Living in Greece

A practical guide to moving, living, working & traveling in Greece, plus musing and misadventures from an American in Athens

Greece ranked third unhappiest in EU

April 17, 2007 at 12:18 ·

Permalink

Well, we know why the Netherlands are in the top five happiest list. 😉

Still, I never tend to equate my overall happiness with the adeptness of the government under which I am living. I might if I were living in a completely oppressive society, but aside from a major irritation in politics – both here in Greece and at home – I don’t consider that it hampers my happiness.

But maybe I’m wrong, I just don’t realize it.

😉 Yeah, anyone want a brownie?

I talk to some people, and you’d think they were eating dirt, never going out and earning 100 euros a month. Then it turns out they’ve got an apartment their parents bought them, out nearly every night, earning double my salary. I spent 5 weeks in India where people ate very little, slept in mud huts and earned less than 1 euro a day. And they are happy!

Indeed Mel, you’re a wise woman. Happiness IS a state of mind. 😀

How shocking that Germany is number four. 🙂 I would have expected them to come in ahead of Greece. Half-empty-glass-mentality is a national pastime.

Oh oh. But I can’t say the rankings surprise me, especially for Germany. And after just a short visit to a tiny slice of Denmark, I can also imagine how the Danes got their top position on the list. It has a lot to do with the mentality of the country, I think.

Great news about the inflatable bananas though! That should at least make *some* people in Greece happy. 🙂

Doesn’t surprise me that Italy made pole position. True happiness is a state of mind, but when the state of the country is in such a mess, tends to have a trickle effect. If one is able to find a full-time PERMANENT job, average salary, 800 euros a month, apartment paid for by mommy and daddy, if not living with them everything paid of course.

Megan – I actually thought Greece would place second behind Italy. You should see the drama and turmoil that ensues after waiting 30 seconds for a coffee or not smoking for 30 minutes. I’d hate to see these people if something truly traumatic happens.

Christina – My friends in Denmark have no complaints, except that the cost of living is so high, which I suspect is part of the reason quality of life is quite good.

Ann – Greece, like Italy, has a high unemployment rate with the minimum set at 600 euros a month, and a bunch of 30ish children who choose not to accept a job they feel is beneath them. Anyway, they’ve no reason to work when everything is provided for them. I hear you, I’ve had a hard time staying positive over years of constant bureaucracy and mistreatment as a “foreigner.” Nevertheless, it’s helped me develop iron-clad patience and increased gratefulness for small things. 😉