Kitchen Conversations, Building a Life in Athens

About Kitchen Conversations, Building a Life in Athens

What does it really mean to build a life in another country? Hosted by Jaime, an American who has called Athens home for more than 25 years, "Kitchen Conversations" brings people together around a small kitchen table to share honest stories about living, working, loving, and growing in Athens. Through warm, intimate conversations with other foreigners who have made Athens their home, this podcast explores the joys, challenges, cultural surprises, and everyday moments that shape a life abroad. Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and join the conversation.

Publisher

Jaime Smith

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Apr 2026

Latest episode

23 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Jul 2026

   Episode 13: Nevena Nedeljkovic-Kraljevo, Serbia

   Nevena Nedeljkovic grew up in Kraljevo, Serbia, where, at just six years old, she experienced the NATO bombing campaign of 1999. In this deeply personal conversation, she reflects on the lasting impact of childhood trauma, the fear of losing her father during the war, and the ways those experiences continue to shape her life today. Nevena shares her journey from Serbia to Switzerland, where she built a new life, became a mother, and worked in the pharmaceutical industry before deciding to make another fresh start in Athens. She talks about raising her daughter in Greece, navigating life as a single mother, cultural differences between Switzerland and Greece, and her passion for integrative health and traditional Chinese medicine. Together, Jaime and Nevena explore identity, resilience, healing, motherhood, racism, and the challenges of creating a home in a new country. They also discuss the beauty and chaos of Athens, the importance of community, and why living abroad is about much more than sunshine and beautiful views. This is a moving conversation about surviving war, embracing change, and finding hope while carrying the memories that never completely fade.

2. 

   16 Jul 2026

   Episode 12: Claudia De Vasconcelos-Porto, Portugal

   In this episode, Jaime sits down with Claudia De Vasconcelos from Porto, Portugal, to explore her journey of building a new life in Athens after following both love and career opportunities abroad. Claudia shares what inspired her to leave Portugal, the differences between Portuguese and Greek culture, and how arriving in Greece just months before the COVID-19 lockdown changed everything. After unexpectedly losing her job in the tourism industry, she reflects on adapting to new careers while continuing to pursue the work she loves-creating unforgettable travel experiences for others. The conversation also explores friendship, dating, work culture, music, travel, and the realities of settling into life in Athens. Claudia explains how she built a supportive international community, why learning Greek matters, and what visitors often don't see beyond Greece's beautiful postcards. Together, Jaime and Claudia discuss the similarities and differences between Greece and Portugal, favorite places to visit, Portuguese cuisine, and the importance of experiencing Athens as a local before deciding to call it home. This is an honest and engaging conversation about resilience, community, and discovering what it truly means to build a life in a mother country.

3. 

   9 Jul 2026

   Episode 11: Katrin Sakellariou-Hamburg, Germany

   In this episode, Jaime sits down with Katrin Sakellariou from Hamburg, Germany, to hear the story of how a chance holiday romance on the island of Paros eventually led her to build a life in Athens. Katrin reflects on studying history and education in Germany, falling in love with a Greek-French surfer, and the unexpected path that brought her back to Greece years later. She shares stories of learning Greek, working at the Benaki Museum, managing an art gallery, and now teaching young children at the German School of Athens. Together, Jaime and Katrin discuss the cultural differences between Germany and Greece, from bureaucracy and salaries to the warmth and openness of Greek society. Katrin also speaks candidly about experiencing racism during the Greek financial crises, navigating divorce, and why, despite the difficulties, Athens has remained her home. The conversation also touches on favorite places in Athens and the Cyclades, funny memories of life in Greece, a shared love of history, and the importance of learning the language as the key to truly integrating into Greek society. This is a thoughtful conversation about love, resilience, cultural identity, and finding a home in the city that isn't always easy-but can became impossible to leave.

4. 

   2 Jul 2026

   Episode 10: Patricia Gisele Tessari-Buenos Aires, Argentina

   In this episode, Jaime sits down with Patricia Gisele Tessari from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to talk about the winding journey that ultimately led her back to Athens. After studying English literature and teaching English in Argentina, Patricia first came to Greece in 2018 to pursue a master's degree while teaching Spanish and learning Greek. She reflects on the similarities between Athens and Buenos Aires, the challenges of adapting to a new culture, and why Greece captured her heart despite its imperfections. Patricia also shares her experiences living and working in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Bali during the COVID-19 pandemic before making the life-changing decision to return to Athens. What followed was an unexpected love story, a surprise pregnancy, marriage, and the beginning of a new chapter as she starts a family in Greece. This heartfelt conversation explores identity, taking risks, motherhood, and the unexpected ways life can lead us exactly where we're meant to be.

5. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Episode 9: Alisa Glebova-Vilnius, Lithuania

   In this episode, Jaime sits down with photographer Alisa Glebova, who was born and raised in Vilnius, Lithuania, in a Russian-speaking family. Alisa shares her journey from studying journalism and working as a young reporter in Saint Petersburg to becoming a self-taught photographer determined to build a creative career on her own terms. After spending several years in Portugal, Alisa moved to Athens in 2023 with hopes of expanding her photography business and building a new life in Greece. She reflects on the challenges of starting over in a new country, navigating relationships, and balancing dreams of family, career, and personal fulfillment. Alisa speaks candidly about the realities of life in Athens, including culture shock, bureaucracy, quality of life, and the gap between expectations and reality. At the same time, she shares what she appreciates most about Greece: the warmth of the people, the natural beauty, the climate, and the unique character of the country. This is an honest conversation about migration, ambition, belonging, and the difficult question many internationals face: when does a place feel like home-and what happens when it doesn't?

6. 

   18 Jun 2026

   Episode 8: Georgiana Darau- Arad, Romania

   In this episode, Jaime sits down with psychologist Georgiana Darau from Arad, Romania, to explore both her personal journey and the emotional realities of building a life in a new country. Having lived between France and Athens for several years before settling here full-time, Georgiana reflects on culture shock, bureaucracy, family dynamics, and the surprising similarities between Greece and Romania. Despite personal challenges and the practical advantage of living elsewhere, she explains why Athens ultimately became the place where she feels she belongs. As a therapist working primarily with internationals and bicultural individuals from more than 20 different nationalities, Georgiana shares insights into the emotional challenges of relocation, the anxiety that many newcomers experience, and the different stages of adapting to life abroad-from the honeymoon phase to culture shock, adaptation, and finally integration. Jaime and Georgiana also discuss childhood transitions, the impact of moving countries on children and families, the importance of nervous system regulation, and why seeking support during times of change is not a sign of weakness but a natural and healthy part of the human experience. This is a thoughtful and compassionate conversation about belonging, resilience, and finding your place in the world.

7. 

   11 Jun 2026

   Episode 7: Jaime's Story, Part 2-Music, Friendship, and Heartbreak in Athens

   In Part 2 of her story, Jaime reflects on her first year in Athens as a Fulbright scholar studying traditional Greek violin. From language lessons and musical discoveries to unforgettable friendships and late nights in Athens' music scene, Jaime finally begins to find the community and culture she dreamed of. But just as she decides to make Greece her home, a tragic accident changes everything. This episode is a story of music, friendship, loss, resilience, and the unexpected turns that can alter the course of a life.

8. 

   4 Jun 2026

   Episode 6: Jaime's Story-from California to Athens

   In this special episode of Kitchen Conversations, Jaime shares her own story for the first time. Growing up in Sacramento, California, Jaime dreamed of becoming a classical violinist and went on to receive elite training at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. But everything changed when she unexpectedly fell in love with the sounds of Greek traditional music. From a rebellious senior recital and a Greek restaurant in Boston to an ambitious Fulbright application, Jaime reflects on the experiences that first drew her to Greece and set her on an entirely new path. This is Part 1 of Jaime's journey from California to Athens.

9. 

   28 May 2026

   Episode 5: Alessandra Della Gatta-Monza, Italy

   In this episode, Jaime sits down with Alessandra from Monza, Italy, to talk about her life before and after moving to Athens. Alessandra shares memories of growing up in Monza-from Formula 1 at Parco di Monza to the Duomo and the legendary Iron Crown-before reflecting on her life in Italy and what eventually brought her to Greece. She talks about teaching Italian to foreigners, arriving in Athens, and her appreciation for the city's beautiful messiness, vibrancy, and energy. The conversation explores the similarities between Greeks and Italians, adapting to life in Athens, and the balance between the honeymoon phase of living abroad and the everyday reality of building a life somewhere new. Alessandra reflects on how the crises unexpectedly became a meaningful period for her, giving her the chance to study Greek at university, and how during the crises she was able to continue her work online. Jaime and Alessandra also talk about friendship and community in Athens, favourite neighbourhoods and places around the city, feeling safe here, the contrast between traditional and modern life in Greece, and Alessandra's love for the Aegean Sea. She shares her experience learning Greek, the ways Greeks appreciate foreigners making the effort to speak the language, and why understanding modern Greek culture is just as important as learning the language itself. They also talk about food-from Italian to Greek to Chinese cooking-Greek music, Monza's rainy winters compared with Athens sunshine, and the joy of continuing to travel while still feeling deeply connected to life in Athens.

10. 

    21 May 2026

    Episode 4: Soraja Hadzalic-Oskarshamn, Sweden

    In this episode, Soraja talks about living abroad before eventually moving to Athens, and the social burnout that pushed her toward change. She discusses receiving a job offer in Greece, adapting to Athenian work culture, and her surprise at discovering that Greeks can seem reserved at first-but deeply generous once they truly know you. The conversation explores her eventual love for Athens, discovering the city through basketball, nightlife, dating culture, and meeting her husband Kostas. Soraja also speaks about integration, getting married both at the courthouse and on the beach, navigating the Covid lockdown in Athens, and the exceptional care she received during pregnancy and childbirth compared to Sweden. Jaime and Soraja also discuss naming her boys, small but memorable experiences with racism, the "Antifa" neighbourhood of Exarcheia, an unexpected encounter there involving anarchists, the new metro construction in the area, and advice for anyone dreaming of building a life in Athens. And finally, Soraja turns the tables on Jaime -encouraging her to begin sharing her own story on the podcast.

11. 

    14 May 2026

    Episode 3: Aga Krawczyk-Warsaw, Poland

    Can you ever fully belong in a city that wasn't originally yours? In this episode of Kitchen Conversations, Aga from Warsaw talks about creating a life in Athens-the expectations she arrived with, the reality she discovered, pregnancy and birth in Greece, cultural differences between Warsaw and Athens, and the surprising generosity she found here.

12. 

    7 May 2026

    Episode 2: Kallia Trova- Sarasota, Florida

    How is Kallia creating a life in Athens? Let's listen! Check out Kallia's website with her kombucha! www.thegreekgut.com

13. 

    30 Apr 2026

    Naz-Izmir, Turkey

    Let's hear about how Naz is building her life in Athens!

Reach and audience

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Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.