VOICES From Migrations | Mariam Sanoyan's story

“VOICES From Migrations" is a project co-funded by the European Union exploring untold migration stories. Mariam Sanoyan is from Armenia, and she moved to Greece when she was 22 years old. This is her story:

Mariam Sanoyan | VOICES From Migrations

“My name is Mariam Sanoyan, and I am Armenian. At the age of 20, I migrated to Russia due to the limited employment opportunities in Armenia at that time. Later, I moved to Thessaloniki, Greece, because I met my husband there. Since he is Greek, we chose to build our life in his country.

I vividly remember my first arrival in Greece and the moment I saw the sea from the airplane. That initial view left a lasting impression on me, and it made the country feel immediately welcoming and remarkably beautiful.

I find everything in Greece amazing: the weather, the landscapes, and the people. The everyday atmosphere feels open and kind, and I appreciate the energy of the city and the calmness of the coast. From the beginning, I felt a strong connection with this place, and that feeling has stayed with me as I continue to live and work here.

When I arrived in Greece, the hardest part for me was the language. Not understanding anything was deeply overwhelming and frustrating. I gradually began feeling less afraid of speaking the more I listened. Even when I felt discouraged, I reminded myself that patience would help me adapt. Having my husband and children here has made the adaptation easier. 

We live in different places depending on the season: in summer, we go to New Marmara and manage a hotel. In winter, we move back to Thessaloniki, where we work in our shipyard business. I do not see myself going to another place thanks to the life I built here.

Looking ahead, I would love to go to university and get a Management degree, to support my work. My goal is to combine the practical experience from the hotel with formal studies in management so I can grow professionally while I continue improving my Greek.”

Interviewers: Gkesouli Ellie, Corina Elena Voicilă, Camila Velez Martinez, Grzegorz Zając, and Joaquín Emiliano Espinoza Castro

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.