Stories Untold - Return of Georgian Migrants: Leli Pirtskhalaishvili

I studied at what was then called a vocational technical university, I wanted to work for the post office after graduation. I worked at a rubber factory for 13 years, my job was to sort small parts, but the factory closed and I was left unemployed. I had relatives in Greece and I found a job with their help. I spent almost 7 years in Athens, looking after elderly ladies. It was the first time I was abroad. I found it difficult to be so far away from my family, in a foreign city, surrounded by people speaking a foreign language, but what could I do? I had to earn my living.

There are many Georgians in Greece and everybody tries support each other. We did not work on Sundays and we went to have coffee, to talk or sometimes we just cried together. I now have second-hand clothes store in Kutaisi and I am definitely not thinking of leaving any more.