By Natalie Christopher Abroad writer
I have been abroad for hardly a week, and I am already falling in love with my study abroad city. For the next three months, I will be staying in the capital of Cyprus known as Nicosia while studying at the University of Nicosia.
Cyprus is located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coasts of Syria and Turkey.
As this is my very first time outside of the United States, I had mixed feelings about leaving my family and friends for a long period of time. I knew that I was in for an experience of a lifetime, but I had no idea how much of a culture difference it would be.
Since the start of this adventure, I have already experienced a great deal of diversity and interesting culture differences.
One of the first and most obvious cultural differences I noticed was the opposite flow of traffic. I do love the fact that the coffee is so much better over here, and everyone drinks it constantly. Being the major “foodie” that I am, I scouted out for some of the best and most authentic meals within the first week of living in Nicosia.
I have also gotten into cooking with my roommates, so hopefully we can save some money by not eating out every night.
For most Cypriots, people tend to run on what is called “island time,” meaning there is a very relaxed pace in every day life. No one is really in a rush to get to where they are going, locals take time out of their days for breaks or “siestas” and everything from class schedules to the transportation system is always a little late.
Coming from a rural home and open campus at Susquehanna, I have never had to live in a city. Change can be good, and in this case, it has been a great surprise to discover how much I love exploring the city of Nicosia.
When I mentioned that Cyprus is located off the coasts of Syria and Turkey, I understand how unnerving that may seem. I was worried for quite some time about the safety and security of traveling to a foreign country, especially one that is located close to such recent struggle and suffering.
I have learned that you cannot let fear and paranoia control your life. You need to be smart and safe, but also aware and considerate of those around you, no matter what the situation may be.
Through the past few weeks I actually learned that Cyprus is the safest country in Europe, and as of now, is ranked the fifth safest country in the world.
Right before I left, my mother gave me a card that had one of my favorite quotes written on the front by Neale Donald Walsch. It says, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
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