Cyprus-Forum.com

[Cyprus4MeSoon]

people moan that the british dont speak greek but its a nightmare to learn i mean z upside down and facing the wrong way whats that all about

Yes I know what you mean, I am trying to learn at least a little bit of Greek, but finding it really hard!

zxxzxzxxxxxyyxyzxzyxyyyxzyxyz

i think that means good luck

It could well do for the amount that I have learnt so far!!

[miltiades]

{< quote, miltiades}

Eliko , it is much deeper than that. Firstly you have to understand and appreciate that all super powers , and Britain was one at the time , through out history have exploited and used other nations for their own interests , a historical fact applicable to every single world power that ever existed.
Remembering that I posted much earlier that as young man at the age of 12 to the age of 15 I was a sworn member of the Youth arm of EOKA called ANE , and to-date I do not regret my past association with this organization.
Throughout this period I never harboured any hatred for British troops who were only carrying out their duties as soldiers remembering that the same troops in 1953 carried out their duties , in a humanitarian fashion , in helping the survivors of the earthquake of September the 10th . I watched as they erected tents and distributed food to the villagers and sweets to the children. It was a British army woman who took me and my two brothers and one sister to the Limassol orphanage .
I consider my self not only a Brit but also a Cypriot , my children share the English as well as the Cypriot ethnicity .
I came to the UK , on my own at the age of 15 . This nation has given me a great deal , I have nor rejected my birth country , on the contrary living away has strenghtened my love for my natural birth country , I also see very clearly that the British have contributed a great deal to the economy of Cyprus and I challenge any one to prove otherwise. Lets imagine a future scenario. The Brits go home , property crashes , restaurants , hotels , bars shops go bust in the process. Yes I hear you say , the Russians will make up the shortfall !!! Or in your case Eliko the Arabs !!

Let me finally remind you that there are in the UK more than 250 thousand Cypriots , how dare you say to them that Britain is their enemy ?
This country , the UK , has been very good to those of us who were prepared to accept and respect the native culture and learn the language without a bloody interpreter .
LONG MAY THE BRITS INHABIT PAPHOS AND SUSTAIN PROSPERITY TO THE ENTIRE REGION.

Miltiades

You hit the nail on the head the UK has been good to those who were prepared to accept and respect the culture. Most Brits here in Paphos don't even make an effort to speak basic Greek. I have heard a local Englishman complain that the bells should not be allowed so early on a Sunday morning. I have been sworned at for daring to suggest that it was discraceful that a particular Irishman who has been living in Paphos for twelve years still does not speak Greek. The examples of the 'Little Britain' mindset are too many to list here. I also grew up in the UK and I believe I see in you what I see also in a lot of my relatives who live in the UK. I am afraid you have gone native. You recognise that you had to accept and respect the native culture but you don't seem to expect the same from your fellow Brits when they decide to live in Cyprus. One final word before I am accused of hating the British or the English people. My son in law is English and he comes from a terrific family. My argument is not with all things English. My argument is with the concept that because these people help the local economy, we owe it to them to prostitute our customs and beliefs and become more like them to survive. No Sir, a thousand times No.[/quote]
Cant you not see the huge difference between us coming to the UK in order to make a living and improve our lives and the Brits coming to Cyprus ?? It is common sense man just use your loaf. Why should I , if I retire to Spain , did not have to work to survive learn to speak Spanish !!
We HAD to learn English because we HAD to work to make a living, and why should the Brits in Cyprus have to learn Greek or Turkish. I have been with my wife since November 22nd 1963 , She doesn't speak GREEK !! My son lives in the UK and Does not speak Greek , my daughter , married to a G/C lives in Cyprus and speaks fluent Greek .The moral of the story is that if You have to you have to if you o not have to you dont have to.The Brits in Cyprus are on the whole very civilized and respectful of the local environment.
As for me going "native " , when in Rome do as the Romans do , I have retained my identity but at the same time I have taken into my heart my English blood relatives , my two children , my nephews my daughter in law and my beloved wife. What is wrong with that !

[miltiades]

people moan that the british dont speak greek but its a nightmare to learn i mean z upside down and facing the wrong way whats that all about

Yes I know what you mean, I am trying to learn at least a little bit of Greek, but finding it really hard!

Don't worry too much about learning Greek , its a wonderful language but extremely difficult. I'm a Cypriot Greek who , through much effort has learned the Greek language up to an acceptable level. My wife who is English and has been with me since we were both 17 way back in 1963 , does not speak Greek , in many ways that has been good to the extend that I can express my self in a somewhat colourful but meaningful nevertheless way ! that only a Cypriot would understand and she is totaly oblivious to the meaning !!
My daughter lives in Cyprus and she is married to a G/C and has learned pretty good Greek , my son lives in the UK and apart from a few words his Greek vocabulary is pathetic , so what !! Most Cypriots speak English anyway .

[Eliko]

miltiades, what is wrong with it is the fact that you have embraced the nation that has destroyed yours, you are a 'fence sitter' who passionately states that he would love to see both G/C and T/C embrace each other in friendship and understanding.

That is a very safe position to adopt, you can return to your beloved (as you put it) Cyprus, regardless of the outcome of the damage caused by your 'host nation' and adopt whatever stance you choose, it will be the side that has the ascendancy of course, that is what ALL turncoats do.

I prefer the association of people who MEAN what they say, even if they are wrong, at least you know which side of the fence they are on.

[Cyprus4MeSoon]

people moan that the british dont speak greek but its a nightmare to learn i mean z upside down and facing the wrong way whats that all about

Yes I know what you mean, I am trying to learn at least a little bit of Greek, but finding it really hard!

Don't worry too much about learning Greek , its a wonderful language but extremely difficult. I'm a Cypriot Greek who , through much effort has learned the Greek language up to an acceptable level. My wife who is English and has been with me since we were both 17 way back in 1963 , does not speak Greek , in many ways that has been good to the extend that I can express my self in a somewhat colourful but meaningful nevertheless way ! that only a Cypriot would understand and she is totaly oblivious to the meaning !!
My daughter lives in Cyprus and she is married to a G/C and has learned pretty good Greek , my son lives in the UK and apart from a few words his Greek vocabulary is pathetic , so what !! Most Cypriots speak English anyway .

Thank you miltiades, that makes me feel better!!! if your wife does not speak Greek after all this time, then it does not leave much hope for me
I just thought it would be nice to be able to understand and speak even a little of the language, so that it looked like I was at least making an effort! Plus now I would like to know what people are saying in their colourful and meaningful way
I am more than likely to end up like your sons Greek ...pathetic
I am hoping though, as stated in another thread, that once we are living in Cyprus, that I will pick up a little more of the language!

[mad-dog]

miltiades, what is wrong with it is the fact that you have embraced the nation that has destroyed yours, you are a 'fence sitter' who passionately states that he would love to see both G/C and T/C embrace each other in friendship and understanding.

That is a very safe position to adopt, you can return to your beloved (as you put it) Cyprus, regardless of the outcome of the damage caused by your 'host nation' and adopt whatever stance you choose, it will be the side that has the ascendancy of course, that is what ALL turncoats do.

I prefer the association of people who MEAN what they say, even if they are wrong, at least you know which side of the fence they are on.

what a load of balls you are so far up your own arse its untrue you try to come over as someone intellectual but all you ever want to do is put other people down and you are what is wrong with cyprus and why there will never be peace.
get on with your life and stop looking back

[Eliko]

mad-dog, not a mad British bulldog I hope.

[Southerner]

[
what a load of balls you are so far up your own arse its untrue

Why do you think he's called Back Ali?

[Southerner]

miltiades, what is wrong with it is the fact that you have embraced the nation that has destroyed yours, you are a 'fence sitter' who passionately states that he would love to see both G/C and T/C embrace each other in friendship and understanding.

That is a very safe position to adopt, you can return to your beloved (as you put it) Cyprus, regardless of the outcome of the damage caused by your 'host nation' and adopt whatever stance you choose, it will be the side that has the ascendancy of course, that is what ALL turncoats do.

I prefer the association of people who MEAN what they say, even if they are wrong, at least you know which side of the fence they are on.

Eliko you come over as a sad pathetic whinger, a sheep in wolfes clothing, a typical rebel without a clue and a posessing what many would call racist tendencies.
If and when you do grow up it will be a happy day for all concerned, if you claim to be an adult already then act your age and not your shoe size!

Better still go take your silly flag back to Cuba and live under 'Fiddle Castrate'

[sweetie pie]

It is my understanding that the British residents in the Pafos area are seeking to establish a political representative for themselves, (they may have already done so).


Rather strange actually, since the majority of them seem to have left their own 'Golden Shores' in protest about the way other nationalities are seeking to do the same thing there.
The Cypriot culture has received enough 'Death Blows' from the Brits, I think they should respect the traditions of their 'Host Nation' and make an attempt at being ambassadors for their homeland.
Unfortunately the flag wavers (Most of whom do not even know how to describe their country's emblem), seem to be content with the knowledge that they are seen as 'ignorant', by most civilized societies in the world and take great pains to ensure that this 'Tradition' is exhibited wherever they go.
They will eventually spoil the area since they are seemingly unable to inject anything (other than decadence) into the culture that surrounds them.In my humble opinion.

Eliko if the Brits are so unwelcome because of their death blows etc etc to the cypriot culture don't you think it's strange that you never see 'Tarmac Homes' 'Geo Wimpey' 'Hassle Estates'? What you actualy see is 'Aristo Developers' 'Leptos Estates' 'Klianthes Homes' etc etc on every hillside/field wherever you go. We get bombarded left right and centre with programmes on TV/Sky virtualy begging us to come and buy property in Cyprus these programmes are financed by Cypriot companys not UK.
You can't have your cake and eat it, well over 90% of ex pats are on pension and actualy contribute more to the Cypriot economy than the average Cypriot of a similar age. When we move to Cyprus next year we will bring an income of around £1600 CYP per month all going into the Cyprus economy, and that's after we've paid cash for our house, once again going into the Cypriot economy.

I totally agree. If it wasn't for the Brits the economy of this Island would go down the pan! Brits still make up over 60% of the tourist population and the majority of those moving to this country are Brits.

I am sad that there is a little England in Paphos and personally would not live there BUT this is the Cypriots doing not the Brits!! It is they who have over developed the land not the Brits and it is they who are selling it not the Brits.

I had it said to me that the Cypriot youngsters cannot buy houses because they were being priced out of the market and that Brits were buying them all. Well, its the Cypriots who are selling them? And at vastly inflated prices too!!

Now I love this country and I am here because I love the lifestyle (well most of it) and would not go back to the UK because I have made my home here BUT I do object to the Brit bashing that goes on in some quarters.