In a week of news surrounding the terrible riots in the UK, I wish to write about the complete opposite of rioting – sleeping!
The Cypriots like to sleep. I had never in my life, before moving here, experienced a siesta. I’d heard that the Spaniards did it, but until I moved here I didn’t understand why we needed a siesta and in fact how beneficial they can be to your health.
At first I thought the Cypriots were lazy for taking a two hour break in the middle of the working day for a ‘nap’. I mean, if I had asked my boss back in the UK for a 2 hour sleep break, I would’ve been booted out of the door before I could count my first sleep sheep! However, in the rain and darkness that cuddles the UK, work is probably the best option. Here in Cyprus, when its too hot to even move let alone work, the lure of a cool bed surrounded by the wisps of air-con is a dream come true.
If only I worked in retail I too could join the people that go and recharge their batteries. Working in an air-conditioned office I dont have much right to a siesta. I could try tell my boss that Scientists have proved that power naps even for as little as 20 minutes make you feel more alert and re-charged. (Mitsuo Hayashi, PhD and Tadao Hori, PhD have demonstrated that a nap improves mental performance even after a full night’s sleep [source Wikipedia].)
At the weekend though, I treat myself and look forward to my afternoon nap.
After the beach, before dinner and going out, a nap is the best thing to prepare one’s body for the late nights of the Cyprus nightlife. This is why we have the time to sleep here. People don’t go out till late. When I first joined this lovely little island, I was showered and ready to go out at 8pm! My friends were all still sleeping. “We go out at about 11pm Maria, go back to sleep.”
11pm! That’s when the pubs close in Britain! It didn’t take me long to adjust mind you. Extra hours asleep and later nights at the weekend sound perfect to me. The only problem is on some occasions I have taken my pre-clubbing nap only find myself still there at 4am having slept through my friend’s phone calls. Missing a night out for sleep is a little sad but being in Cyprus, you can always find a club or bar open at 4am that will welcome a bleary eyed resident!
Any of you slept through a night-out, or even been late to get back to work?
