I'm really interested........

begonia


Joined: 19/05/2009
Posts: 229

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:09

....................to know how many of you are happy in N Cyprus. If it was possible would you go back to the UK ? What have been your biggest disappointments ? Are you bored ? Have you learnt Turkish ?

I live in the UK but have had many holidays in N Cyprus in the past 20 years.

The reason I ask is that there seem to be a lot of bitter people on the board.

People write a post...say about a missing cat, where to find a good dentist etc....all pretty sensible. There will follow a couple or so of helpful replies and then the whole thing descends into a slanging match..sometimes becoming very nasty.

Please help me to understand why it should be like this.

Tatlisu4me


Joined: 26/01/2008
Posts: 436

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:18

Some people seem to be bored, so log on here just to annoy other people I think. I think that possibibly

96-97 % of the members are ok, but you always get a few.........

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:22

I think a lot of the Brits that move to North Cyprus expect every convenience to be on the doorstep, English type supermarkets filled with English type shopping, English TV, English pubs, fish and chips, and it is not so, and in my opinion should not be so. You move abroad to live in a different culture, different customs, and those who want it to be like a little Britain with all the British products and services should not move abroad.



I also think it is more than a little unfair that foreigners who live in the TRNC do all or most of their shopping in the ROC. The ROC is trying to make it as awkward as possible for Brits to live in TRNC (one example being the Orams experiences) so why do ex-pat residents of the TRNC continue to support the ROC economy?



If people are happy to live in the TRNC, they should, in my opinion, support the TRNC economy.

Thinker


Joined: 11/11/2008
Posts: 169

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:34

I agree with Dusterbruce. The traditions, culture etc are so different over here and the Brits need to accept that, which most do. That is why we are here, a better lifestyle for our children with less crime, drugs and an unmaterialistic upbringing that will serve them well in later life.



We wholeheartedly support the TRNC economy and do all our shopping here and spend evenings out in the North.



The majority of people on this forum are friendly and helpful and IMHO the bickering is generally done by outsiders or people who are generally bored.

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:35

Been here 6 years, love it - warts and all - would not want to go back to UK. The good far outweighs the bad

MsGarnet


Joined: 04/01/2009
Posts: 989

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:44

I think the bitter people are the ones who don't try to integrate either into the community or the economy, as Dusterbruce says. Whenever I am in TRNC I buy from the local shops, eat locally produced foods whenever possible, and treat everyone equally, whether Brit, Turkish, young - old. Everyone starts off on an even keel with me, whereas I do think that some folk who move to TRNC want the weather, the clear sea, the whole package BUT whether they acknowledge it or not, suffer somewhat from Xenophobia and as someone above says, want Tomato Ketchup, English TV only, British customs et cetera - yet live in Cyprus, which culturally is an entity of its own, as all 'foriegn' (to us) places are. The ones who post bitterly are the ones who aren't out and about enjoying the fabulous Island, not bothering to learn the language, not assimilating or integrating whatsover, and who are then astonished when resented by those indigenous folk with whom they won't interact.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:49

Moved here for ever! Would never go back to live in the UK, 45 years is quite enough, another 15 years spent moving around the world proved to me that UK was not the place for me. Have a problem with deafness and trying to lip read Turkish when I can not speak it or know most of it is very hard but the learning continues - sometimes I get it right and sometimes I get it left!!! Biggest disappointments are simple: the aggressive yet "pity me" manner of a large amount of ex pats and (my pet hate) having to still pay income tax on a government pension that I have already been taxed on once - yet not allowed to claim any of the benifits for which I pay my tax, grrrrrr.

Bored????? I am retired, I don't have time to be bored with gardens to keep up to scratch, veg to plant and grow and water, a pool to maintain, a house to maintain including the wooden shutters and the outside paint, wood to chop ready for winter and then there are the chickens as well as the dog to walk, fishing to

roisin


Joined: 19/03/2009
Posts: 358

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:53

Been here 5 years. Learning Turkish (yavas,yavas !) Lovely neighbours ( Turkish cyp.turkish. iranian and English) Lovely food. I always buy local produce and makes. Have only had 1 English type Sunday dinner and 2 Christmas dinners since living here. Most of the time we eat Turkish cyp/Turkish food. Haven't been back to uk. Friends and family come over. I miss having a good library but the Girne one behind the post office is better than nothing and you do find good (newish books) sometimes.Paying for medical care is also a worry so we're trying to keep very healthy !! Don't miss uk at all but do miss my family and friends.

briggus


Joined: 25/07/2007
Posts: 161

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:53

Message 3 - very good post - my sentiments too.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 13:53

Cont....

do, locals to help out, "things" to make work again without just throwing them out and buying new ones, etc, etc, etc.

I used to be an IT Manager for a large network within the MoD and my PC was always up to date and in perfect condition with all the files filed away properly - now my PC is covered in dust and I can't find a damn thing I have saved on it - WHY - I could care less about my last life and care a lot more about the one we have here. Almost every day one of us will say "I just love it here!" for no reason at all.



I think expats get bored because life fails to meet there expectations - go out and find it people its all out there!!!

OLDGIRL



Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 118

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 14:08

We love it here even if we have to go back to the UK every 6 months and work to pay for the next 6 months,every year we come over my water pump goes,my loos block up the water and electric fail every couple of days,the locals sometimes see us off,we dont go back to them,this forum is a leaning curve they have sorted out my cries for help on many things ( the roses are picking up nice ),thats why we love it here and not hetic old London. xx

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 14:12

Oldgirl, I love London so much the last time I was there was 1972!!!

OLDGIRL



Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 118

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 14:20

Duster we use to but it has really changed for the worst and very expensive now we now live just outside it so dont go in much,hang on to your belongings is the saying Im afraid.xx

begonia


Joined: 19/05/2009
Posts: 229

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 14:21

You are restoring my faith in humanity ...............thank you !

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 14:56

Hello begonia, I too have traveled back and forth from N.C these last 5 years or so, I do notice that the places that encourage Kareoki and just the English to entertainment all do get 'bitchie' after a while. As you say, we tend to shop just local, tend to mix now with just the locals, not so much with the English as we want to leave this stuff behind in GB! Another reason we bought here is we want to eat and be entertained by the local 'fraternity'. I.E belly dancing, Turkish dancing ect.

If I eat English food its in England, I want Cypreot food whilst here. Whilst in Rome do as the Romans, as they say.

You are right about the slanging that goes on, but most of it is 'tongue in cheek' sort of stuff, some do get silly but on the whole most on this site are very helpfull. If someone gets 'touchy' towards someone else, someone usually 'puts' the other in their place. lol

tinker


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 156

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 16:26

I think that 90% of the people that live here 24/7 with nothing in the UK .. Absolutely love it .. Want to integrate with the local community .. Don't want to turn it into a "little England" although "Flippers" fish chips & mushy peas once a fortnight are a must .. Most of the whinging is done by the people who have a property in the TRNC but don't actually live here ..

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 16:50

Think you could be right Tinker, its because we live in the UK and have to put up with the weather and the governments blinking rules, cant wait to get back and feel free once again. lol

lesleyb


Joined: 27/02/2008
Posts: 126

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 16:52

Hi, when I first visited here I wasn`t too sure about the place, to be honest we were thinking of relocating to Spain or even Portugal as hubby was a keen golfer. However after buying a beautiful apartment which we used for holidays for the next five years or so, and we were very lucky with the whole procedure from Estate Agents, Builder etc., we just slowly grew to love the place. We have been here full-time for nearly 2 years now and `yes` there are times when I miss something or somebody in the U.K. but this has now become home hopefully for a very long time. I don`t post on here very often but am aware of some of the slanging maches that happen, but I think that happens anywhere where people have different opinions so I just let them get on with it and continue to enjoy my life in TRNC. Kind regards to all.



Lesleyb

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 17:17

Well I cannot add anything to the above postings only to say this country is my home and I will never leave.

AJ

ClaireCat44



Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 739

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 17:35

Wow! How nice to read a thread where the contributors appear to be 'normal'.

tinker


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 156

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 17:46

ClaireCat44 ... We all live here & love it ... Wait until Coachie throws his 2 pennyworth in .. LOL

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 17:51

Coachie will be too busy enjoying his holiday to bother with 44, you can,t blame him for that, hope he has a great time too. We are now *locals* and trying our best to integrate into the community, love it, love it, love it.

Hatti

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 17:56

Hi ClaireCat44, most of us are 'normal', well, we like to think we are!! Sometimes some of us are badly behaved and other times we are very good, its just like that as they say.

The ones that get heated are mainly discussing something quite simple, well to us it seams simple!

I do enjoy some of the threads when they discuss issues, I dont even join in, but like to read what others are thinking, nosey I suppose. Sometimes I join in if I think someone is being picked on without reason, suppose thats the mother coming out in me! lol

Stubs


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 641

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 18:09

Begonia



It is different living in Northern Cyprus to holidaying there and there is no doubt some negatives. For some the negatives outweigh the positives and for others the positives outweigh the negatives.



For families to bring kids up it is a great place, however if mum and dad have to work then the wages are poor in comparison to the cost of living. To open a business is a nightmare for a foreigner. Once the kids get to school leaving age then there is another set of problems as there is not really that much in the TRNC as a career choice. The standards of education is not as good as ex-pats may be used to.



As a place to retire to it is perfectly geared for that if your pension can survive the price increases. There are lots of friendly people locally which I am sure you have already experienced as long as money doesnt play too big a part in it.

begonia


Joined: 19/05/2009
Posts: 229

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 19:11

dizzycows ....you sound like me. I rarely post and when I do it is usually to support someone ( a complete stranger to me ) who is being unfairly

treated ! I expect if you got everyone in one room they would be 'normal' ....it's just that when they are on the board some of them become monsters ! Then it isn't a pretty sight and I was just wondering why they do it.

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
15/06/2009 20:37

Hi begonia, me thinks its some thing in the water!! no seriously, sometimes some like to show their power, in that if someones grammer or spelling is not to their liking all hell lets loose!!

I think many have had a brill education, and want to show that they have had this. Alls so good for them, no problem with folks getting on in their life, I take my hat off to many who have struggled to pass exams etc.

But like it or not, we all are the same really, we come into this world with nothing and we go out of this world with nothing. Its how we use it inbetween thats important isnt it.

Good old common sense gets you further than any thing else doesnt it.lol

begonia


Joined: 19/05/2009
Posts: 229

Message Posted:
16/06/2009 10:37

dizzycows............I have had a 'brill education' but that hasn't made me a horrible person I hope ! I have had a couple of serious illnesses which make me see life in a different way. Why spend time being nasty when it is not necessary ? Farmers have more commonsense than most I think !

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
16/06/2009 13:19

Hi again begonia, sorry didnt mean to make it sound like 'brill education' people were horrible, no, just sometimes some like to show that they do like to prove that they are more knowledgleable, which is fine by me, as I just love to read the debates.

Yes being a farmer you definitely need common sence, or you just dont survive. Having done other things as well as being a farmer, like you, it makes you see things in a different light doesnt it.

The worst time of my life was when being in the 'big city' mode, having been a 'high flyer' for a few years, competing in a testosterone fueled world, it makes you see all sides, even someone that has had very bad, or very little education, most folks have something to offer if listened to. lol