An-American-in-Malta

                                            Living in Malta:

                Would You Like to Help?

 

 

 

Would you like to sit down with a newcomer to Malta and lend an ear or answer a few questions over a cup of coffee?

 

I've been getting numerous emails from people from the US, the UK and even Egypt who are either moving to Malta themselves or know others who are moving to Malta--and need some kind of assistance.  Usually, they have questions about schools for their kids or work permits; some are a bit homesick and need a little support.

 

I'm putting together a list of people who wouldn't mind being in touch with a new expat in Malta.

 

If you would like to volunteer, please send me the following: 

-Your name

-Country of origin,

-Email

-Any information you would like to share (such as age,  occupation, marital status, ages of kids, etc).

 

I will keep the names of volunteers in a list and will send it on to people who request assistance.    I, of course, will not be responsible for anything good or bad that comes of these contacts.  Especially if it's bad.  Then again, what's the worse that can happen?

 

Never mind. Never ask a pessimist a question like this.

 

Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

 

The Holidays in Malta:

 

                        Yes, Virginia,

          there is Santa Claus in Malta

 

 

 

The only thing you'll miss in Malta during Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's is snow (and I don't).

 

Otherwise, the Maltese decorate their houses and streets with lights, Santa Clauses, snow scenes and everything else you would have for the holidays.

 

There is one special kind of religious decoration called a presepju--a Christmas crib.  From what I can tell it's a very elaborate manger scene which people come to view; they may even pay to see it.  I noticed one in a small shop front on Tower Road, not too far from the famous Cara's.  It must not have taken too much time to set it up; the day before the same shop was selling plants.

 

But I think this traditional setting is a very beautiful part of the Christmas tradition in Malta.

 

The most interesting thing that will strike you during the Christmas season is how the the Maltese dress in winter clothes--even in 60-degree weather.  Yes, coats and scarves, hoods and boots.  It's not just for the change of season. The Maltese really feel cold.

 

I'm not actually in Malta right now. I'm in England with Mr. S and his mum and son.   So I'll have more to tell you when I get back.

 

One last thing:  I saw a dog driving a car the other day.  Then I remembered that the Maltese drive on the left.  The dog was in the passenger seat....which reminds me to tell you:  Please drive carefully wherever you go this season.  And have a healthy and wonderful New Year.  And thanks, as always, for listening.

                         Living in Malta:

                   A Paranoid Moment

 

 

A lot of the Maltese have these little roll-around carts they go  grocery shopping with.  They look like a flattened golf-cart bag.  I've got a cart, too, but it's a little red one that's just a plain four-wheel cart--with no bag-like thing inside it.

 

             This could be the supermarket where I shop--Scots in Sliema

 

Sometimes I used my little red cart back in the US when I felt like shopping and getting some exercise at the same time.   I was an absolute spectacle with that red cart in Dover, NH, where people use their car to drive everywhere--including  their bathrooms.  Still, I knew that people do use those shopping carts in Malta, so I had mine shipped with the rest of my stuff.

 

I used it for the first time this evening.  And I felt very self-conscious. 

                                        Living in Malta:

                The First Doctor Visit

 

       This was one of my posts as a guest blogger for Wired Malta.com.

 

 

I went for my first routine visit to a new doctor. This is the first time I've been to a doctor in another country. I heard the health care system was different in Malta, so I expected something different. Some things I really liked; just a few things I didn't like so far.

There were so many differences between a visit to a typical American doctor and a visit to a typical Maltese doctor that I'm going to list them and compare them one-by-one. But because this post will take some time (after all, the American health care and insurance system is a major reason I left the States), I'm going to make just the first comparison right now.

The Appointment

The US: Back in the States I have to call and make an appointment. Sometimes I get a nice receptionist; sometimes not. Sometimes I get an voice mail with lots of options--If emergency, press 1 now. If dead, press 2. Then--if declared dead, please hang up and call mortuary. If not declared dead yet, please dial 1 to get the receptionist to make an appointment. Please have your health insurance number ready. I cannot come in to the office to see my personal doctor. I need to make an appointment. I may very well be seen the same day if it's my general practitioner, but I must make that call first.

 

Malta: To see the doctor, I didn't need an appointment. I found this out by calling the pharmacy where my doctor--referred by a Maltese friend--visits patients. In Malta, most pharmacies are associated with one or more private doctors who see patients in an office/examining room in the back of the pharmacy. So the pharmacy itself is like a small waiting room. The pharmacist was the one who answered the phone. She told me the doctor's hours for the week, and said to just come in and wait. She also gave me his mobile number--yes, my American friends--his mobile number. The pharmacist also said the doctor makes home visits. He makes home visits. I have fond memories of my childhood doctor making home visits, but no more. American doctors--for the most part--never make home visits. And, yes, that includes if you need to be declared dead. If so, you must make that appointment--as stated above--and arrange for transportation to the office. If you're starting to decompose, you may be turned away and sent to the emergency room where everyone waits so long that several other people will die and you won't feel alone.

Next post will be about the differences between a US doctor's office and a Maltese doctor's office.

                                           Living in Malta:

                     A Good Law Firm

 

 

This week I'm going to tell you about a positive experience with my first doctor's visit, but now I'm going to recommend you to a very good law firm in Malta. 

 

(Just a moment, I have to go kick my cat out of the litter box. Whenever she takes a crap, she stays in there for an hour, kicking at the side of the box until I go get her out.  I don't know if this happens with your cat--if you have one--but I feel my blood pressure rising right now--so I'll be back.)

 

Back. 

 

The law firm is called Griscti & Chetcuti.  The firm has experts on becoming a resident in Malta--and they will be very honest with you regarding your particular situation--and not try to overcharge you just for the sake of making money.  I was very pleased with the information I received from them.  Now, this is a law firm, so expect to pay anywhere from 150 Euros per hour and up for advice.  Here's the firm's site: http://www.malta-law.com/. 

            Terrible Weather in Malta:

 

       Read This...Because I'm Weeping

 

 

 

This is dedicated to those of you (yes, you and you) who always ask me the temperature in Malta--and then get mad at me.  It's been awful in Malta for the past couple of days.

 

Gale force winds--number 8, in fact--all night, with the shutters blowing around and lots whistling and crashing noises.  Then today I got caught in a sudden hail storm--with rain, thunder, lightening.  And now there's a leak in my Maltese house--down the living room wall.

 

Happy?

 

                                         Living in Malta:

 

Hanging American Laundry Out to Dry

 

 

 

Can you guess what's "wrong" with this photo?

 

I don't think I ever stole anything in my life. But I almost did the other day.

 

I've been hanging my laundry out on our roof. It's not like I never hung laundry before. I used to do it as a kid off our porch back in the States.

 

But then came college and driers and all that. Now I'm hanging out my clothes on a roof in Malta. It's funny, but this is when I truly feel like I'm in the Mediterranean. The sun feels great. Even though my arms get a little tired of lifting the clothes up and pinning them on the line, it's almost meditative.

         Asked to be a Guest Blogger

 

 

Wired Malta

  A blog from the MaltaMedia Online Network  | MAIN PAGE | NEWS | WHAT'S ON | FEATURES | WEATHER | CONTACT ROBERT

 

 

Hi there, it's still me.  This weekend, Robert Micallef, a Maltese economist at the University, asked me to be a guest blogger on Wired Malta, a blog for Maltese people who are interested in the views and opinions of international folks visiting the island.  And please read about Robert; he's a very accomplished and sweet (and recently available) young man.

 

Here's my first post for their blog:

Friday, December 05, 2008

                                     Living in Malta:

                  Sixteen Things I've learned from

          Cleaning the Trash on Manwel Dimech Street

I know the locals think I'm nuts. I don't blame them. I've lived on Manwel Dimech Street for over six weeks now. And after the first week, I decided to pick up the trash along the route from Manwel Dimech Street, past the police station,  past Wales Pharmacy (where my new doctor is), around Balluta Bay near the recycling bins, past the valley and up the hill past a school and a beautiful antique place. Then, down the hill again to Balluta Bay and onto Tower Road to Cara's. Then I go back again. I do this early--usually by 7 am or so--before I start work. It's one of my favorite routes in Sliema so far.

You know the route I'm talking about, right? I love it, but the trash bothers me. So I decided to pick it up along my way--and this is what I've learned:

1. The Maltese love bananas.

 

If you want to read the rest, please click onto their blog at:

http://www.dailymalta.com/wt/index.shtml

 

See you tomorrow. 

    

                                        Living in Malta:

                  Strangers No More

 

 

 

I've discovered that I have photophobia.  Not the real kind that means sensitivity to light; I just seem to have a fear of taking photos of my surroundings in Malta.  Or it may be the fear of uploading them to my PC from my camera.  (You get a prize if you can come up with a name for that condition.)  Anyway, that's why I haven't included any personal pictures...yet. 

 

What you see above is a map of Malta with Sliema pointed out--this is the city/town where I live.  (Yes, Mr. S, you live here, too.)  And here's the point I started to make; I had to look up at the title of the post to remember:  I have now started to meet people who contacted me through my blog.  When I started the blog, I just never imagined I would hear from people--let alone meet them.

 

So far, I've met a young American woman with a husband and two small children who moved to Malta in September.  It's so wonderful to talk American with someone. 

 

And today I met one of the first people who commented on my blog.  He came with his lovely wife (they're both British); they live in Gozo--the other island of Malta.  Amazingly, this was their first visit to Sliema.  They were on their way to adopt a Persian kitten.

 

I met them for lunch in Sliema before the kitten adoption.  Now their lives have changed.  This evening, I saw  holding their new baby kitty.  They communicated with me via SKYPE!!!!!--that wonderful thing called SKYPE.  Their new baby is a tiny champagne-colored, fuzzy little creature who's waiting for his name.  He hadn't used his litter box yet. 

 

I'm very thankful to meet all these great people through the blog.

 

And--guess what's coming on Friday? I hope, I hope, I hope.  My stuff.  My shipment.  It cleared customs and should be delivered Friday morning.  Just hope for me, please, that my Egyptian pottery is intact.  I'll have to kill someone if it isn't.

 

Oh, and speaking of cats...my cat heard the good news about my shipment--and decided to crap on my bed.  She didn't actually go on the bed--more like she used my pristine pink sheet as kitty toilet paper.

 

Forget the rest of the blog post.  Back to reality.

                                           Living in Malta:

 

       Waiting for My Ship To Come In

 

           This is Freeport, Malta, where my container is supposed to be.

 

 

Anxious people hate to think they're the only ones who go through something. They're always looking for reassurance that they're not the first or the only ones to have something happen to them.  Despite this awkward sentence, I think you know what I mean. 

 

So when the Maltese guy (named Joe, naturally) told me that he had never had a client like me before who had so much trouble getting the right forms for customs, that did not help my clinical anxiety level.