Having been here for several months now, I can confidently say that there are some startling similarities between Indians and Greeks/Cypriots.

We both love our families above all else.

We want all our children to be lawyers, doctors or engineers.

Going to the right schools and universities is all important.

Marrying into the right family is still sadly important.

We love our good food.

We eat way too much of it.

We are not known for our sporting capabilities.

We struggle to put teams together for the Olympic Games and that is unbelievable considering the population differences.

We are both yuppie, fashion, society conscious junkies. Read gross over generalization but for those in the know cringingly true.

The rich of both build oversize show-off houses that need retinues of servants to clean and dust them.

Money matters. Whether it is via the fish and chips shop route, the corner shop, or shark-like practices for property development.

We are proud nations who do not like criticism.

We both have disturbingly dysfunctional relations with the UK which can at the same time but for different reasons be heaven or hell.

Culture and history abound but it is only in the latter years of independence that their true value and significance have been realized.

Generous and hospitable in every respect.