Topic

Name

Date

Question/Answer

Shops,

Teaching English,

Jobs

Becky

Mallinder

11/01/07

Could you tell me what shopping facilities there are on Kefalonia.

Also, are there many opportunities to teach English in Kefalonia and what other work opportunities are there?

Kefalonian Homes

13/01/07

With a permanent population of over 30,000 the island requires, and has, a broad spectrum of retail outlets.  Nearly all the villages have ‘general’ stores, a bakery, garage etc.  The larger towns (i.e. Sami, Poros, Lixouri and Argostoli) have a full range of shops and amenities including supermarkets, furniture stores, chemists, clothes stores, hardware, shoe-shops etc.  Pretty much the same as any smaller town in Britain.

Argostoli, the capital, has many shops including the familiar Benneton and BodyShop.  Supermarkets include Lidl, a Carrefour outlet, Panemporiki and many more local concerns. 

Other amenities include hospitals, sports centres, 10-pin Bowling, cinemas, theatres, sailing club, football and basketball clubs etc. There is far more to Kefalonia than meets the eye !

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The present generation of native Kefalonians are all taught English as their second language at school but there is still a high demand for extra ‘private’ tuition.   Present rates seem to be around €15 per hour for one-to-one tuition.  If you are a fully qualified teacher you could work at one of the many organised evening schools.

Most other jobs available are seasonally related to the tourist industry, which is still in its infancy on Kefalonia.

Whilst income from such jobs may seem low the cost of living is relatively lower.  The ‘quality of life’ is enviable and the climate is wonderful !

There is presently an increasing demand for builders, plumbers, electricians etc.

The Greek’s generally laissez-faire attitude to service is charming and leisurely.  This does mean, though, that there are tremendous opportunities for anyone happy to provide speedy, reliable and good quality services of any sort.