We moved from the US to a Greek island. Here are 5 pros and cons of raising a kid abroad.

Whereas West lived in Houston, she hardly knew her neighbors and infrequently spoke with them. And whereas she had mates, planning was tough, particularly given the quantity of effort and time it took to get one thing on the calendar.

In Syros, West stated, she’s lastly been capable of construct a neighborhood.

“I might say one of many largest execs, not less than for us, is the neighborhood that we have now right here, from different digital nomad and expat households to the native households,” she stated. “The neighborhood is one thing that my daughter will get to develop up with. It is so particular and all the pieces I may have hoped for.”

In Syros, the island’s small measurement makes it simpler for her to see mates commonly. On a typical day, she typically runs into somebody she is aware of whereas strolling round city.

“We stumble upon one another within the streets, you realize, and should go, ‘oh, let’s go play tomorrow, or let’s meet up for espresso,'” West stated. “It is a lot simpler to make plans and for us to be in neighborhood with folks.”

West and her husband need their daughter to develop up feeling linked to Greek culture reasonably than like “an outsider,” they usually see studying the language as an vital a part of that.

They have been serving to her develop her Greek expertise by encouraging her to talk with locals, watch Greek exhibits, and browse Greek books.

“At first, she noticed it as a unfavorable factor that she was studying Greek,” West stated. “Now, she’s much more receptive and will get actually excited each time she makes an area pal who speaks Greek.”

This yr, her daughter will begin at a private school the place academics will primarily communicate Greek, although they’ll translate for English-speaking college students.

“I fear that as she will get settled into college, talking Greek can be actually tough for her, however on the similar time, I am grateful that we’re beginning it at such a younger age as a result of I do assume that she’ll adapt approach sooner,” West stated.

As her daughter learns Greek, West stated she’ll even be maintaining a tally of her English expertise. It is a concern many different English-speaking mothers on the island share.

“It is so fascinating as a result of we have been actually centered on our youngsters feeling comfy and assured talking Greek, however now we’re like, ‘Perhaps they’re forgetting English,'” she stated.

One motive the household determined to relocate to Europe was the convenience of touring to different international locations. This month alone, they visited Lisbon, Venice, and Paris.

“She’s solely 4, and we simply obtained accomplished visiting her twentieth nation,” West stated. “She’s being uncovered to customs, cultures, meals, and experiences earlier than she even reads about them in a textbook.”

From listening to the Name to Prayer in Turkey to seeing the northern lights in Iceland, West’s younger daughter has already skilled extra of the world than many individuals do in a lifetime.

West stated these experiences have helped her daughter perceive early on that folks dwell, eat, worship, and transfer by the world in numerous methods.

“It is at all times the issues that you do not assume are going to stay along with her,” she added. “I really like that she is seeing so many alternative methods of doing issues.”

For West, dwelling overseas additionally means elevating her daughter removed from household. It is a main concern for her, particularly as a result of her daughter is an solely baby.

“I fear generally that she is lacking out on issues occurring again within the states with my husband’s and my household, and that she is probably not as near sure members of the family like her cousins again residence,” she stated.

To assist preserve these bonds and sustain with milestones in everybody’s lives, West makes positive they commonly FaceTime with household.

“We simply make it possible for’s a daily cadence for her, so she would not really feel that disconnect when she sees them in particular person,” she stated. “And we additionally strive not less than every year to get again to the States as nicely.”

West’s daughter was about 3 months previous in 2022 when the Uvalde school shooting occurred. On the time, West and her husband had been dwelling in Houston, roughly 4 hours away. The tragedy pushed her to assume extra significantly about the place her daughter would go to highschool — and the way secure she can be.

“That, actually, for me, was the most important catalyst,” West stated. ” I used to be like, okay, we actually do have to look into what it might be prefer to dwell overseas, particularly someplace the place gun legal guidelines are rather more restrictive.”

Greece has very strict gun legal guidelines, with firearm possession typically prohibited until a allow is issued by authorities. In Syros, West stated, life on the island feels “extremely secure.”