That is an island that, by means of disaster after disaster, has earnt the suitable to be suspicious. ALIX NORMAN asks who we flip to when the chips are down
For People, Could 18 is ‘Go to your Relations Day’.
However in Cyprus, that’s a year-round celebration: a day on which you DIDN’T see any family is likely to be thought-about odd.
After all, it might be slightly totally different if you happen to’re one of many nicely over 500,000 Cypriots abroad; particularly if you happen to’re the primary in your line to maneuver to say, Alaska or Korea. However if you happen to’re based mostly in Britain, Australia, or South Africa (or any of the opposite Cypriot hotspots), then your prolonged household might be proper there with you. Identical to it’s on the island.
In 2010, an EU research said that simply three in 10,000 Cypriots ‘had no family’. And that greater than 50 per cent of us get along with our kin each day: the very best share in Europe. The identical analysis additionally means that, in Cyprus, household usually substitutes for pals.
We’re shut (very shut!) to our family. And that’s essential. As a result of, by way of who we’ll belief, blood appears to be rather a lot thicker than water.
The most recent spherical of the European Social Survey reveals a stunning mindset: simply 1.6 per cent of Cypriots consider different folks will be trusted – by far the bottom on the continent.
We additionally rating the bottom on ‘Most Individuals Attempt to be Honest’. And the very best on ‘Most Individuals attempt to Take Benefit of Me’ – a reality believed by almost 60 per cent of the inhabitants!
Clearly, we’re a suspicious nation. However then don’t we’ve got the suitable to be?
Cyprus has been occupied, colonised, or invaded endlessly. It’s lived by means of recession, financial instability and a haircut that merely worn out financial savings in a single day.
In line with the survey, we’ve got politicians we don’t consider in (85 per cent of us don’t belief the powers that be), and a authorized system rife with points. And a group that, solely inside the final 50 years, has come down from the close-knit villages the place everybody not solely knew your identify, however the names of your father, mom, and a number of cousins.
Briefly, this isn’t an island that’s going to simply belief anybody exterior the household circle.
In Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, the inhabitants firmly believes they’ll belief different folks, be they associated or not. However Cyprus shares its suspicious nature with Greece. And, to a lesser extent, France and Germany.
The purpose being that, on this island, kin is king. It’s household you may belief. And virtually every single day is ‘Go to Your Relations Day’, proper?
“Sure – and it’s exhausting!” says Marina Panayiotou.
A 47-year-old non-public English trainer, the Nicosia resident feels she’s “eternally opening the door to one of many aunts or cousins; all the time making ready meals or espresso. It actually by no means ends!
“All of us form of got here from the Kalo Choriou space a couple of era in the past and settled in Lakatamia and Engomi. And so, within the speedy space, there’s eight aunts and uncles, about 30 cousins, three grandparents and varied godparents – they rely as household too.
“We get collectively at Easter and Christmas and public holidays; for birthdays, engagements, weddings, christenings, memorials…” she laughs. “As a result of my husband and I’ve a backyard, we’re usually internet hosting. And since his mechanic store is down the street, there’s all the time somebody dropping in for espresso whereas their automobile’s being fastened.”
Tiring this can be. However Marina can’t think about life with out her whirl of relations – and the implied genealogical belief.
“We’re there for one another by means of all the pieces,” she explains. “Sure, we argue. However who else are you able to belief greater than your loved ones? What, you’re going to rent a lawyer or an accountant who will steal your cash? See a health care provider who doesn’t care how sick you’re? Go to a policeman who gained’t assist?”
Marina raises an excellent level. In line with a current research, 45 per cent of Cypriots don’t have any confidence within the police, and 50 per cent don’t belief the authorized system. Forty per cent consider the state of well being companies on the island are nowhere close to as much as par, and 60 per cent assume schooling is dangerous to extraordinarily dangerous.
“So we go to Uncle Kypros for authorized recommendation; to Aunt Maria for funds. My cousin Yiannis is our physician. My different cousin Yiannis is a policeman. And the youngsters all come to me to study English. We maintain it within the household,” she provides. “And we maintain ourselves secure.”
It’s a mindset many share. However it’s not nearly belief. On this a part of the world, that prolonged household represent all-important help in instances of disaster: a vital assist community for when life goes immediately, shockingly unsuitable.
“In 1974, my household fled Famagusta,” says 55-year-old social employee Despina Nikolaou. “I used to be too younger to recollect, however I do know we lived with my aunt in Limassol whereas my mother and father determined what to do subsequent.”
With two of her uncles in London, Despina’s mother and father opted to make the transfer to the UK.
“One among my uncles had a manufacturing facility. He gave my mum and pop a job. The opposite one had a restaurant, so we had been by no means hungry.
“That’s the facility of the Cypriot household, isn’t it? After all it’s annoying that your family by no means provide you with a second’s peace; some days you simply wish to lock the entrance door and by no means hear about your aunt’s divorce or your cousin’s thyroid ever once more.
“However these are the individuals who, once you’re compelled to flee half-way the world over, will take you in, put you up, feed you, and get you in your ft.
“I feel that’s why every single day is Relations Day for Cypriots. Come hell or excessive water, these are the individuals who will all the time have your again.”
