I moved to Greece 4 years ago. My lifestyle and habits have changed more than I expected.

A neater look for errands

The writer grew up in Boston and lived in the United States for her first 33 years. Despite keeping some American tendencies, she says visits home make her notice how much her routines have adapted to Greek life.

In the United States, she would run errands in leggings and a sweatshirt. In Greece, she now chooses jeans and a top, with Converse sneakers or Birkenstock sandals, and fixes her hair if needed.

In her experience, people in Greece rarely go out looking untidy. She says casual clothes are still common, but leaving home looking as though one has just rolled out of bed is considered bad manners.

Shopping in smaller trips

In downtown Boston, she used to walk a mile to Whole Foods, buy groceries for the week and carry them home in an overfilled backpack. Her Athens routine is different: she visits a weekly market for produce and other goods.

At the market, she can find seasonal produce, fish, nuts, legumes, olive oil and homemade wine. Vendors call out compliments and offer different prices. She also has several small grocery stores within a few blocks of her apartment. She often stops at one on the way home from the gym to pick up one or two items for dinner.

Later meals and evenings

The writer says she has moved lunchtime later and usually eats between 2 and 3 p.m. She still prefers a substantial breakfast, although she notes that Greeks tend to eat lightly in the morning.

She has also come to enjoy being out late on summer nights, when the temperature has fallen and the breeze is soft. She describes Greek life as having slower meals, more single-item grocery stops and a lively weekly market routine.