Cyprus-Forum.com

[robin]

Hi Eliko,You posted a lovley message to Leigh,please do not think me intrusive,but your kind comments fully justify why families come to Cyprus.I would like to think that your comments would include my family and I. Thank you for your encouragement ,take care,Rob.

[leigh1982]

eliko thank you ever so much that will be a big help i will be arriving in Cyprus on the 4th march 2007 i really cant wait

[leigh1982]

Good afternoon guys Just a quick one how hard is it to learn the language and is it greek or cypriot. Regardless of the answer I still am moving in march thanks

[les]

When my husband and I visited the local school in Paphos the Gymnasium School actually, the Head was really friendly and helpful, although what he did say was although he would love to have the children - we have a 5 year old, a 12 year old and a 15 year old he did say that they would need to be fluent in Greek or they would really struggle. We have all learnt some greek but not enough I fear for the children to be educated in Greek - perhaps the 5 year old but do I split them up? We looked at 2 International Schools; the American Academy and The International School, both in Paphos. The American Academy is a smaller school and slightly cheaper, the International - especially having re-located and re-built offer tremendous facilities, but it all comes at a price, between 3&4kcyp a year dependent on age plus books etc. Les

[Eliko]

To 'robin', certainly my comments would apply equally to you and your family, I am sure you will find that where you exhibit cordiality, you will receive it in like measure. Good luck to you also.
To 'leigh1982', the language here is conversationally 'Cypriot', naturally at school they teach 'Grammatical Greek'
the degree of difficulty is totally dependant upon the way in which you approach it, do not concern yourself too much about becoming fluent in a short period of time, you will find that generally the people here will converse with you in both your language and there own, they will enthusiastically encourage you to learn basic phrases and you will find yourself able to communicate quite well in no time at all, providing you are prepared to apply some dedicated time to your objective. I suspect you are a little apprehensive about the step you are about to take, try to be a little more optimistic and you will be just fine !.

[andri_cy]

When I was in elementary school, we had a student that came from the UK and came to school. She didn't speak Greek at all. She was fluent within 3 months, because she interacted with us other kids that apparently didn't speak English just yet. Les, why worry about splitting the kids up? Its not like you are sending them to foster homes, they are going to school. What would the 12 and 15 year old what to do with a 5 year old anyway . If I were you I would keep the older ones together and send the 5 year old to state school. That way he/she will get a good education AND learn the language.

[Bill]

Good afternoon guys Just a quick one how hard is it to learn the language

Go to classes and learn Greek ( not easy at all )

Live with Cypriots and learn the Cypriot dialect ( much easier )

All Cypriots understand proper Greek -- Greeks don't ( or won't ) always understand the Cypriot dialect.

Personally I think that taking a child of 9 to Cyprus and putting him into a state school would be hell for him --- there will be a few problems but will I hope adjust quickly.

Even children of Cypriot decent have major problems when moving to Cyprus and are put in a Cypriot school -- and they speak Greek at home

I came to the UK at the age of 9 as we were forced out of Egypt due to the Suez crisis --- I spoke no English -- only Greek and Arabic -- I was forced to go to school on the first Monday after arriving and
it was hell .

I don't want to put a damper on your plans -- but have you really thought this move out -- Cyprus isn't really a foreigner friendly place once you take of the rose tinted glasses worn on holiday.

There is a certain amount of vagueness in your post which leads me to believe you have not really done your research regarding this move

What are you going to do for employment ?

Are you aware of the really poor wages paid in Cyprus --- the salary you would expect to be paid a week in the UK would be your monthly salary here

Do you have a trade or business to give you a reasonable income whilst living here.

Please give this move a great deal of thought -- Cyprus has a lot to offer but it can be just as hard to live here ( if not harder ) than the UK.

One thing I must impress on you is to keep any property in the UK -- rent it out whilst you are in Cyprus-- then at least you will have something to go back to if it doesn't work out

I hope you understand my post has been made with your best interests at heart -- I'm certainly not telling you not to come to Cyprus -- but advising you to do all your research first so you will know that there is a good chance you will succeed.

I have met so many people that have been in Cyprus for about a year and sadly can't wait to go back to the UK as it's not what they expected and thought it would be.

As a matter of interest I will also be moving to Cyprus ( Larnaca ) in February 2007.

I wish you the best of luck with your move and hope it works out ok for you and your family.

Bill

[leigh1982]

thanks for your post bill my trade(s) are a painter and decorator builder anything in construction really I have a wide variety also a qualified chef. I have thought it out. Me and my fiance decided on the move due to the fact that I am working 5-7 days a week and so is she and we cant afford to survive in this country any more it was either Spain or Cyprus and my Fiance decided Cyprus. I have a Turkish-Cypriot cousin so I am fully aware of the problems. if you can advise me anymore on employment it would be good or anything else thanks again bill

[chrisp]

hi leigh

i had to agree with bill on many points raised.
we moved to larnaca 4 months ago.
2 boys aged 11 , 13, they cant speak greek so after uprooting them from the uk , school and friends, there was no way we could send them to a greek school - they now go to pascal.
personally if they were A LOT younger i would have loved to send them to a greek speaking school (would save LOTS of money), however the interesting point is that many cypriots send their kids to greek school till 11 yrs, then , if they can afford it, send them to international school.
i think its the fact their qualifications are internationally recognised, plus the MAIN fact is probably if Mrs Smith sends her kids to a private school, so will 'i' (this is a VERY BIG attitude with the cypriots with regards to everything!!!!)
i too think you should look at this realistically, its not cheap, wages are unbelievably low, food shopping is like the uk (if not more on lots of products) diference its int cy pounds not sterling!!
also i think a big reason a lot of people complain about living in cyprus but are still here is the fact they cant afford to go back home!
totally honest, my husband loves it here, my boys miss home, but if i knew what i know now, i would not have moved here.
the good side is the weather!
however, hopefully this will be the right thing for you.
good luck

[erico]

Try St. Mary's school in Limassol. Although it is fee paying, the annual fees are just over 1000£. It is a mixed school, in that they get taught in Greek, English and French. It can be quite difficult to find a place, but you may just get lucky. It is a non-profit making school, that is why the fees are so low. The advantage of going for this ''mixed school'' is that your son will be able to learn Greek during the first year, and then you can decide whether or not to continue at that school. Try and keep the trauma down as much as you can, because believe me, your son is in for a culture shock with regards to teaching methods. The methods are very old fashioned, with the kids having to write everything down from the blackboard. My son has struggled with this for the first 3 months, but he is now getting the hang of it. And the writing is in English. I dread to think how he would struggle if it was in Greek. But my intention is to have him in that school for a couple of years until he is comfortable in both languages, and then see if we should change or not. As it is a mixed school , he has made English speaking and Greek speaking friends, rather than just one or the other which would happen if you choose a specific-language school. Our daughter on the other hand is 4. She has 2 years before starting school, so she is in a Greek nursery learning Greek quite easily.

And watch out for one other thing. They start school aged 6 in this country. In Scotland they start at 5, so our son is repeating primary 3. This is no bad thing, as he is now top of the class in some things he has already done, but struggling in certain other things (Greek/French etc) which he has never done. So he will be getting a year of consolidation for some things, and catching up in others....

Hope this helps.