all worth it in the end?

Message posted by dione3012 on 31 May 2007 at 5:04pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

dione3012

Baywatcher

How did you find the two? I know Cyprus has lots of good things going for it for us Brits, but where do you really prefer and what made you choose Corfu if you dont mind me asking?

Dione

Message posted by ocay on 31 May 2007 at 5:44pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

ocay

Corfu

Take Peter Cookson's advice very seriously. Unless one is retired with a reasonable pension Corfu is no bed of roses. Schooling is even worse than the U.K.'s. True, there is a terrible dearth of skilled tradesmen, but to become established would need considerable capital outlay. Think very hard. There are better places. This island, and indeed most of Greece, is ideal for retirement or a holiday, but it is no place for anyone younger with any ambition.

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