Student Spotlight: Zoe Touray in Cyprus

What does family life look like in your host country? Have you noticed any traditions, or lifestyle dynamics within families?

Family structure in Cyprus is actually quite unique. In the area that I live in, I don't actually see any families with children or otherwise. I see many students, young people with roommates, or older people living on their own. I have only seen families at beaches together or in smaller towns we have visited in the north of Cyprus. From locals I have talked to that are similar to my age, many Cypriot families aren't as close. It seems that, similar to the U.S., many students separate from their families to attend uni. Unlike in the U.S., many students are independent afterwards and continue this way into their young adult lives.

How important is financial literacy in your host culture? Are there many social programs? How is wealth distributed within your host country?

I have also not learned much about financial literacy in Cyprus, but this prompted me to do some research. Financial literacy in Cyprus is increasingly recognized as important. There are social programs: Cyprus spends a sizable share of its national income on social protection, funding things like pensions and healthcare. Wealth and income distribution in Cyprus have been known to be moderately unequal: inequality measures hover near European averages, and many households, but especially lower-income ones, struggle with living costs despite social support. From what I've witnessed in Nicosia, Cyprus, more people here are well-off and are comfortable, so to speak, in terms of money.

What sustainability practices have you noticed in your host country? Are there any ways that your host country could improve or that you would like to implement back at home?

There’s increasing use of renewable energy happening in Cyprus, like solar-panel installations, energy-efficiency programs, and waste management initiatives. There are recycling bins everywhere. Some projects even combine water conservation and green-building practices. I think the U.S. in many places is headed in the same direction.