Our third day in Cyprus began with a visit to the Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) Maritime Training Center and ended with visits to Omodos and Troodos Square.

Being incorporated in 1972, BSM is the first ship management company in Cyprus. Today, we visited their training center in Limassol. Maritime training is important to the supply chain because having qualified seafarers improves the efficiency at which raw materials and other goods are transported from the suppliers to producers and, eventually, to consumers. In fact, according to BSM, 90-95% of goods are transported by container vessels. BSM has an extensive maritime training program as prospective seafarers must first undergo intensive theoretical classes and realistic simulations. For instance, the Engine Simulator involves 12 students to act as 6 engineers and 6 deck officers, working together to maintain the engine of the ship and solve problems that may arise. Effective collaboration among the 12 students is achieved by proper organization and efficient communication. Another simulator that BSM uses in their training is the Full Mission Bridge Simulator. The Full Mission Bridge Simulator mimics the way a ship is managed out on sea by assigning each student one of the following roles of a crew: the pilot, the helmsman, the captain, and the OOW. Everyone that makes up the crew must be attentive and collaborative to complete missions with different ships in different conditions (snow, rain, etc.). I was impressed by their stamina because this simulator may lasts for many hours. The emphasis on collaboration at BSM resembles that of the Swanson School of Engineering at Pitt. This demonstrates that collaboration is universally agreed to be crucial for economic and societal growth.

For lunch, we ate in the Omodos Village at the Stou Kir Yianni Tavern. We enjoyed a range of traditional Cypriot dishes which included tzaziki, chicken kebabs, and lamb sausage. These dishes were served family-style and reminded me of my own family gatherings back in the U.S. I appreciated the generosity of the restaurant and they very kindly explained each dish to us. They also had no problem accommodating for everyone’s dietary restrictions. After lunch, I explored the village by walking around the many narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways. Many of the buildings were built in a similar style to the buildings in Old City Nicosia. The architecture in Omodus is significantly different than in Pittsburgh because the buildings in Omodus are built with wood, clay, and plaster. I noticed many stores had traditional Cypriot embroidery and jewelry. I also stopped by the workshop of an artist and enjoyed discovering the local art. Then I visited the Timios Stavros Monastery to gain a glimpse into another aspect of Cypriot culture. The Timios Stavros Monastery is one of the oldest and most historical sites in Cyprus and I was impressed by how well it has been maintained over the past centuries. This reflects the strength of the community’s respect of their past.

Lastly, we explored Trodos Square. We walked along a nature trail, taking pictures of the gorgeous scenery and many mountains. Despite being a small country, Cyprus has a large variety of terrain, so I was amazed at how we were by the coast with limited greenery in the morning (Limassol), and by the afternoon we were in a highly mountainous and tree-dense region. Similarly, the U.S is home to many different types of terrain but is much more spread out than Cyprus. I also stopped by a café to try Cypriot coffee which reminded me of the Turkish coffee my grandmother used to drink. I also had a chance to write some postcards for some friends and family. In Cyprus, coffee is a social experience that requires you to slow down, take a break, and enjoy the company around you. In the U.S, getting coffee is a lot less formal and tends to be more rushed. Despite Cypriot coffee being known for its strength as it is a highly concentrated form of coffee, I still managed to fall asleep on the bus-ride back to the hotel. Overall, I enjoyed learning about maritime training in the morning and experiencing Cypriot culture in the afternoon!