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British Expats in Cyprus - Interview with Robert & Amanda
| Published: | 10 Dec at 9 AM |
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Filed: Interviews,Cyprus
Robert and Amanda were living and working in Cardiff, UK, they were both working long hours with little time for a social life. They discussed moving to Cyprus on several occasions as they were looking for a slower paced and less stressful life. The thought of living in a warmer climate was another enticing factor. So in 2006 after making several short visits to Cyprus they decided to take a leap of Faith and move to the Island. They now live in the village of Pissouri, a small community situated on the coast halfway between the towns of Paphos and Limassol. Six Years on and they still love every moment of living on this Mediterranean Island and have the life they dreamt of. They live in a small tightknit community have a varied social life and wake up each morning to stunning views of the Troodos mountains and Mediterranean sea. Robert and Amanda blog at A new life planned in Cyprus (see listing here)
Where are you originally from?
We are originally from Cardiff,Wales, UK
In which country and city are you living now?
We now live in the village of Pissouri in Cyprus
How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
We have been living here just over 6 years and as long as we stay healthy, we plan to stay in Cyprus.
Why did you move and what do you do?
We decided to move for a couple of reasons, we wanted a slower pace of life than we had experienced in the UK, the climate in Cyprus was also a factor. I am retired and my wife is a qualified nurse and worked for one year in a local hospital but the pay was pitiful and now she is self employed.
Did you bring family with you?
My wife and I made the move.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
We did not encounter any major problems, Some of the bureaucracies were a bit difficult to come to terms with, but with the help of friends we overcame these hurdles, but generally the transition went smoothly.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
Yes it was very easy to make friends in the community and we do mainly socialise with the expat community, that said we get on really well with the Local Cypriots and have a number of friends.
What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
There are number of wonderful walks in this area and further a field. Touring the Island of Cyprus by car is very easy and there is a lot to explore. The beaches are on our doorstep and the Mediterranean sea is warm and clear. The Troodos mountains are a 30 minute drive away and are snow capped in Winter. As a SCUBA diver its a bonus to be able to participate in this activity year round.
What do you enjoy most about living here?
We love the slower pace of life, the lack of noise that you get in a UK city. The wonderful empty roads between towns that makes driving a lot less stressful. The social life is very good and the warm weather is a huge bonus. We also love to eat outside, and watch the beautiful sunsest with a cooling drink. There are numerous tavernas in the area with superb food.
How does the cost of living compare to home?
The cost of living has risen slowly over recent years and due to the fact that we entered the Euro several years ago that I now believe that there is not much difference in the cost of living between Cyprus and the UK.
What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
Health care is expensive, The houses out here are not built for the Winter and it can quite cold in the Winter Months. There is a lack of choice when it comes to shopping, even in the larger towns.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?
I would say do your homework, make local contacts, makes several short trips to gain as much information as possible.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Leaving behind family in the UK.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
We are both in agreement that it would be difficult for us to return to the UK, we have done a number of short trips to the UK and we are always pleased to return to Cyprus.
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.
Our blog is a diary of our life and times in Cyprus, showing how we coped with the move from Day One. It is also an introduction to the people we have met and the places we have visited on the Island.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
By email at petersoncy{at}gmail{dot}com
Robert and Amanda blog at http://anewlifeincyprus.blogspot.com/ which we recommend a quick visit if you haven't been already. A new life planned in Cyprus has an ExpatsBlog.com listing here so add some blog love and support her at ExpatsBlog.com! If you appreciated this interview with Robert and Amanda, please let them know by leaving a comment below.
Here's the interview with Robert and Amanda....
Where are you originally from?
We are originally from Cardiff,Wales, UK
In which country and city are you living now?
We now live in the village of Pissouri in Cyprus
How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
We have been living here just over 6 years and as long as we stay healthy, we plan to stay in Cyprus.
Why did you move and what do you do?
We decided to move for a couple of reasons, we wanted a slower pace of life than we had experienced in the UK, the climate in Cyprus was also a factor. I am retired and my wife is a qualified nurse and worked for one year in a local hospital but the pay was pitiful and now she is self employed.
Did you bring family with you?My wife and I made the move.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
We did not encounter any major problems, Some of the bureaucracies were a bit difficult to come to terms with, but with the help of friends we overcame these hurdles, but generally the transition went smoothly.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
Yes it was very easy to make friends in the community and we do mainly socialise with the expat community, that said we get on really well with the Local Cypriots and have a number of friends.
What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?There are number of wonderful walks in this area and further a field. Touring the Island of Cyprus by car is very easy and there is a lot to explore. The beaches are on our doorstep and the Mediterranean sea is warm and clear. The Troodos mountains are a 30 minute drive away and are snow capped in Winter. As a SCUBA diver its a bonus to be able to participate in this activity year round.
What do you enjoy most about living here?
We love the slower pace of life, the lack of noise that you get in a UK city. The wonderful empty roads between towns that makes driving a lot less stressful. The social life is very good and the warm weather is a huge bonus. We also love to eat outside, and watch the beautiful sunsest with a cooling drink. There are numerous tavernas in the area with superb food.
How does the cost of living compare to home?
The cost of living has risen slowly over recent years and due to the fact that we entered the Euro several years ago that I now believe that there is not much difference in the cost of living between Cyprus and the UK.
What negatives, if any, are there to living here?Health care is expensive, The houses out here are not built for the Winter and it can quite cold in the Winter Months. There is a lack of choice when it comes to shopping, even in the larger towns.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?
I would say do your homework, make local contacts, makes several short trips to gain as much information as possible.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Leaving behind family in the UK.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
We are both in agreement that it would be difficult for us to return to the UK, we have done a number of short trips to the UK and we are always pleased to return to Cyprus.
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?- Do your homework/research and live here for 3 months before you make a final commitment.
- Do not buy a property, do a long term let to make sure it’s the place you want to live.
- Join a local expat or residents club to make friends/contacts and to get local information.
- Keep a foothold in the UK with Bank accounts, a property if possible.
- Research Medical Insurance, it can be very expensive.
- Do not import a car, import duty is expensive, much better to buy a car once you arrive.
Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.
Our blog is a diary of our life and times in Cyprus, showing how we coped with the move from Day One. It is also an introduction to the people we have met and the places we have visited on the Island.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
By email at petersoncy{at}gmail{dot}com
Robert and Amanda blog at http://anewlifeincyprus.blogspot.com/ which we recommend a quick visit if you haven't been already. A new life planned in Cyprus has an ExpatsBlog.com listing here so add some blog love and support her at ExpatsBlog.com! If you appreciated this interview with Robert and Amanda, please let them know by leaving a comment below.
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Copy and paste code to display the Featured Expat Badge:Comments » There are 6 comments
Emma wrote 12
years ago:
Great interview and good advice, we followed hardly any of that and I wouldn't recommend that! Health care isn't expensive though if you have a medical card - just €2 for visit to the doctor and the hospitals can be fantastic.
Danny Duo wrote 12
years ago:
Very interesting interview with lots of good facts about making that Big step, enjoyed reading it, Thanks, Danny
Lisa-Marie Flavin wrote 12
years ago:
Really informative great article for anyone thinking about moving abroad...Manythanks Rob and Amanda!
Jenny Paxman wrote 12
years ago:
Loved reading this blog, on a VERY cold day in the UK it makes me think that I would like to move to warmer climes and start a new life...Hey ho...Merry Christmas all.
Sheila Fern wrote 12
years ago:
Nice Jobs guys, loved reading about your time on what looks like a gorgeous Island. I Love your British sense of humour when you write about your times and travels. Best wishes Sheila NYC
WAYNE FOX wrote 10
years ago:
Thanks for the info.Looking to starting a new life in Cyprus and would appreciate all the help we can get.
