My first week of being in Cyprus was not the start of classes but was instead orientation week, which was filled with scheduled activities as a way to meet friends and become familiar with campus and the surrounding area. While some of these events were optional, some of them were also mandatory. I do not entirely recommend this, but I did only go to the mandatory activities. These activities included things such as learning basic Greek (one of the official languages of Cyprus), a tour of the neighborhood, a traditional Greek dinner, and a tutorial on how to use the public transit system, as taking a bus is the cheapest and easiest way to get around the island. These mandatory events were extremely helpful for getting settled in and feeling more comfortable being in a new place – they also helped me meet people and form some new connections. Instead of going to the optional activities, many of us went to the beach. The beaches in Cyprus are about an hour-long bus ride from Nicosia, so we would take the bus down in the morning and come back at night. This was a great opportunity for bonding with new people, as well as getting some experience with the public transportation system.
During orientation week, many people partook in going to clubs and local bars. I participated in many of these nights out, and many people that do not typically go out also did. We were all very welcoming to one another, and there wasn’t judgement towards those who did not drink, and from what I have heard from them, it sounds like they still had a good time. I know going out is not everyone’s thing, but nonetheless it was still a good way to socialize and meet new people within the study abroad program. The drinking culture is also more relaxed in Cyprus, and less competitive than it is in the U.S., so it was encouraged to just have a drink or two and not go too ham.
This brings me to the topic of F.O.M.O, also known as the Fear of Missing Out. This came up a lot for me during this week, especially because I didn’t really know anybody else in the program. If somebody was making plans, I had to be there. I was too afraid of missing out on some crucial bonding time or people making their own friends and leaving me behind. Many other people expressed feeling the same way, so it was good to know that I was not alone in my feelings. My fear of missing out drove me to go out almost every night, even after a long day of going to the beach or walking around town all day. The real thing about this, is that I have found that is it causing me some hard-core burnout. I would sleep really late into the next day, get up, and do it all over again. This also really did not help with my jet lag, as the time difference between Cyprus and Denver is nine hours, and I was going to have to adjust to that, so it was just one thing after another of things I should probably should not have been doing.
On a lighter note, my orientation week ended with one of the best weekends of my life. One of the highlights of the Global Semester program in Nicosia is that they have weekend excursions around the island scheduled at no extra cost for the students. During orientation week, we had one day trip in Limassol, where we got to check out some ruins and see the marina, and we had one trip, where we went to Famagusta and explored a ghost town, and afterwards went to Ayia Napa, where we stayed for two nights. Ayia Napa is considered the “party capital” of Cyprus, and that’s not even what made it so memorable. My friends and I booked a four-hour long boat trip to swim in crystal-clear blue water with turtles. It was absolutely amazing, and I had never done anything like it in my life.
By the end of orientation week, I was exhausted but it was so much fun. I encourage others to take advantage of outings and opportunities for adventure, but not in a way that is harmful to them. It is okay to limit yourself and sleep in one day or go to bed early one night. As long you are doing good for you, then you will be having the most fun you can have. I went a little overboard because I know after some time alone, a good meal, and 14 hours of sleep, I’ll be ready to go the next day, but that’s not how everybody is, and that is okay.
Now onto first week of classes. Wish me luck!
DU Abroad 