Rough guide Cyprus

From ChangingRoomWiki

The Basics

Population: 863,000

Capital: Nicosia

Minimum Wage Rate: €840 per month

Language: Greek, Turkish & English

Other Languages: No

EU Member: Yes

Current Government politics and support for culture: See Cultural Policy for general objectives and principles of cultural policy.

Working

Who needs a visa to work there?: Cyprus as an island is divided into 2 parts: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (northern part of the island) and Republic of Cyprus (southern part of the island). So, there are 2 countries with 2 different situations. On the 1st of May 2004 only Republic of Cyprus (South Cyprus) accessed into EU.

Visa to work in Republic of Cyprus: Applications for the issue of entry and work permits in general categories of employment are submitted to the Civil Registry and Migration Department by the intended employer, through the respective District Aliens and Immigration Branch of the Police, on condition that the foreigners are abroad. The applications should be accompanied by a work contract stamped by the Department of Labour of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance. The said Ministry is competent to examine whether regarding the specific profession or job there are no available or adequately qualified Cypriots and then to make a recommendation for employment of aliens. The applications are forwarded to the Civil Registry and Migration Department and after they are examined and it is established that there is nothing against the foreigners which prevents their entry into Cyprus, the relevant entry and work permits are issued. Nationals from EU Member States have the right to enter Cyprus by simply showing a valid EU passport or ID Card without having to register upon arrival. If there is an intention to stay for more than three months (and / or take up employment), then they have to: apply within eight (8) days of their arrival for an Alien Registration Certificate (ARC), at the local Immigration Branch of the Police (issued automatically for monitoring purposes) and pay the relevant fee, apply for a social insurance number securing employment in Cyprus, apply for a residence permit (the application must be submitted before the expiration of this 3-month period to the Civil Registration and Migration Department, through the local Immigration Branch of the Police). The said residence permit is issued within six months from the date of application and the submission of the required documents by the applicant (please note that a fine is imposed in case of non-compliance). Get more information at Department of Labour, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cyprus Visa.

Visa for work in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: After arriving in the TRNC (the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus ) you can stay for up to 3 months which is provided by your tourist visa. If you consider prolonging your stay, you need to apply for a residency permit at local Immigration Office which allows you to reside in Northern Cyprus . Your work permit should be issued prior to arrival in North Cyprus. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) law states that all nationals of other countries not being of the TRNC, will need a work permit in order to work in Northern Cyprus. The present policy regarding foreign nationals who wish to take up employment in North Cyprus is that an employment permit is granted only on a temporary basis and for a specified position provided that no suitably qualified TRNC citizens are available. Please note that by law this action must take place while foreign nationals are outside North Cyprus. A Foreign national seeking employment in North Cyprus must secure through personal efforts a local employer who should submit an application to the Migration Officer, Ministry of Interior, Lefkosia (Nicosia) (see address below), which is the competent authority for the issue of such permits. The Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance acts as an advisor to the Migration Officer with regards to the situation in the labour market and the compliance by the above-mentioned employer of the criteria governing the employment of aliens (basically an advisor on labour laws in the TRNC). Man power recruitment is made directly by the employers or through intermediaries; therefore you have to make your own direct contacts with interested employers, intermediaries or employers' organizations. Get more information at: Visa requirements

Best places to look for / find culture jobs:

Also try:

Best places to look for volunteering and internships: The Pancyprian Volunteerism Coordinative Council, The Management Center, Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation, NGO Support Center, Volunteer Cyprus, Cyprus Network for Youth Development, Prio, Cyprus Neuroscience&Technology Institute, Future World Center, Association for Historical Dialog and Research. There is a list of all NGOs around the island on the website: Cyprus CSO Directory.

Studying/Training & Mobility Grants/Bursaries

Recommended university/college culture management courses

first degree: Faculty of Applied Arts and Communication, The School of Arts and Education Science, Department of Art, Design and Communication, School of Humanities, Social Sciences & Law, Faculty of Communication and Media Sty., Faculty of Communications, Faculty of Communication Science, Faculty of Communications.

postgraduate degree:

Recommended vocational and short-term culture management training: They are organized by different NGOs on both sides so as by international NGOs.

National Grants or Bursaries For Mobility: Life Long Learning Programme, Youth in Action National Agency, Erasmus Student Mobility Grand, The European Union Programme Support Office, Cyprus Fulbright Commission.

Living

Coolest places: remote villages and amazing beaches on Karpas peninsula, car flirting from Nicosia to Famagusta motorway, Akamas peninsula with its annoying mosquitoes when the sun goes down, getting lost in small streets of Nicosia, old castles, walled city Nicosia, multiethnical village Pille

Places to avoid: big shopping centers, partying and overcrowded Agia Napa, modern Deraboy where people are showing off

Weather: With its intense Mediterranean climate, the island’s weather is easy to predict. The summer months of June to September are hot and action-packed. October to May are the quiet months of autumn, winter and spring, when the landscape is covered with wildflowers that seem to encompass every color in the rainbow. Autumn in October and spring in April and May are short and the transition between winter and summer is rapid. Rain falls mainly in autumn and winter, and outside these months precipitation is rare. Winters are changeable, with cold and warmer weather alternating.

Budget airlines?: Easyjet, Jet2, Monarch, Thomas Cook Airlines.

What to eat and drink: Food, too, reflects the divide: in the North you'll find mostly Turkish cuisine; in the Republic, Greek. But wherever you are in Cyprus , you'll come across kleftiko (oven-baked lamb), Greek in origin and mezedes (dips, salads and other appetizers). Cyprus is also famous for its fruit, which the government protects with a ban on imported products. You'll find strawberries, stone fruit, melons, prickly pear, citrus and grapes. Cypriot cuisine has been influenced by different cultures throughout history. Each dish has a unique taste and is well presented reflecting the Cypriot character. Molhiya, Arab in origin is a well developed dish appealing to Turkish Cypriot taste, preparation and presentation, since there were Arabs who passed it to Turks. A few traditional dishes: Yalanci Dolma (vine leaves stuffed with rice, onions, and tomatoes) is a Turkish Cypriot dish. In Turkish Yalanci Dolma means "stuffed liar". Derived from common dolma that is filled with meat, Yalanci means "cheat/liar" which signifies the meat is missing. You can encounter with Dolma and Sarma in Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and other Balkan countries of a former Ottoman Empire; Sish Kebab (marinated lamb, skewered and grilled over charcoal), shis is the everyday word used by Turkish people which refers to "skewer", similarly Doner Kebab means "spinning kebab"; Musakka (layers of mince, potatoes, and aubergines baked in the oven with cheese topping), Greek in origin. Many Cyprus dishes vary from region to region making Cyprus a fascinating place to eat. The Turkish-Cypriot cuisine owes its heritage to a mixture of Mediterranean , Southern European and Middle Eastern influences. Local Cyprus dishes are delicious, particularly the meze . This is a specialty of Cyprus and consists of a large number of cold and hot hors d'oeuvres such as different salads, meats, vegetable, and fish dishes. It is taken either as an appetizer or a main course. Among some interesting dishes that can be found in Cyprus belongs kolokas , a root vegetable which when cooked has a texture of potato, with sweet taste. What is extraordinary about this dish is that it is not of Turkish or Greek origin, but was brought to Cyprus Island by Venetians who came to Cyprus prior to Ottomans. Due to etymological meaning Colocasia esculenta means "elephant's ears", because that is what the leaves of plants look like. Kolokas is usually served with chicken or lamb. The Turkish coffee has been introduced to the West by the Ottoman Turks in the fifteenth century. It is very popular all over the world today and is preferred as a delicacy in most fashionable circles. The secret of making Turkish coffee is that the coffee beans are ground into a fine powder and then it is cooked together with sugar producing a thick cream on top. Turkish coffee is served in small coffee cups, and in three ways, called sade , which is unsweetened, orta , which is moderately sweet, and sekerli , which is very sweet. One is always asked before the coffee is brewed which of the three one would like. The coffee should be ground just before it is to be made, and it should be as fine as possible. Put one dessert-spoonful of the powder into a small pot with as much sugar as you like, and add one demi-tasse of boiling water. Allow the coffee to boil up and then immediately remove it from the heat. Repeat this process three times, and pour it into the coffee cup. The grains must be given time to subside in the cup before you can drink the coffee and it is helpful to stroke the froth in the cup gently as you wait. Turkish coffee is usually served with a glass of cold water, and it is the custom to take a sip of water after drinking coffee. When the coffee is finished quite a lot of black sediment will be left in the bottom of the cup, and a favourite Turkish pastime it to tell fortunes in the grains. The ladies are especially good at this. You are asked to tip your cup upside down on the saucer, so that the grains can run down the sides of the cup forming patterns. After a suitable pause, the cup is scrutinized by the expert and your future is revealed. Some of the predictions are highly amusing, some sinister and ominous! Cypriot cuisine includes a great variety of vegetable dishes, grills, pastry, fish, soups, lahmacun and many more. There is a great variety of Cypriot cuisine and listed below are the categories: Soups - Mezes - Pilavs - Main Dishes - Pastas & Pastries - Sweets Jams, Marmelads & Glazed Fruits - Drinks. Greek Cypriot cuisine derives from Greece mainland and its associated islands. Given the geography and history of Greece , this style of cookery has influences from Italian, Balkan and Middle Eastern cuisine. The terrain has tended to favou r the production of goats and sheep over cattle, and thus beef dishes tend to be a rarity by comparison. Fish dishes are also common in Cyprus cuisine. Olive oil produced from the trees prominent throughout the region, adds to the distinctive taste of Greek food. Many dishes use filo pastry. Too much refinement is generally considered to be against the hearty spirit of the Greek cuisine. Traditionally, Greek dishes are served warm rather than hot as eating food too hot was deemed unhealthy. Brandy Sour is the drink of Cyprus. It combines local brandy with the fresh tang of Cyprus lemons. The ingredients used are lemons squash, brandy, angostura, soda and lots of ice cubes. Barbecued Halloumi cheese is a special dish, made by the population of Cyprus. This dish is baked adding halloumi cheese (Arab in origin), then placed under a hot grill and grilled on both sides until golden brown. The slices are then served on a warm plate with the dressing poured over. Garnish with sprigs of coriander or flat parsley before serving, eaten together with toasted pita bread. The Cypriots love their food.

Cost of living examples:

A Beer: €1.5 in the market, from €3-€5 in the bar

A Cappuccino: €3.5

A liter of milk: €2.5

Renting a 2 bedrooms apartment in an average town: €400 plus €50 for electricity

Personal experience/views

Cyprus despite its division is a place to visit and explore. On one side you are sipping Cypriot coffee, on the other Turkish coffee. But the taste is the same. Most of young people are fed up with political issues that are bombed in all newspapers. When you are in Cyprus, listen to the stories from both sided and try to understand a current situation. Don't judge who is right and who is wrong. Fascinating landscape, chillaxing way of living will cover you!