Cyprus-Forum.com

[simonwjones]

In Cyprus you can thrive as an entrepreneur if you have the skills for that but as an employee you can never get too far.

So, tell me. What is missing then in Cyprus? Where is there a gap in the market? What would your town/area/country really benefit from?

Simon - that is what you have to research for yourself. I have a few ideas about services that seem difficult to find and as my job is marketing and creating designs for marketing I know how to promote. The gaps are there to discover.

PM and we'll talk about them then?

[CatSitter_Limassol]

I read on another forum, where someone was expressing an interest in moving to Cyprus - that if the person had some kind of trade "why not try Australia?"

Erm - that seems just a bit further than Cyprus??? A bit excessive perhaps!

But, it is true - the cash may not go a long way if you have to pay for private schooling for the older child and, it's a fact you will need 2 cars if you intend to work and the other half is taking the kids to school. The only decent public transport is along the seafront in Limassol. There are buses that go throught the villages - the 16 & 17 buses go from the Market in the Old Town out to Erimi and takes around 20 - 30 minutes and they run every half hour or so.

It's a good idea to come on a self catering holiday and preferably NOT in a holiday apartment. Try to rent a residential or private holiday home away from the seafront and see how you go on. Buy the Cyprus Weekly and look at what is offered jobwise and by way of rental properties. Make a few calls and see how you feel about it after a couple of weeks. Then, maybe consider coming out alone as previously suggested. Give it say, 6 months alone to either make or break.

Good luck

[Niki]

In Cyprus you can thrive as an entrepreneur if you have the skills for that but as an employee you can never get too far.

So, tell me. What is missing then in Cyprus? Where is there a gap in the market? What would your town/area/country really benefit from?

Simon - that is what you have to research for yourself. I have a few ideas about services that seem difficult to find and as my job is marketing and creating designs for marketing I know how to promote. The gaps are there to discover.

PM and we'll talk about them then?

I just may do that but after I get there.

[Radio]

Lena, I take your point about there being opportunities in the field of personal training. However, you are ignoring the fact they have a 3 year old child. The cost of child care would eat into the wife's earnings. Why would he find it easier to find work in Australia ?. Language for a start. Lots of possibilities in Cyprus would be closed to him for that reason. It's generally agreed on here that unskilled jobs don't pay well. The man is trying to improve the quality of life for his family - not reduce it !. You say there are lots of young Brit families living in Cyprus, how many of those are in menial employment ?. I still maintain that it would be ill-advised to uproot a pubescent teenager to anywhere, let alone one where they do not speak the native language.

I don't hate Cyprus - just the opposite. I was over last June and a couple of weeks ago looking at property. I'm just waiting on a civil engineer's inspection report and my solicitor's legal searches before I sign on the dotted line.

When Lee Iacocca was head of Chrysler (when it was profitable !) he said, "Don't surround yourself with 'Yes men'; they will blind you to reality". It's all very well saying to would be migrants, "great, go for it !", but if you plan for a worst case scenario, then there is far more chance of success.

What my post was meant to do was encourage jayt to do some more research into the viability of his plans, as he seemed to be relying on hopes and dreams.

When I was in the military the maxim was , "Remember the six P's - prior planning prevents p#ss poor performance".

[LENA]

What my post was meant to do was encourage jayt to do some more research into the viability of his plans, as he seemed to be relying on hopes and dreams.

I told you its not that I disagree with you about all that you said. I know that life its difficult. I have a 6 years old brother and its like my son really. Everybody think that I am his mom. I had to take care of him because my parents had to work a lot even during the night…so I know how its like to raise up children and how expensive might that be. Cloths, food, doctors, school, toys etc…As well as for the teenager boy … especially in Cyprus with all the extra afternoon classes.

What I was trying to say is that you could give advice with a better way. If you go back you will see my post about the language lessons that I advice him that they should enrol as soon as possible. But you present the reality thing with a way that you couldn’t see any advantage on the whole situation. For you moving to Cyprus were only negatives and disadvantages…

You said that he seem to rely on hopes and dreams…for me …its thank God that their still few people that are able to have hopes and dreams. Life is not easy for none of us. But at least we can hope for a better life and dream for a prosperous future. Is that too bad for you? If I just stop dreaming and having hopes … I think I will die. If I don’t expect anything better for my life why should I move on then? You can call me crazy optimistic young naïve girl…but hey I prefer to stay in my “happy dreaming world” than die in a “sad pessimistic life”!!!!

[Radio]

Yes, Lena, it's very important to have hopes and dreams, but to turn those hopes and dreams into reality requires planning and patience and effort; one of my dreams is to get a place in Cyprus, but that requires research & planning (and money, of course). The Chinese say, 'The longest journey begins with a single step'. When you were learning to swim did you just jump straight into the deep end ?. Of course not, but metaphorically that is what jayt is contemplating.

Most people here would agree that firstly he should do some research into what his monthly outgoings would be, assuming he doesn't have a job, and then he has an idea of how long the family would survive. Then he should do more research to see if he can secure employment before he comes over, which of course would be ideal. Failing that he should come over on his own, giving himself a time limit of finding work, leaving the family behind, wife still earning and teenager not having schooling disrupted. If he finds an economically viable job, great !. Then bring the family over.

Just coming over in the hope that everything falls into place will end up being more stressful than the situation he wants to get away from !.

"Keep your feet on the ground, but keep reaching for the stars".

[LENA]

Yes, Lena, it's very important to have hopes and dreams, but to turn those hopes and dreams into reality requires planning and patience and effort; one of my dreams is to get a place in Cyprus, but that requires research & planning (and money, of course). The Chinese say, 'The longest journey begins with a single step'. When you were learning to swim did you just jump straight into the deep end ?. Of course not, but metaphorically that is what jayt is contemplating.

Most people here would agree that firstly he should do some research into what his monthly outgoings would be, assuming he doesn't have a job, and then he has an idea of how long the family would survive. Then he should do more research to see if he can secure employment before he comes over, which of course would be ideal. Failing that he should come over on his own, giving himself a time limit of finding work, leaving the family behind, wife still earning and teenager not having schooling disrupted. If he finds an economically viable job, great !. Then bring the family over.

Just coming over in the hope that everything falls into place will end up being more stressful than the situation he wants to get away from !.

"Keep your feet on the ground, but keep reaching for the stars".

ARE WE STILL IN THE SAME CONVERSATION???? Both of us??

HUGE problem Jayt...ok not that much especially for Limassol...but you have to start lessons as soon as possible!!!

Paphos is quite "dead" during winter. Generally its a city to go and relax...without too many people.

But during winter with no tourists, all the graduates who left for Nicosia or Greece or UK...etc to study...the town looks quite empty!!! Thats not too bad but if we are talking about job opportunities...and you have to chose between Paphos and Limassol...go for Limassol. But Simonwjones and mountainman are right. You better come and take a look by your self!!!!

I told you its not that I disagree with you about all that you said. I know that life its difficult. I have a 6 years old brother and its like my son really. Everybody think that I am his mom. I had to take care of him because my parents had to work a lot even during the night…so I know how its like to raise up children and how expensive might that be. Cloths, food, doctors, school, toys etc…As well as for the teenager boy … especially in Cyprus with all the extra afternoon classes.

What I was trying to say is that you could give advice with a better way. If you go back you will see my post about the language lessons that I advice him that they should enrol as soon as possible. But you present the reality thing with a way that you couldn’t see any advantage on the whole situation. For you moving to Cyprus were only negatives and disadvantages…

You said that he seem to rely on hopes and dreams…for me …its thank God that their still few people that are able to have hopes and dreams. Life is not easy for none of us. But at least we can hope for a better life and dream for a prosperous future. Is that too bad for you? If I just stop dreaming and having hopes … I think I will die. If I don’t expect anything better for my life why should I move on then? You can call me crazy optimistic young naïve girl…but hey I prefer to stay in my “happy dreaming world” than die in a “sad pessimistic life”!!!!

What exactly from what I said you didn’t understand. I am willing to clear everything for you. But please, please read what I said first. I didn’t disagree with you on what you said but on the way you said all this things and your suggestion to him to forget the possibility of Cyprus and thing of moving to Australia. I am not naïve or blind or just a dreamer. I know how life is and I respect your considerations…I never said just wait to win your lottery or expect a miracle or don’t worry everything will work out eventually. I am not able to say that because I don’t know that. But I think that at least he has to try…and what I mean by that? EXACTLY what you said!!!! Spent a little bit time for a nice research on job opportunities and living cost and educational opportunities f or his kids. But just not give up! Go after his dreams if it’s his wife dreams too. In a family you have to thing all the members and not just one. I believe that we have to fight for our dreams. Is that so wrong? Do you have dreams? Hopes? Future plans??

Any questions?

[souroul]

i would choose limassol over paphos aswell.

as far as living in cy in general, if you are not hoping to make gobs of money and just live a normal life, its definitely feasable. your younger one will be one with the culture in no time, but the older one may take a little longer, but its going to happen since 13 years old isnt that old. if you sign him/her up in grammar school in limassol, he/she's not going to feel as far away from home since theres so many kids from england there its not even funny. plus they are mixed with cypriots aswell, so its going to be like a smooth transition for him/her, which is good.

[Radio]

Lena,

We are singing from the same hymn sheet, just in different keys, that's all.
You are looking at the situation with the confidence and aspiration of youth; I'm looking at it with the experience of age (please note I say experience - not wisdom !).

Out of necessity (jobs won't come to you, you have to go to them) I have lived and worked in places as diverse as Hong Kong and Nigeria, and Cyprus, of course. In each case I had a job and accomodation lined up before I went. Also, in each case, the nature of my work meant I wasn't hampered by not speaking the native language.

In his initial posting jayt makes the definitive statement, "we are relocating to Cyprus this year" and asks whether they should settle in Paphos or Limassol.

Perhaps the first question should have been not which town in Cyprus but which country in the world offers the best opportunities for the welfare and well-being of his family. If he was single I would share your views, Lena, and say just go for it, but having responsibility for a young family means a more circumspect approach.

He agrees that not speaking Greek will be a hindrance to getting employment; you say start lessons as soon as you arrive. Why not start them now in UK ?. He's a salesman, a respectable profession, but one that depends on fluent communication skills. If you don't speak the language of your potential customers you aren't going to get very far.

Perhaps Cypriot based members of this forum might suggest in which areas jayt might find a job and what sort of salary he might expect. Quality of life is infinitely more important than money, but bills have to be paid, so he needs to do his sums before moving; basically how much do we need to get by, and is that realistically achievable.

If I wasn't genuinely concerned that possibly he hasn't given this enough thought, I wouldn't have devoted so much time to this thread. It would be interesting to know the views of his wife and teenage child on the planned move as, obviously, he will need their full support.

Finally, I wish jayt and his family every sucesss with the move, and hope he will do us the courtesy of keeping us informed of his progress.

[LENA]

Lena,

We are singing from the same hymn sheet, just in different keys, that's all.
You are looking at the situation with the confidence and aspiration of youth; I'm looking at it with the experience of age (please note I say experience - not wisdom !).

Out of necessity (jobs won't come to you, you have to go to them)

In his initial posting jayt makes the definitive statement, "we are relocating to Cyprus this year" and asks whether they should settle in Paphos or Limassol.

Perhaps the first question should have been not which town in Cyprus but which country in the world offers the best opportunities for the welfare and well-being of his family. If he was single I would share your views, Lena, and say just go for it, but having responsibility for a young family means a more circumspect approach.

He agrees that not speaking Greek will be a hindrance to getting employment; you say start lessons as soon as you arrive. Why not start them now in UK ?. He's a salesman, a respectable profession, but one that depends on fluent communication skills. If you don't speak the language of your potential customers you aren't going to get very far.

If I wasn't genuinely concerned that possibly he hasn't given this enough thought, I wouldn't have devoted so much time to this thread. It would be interesting to know the views of his wife and teenage child on the planned move as, obviously, he will need their full support.

Finally, I wish jayt and his family every sucesss with the move, and hope he will do us the courtesy of keeping us informed of his progress.

Radio … you are not exactly right … we are not singing from the same hymn sheet. You lost your own and you just glance at my sheet…kidding this thread was a bit more intense that it should be.

Anyway, you are right to all this but I hope you get my point. And few corrections to your post…I said that they have to start Greek lessons as soon as possible…WITHOUT ANY as soon as you arrive. As soon as possible it means now if its possible, tomorrow if its possible…the sooner the better…kind of!!!

Also jayt makes the definitive statement as you said that he is going to relocate…that means I guess that he already made up his mind…am I correct or my English level is that low. He just wanted advice which city should he prefer and why! Not if it was good idea and if he has to reconsider other countries. If it that what he asked…I apologised to you and to jayt.

Finally I would like to wish too, to jayt and his family all the best for the future and all his dreams to come true!!!!