On Friday night of my stay in Mykonos, Greece, I ran into an employee at the hotel where I was staying: Calliope, named for the goddess of epic poetry and eloquence in Greek mythology. She was eating souvlaki for dinner at a taverna in Mykonos Town, after ending her Porto Mykonos Hotel shift.

I had just finished dinner at Kounelas Fish Restaurant and was winding my way along the waterfront when Calliope spotted me. She motioned me to join her. She asked about my meal. I explained that the Greek salad had delicious juicy tomatoes and that the sea bass was delicious. I thanked her for recommending Kounelas. She explained that Greek produce is delicious because of the excellent climate and it all comes from “Mother Earth.”

She said that in about four months living and working on the island about a three-hour ferry ride from suburban Athens, she had only gone out three times. Friends she had made on the island would have to work when she had free time. So, Calliope invited me to go barhopping with her; I acquiesced.

Calliope and I zigzagged up and down Matoyianni Street and through narrow, cobblestone streets of the area known as  Little Venice, known for its many 18th century fishing houses that line the waterfront. We squeezed by tourists of various ages speaking English, Spanish, Hebrew and Italian. We ducked in and out of various small bars and clubs to check out them out. Intoxicating music streamed out into the streets prompting me to bop along to the rhythms. We eventually settled in to a club called “Semeli”. There, the DJ rapped along on a microphone as he played some catchy pop tunes: Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito”, Ed Sheeran’s “I’m in Love With Your Body” and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ duet “New York”, among them. While club goers bounced and gyrated to the music, they puffed on cigarettes– releasing puffs of exhaled smoke into the air.

As we strolled,  Calliope told me about her life: She is from Crete. Prior to coming to Mykonos, she had been working in Athens. She applied for a job working at the Porto Mykonos Hotel and took the job when she got an offer in April. The short-term contract lasts through fall and offers a better package than her previous job — including a salary and a room at the hotel. She says if the room had not come with the deal, she would have to pay about 500 Euro (about $597 US) per month to rent a room, which she says would be the greater part of her monthly salary.

When this contract expires, Calliope will seek another hospitality job. She thinks she will go to Germany or Switzerland, even though she does not like the cold. But distaste for weather would likely not dissuade a young Greek hospitality industry worker from taking a job abroad. It would likely offer better benefits than one at home, where tourism wanes in winter and early spring.

Greece has been trying to recover from a financial crisis for the past 10 years. Statistics put the overall unemployment at about 25 per cent. For Greeks under the age of 25, the numbers are harsher: Statistics show nearly 47 of every 100 were unemployed as of May 2017.  About a third of working age adults,, like Calliope, between 25 and 34 have no employment. During the first two quarters of 2017, Greece’s economy experienced slight negative growth. That means Greece has officially slipped into a recession.

Despite the recent economic downturn, Calliope feels lucky to have a job. Tourism remains one of the most robust employment sectors in Greece.

But all work and no play would bore a young Greek woman like Calliope. Just before 4 in the morning, we left Semeli. We wound our way back up the hill to Porto Mykonos Hotel. We bid each other good night. She did not hug me, likely not wanting to cross the hotel employee-guest line. But, I hugged her.

She thought I had done her a favor. She did me the favor: showing me how Greek hospitality workers and visitors alike enjoy Mykonos’ vibrant nightlife. More important, she providing me with insight into life of Greek youth and hospitality industry workers.

Despite her concerns over finding the next job in a competitive industry, Calliope hopes for the same as many other young women around the world:  a job, a boyfriend and eventually children.

Based on Calliope’s flexibility, work ethic and graciousness,  I think Calliope will acquire everything her heart desires.