When we woke up on our first morning in Cyprus, we had a buffet breakfast with a variety of options. After we ate, we learned more about the typical traditional foods in Cyprus and the importance of fruit in Cypriot culture. The conversations we had revolving around food made me more inclined to try new things while I was here and also taught me more about the culture itself. We went to dinner at night, and I tried a traditional Cypriot sausage, which was very different from anything I had tasted before. The variety in their dishes allowed me to understand that Cyprus has its own form of Mediterranean food.

During the day, we went to the University of Nicosia and learned about the history and current state of the island. I have been looking forward to gaining more knowledge about Cypriot history since I got accepted into the program. I was grateful to learn about the many countries, families, and groups that took control of Cyprus. Previously, I did not know that individual families and groups like the Knights of the Temple owned islands like Cyprus. I found it interesting how the Franks established themselves as royalty when they bought Cyprus, a topic I plan to investigate more in the future.

Additionally, I also enjoyed learning about the current political relationship between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots from people who have grown up on the island, like the professor. It allowed me better to see the point of view of the Cypriot population. I now better understand how the Cypriots see each other from both sides of the island and how the government is the aspect of the conflict more than the people. Additionally, I also know now that the largest part of the conflicts resides in the governments rather than the Cypriot people.