Lizzy Koster

Interview conducted by Elizabeth Wahlert - Athanssiadis/ Freelance writer and editor

Lizzy Koster is a freelance web designer by profession and photographer, environmental and social activist by avocation. She obtained a degree in Communication Science at the University of Amsterdam and has been a web designer for fourteen years. She recently designed the new website for Athens WING Moreover, she is in the process of setting up a support network on Aegina and organized last April a big beach cleaning where 250 volunteers participated.

Originally from Bergen, The Netherlands, Lizzy visited Aegina for the first time at the age of twenty-one during a summer holiday. Her drive to live a totally different life made her decide to move to Aegina. She was energized by the natural beauty of the surroundings, the sea, the weather, and a more back to basics lifestyle. She has lived on Aegina island since 2001 where she met Erik, a Dutch national. Lizzy and Erik are living together and have a seven year old daughter, Isabella.

Motivation to choose as a profession
As a modern day Renaissance woman, Lizzy has had a big variety of professions:
she has worked as a secretary, cleaning lady, waitress, model, singer (for 12 years) and web designer. Her work as a singer led her to do some self study in web design (to make the website of the band she was singing in) and has led to fourteen years as a professional web designer. The photographs of her island home, Aegina, are featured on her website www.aeginagreece.com. She established a promotional website for the island when she came to live on the island.

Professional services offered
Lizzy's work as a web designer is done on a free lance basis from her office on Aegina. She welcomes inquiries for her work and will design websites to meet the specific needs of her clients and / or their businesses or organizations. Text editing in English or Greek is available from professionals with whom she collaborates.

Words of advice

• Accept the way things are in Greece (which can be very frustrating).  
  Don’t take things personally if cultural norms are different from what you are accustomed to in the country of your birth.
• Ingrained habits and patterns of behaviour from the country of one’s birth along with attitudes and opinions cannot be changed easily.
• Accept the fact that living permanently is totally different from being on a summer holiday in Greece
• Don’t just talk about making changes.  
  Be a motivator and an energiser and make positive changes a reality.
• Accept the fact that as a foreign national living in Greece you will never be fully acclimatised to Greek life and culture no matter how long you reside in the country.
• Become a social and environmental activist for the good of your community and the country at large.
• Demonstrate civil responsibility, something that is sadly lacking in Greece in many cases.
• Live life to its fullest  in the present moment.  
  Do not live in the past which is history or in the future which is a mystery.
• Your professional career should be an extension of your character and personality.

December 2011