Cyprus forums and blogs

Expat discussion forums

If you've just moved to Cyprus - or, indeed, anywhere outside your home country - or are considering doing so, you probably have dozens of concerns and questions.   What kind of education is best for English-speaking children?  What is that ornate building? Where are the best doctors?  What is this plant?  Why is there a major festival happening?  Is it possible to take part in sea sports?.... 

Perhaps you have colleagues or friends who have given advice or helped you to settle in, but you feel you've asked them enough questions already.  Possibly they've lived abroad for long enough that they've forgotten what it feels like to be new and unsettled.  Or maybe you'd just like some further opinions.  One of the problems about living abroad is that it can be difficult to find people in the same situation as you, who will take your questions seriously, and respond without feeling that you are attacking their choices.  

So, the Internet provides a good solution with the plethora of ex-pat forums.  These are message boards where you can post questions, read other people's discussions, and find out honest opinions about living abroad.  You will have to register in order to post on any of these forums, but they treat privacy seriously and will not reveal your email address unless you authorise it.  You can choose a username which can be as anonymous as you wish, and you choose exactly how much information to make available.  

Each forum has its own guidelines, which you should read before joining in.  Some might not allow 'bad' language, for instance, while others don't mind.  Some prefer no debates, others have debates in particular places, others allow them freely.  Different people enjoy different styles of conversation, so it's worth perusing several forums to find one where you feel comfortable.   You can usually read the discussions without registering.  

These are just a small selection of the many forums available online that may be of help to people moving to Cyprus, or considering doing so.  You can probably find many more - however these are the ones I have found to be easiest to understand, with an uncluttered layout, mostly helpful members, and some useful discussion.    

Cyprus-forum.com - this is a basic forum about living in Cyprus.  There's a general section, where you can ask any questions you like, talk about sports, tell jokes, or simply introduce yourself.  There's also a section about politics  for those who wish to discuss the 'Cyprus problem' or the European Union.  

Talk Cyprus is a similar style of forum, which also has a political section, for discussion of the Cyprus problem and the EU.  There are also two more general sections:  one for chat, jokes and entertainment, the other for more serious discussion about moving to Cyprus, Cypriot companies, and learning Greek or Turkish.

British Expats.com  is a web-based community for Brits living anywhere outside the UK, with discussions being only one facet.  There are articles on several aspects of moving abroad as well as a lively forum with a broad range of topics.  There is a photo gallery, a place for blogging, and even some arcade games.   

Expat Blog is a site which particularly focuses on blogging - online journals - written by ex-pats describing their experiences in other countries.  There is also a fairly lively discussion forum.   Members come from all over the world.

Expat Women  is an Internet community specifically for women.   Even in these days of equality, many women move abroad because of their husband's job, yet take on primary responsibility for sorting out their children's education, shopping, and generally adjusting to a new culture.  As well as discussion forums, this site has articles, book reviews, useful links, and even a mentoring service.  

Cyprus blogs

If you want to know what day-to-day life is like for ex-pats in Cyprus, without joining a forum or asking specific questions, the best thing to do is to read a blog.  Again, different styles appeal to different people.  Some will talk mainly about family life, some about strange quirks they observe, some might discuss problems that have occurred.  You can usually comment on a blog, if you wish to;  if you ask a question, remember to leave your email address or some way of responding.  

These are just a few of the blogs written in Cyprus;  I've selected some which are updated regularly, although there are many more.

This is Cyprus...  is my own blog, which I started as a way of communicating what daily life is like to family and friends back in the UK.   It has a fair number of photos, and focuses on whatever is going on with my family and myself.  It started in the Spring of 2005 when we had lived in Cyprus for seven-and-a-half years.

Letter from Larnaca  is written as a once-a-week letter to the UK, usually humorous.  It began in February 2007 when the author arrived in Cyprus, and charts his course through adopting a stray dog, learning a few words of the language, shopping, and more.  At the top is an up-to-date weather forecast. 

A new life in Cyprus is written by a couple who decided to move to the island for various reasons, and charts their progress in doing so.  It began in June 2006 with detailed descriptions of what they planned to do.  

Larry and Felicity in Cyprus  is written by a couple who moved here from the USA in November 2005.  It describes their daily life - places they've visited, what the weather is like, how to get a driving license, and so on.  

Blog of Leonid Mamchenkov  is written by a Russian computer expert.  It dates back to 2002, with many of the entries being technical;  however there are also posts about his family life, particularly his young son, and the difficulties of getting Cypriot citizenship.