Hi Everyone, After spending a great deal of time "researching" this site, I have a question for those of you who have left lives elsewhere to live on Corfu (if you would be so kind). How has living on Corfu changed your life? What were you expecting when you made the decision? Has it met your expectations? Is there anyone who can say lif was full of stress and crap and now it's not? What's been the best part of moving to Corfu? The worst? I'm just curious and would love to hear your experiences if you feel like sharing. Thanks!
Message posted by doug on 05 March 2007 at 10:30pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
The responses you will get are all personal and everyone is looking for different goals in life.
Personally,I have lived here full time for 2 years and do not regret the move.I have left the rat race and have more leisure time than I could have expected in the Uk.You have to blend in to the way of life here or you would go mad at the lack of urgency that most tradesmen view the importance of your jobs to be done,and the red tape with government bodies.
If you have to work here life could be difficult due to the shortage and seasonality of the work.I am fortunate that I do not have to work and so I have less stress worrying were the money for the bills are coming from.
The key is to plan what you want and what you require to sustain your type of living standards.
All the best with your rearch.
Doug
Message posted by dillyb on 06 March 2007 at 2:37am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I appreciate your input. I was just noticing that a lot of the folks who live on Corfu or are in the midst of moving have signatures similar to yours. You know, the carpe diem sentiment ( a good one, to be sure). It's easy to be an expat wannabe (which i am), so i'm interested in the experiences of others. I know everyone has different goals and dreams, but wonder if there's some commonaility that draws folks to this one place rather than another. It might be a complete no-brainer.....if given the choice, and it's an affordable option, why wouldn't anyone want to live in such a lovely place?
I guess I'm just nosey about the lives of others...particularly when they pull up stakes in one country and settle in another for a good long time.
Message posted by 2Tonsils on 06 March 2007 at 9:55am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
We have lived here thirteen years ( all the year round). We moved here because we thought we would find a simpler, less stressful life, in a country that was safer than the one we were living in, England.
We lived in an area in the UK where crime was an everyday problem, and stress was with us constantly. We find Corfu a much safer place to live in, and I appreciate this very much.
We do have less stress here, but it is not stress free. As Doug says, the red tape and lack of urgency to get things done can drive you crazy if you let it. You have to learn to "go with the flow". Stand in the queues in the offices with a greek coffee in one hand and a cheese pie in the other, and treat it as an adventure.If you get anything done at all, celebrate your success. If not, try again another day.
On the other hand, we have a much better quality of life than we would have had in the UK if we had stayed. We have adapted to the Greek way of life, and live happily in the middle of a traditional village. The villagers treat us with the same respect and friendliness we show to them.
Would we ever leave to go back to the UK? You must be joking!
Message posted by TiddleyDee on 06 March 2007 at 10:17am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I am not really qualified to answer properly at present, as just in the process of moving. Flight booked for 31st March - one way!
Going to live with a man I have known for 10 years, but only a couple of weeks per year here and there, so don't really 'know' him. Have given up a fairly good job here in the UK, let out my house, sold most of my possessions (which i found i didn't really need or even like in some cases!), sent the rest of them to Corfu, along with my cat! Not sure if i will secure a job in time for the season start, but fingers crossed.
Having said all that, I will be 40 this year and have decided that after 39.5 years of 'toeing the line', it is time for me to follow my heart, and start to live life to the full instead of just putting one foot in front of the other. Scared? Too right! too scared to go? not on your life - life IS for living as so many others have said.
As 2tonsils said, i hope i am suitably prepared for the lack of urgency, but have to say - the red tape i encountered here trying to wrap this life up was far more than i expected - but fingers crossed - well worth it!
I will be watching this thread with interest as to how others are getting on. Wish me luck!
Tiddles xx
Message posted by nickos on 06 March 2007 at 10:24am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Hi Tiddles
Good luck with your adventure I really hope it works out how you would like. You must be so excited, nervous - lots of emotions running through you...... Take care and all the best and do let us know how you get on.
km
Message posted by tequila on 06 March 2007 at 10:54am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Hi all - thanks for the good wishes. I'm off to the North West area of the island, Avliotes, which is a village near to San Stef NW and Arilas. My cat has been there just over a week, so will probably have a better understanding of Greek then me when i get there! lol lol
Tiddles x
Message posted by nick22 on 06 March 2007 at 12:31pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
It may take a while to get myself sorted out, but as soon as i am back online, this will be my first stop to let everyone know how its going! I will be working throughout the summer (hopefully!) but i'm sure we can get something sorted out
Cheers Tiddles xx
Message posted by orchard on 06 March 2007 at 1:41pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Quote: Originally posted by TiddleyDee on 06 March 2007
Cheers Nick
It may take a while to get myself sorted out, but as soon as i am back online, this will be my first stop to let everyone know how its going! I will be working throughout the summer (hopefully!) but i'm sure we can get something sorted out
Cheers Tiddles xx
You'll be fine, you are coming out in plenty of time to find work. There isn't a lot of opportunities for summer work in Avliotes, but if you have transport I'm sure you'll easily find something in Ag Stef or Sidari.
Is your partner a local, if he is, then you'll find things so much easier. My husband is Greek, and I've lived here now for 15 years - he tends to sort all the paperwork & stuff out for us.
I take my hat off to anyone who is brave enough to come & live out here without a local 'on board' especially if they don't speak Greek! Things can be difficult even when you do!!
Message posted by TiddleyDee on 06 March 2007 at 1:52pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Yes - hoping to be working in Ag Stef, i have a couple of contacts, and my partner Marios is looking all the time for something for me (first time in MY life i would ever let a man choose my job! but on this occasion it is useful lol lol )
I think it would be too daunting to come over without 'local' backup, and then again, if it wasn't for Marios, i wouldn't even be considering it at this time
Time will tell ....... only 25 more days (not that i'm counting... lol lol )
Tiddles xx
Message posted by 2Tonsils on 06 March 2007 at 2:47pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Yes, I managed to pick up the language once I got here. We have always lived in villages here, so lots of locals to practise my new words in Greek on! A sense of humour, and an ability to mime words such as "Welding Rods" helps.
My husband sent me to the shop to ask for them. Not knowing the word, I managed to explain in mime and broken Greek "A stick you use with an electric box to stick things together"
After a great deal of laughter, and three Greek customers(including the local priest) running round the shop trying to guess what I wanted, we
finally got round to finding what I wanted. The owner of the shop begged me to go back the following week, because it had been such fun for them all!
We were made really welcome after that
Message posted by dillyb on 06 March 2007 at 3:00pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
My hat's off to you, TiddleyDee! Congrats on your move...and your bravery!
Same to you, 2Tonsils and everyone else who has taken the plunge. I've moved around a bit in my life, but not to the extent that i had to deal with huge culture and language adjustments. That makes it a completely different ball game and I admire anyone who does it.
There is something about turning 40, isn't there? Once our kids don't need us around, we're so outta here. I think being an EU citizen may make life a bit easier as far as pensions and healthcare go, am i right? Any American members out there?
Message posted by JeremyS on 06 March 2007 at 3:22pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Quote: Originally posted by 2Tonsils on 06 March 2007
Yes, I managed to pick up the language once I got here. We have always lived in villages here, so lots of locals to practise my new words in Greek on! A sense of humour, and an ability to mime words such as "Welding Rods" helps.
My husband sent me to the shop to ask for them. Not knowing the word, I managed to explain in mime and broken Greek "A stick you use with an electric box to stick things together"
After a great deal of laughter, and three Greek customers(including the local priest) running round the shop trying to guess what I wanted, we finally got round to finding what I wanted. The owner of the shop begged me to go back the following week, because it had been such fun for them all!
We were made really welcome after that
LOL!!!
I remember doing very much the same sort of thing the first time I had to try and buy some drawing pins!
And you can just imagine the sort of mime that went along with the question "Can I have some toilet rolls please?"
Stuart
Message posted by fqoe on 07 March 2007 at 9:48am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
When my son was a baby and I went out walking through the village and after I had been screamed at for walking with the dog by the side of the pram as well because I was going to kill the baby as he could swallow a hair they asked me what the baby was and I could never understand why they laughed. A boy in Greek has a gutteral sound to it which I didn,t have and so I was saying "its a cucumber" . anyway he,s 13 now and fit and well . Corfiot Greek is much different to Athenian and when trying to impress Government officials who were dining at my place all went well until I used the word which I thought was correct (from the mother in law) for spaghetti - they all sniggered and asked "which Village are you from dear" "Liverpool Village " - " Do they all speak Venetian in Liverpool " came the reply. I was using a 250 year old word. All makes for good fun.
The joy of living here for me is having seen my child grow up outside playing day and night with his mates and now as teenagers they are polite, understanding, well mannered human beings who are free to go to the cinema, bowling alley, town whenever they want.
Message posted by km on 07 March 2007 at 10:04am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
fqoe,
Had to laugh, the same thing happended to me. For a long time I would say I had a 3 month old cucumber lol.......
I have to agree with what you said about the joy of watching your children play outside. My youngest child has unfortunately been brought up here in the UK and is afraid to play out - in fact he never does. Why don't we return you may ask - well he is now 12 and settled in high school here. Maybe one day.......
km
Message posted by 2Tonsils on 07 March 2007 at 10:22am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
You may well have heard the story before. I am a full time freelance writer. I write articles,non fiction and website content, as well as blogs about life here, greek cookery, real estate and other subjects.
No, they didn't speak any English , but if the story goes round this island, the end is often changed! Corfiot whispers! The grapevine here works better than the broadband!
Message posted by JeremyS on 07 March 2007 at 10:29am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
For sure this is the reason we would like to move to the island, so that our two kids can grow up in a more outside based lifestyle, without so many worries if they play out on the streets as they get a little older ( 9 months and 18 months at the moment). fingers crossed it will happen for us before the eldest is 3-4 years as we want them to be brought up learning Greek and in Greek schools etc.
Message posted by Jane & Andrew on 12 March 2007 at 12:20am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I would just like to say well done to all of you who have grasped the nettle so to speek and moved over to Corfu, Good luck to Tiddles I wish her well.
We are looking to buy a property over there,we will be back in June cant wait.Due to work we would not be able to live full time but hopefully in a few years spend more time over there.
The greek language is a mistery to me I do try but only have a few words
Have a great trip Tiddles, & enjoy life
Jane.
Message posted by alikee on 12 March 2007 at 10:32am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
This is such a heart warming and interesting thread! Some of you know David and I are due to move over at the end of this month and in fact Tiddles and I have passed a thread or two back and forth, and I fully admire her guts for giving it a go!
I too turned 40 last year when we made our decision to move, but it was helped along by a business opportunity that came our way and the fact that David was made redundant in September!!!
Once family got used to the idea, they are all behind us, even though we know one or two family members won't make it over, but we have got both sets of parents onto computers and they are learning about emails and websites. the next step is to get them onto Skype because I think being able to see us when they talk will be a big help - all we then have to do is get broadband when we get over!!! LOL.
We both speak a little Greek, but we have some very very good friends who were with us every step of the way when we bought our plot of land, and helped with red tape etc.
We will have to work, because we're not old enough for the pensions to kick in yet, but for us, we are looking forward to a slower pace, with more quality time for ourselves, and for family and friends when they visit, and just generally being able to switch off and stop worrying so much about things.
David spent years on the the treadmill in London, and moved up to Yorkshire for a slower pace, now we are moving to corfu for an even slower one.
As Tiddles said - scared - absolutely! excited and looking forward to a new life - YOU BET!!!
To all who've done it - my hat off to you, to those waiting to take the plunge - pinch your nose and JUMP!!!
Alikee x
Message posted by TiddleyDee on 12 March 2007 at 10:56am - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
Thanks Alikee, and everyone else passing good wishes on. And the very best of luck to everyone doing the same as me!
only 19 days left now before flight day! OMG! Marios phoned a couple of days ago and there is job sorted now, i asked 'doing what?' on a computer ..... 'doing what on a computer?' Just on a computer ..... so that will be fun, finding out what sort of job i have lol lol
Cat is doing well , he's had 2 weeks in the sun already - bless!
I will find an Internet cafe somewhere when i get there to keep everyone updated
Tiddleydee x
Message posted by dillyb on 12 March 2007 at 3:21pm - IP Logged
Legal Disclaimer
I'm excited for and envious of both of you! it's inspiring to see others going for the brass ring. i guess we should finish our visit before we decide to move, but you all have got me nearly convinced it's the only thing to do!
If you wish to post a reply to this thread you must first Login
If you are not already registered you must first register
All Rights Reserved. No part of the Corfu Travel Guide web site may be reproduced without permission.
Infringement will be pursued.
The Corfu Travel
Guide and Lefkada Travel Guides are brought to you by Agni Travel.
Agni Travel is the sister company of Taverna Agni and also the sponsor of the Agni Animal Welfare Fund
Topic:
.jpg)
.JPG)
