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When I arrived at Larnaca International Airport on January 24, I had no idea what the next four months would have in store. Previously, I knew very little about Cyprus which is exactly what drew me to spend four months living and studying in Nicosia. On the first day, it was clear to me that the island life was much different than anything I would find in the United States, especially in the northeast, and I was ready to take it all in.
It wasn't long after my arrival that I noticed a pattern among the people I met. They would ask where I was from, and upon learning that I had chosen to spend four months living and studying in Cyprus, the immediate reaction I received, was why. Why Cyprus? Why would anyone, especially someone from the greater New York City area, want to come here? This question, followed in some cases by shock and disbelief, became a pattern with nearly everyone I met, to which my answer was always, “why not?”
While Cyprus is a small island, it is full of endless discoveries in culture and history which make it extremely unique. I am continually blown away by things that would otherwise go unnoticed and find that I am more aware of the things that contribute to normal Cypriot life. I found myself in a crowded and slightly noisy room, the smell of Cyprus coffee drifting through the air as I maneuvered past tabled of people talking, watching the football match or playing a game of backgammon, which I later learned is called “tavli.” The tapping of black and white game pieces on the board meshed with the sounds of an espresso machine and this every day Cypriot sight stuck out in my mind. People communicating, interacting, and playing games that aren't on their cellphones.
While these everyday sights may seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things, they make all the difference to an outsider. The odds that you would see such sights in America, especially in the northeast, are extremely slim and they are what make the culture spectacular. It is the every day things that have continually amazed me while in Cyprus, and it is the everyday, otherwise unnoticed things that make a culture what it is. Coupled with the breathtaking landscapes and beautiful coast, Cyprus offers a culture unique and well worth immersing in, and for this my question still remains. For all the beauty and amazement that Cyprus has to offer, why not?
