Island Life

Cyprus: a small island on the outskirts of Europe that boasts a unique and privileged geographical location, a rich history and a deeply rooted culture, and the place I called home for three years. 

Cyprus as an island gave me a lot, not least a beautiful bronzed, year round glow thanks to the endless hours of sunshine and delicious Mediterranean weather on offer. But it also gave me a family and afforded me the sort of friendships that never die, even when you depart the confines of the island. 

It taught me about the history and conflict and intense background that has made it the place it is today. And it gave me knowledge; I learnt the language, the culture and the cooking. But for me one of the most interesting things about the island is it's rich history and I don't mean the rise and fall of Ayia Napa as the 20-somethings party destination of choice. And while I have heard first hand accounts of the conflict Cyprus was engulfed in, I never really understood the severity of it. 

So when I returned this summer for 2 weeks of Mediterranean sun and relaxation, I decided on a pretty relevant choice of reading. The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop tells the story of the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974 and aside from being a brilliantly written piece of literature, it makes the historical elements of the countries background, digestible. 

It's all to easy to forget the history of a place, a person or a relationship. I look at granny, sitting under the vine leaves in the shade, in the garden of her house that she moved into when she fled her home in 1974 and I never really understood the events that she had lived through. 

I take in every inch of the landscape from the light blue sky to the dusty terrain, the lush green mountains and the deep blue ocean. I make sure I appreciate every word of Greek spoken to me and I make a conscious effort to scour my brain for the correct pronunciation of the Greek words I still remember. I immerse myself in the culture around me and capture every expression of the people I miss on a daily basis.

Now I soak up every moment of my time on the island and think how lucky we are to enjoy it so carelessly. 

Guest Post: Another Expats Thoughts on Leaving Cyprus

I have been in London for 2 days and although this post is scheduled, i'm sure I have been rushed off my feet with exploring this city again, spending time with family and catching up with friends who I have neglected for the last year with my absence. 

As such, I asked Rebekka from See What I See Designs to take over for the day and give me a little more breathing space before bombarding the blog with all things London. 

Rebekka is one of those uber talented ladies, who paints, makes, creates and writes and has had the pleasure of living on the little Mediterranean island of Cyprus for a year, so she knows exactly how I feel. I'll stop rambling and let Rebekka tell you the rest. Oh and be sure to visit her etsy shop once your done here because she makes the cutest handmade cards. 

Bon voyage, Mimi!  I am so excited for your new adventures!  I'm Bekka, a watercolor artist now based in Atlanta, Georgia.  In the fall of 2011, after being married for only six months, I followed my husband to Cyprus so he could take a job offer there.

We left the little Mediterranean island just a little over a year ago to come back to the States.  It was an abrupt transition, filled with uncertainty and heartbreak. Job loss.  Even now the thought of my husband waiting for me in our little Nicosia apartment to tell me that he didn't have employment anymore fills my heart with dread and makes me sick to my stomach.

Job loss is never easy, as an expat it is terrifying!  I remember immediately panicking over how long our visas would be valid to make sure we weren't in the country illegally.  We quickly had to decide whether to find another job on the island or go home.  We took a shot in the dark and decided to go home.  That decision made, we had to sell our car, get out of our lease, find an international moving company, close our accounts...on and on the list went.  It was miserable.  What made it worse was our urgency to get home.  In two weeks we had completely closed down our Cypriot lives.  I remember standing in the airport in Frankfurt waiting for our connection and finally taking a deep breath.  No more cell phones.  No bank account.  No sofa.  No car.  No  home.  Only a plane ride to something that should have felt so familiar, but was more foreign than the Greek-speaking nation we had left behind us.  Repatriating sounded harder than the move had just been.

Despite our tumultuous exit, when I think about Cyprus, I think of the first two years of my marriage. Our first home.  I think of my first anniversary spent in Paphos and our first sofa from Ikea.  I think of iced chocolate in the summer, clear blue seas, rocky coasts, scruffy mountains, and halloumi.  I dream of fields of Dahlberg Daisies after a thick, winter rain and long for the scent of orange blossoms this time of year.  Even with all of the headaches it gave me to be there as an expat, the financial stress, the unknown, the distance from the States and family, when I think of Cyprus, I think of home.  It holds such a dear place in my heart and I miss it daily.

Setting the Scene: 1 day till the end of the Cyprus Chapter

I wrote this post 9 days ago and bam, the apartment is officially empty and the dog has gone. 

As soon as the dog left yesterday the suitcases came out and packing has commenced in ernest. I now have just 24 hours before I leave Cyprus and a frantic feeling has washed over me. There are black bin bags of rubbish littering the apartment, there is a smell of floor cleaner in the air and my cupboards are as empty as they have ever been. 

Looking at our empty bedroom is pretty emotional and not having the dog following me round the apartment is bringing the reality of leaving ever closer. The Cyprus chapter of my life is officially coming to a close and while it has been turbulent, frustrating and at times, stressful, it has also been exciting, amazing and filled with learning experiences. 

Lifestyle

The lifestyle in Cyprus is completely different to that of London and I think it will be the hardest thing to let go of. Cyprus is slow paced; they take the day one step at a time and coffee breaks a big must. Family gathers together regularly and food is a focal point of any meeting. Swapping the slower pace of life here for the hectic, fast paced life of London is going to take some getting used to. But I am not going to lie, I am ready for the change and equally as excited to get on the tube, use my oyster card and stuff my face with roast dinner. 

Weather

The weather is obviously one of the positives to living in Cyprus. For about 9 months of the year, you are guaranteed warm temperatures and sunshine almost every day. In the summer, weekends turn into mini staycations with the beach being on doorstep, no matter where you live on the island. Trust me I love the sunshine. But sometimes the heat and humidity hit you like a brick wall and all you want to do is lie down in a dark, air conditioned room. I am looking forward to a little bit of the English climate, although I am sure that will wane after the 2nd day of rain!

Food

Cyprus and food go hand in hand. They love their meat and it features in pretty much every traditional dish you can think of. Unless it's something with fish. Or a fasting meal. Ok so maybe not everything but most things. Kebabs are king on this little island and whether it is souvlaki or gyros, and they have become one of my go to lazy foods, especially since it is grilled meat with salad usually so if you don't count the pitta bread you can almost pretend it's a healthy dinner. Oh and we cannot forget the bakeries. Forget about any bakery you ever went to England. They do not compare. I cant explain it. You have to experience the bakeries of Cyprus first hand. And pick up some sort of traditional spinach and feta pie while you're there and wash it down with a orea cookie cream desert. It is a wonder that I actually lost weight in Cyprus right!?

Driving and Pedestrians

My biggest issue living in Cyprus; the lack of good and reliable transportation for non-drivers and navigating the roads as a pedestrian. Sure there are buses but who knows what timetable they actually run in reality and aside from walking or taxi, your options are limited if you don't drive. Which brings me onto my next issue; walking in Cyprus is a little dangerous to say the least. In many cases there aren't even pavements to walk on, which leaves you walking the street and lets just say Cypriot drivers aren't too concerned with obeying the rules of the road. If you do find a pavement to walk on, it will most probably be littered with parked cars (yes traffic wardens in Cyprus are non-existent) and you will have to watch out for people driving towards you because they want to park as close to the store front as possible. I may sound dramatic but the amount of times I have been walking the dog on the pavement and a car comes driving towards us and wants us to move, well I couldn't count them there have been so many. 

I am definitely looking forward to abundance of public transportation London has to offer and the risk free world of pavements actually being for pedestrians! 

By the time you read this I will have cancelled the internet and will be without contact to the world wide web for the next 24 hours until I touch down in London. It will be a test to live without whatsapp, email, blogger, facebook and instagram during that time and I am sure it will make me realise how reliant I am on the internet. I will be reconnected to the world tomorrow but will need a few days to adjust to the new surroundings of London. 

So I have some wonderful ladies taking over the blog for the next few days. Make sure to check in on Kayleigh, Rebekka and Vanisha cause they have done me the pleasure of knocking out some great guest posts. Bon Voyage.

The reality of the past year living in Cyprus

I love this little island for many reasons; the weather, the friends I have made and the experiences I have had. But the last year has been a struggle. Since my partner in crime left, I haven't been myself. Everyone who has spent any considerable amount of time with me will tell you I haven't been myself.

I fell foul to my own situation and will hold my hands up and tell you quite honestly, that instead of embracing the situation, I hid. I hid behind my own loneliness and I hid within the safe confines of the home we had made here. It was easy because I am independent and I can spend time with me, myself and I and not really be bothered about it. But after a while, no matter how much of an introvert you are, you do get bothered by it. 

Learning to live alone in a foreign country was an experience shall we say. And while I have some amazing friends and family here that I will miss so much, I let my independence and pride get in the way a lot. I have this innate notion that if I can do something by myself even a little, I'm not going to ask for help. I don't really know where that comes from. I blame growing up in London and never having to rely on anyone.

In turn my confidence in myself has significantly dropped. My confidence to be myself, to have faith in myself, to have conviction in my decisions and to feel proud of my skills have all taken a battering and the funny thing is, it is only in the past few months that I truly noticed it.

Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing.

I fell like this little island has sucked a lot of life out me and there is a sense of cabin fever washing over me. Maybe it would be different if said partner in crime was here. Maybe it wouldn't. Who knows.

What I do know is that the older I get, the more I realize I want to have more experiences and more adventures and in turn grow more as a person. I don't think I am comfortable in my own skin 100% and I don't think I know what I want to do with my life. 

But the place to find those answers, for now at least, is not Cyprus.

expat life: booking flights that change your life

So this happened last night, which means I am officially entering the next phase of the adventure. A one way ticket to London has been booked and I will be saying hello to a city I love on the 4th April. 

Yes I know that is barely more than two weeks from now and I don't finish work until the 31st and I have a million and one things to organise, accounts to cancel, bills to discontinue and apartment to finish packing, not to mention two suitcases to pack. But I like to keep life interesting. 

As soon as I pressed the confirm booking button, a wave of emotion rushed over me. It was a combination of excitement, nerves and sadness. It was bittersweet because no matter how much I want to leave, there is a piece of my heart reserved for Cyprus and the people that have made the past three years so amazing. Cyprus has been home and it is weird packing up and leaving another country for a new adventure. 

You want to be excited but oh my the future is a little scary. 

I have mentally prepared myself for the ensuing stress and emotion that the next few weeks will bring. One day we will return to Cyprus but until then, it's see you later to this little mediterranean island. 

nothing great comes easy

I am not shy of hard work. But sometimes life is really hard work! 

I feel like I must have been really bad in a previous life because lady luck is not on my side and never has been really. The boyfriend feels the same so maybe we are both bringing our bad luck to the equation.

Anyway. The point is, we are making some pretty exciting plans at the moment which will actually involve us living in the same country and seeing each other for more than 4 weeks a year. Yep in the past year, I have had just 4 weeks with the boyfriend. Which sucks when you put the words on paper. And since I have been such a patient soul, I wish my luck was just a little better. Is that too much to ask?

Well the point is, as we make plans I feel like we come up against one wall after another. This isn't meant to be one of those oh-my-life-is-so-tiresome posts, because in all honesty we have had some amazing opportunities and have worked hard at every turn to ensure we make the best of each situation. I guess these trials and tribulations are part and parcel of a international life. If we want to move, travel, experience different countries and cultures, there is bound to be some pretty big barriers to break down right.

A mammoth task is ahead of us and international moving is never easy, but seriously, the obstacle course the universe is throwing at us is rather unnecessary. And that's before we even factor in relocating our little lady. Precious and slightly high maintenance cargo that she is, has really thrown a spanner in the works and will inevitably leave a large dent the bank balance, a lot more than anticipated but there is absolutely no question of her being left out of any plans.

Anyone who has a pooch will echo my sentiments I am sure. She is part of the family and where the family goes, she goes (but boy oh boy would expat life be simpler without her....ssssssssh.....I didn't say that). 

All of this basically comes down to one thing. The Cyprus chapter of my life will soon come to an end.....for now. We will surely return one day, but at the moment those days are far into the future. And in amongst all the plans there is some really important things to consider.

Like redesigning the blog for one! Priorities. Priorities. 

2013; you've been turbulent

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*Long post alert*

The last day of 2013 has arrived. The previous 364 days of 2013 have literally passed at lightening speed and I am now sitting here, on a freezing cold, stormy Tuesday in Nicosia wondering how to sum up this year in words. I have achieved a lot, on this blog and in terms of my personal development (is this starting to sound like a CV?), but along the way there have been tears, goodbyes and sacrifices which have all compounded my original sentiments from the early days of 2013; don't worry because life is too short. 

I'm not superstitious at all but part of me feels that the pesky 13 at the end of the 2000 has been playing it's tricks all year. 

Life has continued at a speedy pace and it is only when I make my self stop and think, that I realise I have been an expat for yet another year. Everyday life in Cyprus has become just that; everyday. But living alone for more than half a year has brought into perspective, once again, some of the challenges of living in a foreign country, not to mention being alone, and far away from the trusty support system of family and friends back in London. If it wasn't for the boyfriends family and the amazing little bunch of girls I get to call friends here, I would have packed up and gone back to England a long time ago. 

The single biggest thing that living alone taught me though, is that I can do it. I can be independent and I can be on my own, handle the everyday things like changing a lightbulb, fixing the bed frame and killing cockroaches, all without the boyfriend. But it would sure be a lot easier with him.

Long distance relationships are always an uphill struggle to the finish line and I am not pretending they are easy. Being apart is one of the hardest things and there are many tear filled days when all you want is a hug from the one person who can't give it to you. And try doing long distance friendships alongside! Sometimes I think I have the patience of a saint (and I must be a little bit crazy). 

Aside from the challenges and inevitable tantrums that 2013 brought, I learnt a lot although it wasn't my language skills because my Greek is still far from perfect. I kicked it up a notch on the blog and I am super proud of my efforts, I entered some great expat writing competitions and was a guest writer for blogs and expat communities alike. Not to mention we had an amazing summer here! 

I don't know if I can tick all of my goals off of last years list.....  I definitely shopped less, sent more mail and became a better blogger. As for the worrying less, well that was intermittent and I absolutely did not see more. But you have to have some leftovers to drag into the new year with you. So for 2014, it's traveling, send even more mail and worry even less. 

Tonight we will be celebrating together. The only way I want to end 2013 and start 2014. 

*If you got this far I applaud you. And thank you*

A lazy blogger, Christmas and an earthquake

Things I learnt this week; December makes me a lazy blogger, Christmas in Cyprus is not all that bad and I don't take much notice of earth quakes apparently.

I have been really slack since the boyfriend crash landed in Cyprus. I had planned to have blog posts scheduled for the duration of his visit, but that never really happened. What with the buzz of the boyfriend arriving and the excitement of Christmas, my mind has since been elsewhere and silence has fallen upon the blog. 

I was totally spoilt for christmas this year with the boyfriend surprising me with an a.m.a.z.i.n.g present,  while family showered me with some much needed beauty favourites from England, ASOS vouchers for my fashion fix and the boyfriends mum sent me a necklace I talked about on this blog a few months ago, but more on that later.  She really is one clever and observant women. 

The weeks festivities were intertwined with a few crazy hectic work days. But Christmas Day was one big fat Cypriot feast. Uncles hovered around the souvla, aunties prepared side dishes and salads, cousins were reunited and great grandchildren drove everyone crazy with their screaming and new toys which meant the whole day was playtime.

And to end the week a little earthquake hitting 6 on the Richter scale. Which by the way, I didn't feel at all and I'm rather pleased I didn't because I was in the shower at the time and I don't think that's the safest place to be! 

Expat Blog Awards 2013

It is that time of year again folks....the expat blog awards are upon us and I would love your support. The blog awards are a little different this year since they have been combined with a writing competition. 

The brief; to write a top list for the country your residing in. After three years in Cyprus, I think I have learnt the tips and tricks for an easy expat life in Cyprus. So please head on over here, for my entry and take two minutes to leave a comment on the official entry page for my blog. 

A quick note and I know it is annoying but thats the rule, comments will require a quick (one time) email verification so please check your inbox after you comment. 

Food: an English girls take on spinach rice

When it comes to cooking Cypriot food, there are two ways of doing it. The traditional Cypriot way, or my way, which is the English girl trying to cook Cypriot food and failing miserably way. I usually end up with a ridiculously messy kitchen and a vaguely Cypriot style dish. Lets take spinach rice as a case in point. 

Spinach rice, otherwise known as Spanakorizo (σπανακόρυζο) is for me, one of those creamy, hot Cypriot comfort food dishes that would be perfect on a freezing cold winters day and can be served as a side dish or as a meal in its own right. It should be made with onions, rice, tomatoes and spinach.

There is a great recipe on one of my favourite food blogs, Souvlaki for the Soul which is the work of Peter, a photographer who blogs about food and travel, all the while tapping into his Greek heritage. I could spend hours here, pouring over the fantastic recipes and being mesmerised by the beautiful photographs of food; two of my favourite things!

So instead of following a recipe for my spinach rice, I decided to throw caution to the wind and go with the flow and voila. Spinach rice by an English girl. The boyfriends grandmother would be so disappointed if she saw this. Because in Cyprus grandmothers are queens of the kitchen. Actually most grandmothers around the world are queens of the kitchen...why is that? 

So my spinach rice has no tomato, but does have rice, spinach and sweetcorn. For flavour I also added some olive oil, wholegrain mustard, lemon and salt. 

I promise one day I will cook a Cypriot dish that I don't put my own spin on. Until then, I will enjoy the cooking to the boyfriends granny. Well I have to do my research right!?

a little bit about customs (no not the ones at the airport)

I can always find an excuse to post pictures of food! These are traditional Cypriot treats prepared at Christmas

Hands up you expats who got a bit of a kick in the face when it came to understanding the customs in your new country? 

Every day I live in Cyprus, I become more accustomed to the customs! Differences between cultures which were glaring at me everyday have faded into the background and now I have the hang of the basics, customs and traditions here in Cyprus aren't that scary. 

When I first arrived it was a whole different story. Sure I was coming from London, a highly eclectic city with so many nationalities all thrown together in one melting pot. But being brought up in London somewhat desensitizes you to these things, and I never saw them as any but normal. The excitement of being in a new country and the abundance of sunshine kinda clouded my judgement. But the excitement was also thrown together with fear as I struggled to get to grips with this new culture and all the associated customs. But I got there in the end. 

If you want to read more about Cyprus customs (and yes you do because they are interesting), then check out my article for Internations.org, a global community bringing expats together. 

let's talk about the 1st October

Today is Cyprus Independence Day - the day that Cyprus became independent from the British in 1960. And a day that I should maybe not shout about being a Brit living in Cyprus. A public holiday here, the day is usually marked with a huge military parade, including military vehicles and aircraft, that  happens to go right past my apartment. 

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Except this year, it was deemed not financially feasible (and quite rightly) to put on such a show.

Cyprus is in the grips of recession and to blow a whole lot of state money on such a celebration would have been totally ridiculous to the outside world. There are many things I find easy to comment about when it comes to Cyprus; I know every country has it's flaws and I am in no position to judge considering this is not "my country". But it is my home. I pay my contributions like any other resident. And as such sometimes I can't help but voice my opinions. 

But instead of going on a rant today, I would direct you to a pretty wonderful article published today by the Cyprus Mail. The writing captures very honestly the way Cyprus has worked for the last 53 years of it's independence. 

"After half a century, a ruling elite of corrupt politicians, greedy trade unionists, dishonest businessmen and self-serving lawyers has sucked the state dry...This, regrettably, is what the Cyprus Republic has been about in its 53-year history. We cannot even boast that after 53 years, we built a State in which there is rule of law, let alone equality before the law."

This article paints a rather bad picture of the island, but ask many people and they would agree with the fundamental truths behind the writing. 

Maybe the next years will see some radical reforms and allow the island to really embrace it's independence. Only time will tell. 

the negatives of living on a Mediterranean island

It's not a holiday all the time (I promise).
After months of endless sunshine *I know...cry me a river right* you kinda want a different season.
My duvet is missing for 4 months of the year.
Air con breaks your bank balance.
The pressures of maintaing that beach body are all too real.
Everything shuts in August.
Public transport has a slowly slowly approach.
Bugs are oversized.
Small island syndrome is a reality.

I am in a particularly gloomy mood as I write this and any expat will know that this is the worst type of mood for an expat. Especially an expat who is feeling alone, is bored of the summer, wants her duvet back and a Sex and the City marathon with hot chocolate.

I am kind of hoping that by writing down the negatives whirling round in my head, I will free my brain from these thoughts. A sort of free-therapy-for-oneself-type-of-activity.

There are actually many great things about being an expat in Cyprus. Read my insiders top ten to expat life in Cyprus for some of the good bits!

the villa of my dreams

Have you ever found a place that is so calming, so luxurious, so completely the opposite of your everyday life that you want to stay there for ever? (I am expecting some replies to this question to add to my list of places to travel).

Latchi is my version of that. A little fishing village, away from people, away from life and away from the sound of traffic in Nicosia! I have been every year since moving to Cyprus and always stay in the same hilltop villas. 

I always book through these guys because I know I can trust them. I can trust them so much that I booked a villa without seeing pictures. A villa, which last year, was abandoned, overgrown and the pool was definitely not fit for swimming. 

Oh what a difference a year makes. This place was pure luxury. The villa has been lovingly made over and the little touches like outdoor sofas, hammocks and bean bags on the roof terrace really made it feel special, not a sterile-out-of-the-mould holiday villa. 

This one felt like home. I wish!

Anyone who really wants to get away from everything and relax, whether its a holiday across the water or a staycation for you expats already in Cyprus, I cannot recommend Latchi enough. Go!

Staycation (a picture heavy post)

Even when you live on a Mediterranean island, you need a break! Everyday is not a holiday (despite what some of you may think)  however I am lucky enough that a long weekend can feel like a holiday with beaches, sunbathing, cocktails and BBQ's.

If you follow me on instagram you will probably have seen I have been away. For the past few days I have been in Latchi, enjoying a little spot of luxury, in a hilltop villa with a pool overlooking a beautiful, blue bay and indulging in some proper rest and relaxation. More about Latchi and the villa later, but for now, you can live vicariously through the million and one pictures of the incredible views I woke up to.

Don't feel too sorry for me, I am now officially back to the 9-5 grind of everyday life.