One question I seem to be asked frequently is about the weather; I think that most people think of a Mediterrian island and think of Hawaii... but let me tell you: that is not close to the truth. The Greeks have a saying that says something like: "When God was done creating the world he had a pocket full of rocks left over, so He created Greece" --and I think that includes Cyprus!
I read somewhere that when the Romans ruled the island, they cut down most to all of the trees to build their navy and the forests have never recovered. The terrian is rather dry, arid and dusty, but with some sticky humidity in the air. Not Phoenix... Not Austin. The forecast is pretty nice much of the time, we've been having morning fog. Not like Tulley Fog, but more like land fog from the valley, in the south we have the Troodos Mountains and in the north another range, I don't know their proper name, I call them then Keryneia Mountains (that is where Keryneia is located), so we are tucked in a little valley.
And in case you are planning to visit, here's something which could help: a temperature chart. And in case you want Farenheit...
Keep in mind that we are here for a while, so you have plenty of time to plan your trip. I've heard rumors and whispers about several visitors... we shall see who really shows up! We have a queen size bed all made up in the spare room and I'm finding out about several tours, like a walking tour of old town Nicosia and one of the Green Zone by the UN. As soon as I find out more I will let you know. Spring is a good time for wild flowers on the southwest part of the island.
Keep checking back, I'll be adding some pictures soon!
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Work is great! How many people say that?
Now while our stock needs a bit of help, I have the good blessings and fortune to work for and with some of the most amazing people I've met in my dozen or so years in the work force. It's one thing to let an employee move to the East Coast (for which I'm grateful!) and another one entirely when she shows up at work and says her FSO spouse has been PCS'd to a country where Sun doesn't have an office. It's been a fortuitous confluence of hard work (on many parts) and a great amount of Divine intervention which put the solution on which I work in a place where parts of the program needed to be leveraged out of HQ/US and into the rest of our geographically established markets. My moving was good for the solution, and for Sun too, I hope. They didn't have to hire and train a new employee on their leading solution, didn't have to move me here, and didn’t have to expend any additional expenses at all. Now I'm in the EU, happily working bizarre hours, mostly because I work with great people, on an interesting solution and feel very loyal to a company that is so supportive and committed to making customers, employees and the world a better place through technology. Soundcheezy?
Maybe, but I think that it's really true.
I've been in Nicosia for a little over a week, and am finishing my 4th full day back to work. I actually feel pretty well integrated into the time zone, although the 'spring ahead' time change this weekend didn't help! --and now California is 11 hours behind me-- but for this week only. Looks like my work hours will be about 10:00 - 19:00 or 20:00 most days. That way I get the most overlap with CET, GMT and a few hours with PST. 08:00 there is 18:00 here, so dinners are a bit messed up. Ralph has offered to cook on staff meeting days, which is great, and what the heck?! it's a great excuse to go out, right?? While it seems that other techies don't start until 9 or 10 at best, my entire group is very supportive of 08:00 and 09:00 meetings.
Things in the tech sector are always changing, and us at Sun, we seem to have an over developed case of ADHD, which makes the work environment very… dynamic. Never the less, I’m so thrilled to be able to keep this great job with an awesome set of people: Yasmin, Toni, Tami, Benno, Ken and many others (note: no last names, no fair poaching my team!). A great big THANK YOU and many special favors are indeed indebted to you from my heart and Ralph’s.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
The joys of international travel
Everything made it here, finally!
The (HHE) house hold effects (linens, clothes, kitchen stuff, and all those supplies!) were delivered to the apartment last week, the car is at the embassy awaiting final papers from the Cypriot equivalent of the DOT and I'm here! Amazing it all came together at the same time. Maybe God does know what (s)he is doing!!!
And I finally got here, although there was a doubt for about a half an hour. I flew from SJC to DCA on Saturday and spent the evening with a dear friend Valerie. The good news on her front is that the boutique is doing well and ecommerce may be coming soon!! See: http://www.coupdefoudrelingerie.com --Sunday morning I was able to share my last meal in the States for what could be a long time with Valerie, Sarah and Cindy, for brunch at the Mayflower (pics coming soon! --Sarah, can you pls email to me? thanks.) and then Cindy drove me through the worst hail storm I ever saw (having lived in Austin for 6 years that says a LOT!) to get me to IAD in perfect timing.
Walked inside, to find out my flight was canceled... nice... due to mechanical reasons. And while I'd rather be delayed than crash, it was a pain! While waiting in line for over 45 minutes to get to the ticket counter I called United on their customer service # and by the time I had my ticket issued, I had been re-routed. Instead of a 2-hour layover in LHR, getting me to LAR at 15:00 local time, I was now routed through CGD with an 8-hour (yes, eight hour) layover, getting me to LAR at 20:00 local time. The good news was that Nikki was able to ditch work for a hour+ and bought me coffee in a cute little cafe outside of her work, close to Gare De L'Est.
By the time I made to Cyprus, I was hungry, cranky, over-tired and just frankly dragging, big time. I don't know how Deana is going around the world like this!
My bags, of course, were the last 2 off the airplane, but Ralph was there waiting. He generously had a big hug and some much needed water for me. Nicosia is about a 45 minute drive from the Larnaca (the international airport), when I got to the apartment, I had a BEAUTIFUL bouquet of flowers and a very much needed and lovely bottle of real French champagne chilled and waiting for me.
I finally hit the sack about 23:00 that night and was out! Tuesday was spent mostly putting away things and organizing, Ralph got about 9/10s of our ‘stuff' unpacked. Today, it's just fine-tuning and making a list of things I forgot, or need.
Went to the Embassy this morning, met so many people that I don't think I can remember all the names and faces correctly! And am really happy to have the rest of the day off and 1/2 of tomorrow!!! Got into the Sun server (more later on what a lucky girl I am to have such a killer job!) –so tomorrow afternoon I will be on line and ready to work again. Too cool!
Tomorrow morning, Ralph’s boss’s wife is taking me to the shopping part of the city. Should be interesting, will be on my best behavior ;) Hope to post pictures and more info soon.
Missing all of you very much!
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Friday, March 18, 2005
How do I find Ralph and Amy?
The next logical question is: “How do I find Ralph and Amy?” --so here are the logistics in case you want to write, email, call or actually visit:
GPS coordinates:
Coordinates : 35°01' N latitude - 33°05' E longitude and 414 m above sea level
--Hey! Sharon, let me know if this is right!!!
Ralph and Amy Ahlers
PSC 815
FPO, AE 09836
+1 408/404.8694 Amy’s work
rca1128@yahoo.com
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
You're moving to.... where?
Cyprus...is that by LA? How many times am I going to hear that one!?
When I first learned this was where my dear husband was taking me, I had to find it on the map (which is here: http://cns.miis.edu/research/cyprus/map.htm) and once I figured that out there were so many more questions. Many of which have been asked to me, so I will try to make a quick summary of what I've learned for those of you just now finding out my newest location.
Cyprus is a very old island (Copper in Greek, for the many copper mines) and has many interesting facts and legends (including that Cleopatra honeymooned there). Nicosia seems to have been the capital for a very long time, you can find the whole story of the city at: http://www.nicosia.org.cy/english/lefkosia_istoria.shtm -- but in our lifetime (1960) Nicosia became the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, whose constitution is based on the co-operation of the island's two communities, Greek and Turkish. Greek Cypriots make up about 80 per cent of the island's population and Turkish Cypriots 18 per cent. The remaining two per cent are Latins, Armenians and Maronites who at the time of independence opted to belong to the Greek Cypriot community.
Ankara invaded Cyprus in July 1974, after the restoration of constitutional order and the return of Archbishop Makarios III to in December 1974, the Turkish troops remained on the island. On 14 August 1974, the second phase of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus began and since 1974 the people of Cyprus have been experiencing the tragedy of a divided country, with the Green Line cutting in two the heart of the capital city Nicosia.
It is the 3rd largest island in the Med, looking more like southern Italy or Greece, rather than Hawaii: more arid than tropical. The Romans decimated the forests to create their navy, the trees were never re-planted and the terrian and weather became drier. Winters are close to home in weather (kind of wet, no need to shovel and mid 50s during the day) and it is hot in the summer, 90s on average. Due to the British occupation, driving is on the left, they eat 'streaky bacon' and 'chips' -- but I can't comment on the dentistry yet!
When I first learned this was where my dear husband was taking me, I had to find it on the map (which is here: http://cns.miis.edu/research/cyprus/map.htm) and once I figured that out there were so many more questions. Many of which have been asked to me, so I will try to make a quick summary of what I've learned for those of you just now finding out my newest location.
Cyprus is a very old island (Copper in Greek, for the many copper mines) and has many interesting facts and legends (including that Cleopatra honeymooned there). Nicosia seems to have been the capital for a very long time, you can find the whole story of the city at: http://www.nicosia.org.cy/english/lefkosia_istoria.shtm -- but in our lifetime (1960) Nicosia became the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, whose constitution is based on the co-operation of the island's two communities, Greek and Turkish. Greek Cypriots make up about 80 per cent of the island's population and Turkish Cypriots 18 per cent. The remaining two per cent are Latins, Armenians and Maronites who at the time of independence opted to belong to the Greek Cypriot community.
Ankara invaded Cyprus in July 1974, after the restoration of constitutional order and the return of Archbishop Makarios III to in December 1974, the Turkish troops remained on the island. On 14 August 1974, the second phase of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus began and since 1974 the people of Cyprus have been experiencing the tragedy of a divided country, with the Green Line cutting in two the heart of the capital city Nicosia.
It is the 3rd largest island in the Med, looking more like southern Italy or Greece, rather than Hawaii: more arid than tropical. The Romans decimated the forests to create their navy, the trees were never re-planted and the terrian and weather became drier. Winters are close to home in weather (kind of wet, no need to shovel and mid 50s during the day) and it is hot in the summer, 90s on average. Due to the British occupation, driving is on the left, they eat 'streaky bacon' and 'chips' -- but I can't comment on the dentistry yet!
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