We would like to take a moment to give out a international-digital “shout-out” to my main Dad, Mr. R.M. for the most Gandhi-like patience and support he gave us during our multiple moves. It was a hassle, but my father’s kindness and sense of humor (for those childhood friends who might be reading this- yes MY dad) made the ordeal so much less painful.
Our director, whose actions continue to remind us why we forebode a number of more lucrative teaching assignments, received us with a small bus at the Larnaka airport. We still had to struggle to make our 14+ pieces of luggage enter the van.
On a more frightening note, the customs official casually explained that due to the time, there was no official vet on call, and our dog-ter, Humita would have to stay at the airport until one could arrive and give her an official thumbs up. Myself, having read over the small bible of documentation required for bringing a domestic canine into Cyprus, promptly quoted paragraph C of section II, according to the 2003 European Union Annex, “Where as an official veterinarian can not be present upon entry into the Republic of Cyprus, the Customs Official on duty will be responsible for the clearance of all canine domestic animals”. He seemed less influenced by me than his colleague who had something else to say. Now, my Greek is non-existent, but I knew what the guy was saying, “Hey, Nikos, if we make this guy leave his dog here, WE have to take care of it”. So aforementioned Custom Official shoves a piece of paper in my face and asks me to provide my name and passport number and says, “Welcome to Cyprus”.
Wow, things are even more lax here than in Ecuador…
It turns out that the owner of the apartment the school had lined up for us didn’t like the idea of having a dog on the premises, to our good fortune the school gave us a house right across the street. It is a lovely typical Cypriot house from the 40’s. It has a few quirks, but makes up for it with character. Obviously the patio is a plus for Humi.
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