Cyprus-Forum.com

[Cov]

Hello all.

I’m new to the forum (just registered) though I have been reading and getting great information from it for a few months now.

We are planning to move to Cyprus in the very near future. I will be moving with my wife (a qualified dental nurse), my 6 year old twins and my 2 year old daughter. I am self employed. My main work is exterior painting and decorating but I also deal with most general maintenance jobs, which range from basic gardening, fencing to plumbing and bathroom/kitchen instillations.

I fell in love with Cyprus and the Cypriot people when I was based there in the early 90`s.I was there for 2 years and always knew I would go back. Through my constant talk of the country my parents eventually retired to Paphos about 4 years ago.

I would like to ask you guys a few questions as some of you are there on the ground and know what the current situation is like.

First of all. What are the job opportunities like out there at the moment for myself? I can turn my hand to most things.

My other question is related to schooling for my 6 year olds. I really want them to go into Cypriot school so they will learn Greek and be as "Cypriot" as possable.We are moving there to stay so I would prefer them to become "Native” as soon as possible But im a little concerned that they will be refused as they don’t speak Greek.

Any suggestions/tips will be gratefully received.

[Christo]

Hi Cov, and welcome to the boards.
I am also a new member, and can tell you that this forum is quite informative.

I am Cypriot, born in U.K. I recently moved to Cyprus, (2years ago) with my wife and now two year old daughter, (she was 6 weeks old when we got here!).

I came to retire, but at the age of 55, I found it difficult to just sit around, and eventually looked for work. I had a small building firm in the U.K. and love painting and decorating, so thats were I looked. It seemed that its not what you know, but who you know, that seemed to count. Luckily I wasn't that fussed about working, meaning my livelyhood didn't depend on it. Anyway, it started when the builder that built my house, was let down by his painter, and he was telling me about it. What a stroke of luck!! Of course I informed him that I could paint and voila!

Then a cousin asked me to paint her bedroom, (I think thats what she wanted ), and then word of mouth, I haven't stopped since. I suppose it helps if you can speak Cypriot, which I can. Pay isn't brilliant in the public sector, but self employed is o.k.

Schools:
My wife is English, she can speak very little greek, but she is trying, (very trying sometimes ), she speaks to our daughter in English, I speak to her in greek.....poor confused child! My wife recently enrolled her in a nursery school. I was not there, so by all intents and purposes they enrolled an English child without a problem. But thats nursery, can't help with older children, but I am sure someone on these boards will tell us both.

Good luck for the future.

Chris

[Piratis]

Have a look here:
http://www.orc.gov.cy/orc/orc.nsf/Main?OpenFrameSet

Check the "Repatriated Cypriots" section. Although you are not a Cypriots some info there would apply to you as well.

[TheCabbie]

Firstly it's a good idea to move before your kids are 7 (and start school properly), they'll adapt, pick up the language and fit in in no time.

Secondly, whatever you decide (or fall into) as an occupation, be aware that Cypriot working practices are different to those in the UK, as are payment practices .

Thirdly, it maybe best to rent a place for a year to give yourself the chance to decide if it's really what you want, and I know of 8 expats who went home this year as they couldn't hack it, also it'll give the time to pick the best location in respect of work and schools ect.

Finally, there are no job centers or yellow pages worth talking about, so as has been described, most things are word of mouth here, get out and socialise, find out what's happening and where, put the word out that you are looking for work and what you can do.

Good Luck

[cypezokyli]

hmm
maintenance... hotels i would say. there it could be that you dont even need greek, in some of them you one has even problem communicating in english .
if you want to stay self employed...i can only repeat : word of mouth. perhaps it will take a while to get the first chance, but if you are good, these things spread fast.

the two year old, could adapt to the cypriot language without having greek at home.
i dont know about the bigger ones. since they never had it before, i am not sure how fast they can adopt to it and actually attend a school in greek. but dont take me for a specialist on the subject.

well , you ve been here for two years. i guess you know kind of what you would expect. and how many things are different from the UK. there are a number of things that dont really work the same way.

all the best.

[Cov]

Thank you all for your help

As ive said maintenance work is my trade but i will turn my hand to anything so long as it pays the bills. I also ran my own small transport company before that and was involved in security work before that.

The kids are a bit of a worrie.But i am sure they will pick things up quick. Kids do in the early years. I really don’t want to put them into "English Schools”. I know they are very good, but i believe they would benefit a lot more by getting in at the grass roots of a local school.


Any other tips or help will always be greatfully recieved.Oh and would it be worth my while bringing with me my scaffolding tower that i use for domestic external work?

[Christo]

Cov,
a definite yes to the scaffold tower!!!

They actually use the scaffold towers for proper scaffolding over here, health and saftey seems to mean nothing, I was shocked to the boots to see what they call scaffolding!!

Infact Cov, if you have the money, why don't you bring over tons of the great scaffolding we use in the U.K.? Once you educate them to it.....who knows.

Chris