One of the Greek crisis’ worst consequences is the growing number of Greeks immigrating to foreign countries to pursue a better life.
This, of course, is not the first time Greeks chose to migrate. During the 1920s, 1950s and 1960s, many people made the difficult decision to leave behind family and friends with the hopes of finding better opportunities. During those decades, droves of people left Greece to go abroad, especially to the United States, for a better life.
Comparing the migrations of then and now, there are many similarities, but also significant differences.
The most important common characteristic is the feeling of pessimism about the Greek economy, coupled with the high unemployment rate.
Immigrants of the past and present also share the fact that they must acquire a new language, acquire legal documents – visas and work permit – to obtain lawful unemployment.
The vast majority of Greeks who migrated in the past were poor and unemployed. Also, they were usually uneducated because at that time, education was considered a luxury.
Today the social character of migration has changed radically as the young people leaving Greece are educated – many with postgraduate degrees – are homeowners, and have money. Until recently, they had good jobs in Greece and had a very high standard of living.
By contrast, the first Greek immigrants who came to America in the 19th Century worked in restaurants, pizzerias, construction etc… Over the years they made money, purchased homes and educated their children. Immigrants in the past spoke of Greece with nostalgia and love, and dreamt of the glorious day they would return home.
Today’s new immigrants speak about Greece with bitterness. They blame governments and politicians and hold them responsible for Greece’s demise and for their own emigration.
All immigrants want to come to America in search of a better life. But is the United States still the Promised Land? Is it still the country where all dreams and ambitions come true? Is hard work the key to success? Do all those living in this great country have the same opportunities and chances to live a better life? Do the new Greek immigrants have the same opportunities to improve their lives as the previous ones did?
The answers to these questions are not easy, because the times have changed.
Although the United States still is the wealthiest country in the world, conditions for achieving social and economic success are much more difficult now than in the past.
Experts say it is easier to acquire wealth in Canada and Europe nowadays than in the United Sates. For example, a child born in poverty in America has only a 4% chance to become rich when he grows up, whereas its chances in England is 12%.
But what do these statistics mean for the new immigrants from Greece?
Certainly, they will likely encounter better circumstances and opportunities than they experienced in Greece. they will face in their new homeland, America will be much better than those they had to face in Greece. But they also will face many challenges.
NEW GRIMMIGRANT STORIES
TNH recently spoke with some new Greek immigrants, all of whom expressed concern about the difficulties they faced, but also expressed optimism for their future.
“We moved to Greece 10 years ago believing that life here in America was difficult,” said one recent immigrant. “They all said how nice and relaxing life was in Greece. When we went in the beginning, life was very good, but as the years passed things became more and more difficult. My husband and I both lost our jobs. He was an electrician in a company and I was employed as hotel clerk. So we took the plunge back and returned here. Unfortunately, life here is much more difficult than it was before we left. The cost of living is higher. My husband just recently found a steady job and I do various temporary jobs. New York is a very expensive city. We find it hard to raise our three children. Maybe we will move to another state where life is cheaper.”
Another expressed frustration at the long wait in obtaining legal permanent residence, having filed her papers over a year ago. “I need to work and I cannot. I was a professor of literature at a high school in Greece and because my husband is an American citizen, we made the big decision to come to and live here, for our two young children. They had no future in Greece. We were okay in Greece, we both had our jobs, but what about our kids? What future would they have in a collapsed country? So we came here, but unfortunately after 15 years of service as a teacher in Greece now I’m unemployed and I can’t get a job because I have not yet received legal authorization to do so. Fortunately my husband found work quickly.”
All these descriptions depict that new immigrants are certain to face many challenges, at least early on. But if they are like their counterparts of decades past, they will overcome those challenges and live the American dream.
(By Michael Kakias)
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