We have been reading millions of articles on the plight of Greece and how they brought it on themselves (including the Michael Lewis stories).
On a flight recently, I happened to sit next to a senior Greek lady, who was returning from her trip to Athens. She had gone to visit her ailing mother and does not actually live there. We got talking about how life has been disrupted due to the current crisis. She mentioned how
1)Everyone has moved their money out of the banks and are storing cash at home
2)The crime rates (incl robberies) have risen dramatically because of the above reason, as well as, for the fact that unemployment is high
3)Certain essential medicines are not available anymore and importing them is harder, because a doctor needs to prescribe them specifically
4)Airlines are gradually closing down service to Athens, making it harder for people to travel in from overseas
5)The elections are a mess, because each party is believed to be backed by a lobby from a country with interests in Greece
6)And of course, the hatred for the Germans! - the Greeks do believe that the western european super powers have an interest in controlling Greece for the resources and have hence contributed to creating the current economic situation.
It was interesting to hear first hand, the change in life for an average Greek citizen. For an average citizen, it must be very hard to come to terms with impending hardships.
On a flight recently, I happened to sit next to a senior Greek lady, who was returning from her trip to Athens. She had gone to visit her ailing mother and does not actually live there. We got talking about how life has been disrupted due to the current crisis. She mentioned how
1)Everyone has moved their money out of the banks and are storing cash at home
2)The crime rates (incl robberies) have risen dramatically because of the above reason, as well as, for the fact that unemployment is high
3)Certain essential medicines are not available anymore and importing them is harder, because a doctor needs to prescribe them specifically
4)Airlines are gradually closing down service to Athens, making it harder for people to travel in from overseas
5)The elections are a mess, because each party is believed to be backed by a lobby from a country with interests in Greece
6)And of course, the hatred for the Germans! - the Greeks do believe that the western european super powers have an interest in controlling Greece for the resources and have hence contributed to creating the current economic situation.
It was interesting to hear first hand, the change in life for an average Greek citizen. For an average citizen, it must be very hard to come to terms with impending hardships.
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