LIVING
LIVING
SEPTEMBER 2009
A
EUROPEAN WORK EXPERIENCE
I apologise to my regular
readers for not writing my usual ‘Living’ piece in August but I
was actually in London for two weeks and when I finally returned,
I did so with two delightful teenagers who came to join us for a
week; this left very little time for reflection! Anyway, why
shouldn’t I take off time in August too just as everyone else
does in Greece!
Many people ask me what it is
that I do in London when I visit six times per year; what I do
is I work..... Very hard. Having completed a three year
registered nursing course many years ago for which I was awarded
my one and only medal, I then specialised in oncology which led
to work as a research nurse in biological therapies at a centre
of excellence in south London. From here, I was seconded to do a
biology degree which explained many of the theories underlying
the principles of biological therapy.
I doubt I’ll ever find such
interesting work here in Greece with flexible hours to fit in
with the family, mainly because research work is still the
domain of research registrars or there just aren’t the funds to
employ research nurses.
Being an employee of the
National Health Service, I am obliged to work 100 hours per year
to keep my registration going. in the past, Itried to do this
via agencies in London but something always went wrong at the
last minute. However, I finally found a job in London which
enables me to fly over when I am able to fill in for colleagues
during annual leave and to help meet research deadlines. This is
now my fourth year and I still thoroughly enjoy going over. The
only factor I don’t particularly like is the flying and if there
was ever a train which would take only 10 hours from Athens to
London, I would use that instead.
The advantages outweigh the
disadvantages:
I am still able to nurture the
friendship of my very precious gang of female friends.
I am able to keep up to date
professionallly, therefore my Curriculum Viate is still healthy;
this provides me with the security of knowing that if ever I
were to return to England, I would still be employable.
I am still an English tax,
national insurance and pension contributer.
I am able to check on and
maintain my house.
I am able to buy produce such
as cheap peanut butter, shortbread biscuits and Yorkshire tea as
well as clothing for tall women, Chritmas crackers and a wide
range of books in the English language
I get to smell English autumns
and to walk in dewy grass
I am reminded that transport
is expensive and generally inefficient in England which compares
badly to Greec e, where I find public transport delightfully
affordable and generally efficient.
Our children are able to
maintain their English roots, visit libraries and swimming pools
and reep the benefits of the numerous holiday play and sports
schemes
Overall, I find that it has
helped me to adust to my life in Greece where I prefer to
socialise with native Greeks and have no need to seek out expat
company. I feel fortunate to have a rich dual life where I have
a balance between Greec e and England.
I am not alone in my
adventures. I work with a colleague who flies in from Spain
every other week and another who flies in from Paris to work
nights. There is even a colleague who flies in from South Africa
for the summer each year.
Ironically, my two
professional worlds overlap. Research nursing entails recruiting
patients to clinical trials and following them up. Central to
every clinical trial, is ethical practice and informed consent.
Mr L and I both agree that the process of purchasing land or a
house is similar to a trial in as much as the client should be
fully informed and able to make a decision based on the delivery
of full, accurate and honest information so that the contract
signing in a way represents the informed consent. On more than
one occasion, a Greek doctor working in London has edged up to
enquire about property for sale in Greece and by the same token,
I’ve been able to offer my knowledge of oncological practice and
clinical skills to associates and friends on the island.
I would urge anyone thinking
of moving to Greece of employabe age to attempt to explore the
possibilty of working periodically or via the internet.
The sixty six hours worked
every two months earns me the equivalent of an average monthly
salary earned in Greece!!!
Finally, my absences force my
family to appreciate all that I do for them!!
Alison Lorentzos
copyright 2009
