The Establishment and the Mob

Society can roughly be split into two teams; the establishment and the alternatives (aka the mob). Each has stuck to its own kind. Until now. With the growth of gloablisation, the credit crunch, the search for new lifestyles, the lines between the establishment and the mob have blurred to the point of erosion. The result is a hodge-podge of people crossing society’s lines. People who lived in caves until three years ago now drive around in BMW and eat in swanky bar-restaurants (you can find some of these in a place beginning with ‘A’ and ending in ‘O’) and people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth have now gone all hippy and hang out at a place beginning with ‘K’ and ending with ‘A’). Hmmmm…

Thing is, a leopard cannot change its spots. (Tell this to the Nicosia Housewife who can’t get out of her leopard-print leotard). The newly-rich will never become old money so they might as well try stop sending their kids to the posh schools. The establishment will never be able to mingle with the lower-classes (i.e. people who do not own a holiday home in Geneva) and people who emerged from the swamp a year ago will never be able to shake off that stink. So why try? Well because we all want what we can’t have and want approval that we are all encompassing personalities from everyone. Even strangers in remote social groups.

I once read that only the rich can afford bad shoes. This is because the rich are the only ones who do ‘poor’ well. It is easy to act as if you are a tree-hugging hippy when you own the whole forest or want to save the whales when your school serves sushi from lunch. But not matter how rich you recently became, you will never be able to pull off that pedigree you aim for, which takes generations to cultivate. (And leopard-print leggings are not fooling anyone).

One of those annoying people on facebook

I hate these people who add people on Facebook in order to have more friends. Recently a stranger added me (though we had a mutual friend) and I though ‘why not’ and pressed accept. However, there were no photos of himself, no ‘wall’ to write on, all in all… no information. I though facebook was a place for friends. Well if you want to be my friend then show me who you are. To no avail. After asking who he was written in a manner of ‘have we met before?’ there was no reply and so I sent a message saying that I would delete him and wished him the ‘best of luck with all his endeavors on facebook.’ So as you can see, I hate people who add friends to show the world that they have friends.
Nevertheless, due to professional commitments I joined LinkedIn, which is, let’s face it, a professional facebook/resume/CV. Instead of uploading your holiday pics you upload what you have worked on. And instead of braggin about how many friends you have, you brag about your professional contacts and who you know (and who can do you favours). I have become the annoying LinkedIn guy who wants as many connections (LinkedIn-speak for ‘friends’) as possible. How did this happen? Because whereas I have friends in reality who are on facebook, I don’t have that many professional connections. I am after all a BabyBusinessMan, so what do you expect?

Speak Greek

What I find interesting is people’s attachment to language. I like languages; I speak as many as I can to whomever I can. However, in Cyprus this is frowned upon! Speaking in a language other than Greek could have you deported to a Siberia, or another Russian region, like… Limassol.

Recently, I asked a friend (in Greek) if he could do me a favour. His response was a gleeful ‘of course I’ll do it! But only because you asked me in Greek’.

‘So if I asked you in English you wouldn’t do it?’ He smiled. Imagine what he would have done to me if I asked him in… Swahili? Or more shocking… in Turkish! Yikes!

I think Cypriots have a strange relationship with their language. They insist oversees-Cypriots speak Greek yet at the same time do not realize that they themselves pepper their Greek-conversations with words like ‘thank you, bye, okay’ or my favourite ‘sorrrry’ followed by a loud ‘ah’ and phrased as a question. They are constantly placing English words in between Greek words.

The problem is not that oversees-Cypriots do not speak Greek. All do (albeit at varying degrees of fluency) and all try! And when oversees-Cypriots do try and speak Greek to a fellow Cypriot, we are answered in… English. This not only embarrasses us, but it also implies that we are illiterate buffoons who can’t even properly speak Greek. Eventually the whole conversation becomes so uncomfortable that we give up and end up speaking in Pidgin English so the other guy whose English is so-so can understand. The issue for Cypriots is that oversees-Cypriots do not speak, perfectly fluent, accent-less Greek. The funny thing is, neither do most Cypriots. If you want to speak perfect, accent-less Greek you need to go to Greece. Sorrrrrry aah?

High Class Wannabes and other types of trash

What I find really interesting if that in the UK people dislike you if you’re posh (upper class). To people in Cyprus who may not know was posh/upper class is, it’s being high class. But there are differences. Let me get back to the UK first. In India, you have the caste system, and in the UK you have the class system. You are either lower class, middle class or upper class. Of course you have your fractions within this, such as ‘upper middle class’ who are upper-class wannabes or Greek-Cypriots who have made lots of money there. If you are from an immigrant family then you are outside the system but by the time you have second generation Brits, like me, you can squeeze your way into a class depending on what school you went to/how much you earn/who you know. Some of my friends are upper middle, others are upper middle but with the income of upper. However, it’s almost impossible to become the crème de la crème of British society if you’re not married to a Duke or Viscount or someone with a title and a double-barrel name. Ok? Are you following this? Good.

Now, in Cyprus, we have no aristocracy because we have no monarchy. We have an establishment (in Nicosia) which is old money and are people whose families have run the country since the birth of the Republic. Now, apparently, there is new money who like to call themselves high class, many live in Limassol, some also in Nicosia. What-ev-errrrrr! These are people who think that by wearing Balenciaga, going to expensive sushi bars where they sell three pieces of sushi for €80 and then pop to Protaras (also known as Nicosia-by-the-Sea) for a retreat to ‘get away from it all’ are high-class/upper class. They aren’t high-class they are just high!

My classy French friend Laetitia, (and no one does classy like the French) told me that to be high-class or of a higher-class you have to be well-versed in literature, a fully rounded person, good at a sport or instrument, speak a couple of languages and have taste and culture. Why do you think museums have steps leading up to the entrance? To boost the notion that museums (i.e. culture) are higher-places, where you learn about the finer things in life. So a table at Mo with Vodka is not a high class unless you’re there to discuss Milan Kundera’s influence in Czech writing in comparison to other writers of the 20^th century. I doubt that you would do that. Even I don’t do that! And I’m high-class. And how do I know I’m high-class. Well, I’m sitting here by my laptop in my fluffy Balenciaga slippers. And how do I know you’re not high-class? Because if you were you’d be reading proper literature and not this trashy blog!

The City I love (which one?)

People in Cyprus see me as AngloCypriot. This couldn’t be further from the facts. Although I speak and behave English, my looks and my home are in Cyprus. I never would have seen myself as AngloCypriot. I don’t dress like the, I don’t have any friends who are AngloCypriot and I don’t think like them (London ghetto meets 1950s Cyprus). I am a very modern person who either feels English or Cypriot. Yet, you are indirectly defined by how you are regarded. So, to the many Cypriots I seem to be AngloCypriot. When they tell me this, I can console myself with the fact that they have a limited world view, haven’t travelled and see only what they want to see.

But even more worrying is the constant squabbling between Limassol and Nicosia. On one hand I have the bombers and on the other I have the snobs, who bicker like children over who has the nicest city. Guys – get over yourselves. This is Cyprus – it’s the same thing and yet they are behaving like they are two countries at war. You think the Cyprus problem was bad, the Limassol/Nicosia one is even worse and even more ridiculous. People from both cities are slagging each other off as if they are bidding for the Olympics. This isn’t NYC and LA people. We are talking about a small European capital with traffic problems and a coastal town that owns its existence to foreign investment. But the way they moan about each other sounds like they aren’t cities with streets paved with gold. GIVE ME A BREAK.

Maybe I notice it more because I am from Limassol and live in Nicosia and seem to be the centre of the debate with people expecting me to join a side or at least get a reaction. I’ll admit I like both cities for different reasons. Nicosia is our nation’s capital and has great clubs. It is for me a wholly Cypriot city. Limassol is more affluent with beach life, albeit with violence. I am not choosing between the two just seeing them for what they are. But damn do people go on about it. And I’d really wish you’d stop.

Now. This part is not meant to offend anyone, and for this I will be impartial. For some reason Nicosians dislike to see that Limassol is doing well and cannot resist to add into the conversation how much they hate Limassol. Why? It’s still in the same country. They talk about how amazing Nicosia is and yet, the first opportunity the get, they run to Larnaca’s beaches. For me personally Protara is an extension of Nicosia.

On the other hand (which is pointing the middle finger) Lemesians (as I call them) insist that Limassol not only should be the capital of Cyprus but the centre of the world. Okaaaay…Whatevverrr! I know it’s more developed than the rest of the island but damn are some people trashy there! I know that LMS has done well, but that’s because of the Russians and Arabs and because of the beach, not because Lemesians decided to radically alter the image of the second-city. Maybe Lemesians feel smug that LMS looks nicer than Nicosia – but that’s not reason to knock Nicosia down. Nicosia, with some planning and investment could easily be the best city in Cyprus. Yet due to mismanagement, no tram or bus system and the division which divides the city means it falls behind.

Instead of bitching about each other, just admit that each one offers different things and are great in their own way. LMS has a great beach front that will get better but nothing can compare the feeling of walking in Nicosia. You feel that it’s the capital and the nightlife is great. Cyprus is a tiny place in the world – it’s a great thing to be able to say how diverse our island it; we have the city-life, the beach-life, the mountains, the resorts, etc. The only other place in such a small space is Tel Aviv/Jerusalem… if you go there, you’ll understand what I mean.

So get over yourselves and your ego and stop going on about how much you hate each other’s city. Understand that diversity is a good thing. Support each others’ development and realise that together we are stronger. And stop telling me about it because I’m from Limassol/live in Nicosia. I really don’t care what you think. If you intend on pointing out where I’m from/where I live I will gladly point out the cave in the village where you came from… and where you should return to sooner than later.

Oh… and one more thing – if you don’t like Nicosia/Limassol, then don’t go there. Don’t drive up/down for an afternoon, have your frappe and then bitch about it to your friends and to people of that city. It’s really annoying – and by bitching, it just shows that you went to the bad part of town and don’t know that particular city well. I on the other hand love both cities so I go wherever I want. Maybe it’s because, like some of you said, I’m AngloCypriot/English/Martian/whatever and I enjoy Cyprus as it is without feeling the need to bitch about the good places in order to make them look bad.

Now… let’s talk about the Israel/Palestine conflict…

Cypriot KKK (Merry Xmas)

I work long hours and don't get back home until late but yesterday was an exception. It was Christmas Eve and I was at my parents' home in the afternoon. The TV was on and in the background I could hear Elita; a show I don't watch as I am not home.

The subject was Margarita; a Cypriot girl (I stress; a citizen of this nation) of African descent who was violently beaten and hospitalised for five days by racist Cypriot youths. (I would gladly describe how I feel about them but it's Christmas and...)

Not only am I ashamed about my nation now but I can't believe these people are not punished. In fact I can't believe one of the girls who attacked Margarita actually called up and said that 'Margarita was also calling us names.' What a fucking bitch. Not only does she show NO REMORSE by not apologising but she actually called up and tried to justify her position. What kind of family does she come from? She and the scum that she is part of (family and friends) not only makes me embarrassed to be Cypriot but embarrassed to be human.

I know this kind of thing happens all over the world; but we are a beautiful nation and these types of people ruin it for the rest of us. I am so ashamed. And I apologise to Margarita; I hope she has the strength to continue and the depth of character to overcome these traumas. But what's more, she is a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus and was discriminated against because of her colour... and I thought I had it 'bad' for wanting to become a Jew...

Like dogs, it looks like these racists are for life and not just for Christmas.
I hope you have a good Christmas...

Landmines in Bosnia

Dearest Friends,
it's Christmas Eve, so I thought I'd tell you about landmines in Bosnia...

I decided to write about landmines in Bosnia after I read an article about it. You see, I went to Bosnia this summer and was pleasantly surprised by the charm it possessed and how picturesque Sarajevo was. We won’t get into the details of the war here but while on a tour of Sarajevo the tour guide pointed out two mountains and said that we were not allowed to go there because they are still filled with landmines. Like anyone else, Laverne and I thought that the authorities were working on clearing those mountains up.

They are not. Bosnia has run out of money to clear the countryside from landmines and other explosives left for the war. Bosnia in fact still has 220,000 landmines literally lying around. It is the only European country that is riddled with so many landmines.

You may ask why I feel so strongly about this. Firstly, Cyprus is also filled with landmines along the buffer zone and still posses a danger to us. Secondly, landmines are not built to kill, they are built to maim. So they actually do more harm and cause more pain than a bullet. Thirdly, kids, hikers, farmers are now exposed to landmines in the countryside of Bosnia. According to the International Herald Tribune, ‘since the war ended, mines have inured 1,665 people, including 487 fatalities.’ The statitstics get worse and I’m not going to post them here but you get the gist. The above facts are terrible, people still dying from landmines? And now Bosnia has run out of money to rid the country of landmines? Let’s not mention that ethnic tensions have flared up again to make matters worse.

Where are international donations to clean the country of the landmines? So the war has ended and now everything is okay? It doesn’t seem to be. By having landmines strewn around Bosnia the war continues. Something has to be done – but the Balkan nations are too busy suing one another to do anything about it ans talk about what atrocities committed rather than helping the country (or each other develop).

I thought I’d add the link to the Halo Trust – a charity that specialises in the removal of debris of war.

http://www.halotrust.org/

As of 1997, there were 16,000 landmines in Cyprus. Right now I don’t know where the number stands.

Happy Diwali

Yesterday I went to a party that celebrated Diwali which is the Indian New Year. My Indian friends put the red line and a yellow dot on my forehead (I forgot what it was called, I believe it is called a Tika, or Tikra, or something like that) and was told that I had to out my hand on my head and make a wish and that it would come true within the year. I love Indian culture, so many bright colours, especially red and the food... let's just say I don't even season my food with pepper! I wish to to all my Indian friends, a very happy Diwali.

Money Makes the World Go Around?

Last week I was at a cocktail party for Cake’s wedding and was speaking to my friend Trustfundista about inheritance. She is set to inherit an office building in New York, two houses in London, an apartment in Athens and Moscow, a hotel in Qatar, and three shops in Dubai as well as a ton of money. She is expected to split this with her sister who lives in an all-female commune outside Poughkeepsie in the state of New York. But it looks like her sister will either give it to charity or give it to her. Luckily her sister TrustFundHippy actually likes Trustfundista so it looks that she may give it to Trustfundista to keep or will keep her inheritance herself and allow Trustfindista to manage their empire for a fee. I mean you can be a rich hippy but you can’t be a rich hippy in an all-female commune who manages the company finances. I mean can you imagine? At one point you’re planting tomatoes – at the other point you’re checking the stock market. It just doesn’t go. So it looks like Trustfundista will gain even more cash (note that this conversation was taking place during the time of the recession). So there I am sipping on my drink (an S on the Beach) going crazy saying that I want all the money and how it’s so important and if Trustfundista wants to go into business with me; when my good friend Laverne comes along and remind me that it’s not all about money. I agreed with her, it isn’t all about money.

Until I got thinking; it really isn’t all about the money… but it still is. Here’s why. We live in a world where the welfare system is no longer a priority. Europe is the only place where there is an actual welfare/socialist mentality. It is what set’s it apart from the rest of the world; that the state is responsible for the citizen and not that the state is above the citizen. But even in Europe there is a decline in state’s powers. Welfare is only provided to the poor – in the UK the poorer classes actually make more money now by being on state support schemes than working. In Cyprus we see that if you don’t have money, if you’re family does not have money or if you can’t provide for yourself you are screwed; you will not meet your payments, you will not be able to afford food, gas or rent and you will face difficulties. Luckily the family system and even the Church (to an extent) help. But we became a wealthy little place quickly and now we don’t know what to do with ourselves. Ironically on the other hand, Japan, the most money-centric country and one of the world’s financial power-houses, has hardly any class-structure and is described as the world’s best socialist state. How’s that for a contradiction?

Money does not equal happiness; it does not provide the meaning of life; but in today’s world you need money – not for luxuries – but to survive. Especially in our island empire, where prices are increasing but wages remain stationary we need to be resourceful. Our generation will be the last one to see their parents help us so much. How many of you will give your kids land as a wedding gift the way previous generations did? I know I won’t; because it will cost too much. I’m BabyBusinessMan for crying out loud - not BabyDonaldTrump! In Limassol 20 years ago land was sold for 1,000 CYP now it’s worth 100 times that amount. I bet in 20 years time we will see banks offering student loans and more people becoming plumbers and electricians than lawyers and marketers because it will cost less and you will earn more.

So money is important. And it’s also important to remember that it doesn’t equal everything – but it’s a factor – and a factor only the filthy rich can ignore today. So my advice to you; work hard, respect yourself and invest well; invest your time, invest your money and invest in yourself. And remember: money is not everything but it provides something. Don’t fear money but don’t abuse money either. And it doesn’t grow on tree.

A-hole Bouncer

A few weeks ago I had some friends come over from Israel. They were staying in Limassol and one night we arranged to go out. After going to some bars we wound up outside Replay in the tourist area, opposite the now defunct Galatex. A couple of my female friends went up to ask how much entrance fee was to the two bouncers who were flanked by their harem of women (who I can only assume where their assortment of fun for the night). One of the bouncers told them ‘this club is for Cypriots only’ and with the water bottle he was holding flicked my friends with water, spraying them from head to toe.

I was tempted show them the error of their ways, by they are uneducated buffoons. They came down towards us ready for a fight but as I am on parole and my gang was causing havoc elsewhere I was outnumbered and had to find the next best thing: the police. As predicted the police did nothing; perhaps because they felt overdressed for the club or were probably digesting their souvla.

Luckily my friends took it lightly. Being Israeli they are tougher and didn’t let a brain-dead bouncer ruin their night, but I was incensed. They were guests in my country and faced discrimination in the service sector (tourism) that is meant to cater for them. Instead they suffered discrimination in the tourist area! No wonder tourist numbers are dwindling if we treat our guests like this.

I realize that this post will in effect achieve nothing as the management of Replay probably doesn’t understand anything in English (or Greek for that matter; written or spoken or drawn in pictures).

It’s not like my friends suffered a huge injustice in the grand scheme of things, but that’s not what this letter page is for, is it? I am aware that there are much worse things. But this is the least I can (legally) do for them. It will show people what a dump tourist area is; hopefully we’ll start treating our guests better and maybe people will boycott Replay (wishful thinking). Now I realize you can’t paint everyone with the same brush but this is an example of the bad service and discrimination in Cyprus to the people that run its most important industry. Furthermore, my friends were respectful and sober. Unlike the bouncer and the service. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

After they left, my friends went back to Tel Aviv where they caught a connecting flight to Istanbul to continue their vacation (out of respect for me and for Cyprus they didn’t go through the airport in the occupied areas). I don’t doubt that the Turks provided better service.

The Rise of a New Financial Capital

With New York crashed, London waning and Frankfurt not strong enough a new financial world capital is set to emerge out of the ashes of the recession that we have witnessed. We all know that empires cannot last forever and New York’s financial empire has collapsed. It was generally assumed that London would carry the flame but LDN too has lost its punch. Frankfurt and Paris have also lost influence and stature and will remain powerful only because of the EU. So now we are set to see which new world city will dictate the world’s financial terms. With China emerging as the world’s newest superpower after its Olympics it is presumed that the financial capital will go eastwards to Asia. The USA may be in turmoil but communist China is rolling around in cash (I guess we were wrong thinking that communist isn’t profitable). Shanghai, China’s financial capital looks set to become the new world capital of finance and will prove this by 2010 and wants to be the main financial centre in the world by 2010. But as with every empire’s heart, there are always smaller rivals. Even from inside China we see Shanghai being contested by Hong Kong, which has for many decades now been a financial hub in Asia, alongside Singapore and Tokyo who are also perfect applicants for the seat of financial capital. According to the Washington Post: Tokyo has lifted some regulations on banks and insurance groups and has begun to do something it resisted for a long time: print securities documents in English. The Singapore government… through its massive sovereign wealth funds has increased its private equity and other financial holdings in recent years and is said to be looking to invest in more distressed assets in the United States.

And there is a newcomer on the stage. Ten years ago Dubai was merely a port in the desert, now it looks like it will take on urban monoliths like Tokyo and New York. Dubai succeeding New York? It’s a travesty – but then again many things in finance can be. It certainly has become the Islamic New York and has stated that it wants to develop the same world-wide stature as the Big Apple. Researchers looked at infrastructure, foreign direct investment, cost of living and the presence and a fair business environment. The four frontrunners are: Dubai, Singapore, Shanghai and Mumbai. All new cities in rising economies. Cities like Tokyo and Hong Kong are not perceived to be as powerful – despite not collapsing the way NYC did. And although Moscow has the most billionaires in the world (I believe with over 38) it will gain influence in the future – although it won’t replace New York as the world financial centre… yet. But I believe it will become the most powerful European financial hub after Frankfurt and certainly the main one in Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia.

Who would you choose? Personally I’d choose Paris; but the West’s heyday is over. It will inevitably have to be an Eastern city. I feel China has earned it – but China seems to be taking over everything nowadays – plus a communist country managing the world’s finances? Doesn’t that strike you as odd? Hong Kong perhaps? But like Tokyo it has lost its influence. Talking of Tokyo – its sushi definitely puts it into second place, for me anyway. I wish it could be Sao Paolo which is Latin America’s Wall Street – who wouldn’t like a little Samba with stocks? But it is too early yet for Brazil. Moscow would be my first choice, but Russia is not financially powerful just yet. So I guess my choice would be Mumbai. It’s different, it’s friendly! It’s India! And you gotta love those Bollywood movies!

(Plus they have just banned smoking – read below – and are in my good books).

Pics top to bottom: New York, Tokyo, Mumbai.

India: a Smoke-free Subcontinent

A few days ago India has become the latest country to ban smoking. However, the Indians have met the smoking ban with dejection saying that now they cannot socialize as easily at work and that coming and going to smoke takes a long time. One man said smoking took him 5 minutes now it takes him up to 20 minutes when trying to find access to smoke at work. But the authorities hope that people will turn their annoyance at not being able to smoke into an effort to stop the habit completely. According to the BBC ‘smoking kills 900,000 people in India every year, 2,500 people in a day and 102 people every hour…40% of all cancer cases in India are due to smoking’ so it is obviously in their interest to ban smoking in public places.

It is said that people smoke less when they are unable to smoke in the workplace or anywhere else. This fact in my opinion is true. In the UK 400,000 people have quit smoking within the year of the ban being introduced and I myself have stopped smoking completely this year (despite there being no ban in Cyprus). Although, we are still permitted to smoke outdoors while at work (as there is no Cypriot legislation against it) my flippant smoking habit stopped on the 8th July 2008 and on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, it would be three months since I’ve stopped smoking. So I am behind the ban.

In India, the fear is that people will now smoke more at home and that people will now chew tobacco instead of smoke it. The anti-smokers say that this legislation is overdue and are please it has become law, however they worry about it being implemented. With a country of over one billion it will be difficult to do so – especially as India has more pressing issues, such as poverty, healthcare and corruption. Still the ban on smoking won’t do any harm.

Greek law states that smoking is forbidden in all public and private workplaces and all areas related to health care and education and public transport; but in typical Greek fashion the law provides a loophole which makes it voluntary. A stricter smoking ban is said to be passed in 2010. If that happens, I assume Cyprus will follow. Until now Cyprus has practically zero legislation against smoking.

The Alpha Male

A recent report has proved that sexist men earn more than the Beta Male; his more sensitive and politically-correct counterpart, by almost $8,500 difference. They are better at their jobs and therefore earn more leading to find them more attractive. The great irony is that women have been, for years campaigning and protesting against such type of men and against the discrimination they face by them in the work place. Then they decide that they find them attractive. WTF?

This is because their brutish arrogance, their excessive amount of self-esteem and the extra money they earn because of this makes them more attractive to women. Women ‘fall in love’ with them and then are treated badly by the men. Meanwhile, the more sensitive Beta Males, who have been told to ‘get sensitive and politically correct’ by society are marginalised by the women and are not found less attractive on their own merit just not as attractive as the Alpha Male and now… lose out concerning pay.

I don’t know which group I fall into. I’m not an Alpha Male because I’m not arrogant. If I’m arrogant I will be dismissed and will no longer be BabyBusinessMan. I’m not a Beta Male because I’m not sensitive – I really do not care about your feelings. So what category do I fall into? I just it’s a letter in another alphabet . Maybe the Hebrew alphabet. In Hebrew then, I’m the Alef Male. Or the Alef Ish (as goes the translation). Guess which letter ‘alef’ that is in the Latin alphabet… and I promise I’ll be nice. Not! Like I care about your feelings!

H in Liberia

It had been ages since I spoke to my good friend H who is working for anon-profit organisation in Africa, so I emailed her to see what she isup to and she replied with the following email. Now I asked her if Icould blog it but she didn't reply. I imagine she is okay with it, sohere it is below (slightly edited). H I hope you don't mind. I justreally wanted to share it because it shows how different and valuableher work and experience is to ours.

It is rainy season out here and about 150% humidity so you can imaginethe state of my giant wig ... I was lucky enough to experience thelegendary 7-day rains, actual torrential downpours all day every day for7 days. There were children floating down the street, Im not evenjoking. There is no such thing as an actual road here, because thecapital Monrovia (where I live) was attacked so many times during thewar the streets have been destroyed by rocket fire and tanks and bulletsand mortar rounds and there are potholes the size of swimming pools onmost main streets. There are also still roadblocks manned by UN - thefirst time I went through one of those was seriously scary. The city iscool though, everyone has been so nice and is looking after me but it isstill very very unsafe, as soon as the sun goes down everyone locksthemselves up in their houses and the criminal gangs come out to play. Iwas living with a family for a while just outside of town but now I havean apartment in the diplomatic quarter of the city - no electricityobviously but I just got running water yesterday which was veryexciting. The food is SPICY, they call chillies 'pepper' out here whichgives you some idea of the amount they use in their cooking - 'blow yourface off hot' is just an average meal. The people are great, I have areally good team who work so hard in between doing their actual jobs andI love them all. I have... a bodyguard who is the most useful person Ihave ever met (there is nothing he doesn't know or know how tofix/solve/sort out).

Generally things here are pretty damn good......... How are you? How is the beautiful Cyprus? I HAVE to come and see yousoon, I miss you loads and really really need to chill out with you fora while....

more on Liberia @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia

Fashion and the Individual

In America the individual is celebrated. In Cyprus it’s hidden in the closet. Read on!
In the States due to the wide variety of people, we see many different types of groups and interests. You have, jocks, cheerleaders, queens, artsy-farty, the let’s-save-the-rainforest people, hip-hop (boy do they have hip-hop there), frats, blondes, rappers, conservatives, cowboys, yuppies… anything you can image each with their different looks and styles. Although they do not all necessarily get along (you tell me a hip-hip boy is going to get along with a jock and I’ll tell you that George Bush is my uncle) they have an understanding of the importance of being an individual. Nowhere other than America (maybe Japan) is there such a vibrancy for personal-marketing. Of showing who you are through your own tailor-make style.

In Cyprus we have the above groups to a lesser degree. They are; villagers and high-class for the over 30s and hip-hop, nerds emo and fashionistas for the under 25s. And of course the BabyBusinessMan style (Armani meets silver sneakers). But these are styles more than tastes. You will not get main different streams of people. Although I do have to say that there is a blogging community here in CY – albeit on the internet but still a community. Nevertheless, I find Cypriots very afraid to discover their own vibe and develop it. And if they want to, they go over the top and look ridiculous and no one lets them in any clubs because they look like circus freaks.

I had some American friends over this summer. They wore bright colours; yellow sunglasses in doors; they had big hair; they wore clothes that showed their tats, one amazing friend, actually had Machu Pichu tattoo’d on her back. All in all they were phenomenal and made us Cypriots look like we were at a funeral and it was being held in a club (cool idea actually). Nevertheless I lived that they made an effort to be themselves and show off their personality through their clothes. Refreshing or what! You don’t have to go out of your way to be original but be you. In Cyprus we aren’t. If you don’t look like this then you should stay home. And although we look good as a nation, we are good dressers and take pride in our appearance we don’t take pride in our personality and what qualities we have. We adhere to the sheep mentality and it’s a shame. Fashion isn’t just Gucci. Fashion and style is making an effort to look good with a whole lot of you!

Stop Smoking

Today has been 70 days without smoking. And today I have been so stressed that I really wanted to cave. To be honest I had this feeling a couple of times since I got back from vacation when I am stressed but only one thing kept me from lighting up. The fact that I have 70 days of not smoking. Bit by bit, like bits of Lego I have built a wall between me and my disgusting habit.

To cave and smoke would be a huge defeat. It feels like a country putting up sand-bags to hold back to sea that is about to flood the land, or an army reclaiming back the land it lost. To put my lips even for a moment on a cigarette butt would reduce all my efforts, all the reclaimed land, back to nothing. I would have been at zero again. Back at square one where I’ll have to climb the slippery slope again. Not smoking makes me feel like I have amassed 70 precious stones and by smoking a cigarette would mean I would thrown my treasure in the fast running river.

Ironically I never started smoking in the army. I think I had one. I started smoking when I began dating this English hotel-girl when I was 19. If you read the blog regularly I’m sure you won’t find this as a surprise. I never was a chain-smoker. Actually when I lived in Spain (and I’m not proud of this) I had three packs while I was at a 24 hour party. Imagine the damage to the lungs! But I console myself by the fact that I have many away. But usually I had three a day, of the lightest make I could find. The fear lies that I might cave, and give in and light up a (not so) Lucky Strike. Not only will smoking damage my health but I hate not achieving my objectives: not to smoke! Ever again. Not to an ex-smoker, never ever smoking again is an intimidating thought. Which is why you should take it a day at a time. Say, I’m not going to smoke today and remind yourself of all the days you have collected not smoking.

And it’s not the nicotine I crave. It’s the action. The act of smoking becomes a ritual. ‘Hmmm’… you say, ‘let’s go outside for a chat and a ciggy’ and a little more pollution to the lungs. Or after a long day a cigarette and a glass of wine can do more than the usual trick. Or a way of networking; ‘hi, do you have a lighter’ opens conversations more efficiently than the doorman at the Hilton. Or for looks; doesn’t Carrie Bradshaw look trendy with the cigarette hanging out of her mouth? (But even she gave it up). Or in bed, when you share one together… hmmm. Or before the bed, when you’re on the date and you’re nervous. (Yes, I can see you nodding. Or if you don’t smoke acting totally holier-than-thou). Or when you’re stressed, one cigarette, to collect your thoughts and then on with the battle of the day. But how does it help? How does a burning stick to your lips help your problem? The answer is: it doesn’t! And that is the most important message I tell myself when wanting to light up. The truth is you don’t want to smoke, you want to ritual. The little Marlboro tradition.

So here I am, writing this, with cigarettes on the brain and no nicotine in the lungs. Fine, my stress levels are through the roof today but that’s because I’m an obsessive-compulsive BabyBusinessMan who is a control-freak. I would have been this way anyway whether I was going to have a cigarette or not. So the sooner I unlearn the Marlboro tradition the sooner I can breathe easier and realise that tackling day to day problems, which is nothing when in the scope of more serious things, will not be solved with a cigarettes.

Good Luck Cyprus: Reunification Talks Begin

Tomorrow we see the beginning of the reunitfication talks between the two sides. I don't want to say anything to jinx the process and for once I won't give my opinion.

But I do want to say Good Luck! Let's hope we can we stitch things back together and prove to the world and to ourselves that we can live together as one people again.

Go Team Cyprus!

Cyprus sent four athletes to the Beijing Paralympics. Two so far have scooped medals. Karolina Pelendritou not only won gold but set a new world record in the 100m breaststroke (New World record was 1:16.82). Her success was followed by Antonis Aresti who won silver in the 200m T46 race.

Well done guys! We’re proud of you! Go Team Cyprus!

Not joking. As I was writing this I just heard Karolina won Bronze in the 200m! Bravo, you did us proud!

Moving Makarios

I don’t understand why they are moving the statue of Makarios to the mountains. ’Oh. Because it is too big’ they rant. So? Aren’t statues always meant to be larger than life? And so now the statue, which has become a monument in our city will be taken to the mountains, where no one can see him because it doesn’t fit in with the surroundings. But it is precisely that which makes that area so special and different. It is a unique thing to be there and see this giant Archbishop/President standing to attention outside the Archbishopric. We have no great monuments in Nicosia and what we do have is being relocated. Shall I assume that the Statue of Liberty will be moved to the Great Plains of America because she’s too big for Ellis Island?

The Turks are smart and have gone in the other direction. Not only is their nation’s founder, Ataturk everywhere, but his statue is everywhere in gigantic proprotions. My friend who went to the occupied areas even told me that there is a monolithic carving of him near Pentadaktylos. They even went as far as painting a flag made up of many football pitches on the mountains for all of us to see. And that’s the way to do it is you want a national feeling and a sense of pride in your place and history.

But in Cyprus where Cypriots have no aversion to big things, such as their egos or their cars, they have decided that the statue is too big. Funny though, I never hear them complain about their salary. Maybe we should give them a ‘mountain-salary’ as well instead of the fat cheques they receive in Nicosia.

Apparently some people do not even like the statue and threw paint on it saying ‘down with idols’. In this case I’ll assume they mean role-models. And if they had any role-models they wouldn’t be throwing paint on a national monument and our nation’s first president. Or maybe they really wanted the statue to go to the mountains.

Cyrpiot football in Greece

Last week I was in Athens airport and I heard a Greek lady saying ‘but who is this Anorthosis… and Omonia? Where are they from? Then I realised they are from Cyprus. Pfffffff’ she said making a spitting sound. Initially I thought she was upset about her lack of geographic knowledge, it wasn’t until I asked about the match that she, like most Greek ‘hate’ Cyprus right now, because we beat them, and they do not understand why a country, well technically half a country, thanks to their junta, can defeat them.

When Anorthosis arrived, Olympiacos’ fans actually attacked the football players bus, forcing the driver to stop for two hours until the riot police turned up. After the match the president of Anorthosis was attacked, raising questions about Greek security at football venues. If you can’t protect the head of a football team, what chance do the supporters have? And last night, the Greeks were calling us Turks. So the Greeks were trying to put Cypriots down by using the word Turk as an insult. Racist is the only way to describe it. Even Cypriots, having half the island occupied by Turkey does not show such a high degree of racism towards Turks or the Greeks.
In that case, if they dislike living or being with the Turks (as they now refer to Cypriots) then the Greeks who come to Cyprus visa-free and with a welcome committee at the airport can pack up and leave. No one is asking them to live in Cyprus; Nicosia is now filled with Greeks. Obviously if you live here, Cyprus offers you something your country doesn’t, in the Greeks case, triple the amount they would make in Athens. And yet they come to Cyprus and behave superior to us, saying comments such as ‘you wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for us’ and that ‘you have no literature or arts.’ But we have money and a more organised civil society. But that’s for another blog post about the delightful opinions of the Greeks.

During the match, Anorthosis’ supports were flying the Greek flag (not Cypriot) as they coincided with their teams colours, blue and white. Olympiacos’ colours are red. And yet the Greek still insulted the people who were holding their national flag. And this is what infuriates me; that Cypriots’ identity has to come from another country. One that clearly does not like us very much because… wait for it… we beat them at football. Only God know how much they must hate the Turks who beat them at war.

Don’t misunderstand me, I have nothing against the Greeks; their nations’ interests are often tied with ours (although each year this is become less likely) and our cultures mirror the other. I like Greeks, they are smart, witty and gutsy. But they also have something against the Cypriot ‘Rich Farmers’ and resent our own country’s success. They view Cyprus as a Greek island while regarding Cypriots as complete foreigners and believe that Cypriot politics weigh Greece down. And the football match exposed their dislike of Cyprus. But the real losers are us. Despite all this, we are still going to continue our total and insatiable love with Greece; we will revere Greece and continue to build our identity around them despite them wanting nothing to do with us. Some Cypriots want to be more Greek, Greeks don’t want this at all, or don’t even care. Let’s hope some of us realise this.

Finally allow me to congratulate Anorthosis, it’s a good day for Cypriot sport.