Cyprus-Forum.com

[Svetlana]

I am not too sure why people get so hung up about 'foreigners should learn Greek. there are several reasons why they do not:

Firstly, very few foreigners successfuly learn Greek, unless they already have Greek speaking family members; it is not easy to learn.
If you try your stumbling Greek, in a shop or bank, they will reply in English to avoid confusion, so practicing is not so easy and which Greek do you learn? If you use a language course it will be Greek Greek, rather than the Cypriot version!

Most peope retiring to Cyprus are at an age that learning a complex new language is impossible and, in practical terms there is no need - so few people bother.

Lana

[bigdog]

where are u from btw Eliko sorry dont recognise the flag my geography is bad

The flag is that of Cuba, I have family connections there, you may be aware of the history of that small island which has been a 'thorn in the side' of America for a considerable time.

Despite numerous underhanded efforts to discredit that nation, it has stood firmly against every attempt to force it to succumb to the intrusion of the great USA.

The president has been in power for over half a century and can walk freely among his people without fear of assassination, stopping for friendly chats in the market places.

Quite a difference compared with the 'Ring of Steel' which accompanies the leaders of other nations.

Cuba has not been infiltrated and divided YET, the Yanks have had their arses kicked out a couple of times but are probably working feverishly behind the scenes, waiting for the demise of the elderly Fidel Castro, may Allah bestow blessings upon those who find shelter in the shadow of his holy beard.

Hi Eliko
Are you Cuban Irish then ?

[aapapa]

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.

That is a gross misconception most Brit ex-pats deplore the 'Little England Scenario' that is rampant in Spain etc.
You critcise Miltiades for turning native in the UK but you expect Brit ex-pats in Cyprus to do just that.
When we retire there are many places that we could choose but we choose Cyprus because we like Cyprus and have done for many years.
We certainly won't live on a complex, or appartment block with communial pool. It is our intention to integrate as we did in the 60s.
If Paphos is now so undesirable and decadent it is only what the Cypriots themselves have allowed to happen
If you had read and understood Miltiades's posts fully, you would find that he puts forward a very balanced and sensible point of view totaly unlike the vitriolic bile that Eliko uses at every opportunity to spout about the evil west and Brit ex-pats.

Please note carefully what Miltiades has said and I quote word for word, '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.' Note the words 'accept', 'respect', 'native culture'. All I can add is what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[aapapa]

{< 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.

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 ![/quote]

Miltiades,

Gone are the days when the Btitish settling here in Paphos were retired folk who did not have to work and therefore as per your argument did not have to make any efforts to integrate. What we have now are a lot of Brits who leave Britain, settle here and must work to survive. Now you had to learn English to work in England. Should not the same apply?

[Southerner]

[Gone are the days when the Btitish settling here in Paphos were retired folk who did not have to work and therefore as per your argument did not have to make any efforts to integrate. What we have now are a lot of Brits who leave Britain, settle here and must work to survive. Now you had to learn English to work in England. Should not the same apply?

Whether it is the fact that English is you second language or like Eliko you take everything to the extreme, true more younger people are coming to Cyprus but the vast majority are still people of retirement or approaching retiring age, I certainly could'nt have raised a family of four on Cypriot wages.
Please stop using words like prostitution etc implying that all the evils of the world have descended on Paphos via the Brit ex-pats arrival and just remember who encouraged the Brits to come.

[miltiades]

aapapa wrote:
""""""Miltiades,

Gone are the days when the Btitish settling here in Paphos were retired folk who did not have to work and therefore as per your argument did not have to make any efforts to integrate. What we have now are a lot of Brits who leave Britain, settle here and must work to survive. Now you had to learn English to work in England. Should not the same apply?""""

Absolutely NOT. It is common sense , that English being widely spoken in all parts of Cyprus as well as being the predominant language in the entire world , this in itself removes the need to learn the native tongue. When I came to the UK UNFORTUNATELY GREEK WAS NOT WIDELY SPOKEN. Here is the massive difference .I had to learn English since nobody apart from the Cypriots and the few Greeks spoke Greek. There was an imperative need for me and all those immigrants to learn English in order to go about our jobs , watch a little TV and mix with the locals that DID NOT SPEAK GREEK.The difference in Cyprus is monumental. Every one speaks English , the need to learn Greek in order to SURVIVE does not exist.

[ukman]

for brits comeing to live in cyprus ,its nice to learn a little bit of the lingo ,its nice to say good morning etc and thankyou .and its nice to now a few of the choice words. the one relateing to me would be bashie englesio

[Southerner]

Absolutely NOT. It is common sense , that English being widely spoken in all parts of Cyprus as well as being the predominant language in the entire world , this in itself removes the need to learn the native tongue. When I came to the UK UNFORTUNATELY GREEK WAS NOT WIDELY SPOKEN. Here is the massive difference .I had to learn English since nobody apart from the Cypriots and the few Greeks spoke Greek. There was an imperative need for me and all those immigrants to learn English in order to go about our jobs , watch a little TV and mix with the locals that DID NOT SPEAK GREEK.The difference in Cyprus is monumental. Every one speaks English , the need to learn Greek in order to SURVIVE does not exist.

Another point is that all the SKY TV property programmes which are for the main part Cypriot sponsored emphasise the fact that you will have no problem with the language as English is widely spoken as the second language of Cyprus..

[aapapa]

aapapa wrote:
""""""Miltiades,

Gone are the days when the Btitish settling here in Paphos were retired folk who did not have to work and therefore as per your argument did not have to make any efforts to integrate. What we have now are a lot of Brits who leave Britain, settle here and must work to survive. Now you had to learn English to work in England. Should not the same apply?""""

Absolutely NOT. It is common sense , that English being widely spoken in all parts of Cyprus as well as being the predominant language in the entire world , this in itself removes the need to learn the native tongue. When I came to the UK UNFORTUNATELY GREEK WAS NOT WIDELY SPOKEN. Here is the massive difference .I had to learn English since nobody apart from the Cypriots and the few Greeks spoke Greek. There was an imperative need for me and all those immigrants to learn English in order to go about our jobs , watch a little TV and mix with the locals that DID NOT SPEAK GREEK.The difference in Cyprus is monumental. Every one speaks English , the need to learn Greek in order to SURVIVE does not exist.

I am speechless. Because everyone speaks English, the English do not have to bother to learn a word of the native language of their host coubtry? I am speechless

[aapapa]

Absolutely NOT. It is common sense , that English being widely spoken in all parts of Cyprus as well as being the predominant language in the entire world , this in itself removes the need to learn the native tongue. When I came to the UK UNFORTUNATELY GREEK WAS NOT WIDELY SPOKEN. Here is the massive difference .I had to learn English since nobody apart from the Cypriots and the few Greeks spoke Greek. There was an imperative need for me and all those immigrants to learn English in order to go about our jobs , watch a little TV and mix with the locals that DID NOT SPEAK GREEK.The difference in Cyprus is monumental. Every one speaks English , the need to learn Greek in order to SURVIVE does not exist.

Another point is that all the SKY TV property programmes which are for the main part Cypriot sponsored emphasise the fact that you will have no problem with the language as English is widely spoken as the second language of Cyprus..

Not to have a problem with a language is not the same as don't bother with it. Try this sort of approach on the French and see what happens.