For two decades he worked and grew professionally in seven different countries around the world. He distinguished himself, matured, redefined his priorities and decided that returning home was a one-way street. Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, George Metsis explained that his return to Greece did not come out of the blue, but was the natural consequence of a journey full of images, challenges and realizations.
“I lived and worked abroad for almost 20 years, in 7 countries. For the first few years I didn’t think about returning. The experiences, the different cultures and the professional development were intense and exciting,” George Metsis tells APE-MPA and describes how, “the initial period of living abroad is often accompanied by an excitement that borders on idealization. The first years are usually the period when we idealise the foreign country, often seeing things more superficially, sort of like when we travel. Over time, however, this changes. You get deeper into the local system, it becomes your everyday life, the romantic view fades and you see more clearly both the limits and the weaknesses of other countries. You realize that there is no ideal situation.”
As he points out, as the years go by, “the need for a meaningful connection with your people, your culture, your way of life becomes more intense. This is what happened to me, while at the same time, Greece was entering a more stable trajectory after the crisis. So the decision matured over time and became clear when my daughter reached school age. Despite its shortcomings, Greece remains one of the best places to live and raise children. And that, in the end, trumped everything.”
“Although I was away for many years, I never lost touch with Greece. I came often, maintained close relations and followed the reality of the country. I think we tend to dramatize the ‘Greek reality’ and idealize the foreign one. The truth is that problems, dysfunctions and frustrations exist everywhere, even in the most organised and rich countries. Having lived in many different environments, I see that Greece today in many areas has made significant progress and is more flexible and functional than we think.”
On a professional level, international experience has not only not been a barrier, but has acted as a catalyst for opportunities. “My international journey translated into interest and offers of collaboration from different industries. I did not encounter any substantial obstacles. The challenge is more about picking the right opportunity where you can have the biggest impact, at the level of people, team, operations, market.”
One of the most interesting things he describes is the reversal of the usual view of what is “missing” from the outside. “I can’t say I’m missing anything in particular. We often underestimate what we take for granted in Greece, the climate, the human relations, the culture, the history, the food. Growing up in them, they cease to impress us. And yet, it is precisely these things that make Greece special. It is the reason why so many foreigners are deeply connected to the country, why many choose to make it their permanent home, and why the sense of home remains strong for Greeks wherever they are. For me, this deep sense of identity and connection is something that is hard to replicate elsewhere.”
The most important lesson he has learned from his international career is both profoundly realistic and empowering, as he points out that, “nothing is easy, nothing is given to you and conditions are almost never ideal. Progress comes through planning, adaptability, perseverance, focus and constructive collaboration. And above all through persistence because there are no easy or magic solutions. This is the way of thinking I try to apply today, both in my work and in my life in Greece.”
Addressing those who are thinking of returning, as well as those who never left, George Metsis points out an important trap, the idealization of the foreign country and the devaluation of Greece. “The logic that ‘there is only prospect outside’ creates expectations that often do not correspond to reality. No country is easy. The cost of living, housing, the pressure of everyday life are now common challenges everywhere. I have seen it time and time again, many leave with high expectations and are faced with a more complex reality. To Greeks abroad who are thinking of returning, my advice is simple, don’t be afraid but do it consciously. They should have left idealisation behind, they should have realised that every choice has positives and negatives and that wherever you are you gain something and lose something. If that balance is clear within them, then the return can be successful.”
