I am Cyprus: 25 Stories of the migrant and refugee experience in Cyprus

by Annetta Benzar

What is a Cypriot? Too often the story told of Cyprus makes the island nation seem dully monocultural, or bicultural at best. Yet the life stories Annetta Benzar has collected and retold here celebrate a country that is full of diversity, and in which there is a tale from a different part of the world around every corner. In these pages you will read stories of blood, stories of borders and border-crossings, stories of brides, of fathers, footballers, fear and fate, told by an eclectic cast connected to countries as separate as the United States, the Philippines, the Congo or the Crimea.

As they reflect on the sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes inspiring and sometimes funny experience of living in Cyprus, Annetta Benzar, herself a Cypriot citizen of Belarussian origin, weaves the stories together to form a portrait of a dynamic and fascinating country.

216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2020

Reviews

[Baycha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poignant stories in this book capture the sociopolitical nuances that shape Cyprus.

Benzar does an incredible job at capturing the diverse people living on the island - something that mainstream Cyprus media constantly overlooks. In Nicosia, I see them myself - the Filipina domestic workers, the mixed-marriages, the assimilated yet non-Cypriot youth, the Armenians, the Turks, the Arabs, the Jews... Yet, "What is a Cypriot?" almost always leads to a restrictive political discussion served cold with nationalism. This book is a rare gem in the Cypriot literature, showcasing the different stories that shape the island and how Cyprus welcomes them (or in many cases, doesn't welcome them). I commend the interviewees' criticism of the "koumbaranation," the constant harassment from men, and the corruption within immigration affairs. Such inhospitality makes it hard to embrace Cyprus as a home for many, and yet they know they must continue to try.

Thank you, Benzar.

[Fotini · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is a collection of personal narratives, which explore the complexity of national identity and belonging. The stories are set against the backdrop of a divided island that suffers from political turmoil and historical trauma. The voices are diverse and offer a much more complicated perspective of homeland that goes beyond the traditional concept of nation-state. It’s a novel for everyone, but especially for immigrants, travellers, or people who live in another country and they are looking for their place in it.

[Robert Ruesch]

Excellent, accurate historical read. If you want to know about the history of the Jewish people and their nation. This is the book to take off the shelf and read.