Wow! Where to start... 022006

OK… So, I have so much to tell…
So, Cyprus is really awesome. It is my favorite business destination so far. The office is super nice. They take me out to lunch every day, but then get on me for not eating enough.
On Friday night, I went out to mezze with Charis. This is a type of Cypriot food that is very traditional. There is a set menu for the meal and the waiters just keep bringing food. We went to a place in Plaka, which is the old part of Nicosia. We were going down these little alleyways and I was starting to wonder where Chari was taking me. Finally, there it was… The Plaka tavern. The first course included an awesome homemade bread (which looks like a huge sesame seed bagel), a Greek salsa, Greek salad with the best feta that I have ever had in my life, unbelievable tzaziki, awesome ravioli, beets, olives, risotto, potatoes, vegetables, and probably four more plates that I am forgetting. The table was completely loaded. The food was amazing and it was all homemade. I was full after the first course… but then came the second… this was souvlaki, sausage, roast lamb, roast beef, a fried potato dish and about four more dishes that I am forgetting… Next came snails and a bunch more awesome food. Charis makes me try the snails… Believe it or not… they taste great! You just can't look at them when you eat them. The texture in your mouth is not bad at all. While all of these courses are coming, I am playing with the little girl at the next table. She is three and absolutely gorgeous!! She comes over and pets my hair and her parents are mortified. She comes over again and tries to bring me bread and take my bread. I don't mind. She is so sweet. The last course finally comes… tons of fruits and Greek pastries. They are wonderful. I am so stuffed and I think that is probably the best food I have ever had in my life. [Note: Aaron R., you need to come to Greece or Cyprus. These people know food!] The little girl is getting tired. She refuses to put her coat on. She comes over to me and I put her coat on. Her parents just laugh. Kids!
Next, we go to meet up with some of Charis' friends who are teachers from Limasol, which is on the coast on the other side of the island. We are looking for the place. Finally, we find it. It is down an unmarked set of stairs in the basement of an unmarked building, but the scene is awesome! There are these long tables at which everyone is seated. There is a band of about 7 people singing and playing Greek music. The singers are awesome. People are Greek dancing and generally having a great time. There are three guys and three girls. We mainly talk with Nikos while the girl across from him shoots me death looks. I think I need a sign made that says, "I'm happily married and do not want your boyfriend." I can have it translated into multiple languages, like the airport signs, and I will wear it around my neck like a large billboard. It might make my life easier with the other women around the world. We hang out and talk and watch everyone dance until about 3 a.m. (Note: we didn't go out for dinner until about 8 or 9 p.m. and that took a couple of hours, so we were only at the Greek dance 3 or 4 hours). At this point, Charis is looking like he is not feeling great. He says that he has a headache. On the way home, I find out that the girl across from Nikos was whining at Charis for bringing a pretty "tourist." Whatever, chickie! Maybe she didn't notice the rings that I wear on BOTH hands, just so no one misses the point. Anyway, Charis drops me back at the hotel. What an awesome night!
I don't get up the next day until about 2 p.m. I call Charis, and he still has a headache. I go upstairs to the Executive Lounge and meet some awesome Americans. He is a bank executive that is originally from Holland. She teaches ESOL and volunteers at the animal shelter when she's in Cyprus. They were very interesting people. We chat for about three hours. I drink the most awesome orange juice ever provided by Mr. George the lounge attendant. Mr. George is always there. I go to see him all of the time, and he takes great care of me.
I call Charis again. We plan to get together to go out to dinner with his friends. Tonight, it is Italian with his oldest friends. Giriagos and Tatiana who are engaged and to be married in November and Andreas and his fiancée, whose name I didn't catch because she doesn't speak great English, who are to be married in June. Charis is the best man in both weddings. Giriagos and Tatiana went to school in the UK and speak great English. They are all really awesome. We have a great time. Once again, the food is impeccable. On the way home, we stop and see Gregory. He and Charis are on a bit of the outs right now due to some friction over a girl, but they are getting better.
Sunday, I think we are to go around the island, but Charis calls me and tells me that he has a baptism that he has to go to. I spend most of the day watching German television and talking to interesting people in the Executive Lounge. I meet two fellow auditors (one man and one woman) from Nigeria and an older lady from Angola. We have an interesting conversation on marriage around the world. The Angolan lady is jewish and has lived everywhere! Surprisingly, I find out that Nigerians are not faithful and this is accepted. The Nigerian lady tells me that if her husband were to cheat on her, she would be unable to divorce him. If she were even to think of this, her father would beat her. This is quite a reality check for me! I also find out that there is quite an issue on Cyprus with infidelity, and it is leading to the high divorce rates on the island. Hmmm… interesting!
Charis calls me to go out for "coffee" with his friends. Tonight, we meet up with Gregory and his girlfriend, and Angelos and his cousin. Angelos is from the UK and really wants to move to California. We talk for a long time about America. I have an awesome hot chocolate. On Sunday, I don't really eat except for snacks from Mr. George. Charis has to go back to the baptism party for dinner. I go back to the hotel and go to the executive lounge. There I meet Mark. He is an older guy (he has kids my age) from San Diego. He has been in Cyprus for two weeks installing some software for Motorola. We have a nice chat. I finally retire to my room to talk to Claron and go to bed.
I'm back at work today. Charis and I are set to go to the coast tonight with Giriagos and Tatiana for fish. I've heard that they have the most awesome fish here. I am excited to try it.
Here is the list:
-In Cypriot Greek, to say someone "drowns the rabbit" or "opens the drawer" means that they are gay.
-All of the roofs have water tanks which are heated by solar panels. I am told that it take a while for the water to get hot so you must run it.
-While the water will not hurt you, everyone drinks bottled because it tastes funny.
-All of the outlets and toilets are British style.
-There are plasma TV's at the gas station to watch while you are filling your tank.
-It cost Charis $56 to fill his tank. Ouch!
-Most things are written in English and Greek.
-The buildings in Nicosia aren't really that pretty. They are all concrete and built to withstand earthquakes, which are fairly infrequent.
-Most of the taxicabs are Mercedes and will only come if you call them. You can not hail a cab.
-People eat out tons here. The restaurants are always packed.
-The average portion size here is bigger than in the US if you can believe that.
-The average salaries are much lower than in the US.
-You can still buy land on the coast fairly cheaply (compared to CA).
-All of the plants are the same as California, but they are just now getting birds of paradise.
-I've seen more Elise's on this small island than in all of the rest of the world.
-There is a restaurant across from my work called the "Mad Dog Café."
-The banks close at 2 p.m.
-The shops have weird hours. They close at 1 p.m. on Saturday, 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and all day on Sunday.
-Most people in Cyprus do not work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-The culture is very laid back and relaxed. People love to take their time and enjoy themselves, but their driving is horrendous.
-There are lots of fapped-out Japanese cars just like in the States. It is quite a big thing to do here.
-"Face Control" is in fully effect at the bars and the clubs. This means they will only let you in if you are with a pretty girl, know someone or have money. In Nicosia, they do not let you in unless they know you. On the coast, it is the opposite. They will not let any of the locals in, only tourists.
-There are many people here who have emigrated from other places. In fact, in my office there is a Norwegian, a South African, a Hungarian, an Englishman and two Cypriots.
-"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" definitely rings true here. The typical wedding size is about 2000 people. The wedding dinner is only about 400 people though.
-The people are extremely welcoming and friendly.
That is all that I can think of for now. I promise to add pictures on the blogs soon. Right now, I am scrambling to update everyone and get my work done. I'd better run!
Amanda
P.S. Even though I'm eating, I'm still losing weight. I'm now down 10 lbs. Yea!