Going back a few decades, we will all have memories of the famous consulates. "From love or a consul?" was the question he always played when he became one marriage. After all, the provocateur in the old days (not very old in many parts of Greece) was a normal "function" whose mission was to marry the free and free of the time, but also the "mangoufides".
The consul used to play a lot. And it is no exaggeration to say that for many it was the right way to marry, above all, a girl from home. Over the years, the "institution" of the consulate has faded. Times have changed, the woman is emancipated, she has and knows what she wants from her life, while now the man who is over 40 and has not been married, is not in the eyes of others the "mangoufis", but more as one… " unrepentant bachelor ".
In addition, the social media have made dating easier and there are many loves that flourish online. And so, when we thought that the consulate or the neighborhood does not have the same demand as before, our visit to the historic neighborhood office of Athens, "Louis Office of International Settlements", overturned many of what we believed.
Its owner Mrs. Katie Louis spoke to Newsbeast.gr for the acquaintances with the purpose of the wedding that take place in the office, he explained to us what is the process that is followed, while he also reveals the secret of how the "neighborhood" not only resists, but flourishes in the age of social media.
- The truth is that when we hear "conspiracy office" the first thought we make, is that someone who has difficulty finding a partner to get married, comes to you. How valid is this?
It is valid from the point of view that the interested party has a qualified and rich CV and sees for himself that his own searches do not meet his expectations.
- Who is a neighborhood office for? Do only those who want to meet for the purpose of marriage or someone who just wants a relationship, but finds it difficult to find, come to you?
There are people who want to start a family but also older people who have made a life cycle of divorced or widowed for cohabitation. However, the interested parties always have a serious purpose and not a ephemeral one.
- Today, how is the "consulate" done? What is the procedure followed?
There is the CV and the personal interview where he becomes a member of the office and with our help the person starts the appointment process. We are informed about the result from both sides and depending on whether these people matched, we freeze the process for them and give them our wishes. But if we did not have the expected result, we proceed immediately to the next meeting.
- Have you ever rejected someone from the beginning? If so, in what cases?
It rarely happens because I think the discussion we have is in the right context of investigation.
- What do they usually ask you? Do they have high standards in what they are looking for?
Since they themselves have enough qualifications, it makes sense for them to have high expectations. Besides, the homonyms are attracted.
- Usually, what are the ages that are addressed to your office?
There is a wide range in terms of age. Young people from 25 years old up to 90 years old visit our office. The need for companionship does not cease to exist at whatever age we are.
- In percentage, do more men or women come?
The happy fact is that there is a balance and the proportions are 50% for men and 50% for women.
- Do parents come to find a bride or groom for their child? Is there any story you have left to tell us?
Of course. Parents take the initiative to visit our office because they want to ensure a happy marriage for their children. Because the love of parents for their children is characterized by selflessness, they want to see them create a family with principles and values - the traditional Greek family. I typically remember a mother who, through our office, married her only daughter to a well-known businessman. In this case, the businessman agreed with the mother to go to his place as customers without the daughter knowing that her luck was literally working. The eyes of both interested parties met and then they both realized that they found their other half. After a few months the mother visited our office being unhappy and offered us wedding favors.
Respectively, do you have a story with a child who has come to your office in order to find companionship for his elderly parent? Do they become such "consulates"?
Of course, there are also such consulates! The Greek family has strong bonds between individuals whenever one member of the family cares for the other. Sometimes we see children wanting to get rid of their parents' loneliness!
- If a person is constantly rejected from dating appointments, what do you do in this case? Do you insist that until he finds his match, you try to find what is wrong and help him?
From the moment one becomes a member of our office, one has the opportunity to make targeted personal appointments until it ends. We maintain frequent, honest and direct communication with all our members. So after each appointment we discuss the result. The social scientists in our office discuss and advise individuals so that we can reach our goal as soon as possible.
- What is the success rate? How far do they go, how many do not?
The success rate is 100% because the interested party has the opportunity to see as many people as he needs until he finds the right match for him. Also to emphasize that through this process there are no divorces at all because the processing of the previous data is done with seriousness and diligence. So there is absolute relevance between the stakeholders.
- Is there a limit to appointments for one person? Or does he go out until he finds the ideal partner?
Our office has thousands of members from all over the world so that there is the possibility for each person individually wherever he is to make as many appointments as needed, without restriction, to find the person with whom he will share the rest of his life. The process of finding the perfect partner is so meticulous that thousands of people have ended up with the very first date. What is certain is that luck favors the adventurous, so either with the first or above appointment someone who becomes our member is a given that he will find with us what he wants.
- How much have social media influenced the conspiracy theories, given that many acquaintances now take place there?
Social media is a way of dating that entails endless dangers and we have all heard many extremely unpleasant stories. You do not know who can really hide behind an attractive profile picture and of course if this person's intentions are serious. Unlike the office where everyone interested is settled and determined to start a family or live together, there is chaos on social media and the flirtation of virtual reality does not lead you to the steps of the church. On the other hand, one does not become someone who is a person with degrees, career, good family to trust social media.
- You have been at the helm of the office for about 30 years. Do you have any stories left for you to share with us?
Too many love stories have taken on flesh and blood in this space. As you have said for over 30 years I have been here, I am constantly proud of this great social work we are doing. I remember a couple who got married in Greece in the summer of 2019 while they both lived in different European capitals. The woman decided to follow her husband after a month of dating! If this is not love, then what is?
- Do couples invite you to the wedding? Do they say in their circle that they met through a neighborhood office or is it taboo?
We develop an amazing relationship with our members. They see us as their friends so they gladly invite us to their wedding. Due to our active and long-term presence on television, we avoid attending because someone can recognize us.
- Do people from the province come to you?
Based in Piraeus, we serve all of Greece and abroad! Therefore not only from the beautiful cities and villages of Greece but also from the five continents!
- Your office is the oldest, how much have the "consulates" changed and the wishes of the people from the time of your grandfather, your father until now yours?
We live in the most beautiful country in the world with many traditions, customs and traditions. The will for a family has always been one of the priorities set by the Greek, whenever the institution of cohabitation has always existed and will continue to exist in Greek society. What we are seeing today, however, is that more and more people are getting married out of love. Once upon a time, the daughter was preparing by her family to find a man who would make her happy and offer her exactly the same. Security, love, material goods, etc. Today the woman is more independent, she also offers through her work, she is more dynamic, etc. whenever the emotional indicator is the one who judges the right person.