“It is a taboo in Cyprus to be different. When I lived there, it was even forbidden to be gay. The opinion of the neighbour or neighbour is also important there. That makes everything complicated,” Christos says. That was one of the reasons he went to study and live in Athens. Until the economic crisis broke out in 2008 and he could not find work. “I then thought about whether I wanted to stay there. I went to Cyprus and thought about my next steps. I felt I could no longer live there.”
Infrastructure and culture
Christos had already been on holiday in the Netherlands. “That country always seemed nice to me. The infrastructure is good and there is a lot to do in terms of culture. That interests me. But above all, I’m free to be myself here because it’s more progressive. So I feel more at home here than in my home country.” So when his sister had a Dutch roommate, he gave her his CV. She gave it to her father, who offered Christos an internship in architecture in the Netherlands. He arrived in 2012 and after three months of internship, he got a contract at the age of 29. He was eager to stay.
Multicultural and lively Rotterdam
For the first three years he lived in The Hague, yet after that he consciously chose to move to Rotterdam. “I liked the multiculturalism. I didn’t have that in Cyprus, maybe because it is a small island. Diversity shows that you accept different people without prejudice. And I found Rotterdam more lively than The Hague. I was single so that suited me better.” He also likes how the city looks. “The contrast between the industrial area and the old port where you really see the history of the city.” And, of course, the Rotterdam mentality. “People are open and down to earth. So I could see myself living here.”
The nationalities in Rotterdam made him look at the Netherlands again. “I had also been to Amsterdam before and there I also saw many nationalities, but I thought they were tourists. Until I saw the same thing in Rotterdam. Then I realised that all these people of different nationalities actually live here.”
Volleyball for contact
His advice for other newcomers moving here is mainly to do things. “Try to get to know more people around you. For instance, I play volleyball and then I get more in touch with other people.” To talk to them, it is useful to know the language. “I know the Dutch language is difficult but if you stay here longer, I would still try.”