I will see new places and be safe. Meet new friends and find new challenges in my career. (Continue)

Always ask the reasons behind things. For example, if a bank asks you for your father's name - it may not be because they will go to him if you can't pay. It might be because before computers, that was the only way they could differentiate you from your 5 cousins with the same name. (Continue)

I went to the first midwife-run facility in Athens--but there are midwives aplenty in the villages. I had a completely natural delivery--except they coerced me into breaking my waters and starting pictocin, which made everything quite unnecessarily painful. They also gave me an episiotomy, which I was against. It's hard to stand to your convictions when going through such a hormone- and pain-fueled experience, but have supportive people around you who know your wishes. And don't let yourself alone with any medical personel whatsoever!!!! They aren't always looking out for your best interests. I stayed two days before going home with Gabriel, and the midwife only made one visit to check on us (and collect her money) -- very unprofessional. Unfortunately, they were the best I found, as I went to (literally) FIVE ob's before finding them. Greece has a very high c-section rate (almost 50%) and if you want to avoid this, you must pick your ob very carefully. Really question him. All perform routine episiotomies and discourage rooming in and nursing! If possible, I encourage you to ask about village midwives (maia's) to do your delivery, and stay home, if possible. If I had just stayed in my safe little apartment, they never would've been able to give me the pictocin and threaten me with a c-section. Only after we told them we wouldn't be using their private doctor for any emergency, but rather going to the state hospital--then they finally shut up and did their jobs. Relax. It was a mixed bag, experience-wise. Yes, I have some issues with how they mistreated me, but the alternatives were so much worse. (Continue)

Do more "market research" on your destination before arriving and check the findings with people you know who live there. If it appears too much, plan "coping mechanisms" before moving. (Continue)

All the above can also be useful thoughts about American and Greek cultural differences and how to cope. There will be Greeks who went to American universities / work there for a while.

Using such trans-national Greeks can be very useful to firms. (Continue)

Both babies born at home.Very positive experiences. Just breathing and working with the labour, hot water compressors, loving midwives made my births wonderful.Giving birth in your own enviorment makes all the difference. (Continue)

For the private sector:

I chose my obstetrician first. He was affiliated with one of the 3 large private maternity clinics in Athens. It is a very large clinic.

Positive points: very clean, plenty of staff on hand 24 hours (even if they are rushed), very modern facilities.

Negative points: very expensive (around 2000 euros for the cheapest room option - 6 mothers sharing a room, not including doctors fee); impersonal; breastfeeding difficult because rooming in is near impossible; staff ill-informed about breastfeeding; Too many visitors and visiting hours are not strictly enforced by staff. I had natural childbirth with epidural. Hospital stay: 4 days. The birth experience was positive thanks to a fantastic UK-trained midwife and obstetrician. My experience with the clinic was very negative. (Continue)

Excellent facilities, bright, spacious, colorful rooms, filled with age-appropriate toys and activities, the walls are constantly filled with various projects which the children created, which change by season, holidays, etc. (Continue)

Fully modern American style maternity hospital. Epidural. 5 days due to c-section. Yes. (Continue)

Spacious light-filled classroom, loads of authentic Montessori equipment plus leafy garden with sandpit, playground equipment, and play houses.

Special themed party afternoons, extra English language classes (Continue)