| Born in Africa but grew up in Great Britain, Tam now lives with her fiance in Cyprus. Here she shares what expat life is like for a young woman in the city of Nicosia, what she likes and dislikes about living and working there, and her thoughts on topics like speaking the local language and the cost of living in Cyprus. |
 Tam |
-Where were you born?
-In which country and city are you living now?
-Are you living alone or with your family?
-How long have you been living in Cyprus?
Nearly 7 months-What is your age?
23
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Cyprus?
-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
-How do you make your living in Cyprus? Do you have any type of income generated?
I came to Cyprus and interviewed with a few accountancy firms. I got an offer from PwC but decided to take up an offer from a smaller, international firm as I wanted to have a good work/life balance.-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Business is done in English here. However, your colleagues will most likely speak Greek. People here are very well educated and almost all speak English and will speak to you in English even if you try to speak Greek. I would recommend trying to learn a few bits of Greek just for politeness.-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.
I miss home often but only my family. Cyprus is quite small and in winter it can be quite cold so the beach is no longer an option. However, Nicosia has most of the amenities offered by any European city. You can also visit Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Syria very easily from Cyprus.-Do you have other plans for the future?
I plan to move to another country in one or two years. Most likely I will move to the Caribbean to work in offshore finance as that is what I work in here in Cyprus.-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
Property is cheap to buy here although not always very aesthetically pleasing. I rent a two bed apartment in the centre of Nicosia for 625 per month which is nice and spacious but also can be quite noisy at night when the locals like to race their cars around.-What is the cost of living in Cyprus?
Salaries are reasonable here and the tax thresholds are very high so you tend to pay almost no tax. There is no council tax either. In addition, bills are reasonable. However, food is expensive as are clothes, books, CD's, etc. But you can always order stuff online.-What do you think about the locals?
The locals are very kind in general. I have met some very nice people here and some very unpleasant people here - so basically it's like anywhere.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Cyprus?
Positives:
- tax free salary
- good career opportunities
- Pleasant climate - although it's very hot in the summer
- Outgoing people
- Low rent
- Last divided city in Europe - so very interesting to visit in that respect
- Good beaches
- Uses English legal system and left hand drive
Negatives:
- Lots of noise at night
- Expensive food
- Greek is a very hard language to learn
- Not that well connected flights wise
- Very hot in the summer
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Cyprus?
It is quite cold in winter so do not expect all year round sunshine. Also, there are not many jobs unless you work in the finance sector.
- Do you have any favourite websites about Cyprus?
Yes, this is useful and interesting http://thetamarindtree.wordpress.com/
