We’re finally in Cyprus! Considering how many ways international travel can go wrong, our travel day was perfect. Spending time in the international terminal of the Heathrow Airport was an interesting few hours, hearing all the different languages and accents, along with experiencing a much higher quality chocolate than you usually find in the US. Overall everything went smoothly, and now that the first adventure is over the next can begin!

The first day in Cyprus has been fantastic. Running on 4 hours of sleep is never easy, but the faculty at the University of Nicosia was so welcoming and made our first day great. I learned a lot at my favorite activity of the day, the cooking demo. I love cooking, and am familiar with a lot of Greek food, so it was fun learning about the specifics of Cyprus. The UNIC chefs showed us examples of hot and cold appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. I learned that aromatic spices like mint and coriander are common in Cypriot cuisine, along with fruit preserves for desserts. After trying both at lunch, I learned more about the cheeses halloumi and kefalotyri and their differences. The UNIC chefs were great teachers, and our learning lunch experience was amazing. So far it looks like our time in Cyprus is going to be fun, and I can’t wait to learn more about the Cypriot culture and community!