It's been quite a few years now that I have noticed that people in general are becoming more hostile and defensive, so I wonder if it's time to change the broken record of how we present ourselves to tourists and stop claiming that Cypriots are warm and welcoming and will all invite you into their homes for coffee!
I am guilty of it too. As a writer, I have penned many an advert, brochure or article regurgitating this character of open arms, and whilst this may still be the case in mountainous villages, in the towns that friendliness has long packed its bags.
This isn't a 'Cypriot thing' – I remember going back to England after a long absence, memories of the wonderful customer service in shops still in my mind, only to find a rude and unhelpful workforce in most places, with some of the youth speaking a version of the English language that I could barely decipher. I came back vowing never to compare British shop staff with Cypriot again as neither was better than the other! It seems this is a global pandemic of misery, dissatisfaction and negativity.
So, who or what do we blame for this inwardness? Is it the rise of social media that has made us forget how to interact with others with common courtesy, and made everyone so self-absorbed that we don't care, or are not interested if its not about us? Is it the belief that we can't be happy unless we accrue as much as we can, so if we have anything less we are left with a gaping hole of dissatisfaction that our lives are not fabulous enough? Or in the case of Cyprus, is it the 'golden era' that prevailed when Cypriots started having access to designer labels and trendy cafes, thus giving them the illusion of grandeur and a rise in snobby showiness (and we all know how that turned out…) Maybe it is the influx of different nationalities that have slowly diluted the traditions and the small 'we are a family' island feel we once had? One thing we can't blame it on is the global crisis because most people were miserable long before this all began.
Recently I went to deliver an envelope to a client. Upon entering the building, the faulty door slipped out of my hand with a loud bang. I popped the envelope under the door and as I exited the building the same thing happened again. From a window above, an angry female venomously shouted in Greek 'Excuse me, do you want me to wrap the door up so you can take it with you?' I apologised and explained that the door was faulty and had slipped (a fact she knew), to which she replied sarcastically 'twice?' It was then I recognised her and called her name 'XX, is that you?' At that point her whole demeanour changed and she said 'Oh Paula, I didn't realise it was you, why didn't you knock on the door.' There was no apology, no acknowledgement of the disgusting way she spoke to me. Once she realised she knew me, she was no longer hostile, but why should she be hostile to anyone? Why is there such suspicion and contempt for everyone? What are we all so afraid of?
Yes, everyone is currently rallying round to help those in need and there is indeed a real sense of community and spirit as a result of the crisis, but can we all – wherever we live, whoever we are – please start being nice to one another again?
First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly 22/03/14
