Moving abroad is always very exciting, as well as a bit overwhelming, and this time has been no different. After having many experiences in different countries around the world, my first few months in Cyprus have been a rollercoaster of emotions, full of challenges and joyful moments.
Firstly, the staff at “Hope For Children” were incredibly kind and welcomed me with open arms. As a strong start to my volunteering experience, I had the opportunity to attend a conference with the Minister of Education and go on Cypriot national television!
Starting work was a whole different experience. You always have to be ready to help or step in in one way or another, and it can be difficult to find a moment of silence. Although the constant changes, together with the language barrier, were challenging to handle in the beginning, you gradually start to pick up a bit of Greek and Arabic and learn to normalize and embrace the chaos.
During this period of adapting to the new job, my roommates were also very welcoming and quickly included me in all the social activities, allowing me to meet volunteers from other organizations. As the weeks passed, we all grew closer and started spending more time together, which made me feel understood and supported. It was also very interesting to see how each of them had adapted to both the work and life in Cyprus, which gave me motivation for the months ahead. One thing that I found funny from the beginning was hearing them incorporate Greek words to their everyday vocabulary such as ‘ne’, ‘kalimera’ , and ‘ela’ among some others. As a proud Spanish, I told myself that would not happen to me, but I fear these Greek expressions are slowly growing on me…
Coming from a Mediterranean country, I thought I would be able to handle and adapt quickly to several aspects of everyday life, but Nicosia humbled me very quickly. I am definitely not prepared for the heat of July and August, especially when I have a long walk to work and the buses are not very reliable. It is also difficult to spend more than five minutes under the sun at the beach, the only options right now seem to be staying in the water the whole time or risking a heat stroke! On a more positive note, I do enjoy not having a single rainy or cloudy day.
Another assumption I made before coming was that I would be familiar with the local food, believing it would be similar to that of other Mediterranean countries. However, although some aspects are indeed quite similar, I have discovered that Cypriot cuisine also incorporate spices and ingredients commonly found in many Arab dishes. So far, I have enjoyed some Cypriot souvla and kadayif, but despite my willingness to try everything, my colleagues were disappointed to hear that I was not a fan of their beloved mahalepi. Not to worry, there are still many months ahead to continue discovering and appreciating Cypriot cuisine.
A bittersweet moment I experienced a few weeks ago was watching the Fifa World Cup and supporting Spain while being in Cyprus, surrounded by hardly any Spanish people and with almost no celebration when we won. I felt the joy around me, but at the same time, I wished I could have shared that moment with my friends and family back home. Football is a very meaningful sport for Spanish society, and such an event made people across Spain feel incredibly proud and emotional.
I am very grateful for all the learning experiences so far, both personally and professionally, and I am excited to see what lies ahead in these following months. I am open to being surprised by Cyprus, by its people, its lifestyle, and its beautiful landscapes. The adventure has only begun, but I already know it is one I will cherish forever.