Anyone been to Cyprus???

[InsomniaQueen]

DH has been told that posting to Cyprus is a possibility next year. Anyone been and had a good experience? I don't really know any military wives but just wondered if anyone knew what I could be letting myself in for!!

DH desperately wants to do it and I think having a LO to take with us would help but at the moment I have quite a demanding job and I'm worried that I won't cope being a SAHM in a totally new environment as I've always worked or studied.

Any advise, help or suggestions welcome!!

Hey insomniaqueen, where in Cyprus? I was in Episkopi 2008/2009 (Episkopi and Akrotiri are West towards Paphos, Dhekelia is East towards Aya Napa)

I could give you a heads up Epi / Aki, but don't know anything about Dhek

Hi there - we've been told Akrotiri so any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

work can be tricky afaik, but given that you'll be spending most of the time on the beach learning to waterski, diving and topping up your tan, you'll probably cope...

i've only done dets to akt, but lots of friends have been posted there and have loved it. babies do help...

Uncle was there (long time ago now) but his whole family loved it - they had 3 kids under about 6 at the time.

If coping as a SAHM is a big worry, you can always study some more with the OU.

Hey. Not sure where to start!

Work. When I was there most of the jobs available were admin type. Aki is about 15/20 mins from Epi where you have got lots of admin asst type posts. I don't know what you do for a living now, but all the jobs are in sp of the mil. PA roles, Clerk roles, some security office type roles. When I was there they were crying out for staff in these posts, and were having to recruit outside of the forces network. Aki is very much the same, but smaller.

Kids: I don't know how old your LO is but there is a nursery in Epi (Brit run) and a playgroup in Aki. There are also pre-schools in both and the primary school is Epi. If you work childcare is generally centered on the Philipino ladies. Essentially you can pay (cash) for like a home-help arrangement (childcare and cleaning). I didn't do this because DH was a SAHD, but most people did and formed lasting relationships with them (and in some cases these ladies are now part of the family and have moved to Germany and UK).

It's getting too hard to do this on my phone! I'll stop here and write some more when I get to work!

Hth so far.

LtEve,
That's a brilliant start - at the moment I work for the civil service so I'm hoping to get something similar over there to be honest, will have to see how it goes when I get there.

The little one could be a matter of months when we arrive as I'm 6 months pg at the moment. Luckily I have savings and maternity to take so finding work isn't desperate right away but just wanted to see whether it was possible to get work out there and what kind of work.

How did you find cost of living out there? We have been told that quarters with rates are about 500-600 per month now which is quite a jump from what were paying but my DH thinks the LSA (I think that the right one) will pay most of this.

Food we've been told is pricey and considering the amount my DH gets through I'm trying to gauge whether this is a fair assessment. Do they have regular markets close by? I would assume these would be on a par with our markets here and give you some savings.

Also did you ship your home contents or just get them to furnish it when you arrived? I have no idea what the system is like.

Not sure what else to ask at the moment but I'm sure other things will come to me. Thanks so much for your help with this - it's sometimes very hard to get information about these types of things.

Hi again Insomnia.

Actual Civil Service Posts are few and far between, because the system is different, but I think you can add your Cyprus Service to your normal CS. I'll ask a couple of friends for you.

Yes the cost of living is very high. I absolutely loved Cyprus, everything about it and would live there tomorrow but cant afford to - eg when I leave the Army I will be getting a pension of about £1K a month. In UK I can live on that, in Cyp I can't. Re quarters, we were in a Grade 1, 3 bed, brand new build but didnt pay half that much. Plus fuel and light is taken at source and you can get a rebate once a year.

Food is pricey, but only if you go to places like Carrefor and the Naafi - use the local shops instead.

Bugger gotta go - I WILL be back, sorry!!

back again! What I was going to say, re the cost of living is if you use local shops everything is much cheaper. Don't be sucked in by the naafi. Lysiotos supermarket in Episkopi Village and the Orphanides supermarket just on the edge of Limassol are much cheaper. There is a huge Sunday Market in Fasouri where veg etc is really good and cheap, think 2 euros for a carrier bag full to the brim of tomatoes!

Shipping is good, takes about 6 weeks. We took our own sofa, fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and DDs bed and toys. If you can buy yourself a pool to take over - you'll want one and they are much dearer over there. Also worthwhile getting yourself a pool heater for winter...remember you're not paying the electric! Ikea is about an hour away in Nicosia and is not badly priced.

Kids clothes are a bit rubbish, so may be worthwhile you stocking up on sizes.

Take advantage of the cheap weekend deals for AI hotels in the winter. We used to pay 120 for 2 nights 3 days AI for 2 adults, 1 child. Cheaper than meals out!

Ohhh meals out. Little plates in Limassol. Ryans steakhouse and the Italian mezze on the Akrotiri road. Blue beach at Kurion and Michaels in Epi.

Oh finally, Ladies Miles Beach is the best and safest for kids. Kurion Beach is lovely but rough seas. Get yearly membership for Fasouri Water Park if you don't like sand (I don't), the water is clean, no chlorine.

(d'ya think I'm missing it?!)

OMG it's aaaaamazing!!! Go go go and if you're not I will

The LOA has all changed and you get less than you used to but you can't miss what you haven't had. You still get something. Cost of living has apparently gone up since they joined EU but its not astronomical my SIL there now and I was there 2002-2005.

There are stables, 7 (i think) beaches on camp!!! A swimming pool a good few bars/families clubs, bowling alley, good playgroups and school and sunshine 85% of the year what's not to love!

Pack your bikini (and factor 50 for the DC) and don't look back)

its amazing.
the milatry base is in the troodos mountians, its heaven.
go go go or i will for you!
if you are in the troodos drive into neo chorion and have meals at the lemon garden or stone tavern they are epic greek tavernas!

The cost of living has gone up considerably since Cyprus went over from the Cyp £ to the ?. Last time we were here it was extremely cheap. Now cars, anything baby and food is expensive.

Fuel is about ?1.30 per litre, which is cheaper than the UK. Civvi flights have gone up too.

However, for a family the LOA does cover these costs, and it is an amazing posting.

Enjoy.