Fact about Cyprus: When working in an office environment, your birthday means that you’re expected to bring treats for your colleagues, and not the other way round.
Fact about this office: When advertising for prospective employees, we promise that an array of fruit snacks is always available. (Which is true.) What we don’t say, but admittedly anyone local should be prepared for, is:
- Someone deciding they fancy ice cream. Then they ask who else wants to order one. Of course, it would be rude to refuse and miss out on a bonding opportunity…
- A colleague suddenly asks you “Did you bring lunch? Do you want to join me for McDonald’s”? Again, how can one refuse?
- As well as birthdays, births, christenings, weddings and everything else one might celebrate, Cyprus is a place where namedays are recognized. It’s also a place where multiple people often have the same name, or a variation of the same name. Just imagine the chaos of those days where up to 10 people bring in their contribution…
A couple of years ago, we started being allowed a free day off for our birthday. The person whose birthday it is today is presumably sitting somewhere rubbing his hands together in evil glee as he imagines the reaction to the FIFTEEN boxes of doughnuts he’s sent…
Lauren's Playground 