A Bittersweet Goodbye
After almost 5 full weeks in this captivating country, it is hard to believe that in less that 48 hours I will be on a plane heading back to the United States. While I am more than ready to be home with my friends and family, there will be so much that I will miss about Cyprus and the people I have encountered here.
The lessons I will be taking home are lessons that will stick with me forever. Cyprus has taught me so much in such a short period of time! I want to share these lessons with you in hopes that you might take a step back and reconsider what is really important in life because, in a nutshell, that is what Cyprus has taught me.
Until coming to Cyprus, the idea of conservation was not something I actively thought of. In fact, I had that great American mindset of “it won’t affect me anyway” and I’m sure most of you know exactly what I mean. In Cyprus however, conservation is very important. Never in my life have I paid for a hotel where I was forced to turn the lights and A/C off before leaving the room. But in Cyprus, that is completely normal. You push your room key into the wall to turn on the electricity, and when you leave and take your card, the electricity goes off. Also, if you want hot water for a shower, you flip on the water heater 10 or 15 minutes before to heat the water for your shower and turn it off when you’re done. You can’t leave it running because it will burn out your water heater leaving you with nothing at all. And for tasks that use a small amount of hot water (such as laundry or dishes), the water tank sets on the roof of the building, being heated by the sun all day. That’s right folks, using the sun for something other than a nice tan. They also like to use the sun to dry their clothes around here. I haven’t seen a single dryer since I’ve been in Cyprus and every house has a clothes line for drying their clothes. Such simple ideas that save so much energy, and most of which you would rarely find in the States. We are too spoiled. Yes, I said it .. Spoiled. That is something I’ve definitely come to realize here. When we pay for a hotel, we expect to leave the A/C running on high and not turn a single light off .. Because we paid for it. When we want hot water, we expect it immediately and if its not there, better call a plumber ASAP! I mean, who has time to wait 15 minutes, right? And drying your clothes outside? We are much too technologically advanced for that .. And while I don’t see myself hanging clothes out to dry anytime soon, I will say that being here has definitely made me more aware of my role in the environment, and I plan to try my best to take some of this home with me .. Even if it just means making a conscious effort to turn off the lights as I leave a room .. or not dry my clothes repeatedly just to get the wrinkles out. We all have to start somewhere, right?
Another lesson Cyprus has taught me is patience. I know what you’re thinking .. I’m 21 years old, shouldn’t I have learned this already? Unfortunately thanks to the fast paced, demanding society we live in, patience was never exactly a virtue at the top of my to-do list. That, however, has definitely changed. Cypriots as a whole are never in a hurry. Being 30 minutes late is not only acceptable, but expected (and anyone who knows me, knows this is painful). Customer service is not exactly a priority, and dinner out can sometimes last hours. Lines move slower and conversations last longer .. and that is just how it is. They have learned to appreciate their time with each other and seem to cherish it wholeheartedly. And while I am probably still the most impatient person out there, I know I will be coming home with a significant amount of patience built up thanks to the laid back atmosphere of Cyprus.
In Cyprus, family ties are strong and you can see it everywhere you go. At each of our shoots for our documentary, family always came up in conversation. The people standing around were family, or close enough to be called that. They all lived in close proximity and kept open doors, welcoming each other in night and day. They didn’t move away from each other, instead they moved to each other. Every person I met who was not an original Cypriot seemed to have come to Cyprus to be with their family. This idea seemed so foreign to me. My family is literally spread out all across the United States .. From Alaska to North Carolina, from Pennsylvania to New Mexico. And with that being said, it is a very rare occasion that we see each other, if at all. No one really seems to even make much of an effort because its too far or we are too busy. But the Cypriots are NEVER too busy for family. Without a doubt, I am taking this home with me. Family will always be family. And I plan on making more time for mine. I want to fly to Alaska to see my cousins who have grown up much too quickly, and I want to road trip to New Mexico to see family and friends who are starting their own little families. The Cypriots have taught me what family means, and that even when you don’t have much, you have family. To me, that is a lesson we can all stand to learn.
They say there’s nothing like Southern hospitality, but after visiting Cyprus I would beg to differ. I have never experienced hospitality like I have been shown here. There is rarely a place we visit where food and drinks are not offered immediately. When you walk into a restaurant, even if it is only your second time there, the staff make you feel so welcomed and at home. They are not in a hurry to get you in, feed you and get you out .. Instead they want to talk to you, learn your name and find out why you’re here. There is a genuine care for the neighbor and a genuine want to make people feel welcome. And while I won’t complain one bit about the Southern hospitality I have grown to adore, I will say that the Cypriots are doing something right. I know when I leave this island, there will be people who miss me and who will want to hear from me. I know if I ever come back, I’ll have a place to stay. The Cypriots have taught me that with a little extra love, attention and care, you can put a smile on someone’s face for the rest of the day .. and find new friends in doing so.
So I guess I should apologize for the fact that this blog didn’t come with pictures. I sat contemplating what to write for my last blog entry, and I didn’t think I could leave without telling everyone about the Cypriot lessons I learned. And while there may not be pretty pictures to look at, I hope the lessons I’m leaving with have made even the smallest impact on anyone reading. We should slow down, sit back and take a look at what we put first in our lives .. And then maybe consider this small island, full of love for its environment, people and visitors.