UnCut S02E09 24.03.2026, From Shanghai to Cyprus: Intercultural Stories from the Chinese Cypriot Fellowship In this episode, we sat down with Annie and Frank, a married couple from Shanghai, China who have been living in Cyprus for the past nine years. Together, we talked about what it really means to build a new life on the island, their work with the Chinese Cypriot Fellowship, and how they are helping to create genuine intercultural exchange on the island. Annie and Frank share how their journey began almost by chance, when Cypriot developers approached their migration company in Shanghai to promote property in Cyprus. Until then, they only knew Greece. After visiting Cyprus in 2016, they fell in love with the island’s beauty, sunshine, and relaxed lifestyle, and soon decided to move with their whole family, including Annie’s parents. They explain how the Chinese and Cypriots Fellowship focuses on youth within the Chinese community, giving young people the opportunity to organise and participate in cultural activities, rather than leaving everything in the hands of adults. The association was officially established in July 2024 and has since organised and participated in more than 40 intercultural exchange activities each year, including both online and in-person events. The conversation also looks at the rapid growth of Chinese organisations in Cyprus, the importance of festivals like Chinese New Year, and the deeper meaning of the traditional lunar calendar. Annie and Frank describe the warmth and hospitality they experienced from Cypriot neighbours, from invitations to barbecues and village lunches to practical help with schools and everyday life. Beyond culture, they talk about volunteering during wildfires and the COVID‑19 pandemic, supporting local communities with masks and supplies. They open up about the challenges of learning Greek from scratch, adapting their diet while still growing Chinese vegetables in their garden, and finding a slower, more balanced lifestyle compared to their busy lives running a migration company in Shanghai. Annie also introduces the language institute she founded during the pandemic, offering Chinese classes for children and adults, as well as support in Greek and English for local students. She shares her long‑term dream of creating a full Chinese school in Cyprus, focused on meaningful education rather than just business. Finally, we reflect on TheYardResidency26 project and how it provides space, infrastructure, and support for communities to meet through art and culture. For Annie and Frank, it is not about one‑way “cultural promotion” but about real dialogue, shared experiences, and building bridges between people and communities.
