British but Cypriot wishing to move from UK

[cds usa]

You can rent a car and drive over or maybe have a relative take you on a tour, the physically going over there part is easy but like you said, touchy subject

[loubi650]

Originally Posted by cds usa

The cultural benefit to your children will be great even if you are only there for a year or two.

This is extremely important to us. Having no grandparents to go to, this will soon be lost if we don't do something about it for the youngest. For the eldest its purely life experience, but I want the youngest to fully understand and benefit from his roots in some way. It never used to bother my OH, but since the youngest was born, its stirred feelings of the past and future, which isn't a bad thing!

I'm beginning to understand why those older Greek Cypriot friends we know here, say they wouldn't go back to live there.

As for Healthcare, you say its quite concerning, I've always presumed the US has far better than the Uk, so would it still be below par to me?

[cds usa]

I agree that's it's important for our children to live there. I want them to be comfortable in both worlds and learn Greek.
And I'm not saying I wouldn't live there, I would in a heartbeat and we are planning on it, hopefully by Christmas but I'm always thinking it as a three year move and keeping our options open.
I don't know how the Uk health system compares, just that the cyprus system scares me especially with two small children.
We are all healthy and hundreds of thousands of people use it so it may not be as bad as I think it is

[zin]

Originally Posted by Veronica

The fact that our husband speaks Greek will give him an edge over other expats.

Muslim?

[zin]

Originally Posted by cds usa

My other concern is the healthcare system, it's sub-par to begin with, both private and state at least from what we are used to, and the state system is overcrowded and barely functioning.

What are you used to? The healthcare system, especially private, is actually pretty damn good with many doctors educated abroad, notably UK and US. What have you heard?

[kimonas]

Originally Posted by cds usa

I agree that's it's important for our children to live there. I want them to be comfortable in both worlds and learn Greek.
And I'm not saying I wouldn't live there, I would in a heartbeat and we are planning on it, hopefully by Christmas but I'm always thinking it as a three year move and keeping our options open.
I don't know how the Uk health system compares, just that the cyprus system scares me especially with two small children.
We are all healthy and hundreds of thousands of people use it so it may not be as bad as I think it is

I've posted on my experience of the healthcare system of Cyprus before - and commented that opinions seem to be mixed as there are positive experiences balancing my overwhelmingly negative experiences. I've since toured several hospitals and clinics with UK health professionals as part of my work. Their professional opinion is that the State sector is positively third world in comparison to the UK and that the private provision looks good (flash equipment etc) but lacks diagnostic rigour. This has to be a factor in anyone's decision making - and consideration that there is absolutely minimal provision here for paramedic cover (there is one private service) and currently the ambulance service is staffed by drivers with no medical knowledge (infringing a longstanding EU Directive). Things are changing, but very slowly...

[zin]

Originally Posted by loubi650

Have you ever hear a fluent Greek with a Jock accent? Or indeed a Yorkie lass attempting and failing to even say how dooooo?

Yup. Both and in both instances the ladies I've heard have lived in Cyprus for years and with good jobs.

[zin]

Originally Posted by cds usa

You can rent a car and drive over or maybe have a relative take you on a tour, the physically going over there part is easy but like you said, touchy subject

Not really. Many Cypriots drove over to see their old properties once the borders opened. It's pretty easy to do, just keep in mind to buy insurance once you cross over, and that rent-a-cars are not allowed to cross.

[loubi650]

I would have thought the rules for going across from the Southern side, are almost as silly as the ones when you go over via foot at Ledra Street.

Going some few yards and having to faff with non official papers and real passports just seemed very far fetched. To be given sideways glances having three different names on passports almost made me want to retreat and not bother.
Didn't stay long anyway, we only did it to be nosey!

So basically get a taxi/hire car to the border, get thrown out and hope theirs another sort of taxi/hire car to pick you up

[cds usa]

Originally Posted by zin

What are you used to? The healthcare system, especially private, is actually pretty damn good with many doctors educated abroad, notably UK and US. What have you heard?

I'm used to calling and making an appointment, showing up 15 minutes before to pay my co-pay and being seen within half hour. The only experiences with Cyprus doctors in recent years were in the private sector and perfectly fine but I'm not sure we could afford private if any of us get seriously sick, but I guess that would be the case in the states too if we didn't have insurance.

I know that the doctors are well educated but the system is broken and the equipment dated. And to see a doctor in the public sector you have to waste the better part of a day!

I think for minor or chronic illness they are probably fine but for anything critical or very urgent you wouldn't get the best of care.