Ever since I decided to move to Cyprus I have been asked the same questions hundreds of times – why??? Before we left the US it was an excited “why?” but now that we are in Cyprus it is more of a “why would you ‘why’?” as in why would you leave the US to come here? I will tell you “why?” now: potential financial gains, family and getting back to my roots.
At first it was exciting talking about our upcoming move, it was fresh and different, it created anticipation and dreaming. We understood the sacrifice we were making and understood the possible difficulties, but these were not the things you discuss with everyone. I highlighted all the positives that influenced my decision. I saw the opportunities that existed and the potential for the future. I felt that with my background of diverse business experience I could do well. When Cyprus joined the EU I felt a stronger urge to be a part of this new frontier.
I remember the first time I heard of Cyprus I was a 7 years old and living in Jordan. “Gubrus” as it is pronounced in Arabic then represented a holy place far away where Greek Orthodox priests came from to visit us. My mother’s family was Greek Orthodox and I associated them with her side of my family since my Dad was Catholic. Even today in Cyprus every time I see a priest I remember times at my grandparent’s home when we had Greek Orthodox Cypriot priests visiting.
My family moved to the U.S. in 1973 when I was 10. Moving to America was a big culture shock - I had to learn to speak English, adapt to a new culture and deal with kids that didn’t understand what I was going through. With all that I had to adapt to I forgot about my own country so Cyprus was really long forgotten. When my Mom moved back to Jordan after my Dad passed away I felt it was time to at least come visit this part of the world again. It had been 29 years.
Our trip let us scope out the area – we visited my wife’s Mom in Cyprus and my Mom in Jordan. I automatically fell in love with the simpler ways of life and I enjoyed watching everything moving at a slower pace. I felt the need to experience this way of life first hand.
After my wife (then girlfriend) and I got married and were expecting our first child plus her Dad had also just passed away (the day before our son was born) we decided to make the move to be closer to her Mom and mine. We figured if it didn’t work out the kids wouldn’t remember anyway and we could get them back into US school system easily and without much turmoil in their lives. I happily anticipated leaving the rat race, traffic jams and harsh winters behind for awhile anyway. We took a risk and now here we are.
Today I was at the park with my son when another Dad finally asked with a smirk why I came here as if implying I must have done something wrong. This is what prompted me to come home and write this article because he was not the first person to make me feel like people don’t just come here for the weather or slow pace of life. Maybe there is something that I just don’t understand, something rooted in the culture that I am not aware of yet, after all people are much more forward and tend to ask questions that in the US would be considered too personal. The few times I said I was from Jordan I did not get the same reaction and feel as though maybe I should drop the American identity and just say I am from Jordan. What do you think?
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