Your point? The Albanians were under Maoism for 50 yrs so of course they came out poor. The Greeks vote for PASOK and ND since 1981, one more corrupt than other, guy who opened the borders letting the Albanians in is still politically active & well. So, is that lady to blame for all of our sins?

My point is that Albanians should have stayed in Albany and Greeks should wake up and protect their Greek sovereignty! It is irrelevant who in government opened the gates to Albanians and other immigrants. The Greek people voted them in power.” If you want an effective government vote the garbage out. Never accused the lovely English woman of having to do anything with Albanians seeking asylum in Greece and thus taking jobs from Greeks! Perhaps if she thought of contributing to the local economy of Lefkatha island she could have hired a Greek crew of masons to build her castle home.

@@PenelopeRigatos First, Greek stone masons have become a rarity nowadays, whereas Albanians are more availiable due to the fact of Albania (not Albany) having frozen in time for over 50 yrs. 2nd, you're assuming hiring the workers was in her choice and discetion. Don't. 3rd, since she's living there, then she does contribute to the local economy. Finally, I have the sense you live in the US yourself.

@@geogeo2299 it’s a shame Greek stone masons became a rarity; I suppose everyone wants to get a university degree nowadays Not sure what you mean by Albany having frozen in time for over 50 years; I’m not keen in following Albanian history. If the lady had a house built to her specs, she had control of the work and workers. I’m sure she contributes to local economy, after all she must eat; however during her 22 years of residence she could work up the motivation to learn more Greek than σιγά σιγά by hiring a local Greek teacher and that was no more, or less my point. I don’t see how relevant is in this discussion where I live? I did not ask, or am curious to know where you live. Since you seem to take issue with everything I commented on, let’s put an amiable end to this dialogue; it is not going anywhere.

@@PenelopeRigatos Well I have to tell you for the 2nd time, it's Albania, not Albany. Albany is a city in the state of New York, Albania is a country in the Balkans. This shouldn't be so hard to process. The issue with you is quite obvious. You criticize someone of not contributing 100% to the Greek economy while yourself do not contribute at all. You criticize her for not learning Greek, well I highly doubt you speak any of it yourself. Again, when she built her house she was still w/ her husband, so it's possible that it was him in charge of that task rather than her. I sincerely hope that all your arguments /questions are answered by now and I won't be having to labour back to this conversation.

Ain’t this the truth?😢

Unfortunately not !

Well, I can ensure you that foreigners never become Greeks. Arabs in France do not become French, Chinese in Germany won't become Germans. I am a foreigner in Greece too, but although I am here for nearly 40 years I've not become a Greek. Of course there is some influence by the foreign country you are living in, but basic things will never change, unless you're moving somewhere in a very young age. The more differences there are between two countries the more difficult becomes assimilation. Now, Greece and its people were quite different 50 years ago. Nowadays differences inside Europe are getting smaller and smaller day by day. One example is traffic. 50 years ago, a driver who was violating the traffic rules shoutet at me: "Edo einai Ellada, malak....!" I've never heard this again so far. 50 years ago you didn't see Greeks going for a walk with a dog, nowadays I can see many. I am sure there are much more such examples, which show how Greece has changed. Not always for the better, but then not always for the worse. Gia sou!

Nonsensical. He never really embraced the Greek culture, he just went there on a whim and sort of a push by friends, and likes not having as many people around.

It's the sound of summer

Rob, I am learning Greek too. And I did live in Zurich, only for a year though. Good on you mate.

Wishing you and your family well. From a Greek in far flung Australia !!