An-American-in-Malta

Swimming in Malta

 

   Overcoming a 35-Year Fear of Water 

                    (Or Trying to)

 

 

SK from Germany is one of my best friends.  (SK is a woman, as opposed to Mr. S., who is my partner from Germany.)

SK and I discovered we had lots of things in common. But the best thing we found in common was our fear of water.  And this characteristic is hard to come by on a Mediterranean island with water activities of every kind imaginable.

Two weeks ago, however, I felt that SK had betrayed me. 

She told me how she went on a little boat ride with about 10 people.  It was a gorgeous day, everything seemed right and she actually climbed down the ship's ladder--and swam.  

What ever happened to loyalty?

Important Festa in Malta

 

                 How Two American Merchant Marines

                                     Helped Save Malta

                                           By Mr. S.

 

                                                 The Ohio

In the summer of 1942 during WWII, supplies in Malta were running low, very low, hardly enough to survive on. Operation Pedestal was a code name for a convoy to get vital supplies to Malta in August of that year. The supplies were carried by 14 merchant ships, including a fast tanker, the SS Ohio and an American merchant vessel, the SS Santa Elisa, which were accompanied by more than 40 warships, battleships, aircraft carriers and destroyers.

The Maltese celebrate the Feast of Santa Marija on the 15th of August. It’s a public holiday with banks, offices and shops being closed.

But this day has another very special meaning for Malta. During the feast of 1942, thousands cheered as the SS Ohio limped into the Grand Harbour in Valletta with a vital cargo of fuel. This is remembered with a special commemoration at the Grand Harbour every year. Last year, our Maltese friends invited us to accompany them to a very touching service. Allan Shaw, one of the two last surviving crew members of the SS Ohio, cast a wreath and flowers into the dark harbour waters as the sun went down.

Here’s the story of how two American Marines helped save Malta 67 years ago:

Still Teaching EFL in Malta

 

        

 

               "Free at last! Free at last! ...

                 Thank God Almighty,  we are free at last!" 

These are the words spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr.,  during his 1963 I Have a Dream speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. 

And these were the words I was singing to myself last Friday after being released from that horrific TOEFL class I was teaching.  This is the class where I had to prepare about eight students to get ready to take a proficiency test in English in order to get into an American university or internship.

There were six main problems with this class and, unfortunately, they were all French.  Mind you, I have nothing against French people--just against these French students who were in this class.  Two other French students were absolutely delightful and dedicated people.  But they left and went back to France.  I also had a wonderful student from Austria and a great student from South Korea.  They have an excellent chance of passing this horrid exam.  And I'm sorry I had to abandon them.

Dreaming in Malta

               What does this Mean?

I don't know if this has anything to do with Malta, but last night I dreamed that I gave birth to a kitten.

Does anyone knows what this means?  If it's real bad, please don't tell me.  Could it have to do with all the cats I see around Malta?  I love the cats who hang around the streets.  I don't see as many as I used to in previous years, but they're still roaming around.

Did you know that the typical Maltese cat is a red tabby?  And believe it or not, lots of Maltese have Persians. You would think that it would be too hot for Persians in the summer here. But a lot of Maltese have their Persians shaved for the summer. I had my cat Egypt shaved just on the bottom--her belly, etc.  Despite the heat, the tiles in the house are cool to the touch and my cat can stay comfortable that way.

The Maltese were very smart when they built these stone houses to reduce the summer heat.

Anyway, the kitten I gave birth to was black and white, and I was disappointed for some reason.  And it looked like it might have been mentally challenged.  Maybe the heat is getting to me after all...sorry.

Money in Malta

       Money Talks in Malta...

       What it Says about the Maltese

Two interesting financial transactions occurred last week on the same day.   In the morning, I went to buy some bread from a small convenience shop--one I had never been to before. The bread cost 60 cents.  I gave the woman at the counter 70 cents.  Because I had asked her where the bread was, she knew I was a foreigner.

After I paid her, I waited for my change of 10 cents.  She merely said thank you to me--and went on the help the next customer.  I just stood there--waiting for my 10 cents which I had a right to expect and receive.  Again, she said thank you and tried to tend to her next customer.  Again I stood there, waiting.

Finally, she realized that I wasn't as stupid as I looked or sounded, I guess.  Then came the apologies and the ten cents change.  I've heard other foreigners, tourists and students complain of the same type of thing--especially regarding the Maltese bus drivers.

That evening I went into a pharmacy near my house to buy some expensive medicine I take. It cost 35 Euros.  I handed the pharmacist my debit card.  That's the only card I can't take, he said.  I was a little thrown back, so I said I would run over to the bank.

Never mind, he said. Here. take the medicine and pay me another time.  Are you sure, I asked him?  Of course, of course, he said. Can you imagine CVS in America telling you to take the meds and come back later with the money?

Naturally, I sprinted over the bank machine, got out the 35 Euros and ran back to the pharmacy to pay the man.

Now what does the bottom line say about the Maltese?  Some will try to cheat you for pennies if they think they can get away wit it.  But it's the big things in life that count--like medicine--where they are willing to let a stranger walk off with the goods because they have an honest foreign face.

So what's your take on this?  Maltese commentators?  Anyone?