I have lived most of my life in the Northeastern portion of the U.S. but I did spend 10 years living in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. In this episode, I will compare the lifestyle in the U.S. with that of Cyprus.

I am joined today by my sister-in-law, Helen, who has a similar experience. She was raised in Cyprus and then left the country for school and work. She has lived in Lebanon, Abu Dhabi, Brazil and the U.S. She will help me compare the lifestyle of the U.S. with that of Cyprus.

Some of the differences that we discussed are below.

In Cyprus, most meals are home cooked using fresh ingredients. Cypriots do not buy in bulk. They shop frequently to ensure that they are getting the freshest ingredients. One quirky fact is that there are open-bed trucks that drive thru the neighborhoods selling fresh fruit and veggies in season. If a fruit or vegetable is not in season, you probably won't find it in a store.

Cypriots like to socialize and lead very relaxed lifestyles. Meals can be quite lengthy since people like to linger and talk.

The foods that Cypriots eat are fresh. A typical snack would be fruit or nuts. Every Monday is a day to eat beans and no meat. They use fresh spices, often from their own gardens, to flavor food and to make tea that can be used for medicinal purposes, such as drinking chamomile tea to get ready for sleep. They eat their biggest meal of the day at lunchtime.

Cypriots don't usually go the gym to workout. They stay active by walking, swimming and tending to their gardens.

Family is critically important. A Cypriot's purpose in life would be care of the family.

Overall, the Cypriot lifestyle is more slower-paced than in the U.S. and the foods are fresh. I would say that Cyprus is a good example of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle.

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