One month has already passed since I moved to this warm little island, although it’s not so warm now. As I type with my feet tucked under my bottom and a blanket wrapped around me, winter is slowly beginning to arrive in North Cyprus. Am I complaining? Certainly not! If there’s one thing I miss so much more than I thought I would is wrapping up from October onwards. Hat, scarf, gloves, you name it and I’ve got them. But right now, they’re sitting on top of one another, nicely tucked away in a draw and I wish it was cold enough for me to wear them. That’s right, we’re in the middle of November and it isn’t cold enough for me to wrap up in a scarf and hat, in fact the weather is far from it.
Five weeks ago I took a decision that I’d been contemplating with for the last two and a half years or so. It’s was a decision I knew would be difficult, which is probably why it took so long for me to actually put into action and say: “I’m going to move away from London.” Not just away but abroad, to another country altogether. It wasn’t random or sudden, although for a lot of people who didn’t know how long or how much I’d been wanting this, it came as a surprise.
Having lived in North Cyprus over a month now and alone too, I’ve seen and learned an incredible amount, whether this be in regards to people, the culture or even the lifestyle. When you compare London and North Cyprus, take my advice- you shouldn’t even consider doing so. Why? Because it’s literally like saying chalk and cheese. One is a city so much bigger than this little island, although both have history and breath-taking sights to see, they are simply worlds apart. The most important things to people who live in North Cyprus what from I’ve seen aren’t important to me at all. Things like clothes, cars or how big or expensive the house they live in is. It’s all materialism and about image, in my world that’s sad and far from being important.
Of course we’d all like to have a comfortable life with our dream car and a house like the ones we see in films, but life isn’t about that. Being far away from home and trying to adjust to life on this little island has taught me a lot. It’s taught me to appreciate much more than I already did, it’s taught me to be grateful for the endless varieties available of pretty much everything in London and most of all it’s shown me just how invaluable having your family around you is.
In five weeks I’ve fed more cats than I can count on both hands, I’ve learned to go to bed without saying good night or I love you to anyone, I’ve been offered a lift to work by complete stranger -she was lovely and dropped me to work, I’ve formed new friendships, the local supermarket and restaurant workers now know me well enough to have a short chat and I’ve been surprised by a woman who I wouldn’t change for anything or anyone- my sister. Through all of this, I’ve learned that when you really want something you have to go after it. It’s like having a bow-tied box and not opening it, if you don’t, you won’t ever know what’s inside. Keep chasing your dreams, because the chance may not come around a second time.
