An-American-in-Malta

Working LEGALLY in Malta

A Word to the Un-Wise:  Don’t Try  It

                                                                      

I am so glad I didn't listen to all those people--
both locals and other expats—who told me I could get
away with teaching English without all the necessary documents. People do it all the time, they would say.

Last week, right in the middle of one of my classes,
three officials (men) knocked on my classroom door and
asked if they could interrupt.  I didn’t get a chance to say no.

 

Two were from the ETC and one was from the Ministry of Education—the EFL Division.  They asked for my work
permit number and my English-teaching license number. 
And I had to sign some papers.  All this is front of a
classroom of students.

 

Well, I do leave home without all my working documents. 
It never occurred to me that I would have to carry them
around with me.  Besides, all my documents were
supposedly on file with the school where I work.

 

Apparently not.

Summertime in Malta

               Baby, It's Hot Outside

Just thought you'd like to know how the weather is today here in Malta:

Right Now for
Valletta, Malta
 

Fair

104°F
Feels Like
100°F

Updated: Jul 25 01:45 p.m. Local Time

UV Index: 9 Very High

Wind: From NW at 15 mph

Humidity:12%

Pressure: 30.00 in.
Dew Point: 43°F

Visibility: 6.2 milesSunrise: 6:04 AM

Sunset: 8:12 PM

But I have to say this--it's not as bad as I would have thought because the humidity is very low right now.  I'm actually OK in the house with some fans on.  From what I understand, though, August will be a killer. It always is.  The temperature stays high and the humidity goes way up. Then the suffering begins.  But this sure beats the rain I hear the Northeast has been having.  I hate rain.  I like it bone dry like this.  

So next month--we'll see how much I complain.

Two Special EFL Students

        So Long to  two  Great Students

Two delightful students finished one of my classes today.  I hope you’re reading this—A and N—I’ll miss you a lot. Have a safe journey back to Austria, and I hope our paths cross again.

From the US Embassy

      Great Info from the US  Embassy

I’ve often made fun of the US Embassy and its lack of interest in Americans abroad, but today I received this very good general info for any Americans (or other foreigners or expats) in Malta:

July 16, 2009

•   COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:   Malta is a small, developed, democratic Mediterranean island nation, positioned as a cultural stepping-stone between Europe and North Africa. Malta became a member of the European Union with nine other new member states on May 1, 2004, and became a full member of the Schengen area in March 2008. Tourist facilities of all categories are widely available. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Malta for additional information.

REGISTRATION: U.S. citizens living or traveling in Malta are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate at the Department of State travel registration page, so that they can obtain updated information on local travel and security. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Registration is important; it allows the State Department to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency. 

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:Malta is a party to the Schengen agreement. As such, U.S. citizens may enter Malta for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. For further details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen Fact sheet . For further information concerning entry requirements for Malta, travelers should contact the Embassy of Malta at 2017 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008, tel.: (202) 462-3611, or the Maltese Consulate in New York City, tel.: (212) 725-2345.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Malta.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction  can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

Americans in Europe

What do Europeans Think of Americans?

I have a friend from Belgium (his name is V) who was telling me some statistics about Americans. I don't remember them, but I do remember the trends:  Only a small percentage of Americans travel abroad--maybe five to ten percent at the most.  Most of these Americans travel to Canada or Mexico, but not to Europe. 

Of those who travel to Europe, most travel for business.  So very few American, relatively, travel for leisure, vacation or study. But these were the Americans I was interested in.  Or rather, I was interested in what Europeans think of these Americans. 

So bring it on, I told V.  I promised I wouldn't be offended by anything he said.  After all, I had left America for several reasons and it wouldn't bother me what Europeans would say about us beautiful Americans.

Americans are a lot of fun, he said.  We think they're very friendly, outgoing and they laugh a lot.  They're very good at expressing themselves orally.

But (you knew there had to be a "but"), we don't think of Americans as very intellectual.  They don't know much about the rest of the world.  They hardly ever speak any other languages besides English. They seem very provincial.

Well, that was OK with me, I told him.  Actually, it wasn't much of a surprise.  I don't consider myself much of an intellectual. And I don't even think I like intellectuals.  I am glad that Europeans think we're fun.

So the European opinion of Americans sat OK with me.  I was hoping to hear the word sexy, but I think that's included in the word fun.

What do you think?

Festa in Malta

 

                It's Festa time in Malta...

                           And I Hate it

 

                       Manwel Dimech Street Looking Good for the Festa

                                   (Photo by Richard Weninger)

Imagine it's early morning on Sunday. The sky is clear blue, it's 80 degrees F.,and low humidity, you're lying on a lounge chair on  your roof surrounded by beautiful plants--and then a bomb goes off that makes you fall off the lounge chair. 

Afghanistan?

No, it's Malta. Just another lazy summer Sunday in Malta during festa.

OK, so I'm a foreigner and I'll never fully appreciate the festa in Malta.  Festa is a traditional religious celebration that occurs in the church district of each town in Malta.  Each town may have three or four churches and each has its own festa, if I'm correct.

There's a very nice aspect to festa.  Each church has its own patron saint and the statue of the saint is carried around in a parade throughout the town.  Bands accompany the statue in its procession, followed by children marching along.  And people throw confetti out their windows.   (People also drink and throw beer cans all over the streets, but that's another story--or post.)  The streets are decorated with all kinds of streamers, banners and lights.  It's pretty.  And there are fireworks.

But here's the part I hate.

Mauvais et Mauvaiser--French EFL Students

 

               The French Revolution

                                      June 23-June 27, 2009

You know how the French are--they don't like something and they take to the streets.  This time the three of them took to the halls of my school.

I'm supposed to be preparing them for a test called the TOEFL--an English proficiency test students have to pass to get into certain university programs.   I say I'm supposed to prepare them because I'm trying hard, but it's not working.  These guys can hardly speak or understand English, yet alone take a proficiency test in it.  All along I've felt they signed up for the wrong class. 

But last week, they decided they got the wrong teacher.