Returning to Greece - Florence's journey back to Crete

Find Florence Wetzel's Book Aspasia here.You can support the Podcast at Buy me a Coffee here and/or give it a 5* rating wherever you listen to it!In this episode of Worlds Collide, host Viktoria sits down with Florence, a captivating storyteller who shares her journey of moving to Crete. From her childhood in New Jersey, influenced by her adventurous mother, to her first magical encounter with Crete at the age of 14, Florence reflects on the experiences that led her back to this enchanting island.Florence recounts her life as a double expat, first moving to Crete in the 90s and returning decades later. She shares insights into the cultural shifts she observed, the challenges of language learning, and the joys of reconnecting with old friends while making new ones. Listeners will appreciate her candid discussion about the complexities of adapting to a different lifestyle, including the relaxed Greek sense of time. In addition to her personal story, Florence introduces her book, Aspasia, a literary thriller set in Crete that explores themes of cultural differences and the complexities of expat life. Join Viktoria and Florence as they delve into the rich tapestry of life in Crete, the importance of community, and the transformative power of embracing new experiences.Keywords: Expat Life, Moving to Crete, Cultural Differences, Language Learning, Aspasia, Literary Thriller, Community, Personal Journey, Travel Stories, Greek Hospitality(00:00) There are three ways you can support the podcast(01:15) Today my guest is Florence from Crete. (01:55) Florence: Thanks for being here. How are you today(05:44) You want to experience some city life, right? Yeah. So now we're going to flash forward almost 30 years(06:11) M. I. moved back to New Jersey in 1995 due to economic difficulties(09:42) You also mentioned it in your first email that you are relearning the language(13:23) The last time you were here was September 2001(16:21) Was it easy to reconnect with some of your old friends there(17:34) You've been living in Europe since 2013, mostly in Sweden(20:47) You were always prepared for moving abroad then? (21:46) You have to be patient with the paperwork. You have to have a lot of patience(27:00) If you're planning to go to Greece, then rather go in fall(30:35) Your book is called Aspasia. Would you describe it as a thriller or a mystery(35:27) Is Aspasia about cultural differences between small villages and cities(37:13) There are some cultural differences that are sometimes hard to get used to(42:03) There was nothing like that when I was here. Um, I'm sure it changed(43:56) Do you have like any negative experiences since you moved to Crete(46:45) If you're thinking about moving abroad, like, go for itShow notes created byhttps://headliner.app