An-American-in-Malta

Eye Problem in Malta

First Real Health Problem in Malta

I was in the middle of teaching my EFL class when these large black spots crossed over the vision in my left eye.

I recognized what I knew to be the symptoms of a possible retinal tear or detachment. My mother had one when she was my age. And I'm a candidate for such a condition because of various factors.

You can imagine what it was like to be in the middle of teaching and have something like this happen.

I had to leave the class, inform my director, etc., wait for a substitute teacher and then get myself to the hospital. Mr. S. came with me.

I had the difficult choice of going public or private. Since I work in Malta, I'm entitled to coverage by the national health insurance.

My private insurance doesn't cover eye problems because I have dry eyes and the insurance excluded anything dealing with eye problems.

But on the advice of some people at the school, I decided to go to a private hospital--St. James in Sliema. I had been there before for a routine doctor visit for something else so there was no lengthy registration procedure. There were no questions about payment at this moment.

I waited about 15 minutes to see the Urgent Care doctor on call. While I was waiting, I asked myself "How do I feel being in Malta at this moment? Do I wish I was in the US?" Waiting to see a doctor about a possible serious eye problem? Possible eye surgery? I was worried about how much eye surgery would cost.

But I felt OK about being in Malta and seeing a doctor here.

Turns out that I saw an internist who initially diagnosed that I didn't have a detached or torn retina and arranged, however, for me to come back later that afternoon and see the ophthalmologist in the Eye Clinic to rule out these conditions.

I liked the MD who gave me a note to give my director at school.

The cost for this emergency (urgent care visit)? 15 Euros. That's about $22. That's right, Americans.

Later I saw the eye specialist who I really liked. I have a condition called PVD (not a retinal detachment but something that has the same symptoms and could lead to it sometime). I will have to live with the large floaters that I see in my left eye (another subject, another time).

But I feel that I have a good doctor. And the cost of seeing the specialist? 25 Euros.

So I have an eye problem that is very disturbing. Hopefully, the spots will diminish somewhat with time and/or that I'll get used to them. Hopefully, the condition won't lead to serious retinal problems and surgery--the cost of which would be prohibitive, I'm sure, even in Malta.

But the point is that I've gone beyond the initial expat stage in Malta now with being treated for a health problem.

On a happier note: The photo below--with me on the right--at the opening of the film Sex and the City in Malta.

Back Home in Malta

 

         How I Know I’m Back in Malta

 

I was starving and stopped in at a hotel restaurant where Mr. S. and I know the head waiter for many years now.  He’s Maltese.

I felt like being bad and so I asked for a piece of great looking lemon meringue pie.  The waiter brought over my pie—and it turned out to be a gorgeous piece of chocolate cake.  It just so happened that I had a craving for the lemon meringue, however.

So I told the waiter that the cake he brought me looked really good, but I really wanted the other one.

“No,” he  whispered to me, “Take this one. This one is fresh.”

“What’s wrong with the other one?” I asked him.

“It’s not fresh,” he said.

“But I really felt like the lemon one,” I said.

“Listen to me,” he said. “You’re like a sister of mine. Take this one; this one is fresh.”

“OK,” I said. “So why don’t you throw the other one away?”

“Why should I do that?” he asked me.

“Because it’s not fresh, you said.”

“It’s fresh enough for someone else,” the waiter said. “But not enough for you,” our waiter said.

That’s when I knew I had come home.

 

 

EXPATS Evening this Friday in Malta

 

                   Come join us for the

                EXPATS  EVENING

Friday 21st May at 8pm at Terrazza Restaurant and Wine Bar, Spinola Bay, St. Julian's

Complementary welcome drink and complementary nibbles between 8 and 9pm

Location: walk through the back of Paparazzi restaurant, turn right and go down the steps. Then turn left onto the boat jetty area; walk along until you come to the steps to TERRAZZA.

Everyone is welcome bring your friends.

See you Friday!

For more info: Trisha 246EXPATS MALTA EVENTS
trisha@onvol.net
M.+356 77050770

Some GOOD Things about NYC from an Expat in Malta

 

     Here’s Looking at You, Jess…in NYC

 

Hi Ilene,
I've been obsessively checking the blog because I heard rumors that there was an "I LOVE NY" entry coming soon, describing some of the more pleasant aspects of the city.  Please, give me some reason why I'm sticking around here, ha ha!  Hope to see you sometime during your visit- maybe go out for a (small) cup of coffee.
Jessica

 

Dear Jess,

YOU are the reason why you should stick around NYC.  It doesn’t matter what I think of New York; it matters what you think about it—and all the millions of people who really do believe that it’s the center of the world. 

New York is more than a city—it’s a sentient being who has one of the biggest egos in the world.  The great thing about New York City is that it doesn’t care what anyone thinks about it; NYC will continue doing what it does whether you or I like it or not.  In fact, NYC loves and hates itself. But at the end of the day, it still loves itself more—and wakes up each morning excited to be alive.

If NYC wants to be a mess like some rebellious teen, it will be a mess no matter who complains about it.  And people will still live there.

If it wants to be outrageously expensive, it will be—and people will still spend money in it.

If NYC wants to take risks despite the danger, it will.

And when it gets hit, it gets right up again and spits in your face.

Who can’t admire a city like that?  Only great cities have great problems.

So, Jess, NYC might not be my cup of tea, but I’ll be proud to buy you a cup of coffee in THE City anytime you want.  And thanks for being such a loyal fan of the blog.

Lots of love,

Ilene

Still Missing Malta

               

                  I Hate New York—Part 11

 

Ah, New York City in the springtime.  Don’t get me wrong; I’m so happy seeing my daughters.   But…

- It’s the middle of May in NYC—and I forgot to bring my Arctic parka.

- I also forgot to bring something to hold my nose closed as I walk through Chinatown along the streets covered with fish offal. And then there are the buckets with twitching fish and the butchered geese, chickens and G-d know what hanging outside the shops.  And how about a truck pulling up with hundreds of dead pigs just piled on top of each other. And the driver or delivery guy just opens a side door to a restaurant and tosses one in through the door.

- I heard this yesterday in a Rite Aide pharmacy across the street from my daughters’ apartment building:

“Anyone know where this body wash is?” ask a creepy guy in the skin care section.

“No, sorry,” says a woman, shopping nearby (not me).

“Look, you haven’t heard of this one?” asks the guy while showing an ad to the woman.

“Huh, hey—I think it’s over there,” says the woman.

“I heard this stuff makes women hot. Does it?” asks the jerk.

Silence. Eyes of women shoppers averted.

“Hey, anyone listening here?  Hello?” asks the jerk.

Women shoppers quiet, uncomfortable, immediately heading for the cashier or door.  Thinking—this is why I hate New York.

 

 

Back in NYC; Missing Malta

 

                        I Hate New York

I was waiting on line at the taxi stand at JFK airport for a cab to Manhattan.  This was following a 10-hour flight from Frankfurt this past Saturday—three hours longer than usual because the volcano erupted when my flight took off (We had to avoid Iceland).  I first had flown from Malta to Frankfurt two hours before.

Passengers were naturally tired and a bit unnerved after landing, maybe even more so since the flight was a lot longer than usual.

Ahead of me in line at the taxi stand was a young French couple.  They had that kind of eager look of first-time visitors to a new country.  Ah, the U.S., finally.  And NYC—voila!  What could be better?

That look was short-lived, believe me.  When the French couple were next in line, they inched up to the front.  The NYC taxi dispatcher had been barking orders at everyone for fifteen minutes by the time he glared at the French couple and growled:

“You two. Stay put!”

The eager look turned to shock, confusion and dismay.  Five minutes in the US—and what had they done?  Why was some “official” yelling at them?  They turned and looked at me and I said, “Welcome to NY.  Sorry.”

Yes, New York City. The dream location of many foreigners and Americans alike.

Want dirt?  Welcome to New York.

Want high blood pressure as soon as you land from a nerve-wracking flight at JFK airport?  Welcome to New York.

Want rudeness and stupidity if you take a step in the wrong direction at the taxi stand?   Welcome to New York.

Want to be tricked into taking a taxi-look-alike service that pretends to be a NYC taxi but isn’t and then charges double fare and doesn’t let you out of the cab unless you pay the illegal fee?  Welcome to New York.

Want a friendly ear when you land in JFK?  You won’t get it here, Not in NYC.  If you want an honest, friendly ear, turn around and go back to the place you just came from. 

 

 

Is there Racism in Malta?

                

                 An Important Question

                   about Racism in Malta

 

I got this very important query from an African man wanting to move to Malta. So many of us expats worry about getting a job, meeting people, etc., but we don’t even think about whether or not we will be discriminated against because of our color or race.

Here is T’s letter and my answer to him. It would be very helpful if you would give him your opinion, too.

Hi Ilene
I have received a very good job offer in Malta, I currently live in London.
Your site has been great for collecting information.
I am visiting Malta next weekend to get a feel for it on the ground and to negotiate my contract further, if required.
I do have one question which from all the blogs I’m struggling to get a clear picture. So in your opinion (and I will take as your opinion only, so please be as open and honest as possible) does Malta have racism issue? Just to give you additional information, I am a 28 year-old black African male (with strong London accent). It’s just the question that has been struggling to answer and I would appreciate your feedback.
Thank very much.
Regards – T

 

Here’s  my answer:

Hi T,
Thanks for writing. Yes, T, Malta has a racism problem.  I think it stems from all the illegal immigrants who come from Africa and who are black.
I know of an American black woman (who I have never met) who has written to me about feeling the racial tension.
It doesn't mean that you can't have a life here, but you will feel it. I wish it wasn't so. I think it would be best if you could ask another black African to see what it's really like.
I wish you the very best.

Best,
Ilene