Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

Pardon me, but am I the only one to detect a certain contradiction between the following two propositions:

"2 coppers from Melbourne, came to our shop to eat, after boozing at the pub. They then, for some reason, began some racial innuendos which upset my old man."

"If Australia was racist, they would not allow over 280,000 immigrants per year."

Well, all this happened many years ago, and in a very small Australian town to boot. Things were very different then.

Australia is a very different place these days, with no more racism than any other nation of the world. In fact, it is quite amazing the cohesion within Australian society between people of all kinds of backgrounds. Here, you could have a GC live next door to a TC with no problems at all. The same can be said about many more ethnicities.

My previous post was a very brief description of one of my experiences growing up in a small Aussie town. Naturally, I have experienced other isolated instances of racism, far less brutal than the one depicted above.

But having said all this, I am quite forgiving and am grateful that Australia has turned things around. And despite my own arrogance, and behavior, which also left a lot to be desired, Australia has given me a second chance and I am very happy with the opportunities and privileges the country has given me as an Australian born person of Cypriot heritage. Who would of thought!

I don't think you would find anyone unhappy about Australia in this day and age.

But I believe you have quoted 2 isolated posts of mine. One talking about the Australia of the past, and the other talking about the Australia of today.

Fair enough. Thanks.

Not a problem. And thank you!

[Nikitas]

"All the sh1t got left behind on the island. The lazy, the feckless, those who could not be bothered. They sponged off their relatives abroad or got government jobs through meson or set up businesses ripping off tourists."

This is an intriguing statement from Wingnut. On one level it rings true and it reflects experience we all must have had, especially about relatives begging from those that emigrated, it leaves out the fact that those that stayed behind did face the tough times, and they pulled through better than most of our host countries would have done in similar circumstances. How far would the UK have gone if the Germans had occupied 37 per cent of ITS territory?

Most posters have left out Cypriots who have emigrated and excelled in non anglosaxon cultures, like those that live in France, Italy, Greece, etc. They really had to struggle because they did not face the familiar Anglosaxon framework already known from Cyprus colonial days.

As for the observations on the cultural outlook picked up by Cypriots in various countries, that is really accurate. Talking with South African Cyps can be such a frustrating experience because of their hangups. How did these people pick up such presbyterian attitudes!

[DT.]

I believe the best diaspora who not only did well for themselves but was the main driving engine behind fuelling the Cypriot government after the invasion were those that emigrated with Cypriot construction firms to the Gulf.

Speaking from personal experience the communities that had been setup in places such as Bahrain, Oman, Dubai and Saudi were fully functioning Cypriot villages. In ours we had a Greek school, a church, a cinema, a shop, a pool and a restaurant.

We lived all the Cypriot traditions to the full and I have never felt Easter in CYprus as genuinely as I did in the Gulf.

In our camp alone we were 2,500 Cypriots and most lived there for 15-18 years.

[CBBB]

I believe the best diaspora who not only did well for themselves but was the main driving engine behind fuelling the Cypriot government after the invasion were those that emigrated with Cypriot construction firms to the Gulf.

Speaking from personal experience the communities that had been setup in places such as Bahrain, Oman, Dubai and Saudi were fully functioning Cypriot villages. In ours we had a Greek school, a church, a cinema, a shop, a pool and a restaurant.

We lived all the Cypriot traditions to the full and I have never felt Easter in CYprus as genuinely as I did in the Gulf.

In our camp alone we were 2,500 Cypriots and most lived there for 15-18 years.

Which camp was that DT? I have visited a few in the UAE and had great fun!

[DT.]

I believe the best diaspora who not only did well for themselves but was the main driving engine behind fuelling the Cypriot government after the invasion were those that emigrated with Cypriot construction firms to the Gulf.

Speaking from personal experience the communities that had been setup in places such as Bahrain, Oman, Dubai and Saudi were fully functioning Cypriot villages. In ours we had a Greek school, a church, a cinema, a shop, a pool and a restaurant.

We lived all the Cypriot traditions to the full and I have never felt Easter in CYprus as genuinely as I did in the Gulf.

In our camp alone we were 2,500 Cypriots and most lived there for 15-18 years.

Which camp was that DT? I have visited a few in the UAE and had great fun!

Muscat, Oman mate.

[CBBB]

I believe the best diaspora who not only did well for themselves but was the main driving engine behind fuelling the Cypriot government after the invasion were those that emigrated with Cypriot construction firms to the Gulf.

Speaking from personal experience the communities that had been setup in places such as Bahrain, Oman, Dubai and Saudi were fully functioning Cypriot villages. In ours we had a Greek school, a church, a cinema, a shop, a pool and a restaurant.

We lived all the Cypriot traditions to the full and I have never felt Easter in CYprus as genuinely as I did in the Gulf.

In our camp alone we were 2,500 Cypriots and most lived there for 15-18 years.

Which camp was that DT? I have visited a few in the UAE and had great fun!

Muscat, Oman mate.

Sorry, didn't visit that one. Used to visit the J&P camp at Sharjah quite a bit and get my beer supplies as I was only a visitor and couldn't get a licence.

[DT.]

I believe the best diaspora who not only did well for themselves but was the main driving engine behind fuelling the Cypriot government after the invasion were those that emigrated with Cypriot construction firms to the Gulf.

Speaking from personal experience the communities that had been setup in places such as Bahrain, Oman, Dubai and Saudi were fully functioning Cypriot villages. In ours we had a Greek school, a church, a cinema, a shop, a pool and a restaurant.

We lived all the Cypriot traditions to the full and I have never felt Easter in CYprus as genuinely as I did in the Gulf.

In our camp alone we were 2,500 Cypriots and most lived there for 15-18 years.

Which camp was that DT? I have visited a few in the UAE and had great fun!

Muscat, Oman mate.

Sorry, didn't visit that one. Used to visit the J&P camp at Sharjah quite a bit and get my beer supplies as I was only a visitor and couldn't get a licence.

we were J&P as well.