I would like to take the time to thank everyone that helped make this research a reality.

Firstly, I would like thank Diana Batraka and Argyris Choulias from my host organisation, System and G, who helped me to coordinate this research and who gave me as much freedom as I needed to explore this large topic.

My Sending Organisation CODEC, in Belgium, especially Natasha Roelofs, who has supported me throughout my whole EVS and the National Agency of Beligum Jint vzw who permitted me to go for this special adventure.

Ivi Papadouplou for being a great mentor, and supporting me through her advice and contacts around Komotini.

Carolina Dodon and Alexandru Manole for their kind advice and amazing support for the last five months.

Christos Derventis, Burcu Yagmur, Osman Atas for having the patience to be by my side and translate interviews with me.

Pedro Giatzo, Anastasia Tsibiridou, Amet Omer, Umit Halil Ibrah, Ibrahim Mustafa, Stefanos Gravanis, Assunta Petridu, Professor Ali Huseyinoglu, and all the other participants of my research, without them, none of this would have been possible.

Nikos Dounakis, for all his encouragement and great proof reading skills.

I also want to acknowledge the help of all the people of Komotini who through many informal conversations helped me to grow more curious and motivated about the topic.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the help of my grand mother, Carolyn Zervudachi, who by giving me the book ‘Twice a Stranger’ by Bruce Clark, reminded me of my Greek roots and pushed me to make this research a personal project to re-evaluate the ideals of my ancestor.