Cyprus-Forum.com

[phoenix]

My experience of the NHS in the UK is it's geared up to send people away, either with advice to check out the Internet, or to call the helpline (NHS Direct).

You have to show perseverance to get to the next level of care ... which is usually a proper (few minute) consultation. Don't even think you can actually receive medical care unless you can provide a convincing case or show of advanced symptoms.

A male friend who had not seen a GP for some several years, was suffering from severe depression and eventually went to see his GP, after a great deal of effort. He was sent away with a leaflet on symptoms and lifestyle suggestions.

[Johnson&Johnson]

you're probably right

I think i am unique, in that I must be the only person on the planet who has had only good experiences with the NHS

but then again i am out of touch having been in cyprus for ten years

[purdey]

To be fair to your friend Phoenix,that was possibly very good advise.Most GP's would have prescribed some addictive drug that would have made matters worse.

[andreas123]

it all depends on the preferences of everyone...

-taxes and salaries-- you may get paid 2000 a month in the UK..but in the end how much are you left with in your pocket? you get paid less in cyprus (mind you..a mate working in NCR cyprus..gets shit loads--salaries are gettign better) but you end up with the same ammount of money..
-safety-- yes i think cyprus is safer..but you never when your luck runs out wherever you are
--fresh food can be found anywere,,,in cyprus is a bit more expensive,,,it's an island small market..loads of competition ..what do you expect? AT least in cyprus if you have a garden you can produce loads of stuff yourself...in the UK..you can but due to the weather,,is not always succesfull (global warming helps?)
-- an advantage of cyprus..is the people...some can be pricks some can be very very helpfull and can be your freinds for life..
-- life/work balance...no comment..it takes me 1,5 hour to commute to london and i live just outside..it and 1.5 to come home..in cyprus 8-4:30 4:45 i am home..and have time to do whatever else i want.... i come home in the UK at 7 eat watch some telly..and that's it...what is the point....

and so many other stuff to mention...it depends how you see it,,you cant say one place is better than the other...it's just personal preference.... like GG likes cold weather...i can't stand it.. its melacholic and you cant go nowher...i'd rather sit on the beach,, enjoy the sun..and at night in cyprus oh man...perfect......rather than freezing my b***s and getting soaked:)

[andreas123]

I know 4 coupes who left cyprus in the last few years, all citing financial reasons, accompanied by the usual whining about how cyprus is no good, cypriots are rude, it's boring here, blah blah blah

all 4 are now making plans to return

they are far worse off abraod than they were here, and all of them miss the safety, friendliness of the pople and general lifestyle

work in cyprus is easy to find. although not well paid, if you stick to foreign and offshore companies you should do ok. and remember, you get what you give. work hard and show some commitment and the money will find you. if you are an over-educated prima donna who expects a hgh salary just because you boozed your way through eight years of university, then you might be in for a shock.

red tape for small businesses is minimal, so entrepreuners thrive out here. if you have a good idea, great execution and are competetive, you can do well

health care is OK. better than the US by far, and out here you are not one illness away from the poorhouse as you are in the states
lifestyle is second to none. i dont care what anyone says, and ive been all over the world

yes, but in the USA, you get better medical care. if you have the money (insurance), you live longer. if i was going to get sick, i'd rather be in the USA. you get what you pay for.

hahahaha you obviously have not watched SICKO??http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/dvd/ what an eye opener..no insurance..you die...is this the medical care you admire so much.???

[Johnson&Johnson]

One more point: i actually like the way it works out here, that you have to be good at what you do to make a decent living and not just anybody can breeze over here and make a life for themselves

it weeds out all the spongers, wasters and third-raters who would otherwise flood over here and saturate the island

sounds a bit fascistic, but thats just how i feel

[vintagechick]

it's funny how people's perception of uk vs. cyprus differs. having spent almost two years in england, london, and more or less a year here, i'd most definitely pick up england as a place where to stay permanently.

i find people in england way more polite!, nicer in general, they have manners, everything is more accesible there, much wider range of goods, services, the services are actually functional, unlike here, lol. there sure is a higher crime rate in engl., but hey what's the difference really if you get killed in uk by a psycho on the street, or here by a loser who cannot drive, cuz hello, forget a little safety on the roads, there is NO safety whatsoever. also myself, i find cyprus and living here as expensive as in london. everything takes ages to be done here, not even mentioning the way the cypriots treat women...and i admit, this is one of the crucial parts for me, cuz yeah, i find the behavior nothing but disgusting. of course, the big, and for me the only plus is the weather, nature, but that's it about it. if it wasn't for my boyfriend still working here, i'd be gone by now!

oh hello, when you ask me, you cannot even compare these two countries!

[Johnson&Johnson]

Well there you go - Cyprus isn't for everyone. Meek mannered and sensitive types suffer the most out here.

I actually hope that more people leave. The island is far too crowded and it is losing it's unique character.

[nemski]

in response to the subject of jobs and opportunities here, i am british cypriot, never learned to speak greek fluently, moved to cyprus from london about 5 yrs ago. Started my own business and now publish Cyprus' 1st contemporary arts magazine. I ve managed to do this despite speaking much greek, which has made it 100 times tougher, plus the arts are lacking in support and appreciation here, but it IS possible to succeed professionally if you are willing to put in the effort and prepared to ignore the cypriot narrow mindedness. When they see how things can improve with change they begin to see and think differently about what they want from their life and for their future....

[Sega]

in response to the subject of jobs and opportunities here, i am british cypriot, never learned to speak greek fluently, moved to cyprus from london about 5 yrs ago. Started my own business and now publish Cyprus' 1st contemporary arts magazine. I ve managed to do this despite speaking much greek, which has made it 100 times tougher, plus the arts are lacking in support and appreciation here, but it IS possible to succeed professionally if you are willing to put in the effort and prepared to ignore the cypriot narrow mindedness. When they see how things can improve with change they begin to see and think differently about what they want from their life and for their future....

Weldone, it just shows it can be done. Ignoring is the key, people do tend to talk down to you because you are different and difference must always be wrong in a narrow mind. It's silly difference is good. It adds diversity.