Cooking, Cleaning, Class + fun times in Cyprus!

Daily Life

Hello everyone! After traveling for a bit, I want to share more about my daily life in Cyprus. I have been doing absolutely wonderful and falling more in love with Cyprus and the culture as time goes on! My roommates and I have been bonding 24/7 (literally) and love spending time with each other! They are such blessings! Every night we cook together and Kristi (from Maryland) has to capture a picture. It is the best time for community and laughter. We always try and think outside of the box! We also are embracing the Cypriot culture and eat around 9 every night. 

Homemade meatballs, green bean casserole and a traditional Greek salad

Jessica, Kristi and I eating fish..
with the head still on! I couldn't believe it!

There is a local bakery called Zorbas that we all love to go to get our American cookies! They are always fresh and so tasty! If we really feel like splurging for the night, we go and get Papafilippou's... a yummy ice cream place right behind our apartments!

Other than meals, we always seem to be cleaning our apartment as well... it gets messy so quickly! I'm beginning to realize how much work is put into everything!

Living area of our apartment

Kitchen... where we cook :)

My favorite spot... our patio!
We eat here every night!

Gary, our pet snail! He has been on the ceiling of
our patio since day one!

Classes are also going well. So far not too difficult :) I love my teachers and am learning so much about myself and my place in this world as God sees me. He is so faithful!

So studious in the library with Anya

For class, we have a project where we pick a culture topic of Cyprus to learn about. This requires us to go out and get primary research from people we meet. Kristi and I set out one day into the old city to interview people. We were very nervous and didn't know exactly what to do/say. We shopped around (I bought a pair of shoes made in Cyprus!) and then passed a man standing on the street. He said hi to us, we said hi and walked past. We looked at each other and turned around to go back. After starting a conversation, the man brought us to a near by cafe and bought us water and spanakopita (spinach and cheese pastry... so yummy!) His name was Antonio and he was such an amazing man! We talked for an hour and a half. He was so sweet. I asked him the question what is the most important thing to him, and his answer was "God, then love." I will never forget him and the afternoon we spent together!

Kristi, Antonio and I

Traditional Greek spanakopita

Nicosia excursions

Cyprus life is much different than life in the United States. I still am greatly enjoying going out and exploring in Nicosia. One day we discovered these beautiful gardens... with grass! That is one thing I miss so much! We were all so happy to see it. Grass is definitely something I take for granted in MN!

At the gardens with Courtney, Kristi, and Jessica

My favorite spot in the gardens with Ellie

That night I went to my first club and danced the night away! They play such different music here!

Going out for breast cancer awareness night at a local club
with Kristi and Jessica

At the club with friends

Courtney, a friend of mine from PA, is involved with theater and helped with a show here in Cyprus! My roommates and I went to see it! It was done at an traditional Greek outdoor amphitheater. The play was about Cyprus and the struggles in the country, which made it such a cool experience. To go along with the culture here, the show started a half hour late... apparently everything is on island time!

Before the show with Courtney,
Jessica, Maggie and Kristi

My roommate Kristi turned 21 on October 10th, so we baked her apple pie and had everyone over! We drank Disney Princess non-alcoholic champagne since she doesn't like alcohol, then went to a bar to find Strawberry Cider - the one drink she does like!

Kristi turns 21!

At the bar with strawberry cider...
just for Kristi!

I also found a church here in Nicosia that I love! Finding a solid Christian community was something I have been praying for since spring. The church is called Nicosia International Church. There are people from Cyprus, London, South Wales, Colorado, Germany, India, Africa and Armenia that attend! Services are held in a cute, beautiful Anglican Church. I take a bus to get there! The first time I went, a young couple named Olly and Joy invited me over for lunch after. It was an enjoyable afternoon!

Ayia Napa

This past weekend there was a GLS (my program: Global Learning Semesters) trip to Ayia Napa, THE beach resort town of Cyprus! We left Friday and made a stop in Larnaca, another beach town. We ate  lunch and saw a Mosque and St. Lazarus Church. The Greek Orthodox Church's are all beautiful and so different than church's I've been to!

Larnaca Beach with Whitney, Anya, Jessy and Ellie!

Once at Ayia Napa, we checked into our hotel and immediately went to Nissi Beach! It was BEAUTIFUL and had such clear, blue water! We swam out to large rock, free climbed up to a ledge and cliff jumped! It was so fun!

Jessica, Danielle, Jessy, Kristi, Ryan and I swimming!

That night for dinner we went to a Mexican restaurant. Afterwards we all hung out and played games! It was so fun to spend time with people and get to know everyone better!

Jessica, Kristi and I at the Mexican restaurant

The next day we (Jessica, Kristi, Kyle, Anya, Danielle, Maya and I) woke up and took the bus to the sea caves near Ayia Napa! Once there, we were told we needed scuba gear because the sea caves were under water. BUT there were sea caves a ways away, around this mountain rock. So we set out on a journey and had a beautiful "stroll" around the mountain to the sea caves.

Christ is everywhere :)

Hiking!

Maya, Jessica, Kyle, Krisi and I near Cavo Greko

Kristi and I 

Fisherman

This stroll was very rugged and tough, but we finally made it to the sea caves. And we found 5 friends of ours already there! They had been cliff jumping in to the water, instead of simply climbing down. So I decided to jump too... twice! It was about 55 feet high! Once in the water, we swam around and walked inside the sea caves! It was so fun! The water was the clearest water I've ever seen!

Kristi, Courtney and I on top of the sea caves

Jumping in!

After the sea caves, we took a bus to Protaras Beach. We quickly grabbed lunch then headed to the beach to meet up with the friends who we saw at the sea caves. Once there, we saw people out doing water sports so.... we went parasailing! It was such an amazing experience! Seeing God's creation from up high was indescribable. I will never forget it!

Before parasailing with Jessica, Kyle, Kristi, and Maya

Maya, Jessica and I going up! 

Feet in the water :)

Since it was getting late, after parasailing we decided to head back to Ayia Napa. My friends had rented a few dune buggies and a moped for the day. I got to ride back on the dune buggy, then also took a ride on the moped! It's so different driving on the opposite side of the road!

Tyler and I in the dune buggy!

Once back to Ayia Napa, we changed and headed out to dinner! That night we went out to "the" bar you're supposed to go to and where we have a friend we've met who works there. It was so fun! We even did a street mob dance! The next morning we woke up and spent the morning laying by the pool. Kristi (my roommate) and I even did water aerobics! It was so fun to relax with everyone and enjoy the sunshine. Such a wonderful last day to an amazing weekend!

Water aerobics with Kristi

Famagusta and Salamis

On Saturday Kyle, Kristi, Courtney, Lauren, Danielle and I ventured into North Cyprus once again and visited Famagusta and Salamis. Salamis is an old Greek influenced city with ancient ruins. It was a blast to explore! 

Lauren, Courtney and I overlooking the ancient gymnasium

Precious children on top of the amphitheater

Ancient Greek amphitheater

Ancient Greek statues we found... :)

Me at the ruins

Kristi and I on the outside of the ruins

Danielle, Courtney, Kyle, Kristi, Lauren and I on top of
a bridge at the ruins

Afterwards we ventured to Famagusta where there is an old, walled in city with ancient buildings/ruins. We walked around for a bit and saw the Othello Castle, the old sea gate and a church now converted into a Mosque (since it is overtaken by Turkey). Within the city, we found a park and stopped to be kids for about a half hour! LOVED it!

Heading up to the sea gate!

Kristi and I at the top

Looking out 

Kristi and I swinging :)

Love this girl

Courtney and I outside the Othello Castle

We then headed to the ghost city of Famagusta. This city is literally deserted and has been since 1974 when the Turks invaded Cyprus and the Greek Cypriots had to flee the city. There are still buildings/hotels that stand emptied. No one is allowed inside and the Turkish army guard around it. It was pretty eerie! But right outside the ghost city, there is a beautiful beach where we spent the rest of the day swimming! I love living so close to the sea! 

Ghost city

Ghost city

Old hotels

Kyle, Kristi and I getting ready to swim!

Future Travels

Tomorrow, Monday October 22, I will be leaving with 6 other students (Kyle, Kristi, Courtney, Lauren, Anya and Emma) to go to Europe! We will be traveling for 18 days and will visit 8 countries. They are Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium. I am SO excited! I know it will be a trip to remember!

Once back, I have planned a weekend trip to Cairo, Egypt with Kyle, Kristi, Jessica, Courtney! We are also given a free week, so I planned a trip then as well! I am going to London with Kyle, then having Courtney meet up with us. After London, Courtney and I are heading to Ireland for a railroad tour around the country! I am definitely looking forward to all of my travels! 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." -- Proverbs 3:5-6