This document contains interviews with several migrant workers living in Greece. Nelly migrated from Georgia after her husband died, leaving her to support two children alone. Though she missed her children when they were left behind in Georgia, she is now satisfied with her decision to migrate. Alfonso left Albania because he couldn't find work, and chose Greece because it was close and he had friends there. Elina is from Russia but is ethnically Greek; her family migrated to Greece for better jobs and to return to their homeland. Comia migrated from the Philippines to Greece to find work and support his family. Overall, the interviews illustrate the common challenges of migration as well as the workers' feelings of both connection to their home

1. 1st Second Chance School of Thessaloniki.
Interiews
Nelly
1. Where do you come from?
From Giorgia which is an agricultural area
2. Why did you leave your country (reason/s)?
Because my husband died and left me with two children. As there were no jobs for
me, I had to leave the country
3. Is it common for someone in your country to migrate?
Very common. Most young people had to leave my country.
4 Has all your family moved to our country? Are some persons left behind? If so,
what are the difficulties for both parts (person abroad and family left behind)?
I have been in Greece for the last 12 years. During the first 5, my children were left
back in my country staying with their grandmother. I missed them a lot. Now they are
with me. When they first came to Greece, they had many problems. They had a hard
time to adjust here and they didn’t know the language. It was difficult for all of us.
5 How does a person choose the country he will migrate to (always talking about
migrant workers)? / What are the reasons for choosing our country? / Are you
satisfied with your decision?
I left my country for two reasons: Possibility to find a job and also some friends and
relatives had already come to work in Greece. So I could count on them for help. I am
happy with my decision because my life is now in order.
6 How difficult or how easy was to prepare the paperwork you needed for
migrating to our country? Do you still have to do some paperwork while you are
working here?
It was not easy to prepare the documents needed for migration, for my legal stay in
Greece and for my children to go to school here, too. Now all is OK
7 What is the value of the money you earn here in your country? What can you
offer with that to yourself and your family? (everyday living, studies for
children, house etc)?
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2. The money I earn over here is enough for 3 families to live back in Georgia. I work 6
days a week and this is enough to provide us with all we need. (apart from travelling
back to my country)
8. What is the behaviour a) of local colleagues, b) of local society, c) of
neighbours towards a migrant worker?
At first, I was a foreigner to everybody. “The woman from Georgia.” Now, I am just
Nelly.
9 What are your feelings now you are abroad a) for your native country, b) for
the country that you live in and work?
I do feel quite homesick at times: I miss the people, the snow. But I feel grateful for
this country because there is a future here for my children. Of course now things seem
to be difficult for everybody.
10 Would you like to live forever in our country, if possible? Give reasons for
your answer.
I am determined to go on living here. My children feel the same way. We love the
way of life which is now very different from Georgia, for the better though. If ever
things turn difficult there is always the alternative to move to Cyprus. But still, we
shall always wish to return to Greece.
Alfonso
1 Where do you come from?
I come from the north of Albania.
2 Why did you leave your country (reason/s)?
I couldn’t work and make a living in Albania
3 Is it common for someone in your country to migrate?
It is everybody’s desire to leave Albania to find work in some other country. At least,
that was the situation a few years ago.
4 Has all your family moved to our country? Are some persons left behind? If so,
what are the difficulties for both parts (person abroad and family left behind)?
I had come to Greece by myself. I have been living here for the last 15 years.
Meanwhile I got married in Albania where my wife and child stay there with my
parents. I still live here. Before getting married I would not mind being away, but now
that I am having a family I get worried and travel to Albania more often.
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3. 5 How does a person choose the country he will migrate to (always talking about
migrant workers)? / What are the reasons for choosing our country? / Are you
satisfied with your decision?
I chose Greece for migration as it was nearer to my country and also I had many
friends living already there. I am happy because I have saved enough money to start a
business back in Albania. I travel there during summer.
6 How difficult or how easy was to prepare the paperwork you needed for
migrating to our country? Do you still have to do some paperwork while you are
working here?
I never got any documents for migration. I came to Greece illegally on foot,
smuggling myself through the borders. I am still staying and working illegally.
7 What is the value of the money you earn here in your country? What can you
offer with that to yourself and your family? (every day living, studies for
children, house etc)?
The money I make here is ten times more than that I would make in Albania. Now I
can support my family and I have my business selling material for building sites back
home. My brother and wife keep the business running . I am planning to move myself
some time next summer.
8. What is the behaviour a) of local colleagues, b) of local society, c) of
neighbours towards a migrant worker?
I have always been willing to work hard so the people at work are good to me. At
first I worked as a shepherd in the country side, later I would work as a night-guard.
At first local people were negative towards me. Later on, some became friendly to
me, to some others though I always remain an Albanian, a “foreigner”
9 What are your feelings now you are abroad a) for your native country, b) for
the country that you live in and work?
I am looking forward to going back to my country but, as the time of return comes
nearer, I feel anxiety thinking that I will have to live in a different way from what I
have become used to.
10 Would you like to live forever in our country, if possible? Give reasons for
your answer.
No. I do wish to go back to my country.
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4. Elina S. 33 years old
1. Where do you come from?
From Stavropol of Russia
2 Why did you leave your country (reason/s)?
We repatriated. We are Greeks having lived in Russia since the beginning of 20th
century. We are the 5th generation living there. We came to Greece in 1997 because
we wanted to return to our “home country” and also because in Russia at that time
we either lost our jobs or we couldn’t earn enough to support our families. Most of
our relatives came to Greece after the 80ies.
3 Is it common for someone in your country to migrate?
Yes, many people from the former USSR have migrated to several countries, mostly
European
4 Has all your family moved to our country? Are some persons left behind? If so,
what are the difficulties for both parts (person abroad and family left benind)?
Most of our family members live here. But my mother and my brother’s family is
still back in Russia so I always think about them and miss them a lot.
5 How does a person choose the country he will migrate to (always talking about
migrant workers)? / What are the reasons for choosing our country? / Are you
satisfied with your decision?
I have already told you. We are Greeks and have always wanted to come back home.
6 How difficult or how easy was to prepare the paperwork you needed for
migrating to our country? Do you still have to do some paperwork while you are
working here?
Very complicated . The Greek bureaucracy caused many difficulties to our life.
It took me 5 years to finally get my papers right. But still for us, being of Greek
origin, things were much easier than to other economic immigrants.
7 What is the value of the money you earn here in your country? What can you
offer with that to yourself and your family? (every day living, studies for
children, house etc)?
Our life here is OK. We manage well. We have bought a small flat with a loan given
to us by the government. My children, 13 and 11 years old, go to public school and I
can afford to send them to a private school to learn English.
8. What is the behaviour a) of local colleagues, b) of local society, c) of
neighbours towards a migrant worker?
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5. For most people we are still the “foreigners”. When we first to Greece they would not
even talk to us. Now things are better but I am aware that quite a few people do not
like us to be here.
9 What are your feelings now you are abroad a) for your native country, b) for
the country that you live in and work?
I like it to be here. We have settled down and my children like it too. But I am always
homesick.
10 Would you like to live forever in our country, if possible? Give reasons for
your answer.
Yes I would. But when I have the money and time I travel to Russia once, say, every
2 years. I take the bus and after 3 days journey I arrive in Stavropol.
Comia Lazaros, aged 42, (assistant in kitchen of restaurant)
1 Where do you come from?
I am form Philippines
2 Why did you leave your country (reason/s)?
I have come to Greece to find work. Life was difficult back in my country.
3 Is it common for someone in your country to migrate?
Yes. Only in Greece there are about 90000 migrants from our country. Usually they
get jobs as assistants, cleaners etc.
4 Has all your family moved to our country? Are some persons left behind? If so,
what are the difficulties for both parts (person abroad and family left benind)?
Most of the people of my family are already here in Greece. My mother and my sister
still live back at home.
5 How does a person choose the country he will migrate to (always talking about
migrant workers)? / What are the reasons for choosing our country? / Are you
satisfied with your decision?
The main reason I had to migrate to Greece was to get a job, to make money and so
support my family. I am very pleased here in Greece
6 How difficult or how easy was to prepare the paperwork you needed for
migrating to our country? Do you still have to do some paperwork while you are
working here?
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6. It is very difficult to get the documents to work in Greece. Now I have my papers all
right. I am married to a Greek citizen and I was baptized to be a Christian Orthodox.
7 What is the value of the money you earn here in your country? What can you
offer with that to yourself and your family? (every day living, studies for
children, house etc)?
The money I make here is three times more than that I would make in my country. I
have a moderate life here and I can support my family.
8. What is the behaviour a) of local colleagues, b) of local society, c) of
neighbours towards a migrant worker?
I am very pleased with the attitude of local people. They respect and help me.
9 What are your feelings now you are abroad a) for your native country, b) for
the country that you live in and work?
My life here is good. I feel as happy as when I was in my own country.
10 Would you like to live forever in our country, if possible? Give reasons for
your answer.
I do hope that some years later, I will be able to return to my country. I can always
come back to Greece for holidays.
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