When talking to some family members and old friends about our time here in Cyprus, more often than not I hear the phrase, “That must be quite the adventure!” It is said with envious intrigue, as the inquirer hopes to hear of my escapades in ancient ruins and sailing the Mediterranean. I almost always respond with, “It sure is,” a simple response to the myriad of thoughts I have about our experience. Most days I feel like my big adventure is getting to the post office before it closes midday and safely navigating the numerous back roads between point A and B. What I’ve been told is an adventure I call daily life.
Every day this island feels more like home, especially since our move this last fall. Suddenly our apartment feels more like a long-term residence rather than a makeshift dorm room. We have conversations with neighbors, the local markets are easily navigable, and the driving…bearable. We so seldom have time for what my friends I’m sure term “adventures.” Rather than sailing the waters between the Greek Isles or sneaking in a photo-shoot at the pyramids, I’m finding the cheapest price for lemons and hanging more laundry out to dry. I’m learning how to cook entirely from scratch and how to be content. I’m not meandering the Champs-Élysées but clumsily navigating the world of human interaction in a multi-cultural environment.
While I love sharing snapshots of beautiful vistas and old buildings, this my friends, is what my Cyprus looks like. It’s not clean cut or elegant or even awe-inspiring, but it is what my adventure looks like. I’m on a quest for personal growth in a way that only the Mediterranean breezes can offer. My Cyprus is my home.
