Greek living in London: striking the balance
Acropolis from Filopappou hill © Lyda Modiano
A lot of my dear friends and family often ask me about my decision to split my time between Athens and London. The frequency of that question has admittedly at times thrown me off-piste, leaving me wondering, am I doing the right thing? Why has the feeling of being anchored or rooted become so tied to the “where”, instead of the “how” ? Are roots so dominant in one’s life after all? Do I need to choose Athens over London, instead of making a decision to take the best of both cities at the same time?
So I gave myself the space to reflect.
What do I value in London?
© Lyda Modiano
London has a collective consciousness over an individual one. That’s reflected and very well embedded in the day to day life. Waiting in line is a privilege. The streets and pavements are well taken care of, clean and inviting. My run at Kensington gardens and Hyde Park is a luxury as public parks are filled with beautiful, well taken care of flowers, blossoms and seasonal fragrances. Volunteering is seen as a civic duty and part of most people and organisations’ DNA. And there’s also punctuality, and a culture built around manners and respect for other people’s time.
London offers a solid, stable infrastructure and an open market with endless opportunities. As a newcomer who founded my company in London, I get to enjoy a reliable professional environment - without sudden surprises, or unexpected changes in the rules of the game. I have to commend the work ethic and the “institutionalised” common sense in everything from filing taxes, to hiring employees, to negotiating contracts. Together with many other professionals from all over the world, we all face a professional level-playing field, which is tough but equal to all.
London is light-hearted and free-spirited. The otherwise gloomy underground train is filled with English poems which allow your thoughts to ‘travel’ while you are 50 feet below ground. It is a multicultural city - a unique hub of heterogeneous people. Diversity is the norm. Everyone can fit under the London sky, from pink haired youngsters to tattooed and pierced older rock-stars - people of all colors, styles and habits who feel free to express their unique personalities as they wish.
Athens, on the other hand, is my dear birth city who has the unique ability to awaken me wholeheartedly.
Athens is my home: The moment I land in El. Venizelos airport, I feel a hospitable air, a mediterranean warmth. My family and friends there make the idea of a community seem effortless and human connection flows with ease and in abundance.
Athens is intense, yet familiar: The Mediterranean temperament can be painstaking at times, but also gives me hope, hope that there’s a discretionary emotional investment in everything that happens there: from the food, to the hospitality, to being fully present in the moment. The tension and untidiness proliferated in the city’s life, is very familiar to me and even though it looks upsetting, it makes me feel at home. My birth town will always represent my roots - and roots have an insurmountable power in one’s life.
So when I reflect upon my decision to split my time between London and Athens, my candid answer is that the life I’ve chosen to invest in, is one where the best of all worlds meet. Athens reflects my identity and London reflects my aspirations. So my “where” and my “how” are not mutually exclusive - they can work in harmony with each other and offer the privilege of a challenging and yet very fulfilling life.