Armenians settling in Cyprus post-Genocide provide a microcosm of the wider diaspora experience, arriving as a diverse population from cities and smaller towns, some highly educated in Armenian, others Turkish-speaking. The adjustment to joining the small Armenian Cypriot community included a mix of mutual distrust, friction, philanthropy and aid similar to that found around the Armenian world during the resettlement process. As the French Mandate in Cilicia ended, Armenian refugees began arriving in Cyprus, primarily as family units. The largest group sailed from Mersin, undergoing refusals at various ports en route until the British colonial government finally allowed entry there. Many had not intended to settle in Cyprus but sought safety under the rule of Britain or France until they could return to their homeland. Armenians looked to the British for stability, protection and an opportunity for education and re-growth. The refugees had a range of educational backgrounds and included leaders of Armenian Cilicia, teachers, newspaper editors, and others who would soon change the tempo of Armenian life in Cyprus. Multiple language skills and education enabled many Armenians to work in civil service positions and as interpreters. Others brought crafts and skills then unknown in Cyprus. They settled in Turkish neighborhoods, saving on expense but also being fluent in Turkish and not Greek. Aware of Greek nationalist dreams, Armenians kept a low profile and focused on being good subjects of the Crown. The experience of Genocide, passed on privately at home, was also discussed in public, the local and international Armenian press, and commemorated in events in the church/school courtyards. Armenian-language education for all ages became a top priority as a new identity was formed, focusing on what could be shared as a group – language, religion and a broader history. Speeches, song and perhaps most importantly, the condensed power of recited poetry at these events served to keep the Genocide in focus and to narrow its memorialization to a narrative shared around the diaspora. The performance of identity, whether in prose or poetry quickly became shared in Cyprus and across the diaspora. Armenians in Cyprus arrived with diverse heritage of their different towns and over time, through education, the church and newspapers, grew to see themselves as one people.