Eleftheria

Eleftheria is a 34-year-old woman of Greek origin that has been living in the UK for the past 11 years.

Eleftheria lives a busy life, living in a bustling city but finds living alone lonely. Her family lives far away and this has left a void in Eleftheria’s life.

In Greece the culture is family-orientated, and she grew up in a small city where most of her social circle lived within walking distance. In contrast, people are more detached in the cosmopolitan city where she lives now. Despite living there for 11 years, she is still reluctant to call it home. She doesn’t have a sense of belonging there, due to the mobility of the people.

Eleftheria is single and can feel lonely and left behind when she sees friends who move on to a different stage in their lives, including marriage and motherhood.  She feels sad that her social circle is shrinking but sees this as an inevitable part of getting older.

According to Eleftheria being lonely can make a person self-sufficiency and independent but she thinks this can be a barrier to developing an intimate relationship.  She also says that being lonely prompts her to think about about her life choices and make decisions about the future.

Physical activities and especially yoga have helped Eleftheria feel less lonely.

Eleftheria comes from a place where family and friends are close by. She finds it lonely living in a big city.

So, you talked about a loneliness not having your family around. Could you expand on that a little bit?

Sure, like we have very close bonds with our families in [Country]. I’m coming from [Country], so you know, we grow up and we stay home until we kind of have to leave the house. Either for our studies or because we’re getting married or, you know. It’s not like in other countries that the moment you turn 16 or 18, you just leave the house. It’s not the norm.

So I mean, you know, so usually you go home, and your mum is waiting for you with a readymade, homemade meal that she made herself and it smells delicious. Everything is clean and sorted and tidied for you and you’re just being spoilt. Which is fantastic. And then a house full of your parents, your siblings and your friends, usually live within walking distance, if you come from a small town like me. So, yeah, it’s that kind of close environment with your family and your very close friends living tops ten minutes away from you. So, that’s my extended family.

But whereas in [city], in order to see anyone, you have to commute almost at least half an hour, either on the tube or by taxi or walk for half an hour to find your nearest friend. No one really lives close by unless you’re lucky enough. Well, I’ve been lucky enough to have people in the same building as me, my friends. But other than that, you have to arrange to see people a week in advance, at least, in order to, you know, fit it your schedule. In your very busy schedule.

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