What is the reality of life as a British expat in Cyprus?
Jun 3rd 2012, 1:38 am
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What is the reality of life as a British expat in Cyprus?
I've read that for the most part the Cypriots dislike the British a lot and blame them for a lot of their country's problems.
I've also heard that living in Cyprus as a British expat is difficult because of their tendency to over-charge British people at any opportunity, and that it's almost ingrained in their business culture, and for the most part you will never get Cypriot prices. You will always be over-charged and there's nothing you can really do about it, there's no one to complain to, and if you do find someone to complain to, you will likely be informed that you are in Cyprus, and if you don't like the way Cypriots do things, then go back to the UK. Often, it will be turned around on the Brit, and you will be made to feel your being racist and judgemental against the Cypriot way.
Likewise, I've also read that finding work in Cyprus is very difficult, even if you do speak decent Greek. The Cypriot job market is close-knit, and inward looking. For the most part they only want to employ locals, and they're very reluctant to employ foreigners, especially Brits.
In extreme cases, I've even heard violence towards British expats who have had disputes with Cypriots is not unheard of, and that often the Cypriots gang up on Brits and even the courts go lightly on a Cypriot if he beat up a Brit because no one cares, and protecting the Cypriot is deemed more important than justice for the Brit.
I understand much of this probably sounds over the top and sensationalist, but I'm trying to build a realistic picture of what it is like to live in Cyprus as a British expat and whether its worth the trouble?
For comparison, how would you say life in Cyprus as a British expat compares to countries like Spain and France? Harder? Easier? Or not much in it?
I've also heard that living in Cyprus as a British expat is difficult because of their tendency to over-charge British people at any opportunity, and that it's almost ingrained in their business culture, and for the most part you will never get Cypriot prices. You will always be over-charged and there's nothing you can really do about it, there's no one to complain to, and if you do find someone to complain to, you will likely be informed that you are in Cyprus, and if you don't like the way Cypriots do things, then go back to the UK. Often, it will be turned around on the Brit, and you will be made to feel your being racist and judgemental against the Cypriot way.
Likewise, I've also read that finding work in Cyprus is very difficult, even if you do speak decent Greek. The Cypriot job market is close-knit, and inward looking. For the most part they only want to employ locals, and they're very reluctant to employ foreigners, especially Brits.
In extreme cases, I've even heard violence towards British expats who have had disputes with Cypriots is not unheard of, and that often the Cypriots gang up on Brits and even the courts go lightly on a Cypriot if he beat up a Brit because no one cares, and protecting the Cypriot is deemed more important than justice for the Brit.
I understand much of this probably sounds over the top and sensationalist, but I'm trying to build a realistic picture of what it is like to live in Cyprus as a British expat and whether its worth the trouble?
For comparison, how would you say life in Cyprus as a British expat compares to countries like Spain and France? Harder? Easier? Or not much in it?
Last edited by Matematik; Jun 3rd 2012 at 1:41 am.
