An-American-in-Malta

Other Articles on Malta by Ilene

 

 

Please check out these other articles on

      Malta at Associated Content.com.

 

Why You Should Leave Your Guidebook at Home When You Travel

Published July 01, 2010 by:

Ilene Springer

Who's in Charge: You or Your Guidebook?

 

Can You Make Maltese Friends If You're an Expat?

One of the biggest complaints of expats living in Malta is how difficult it is to make friends with the "locals." To understand why, ask yourself - if you're an expat - how many foreign friends you had when you were living in your homeland?

By Ilene Springer  |  Published 6/28/2010

How to Renew Your American Passport in Malta

If you live in Malta, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that you go to the American Embassy in Malta to renew your passport. The bad news: you go to the American Embassy in Malta to renew your passport.

By Ilene Springer  |  Published 6/15/2010

Awaiting My Maltese ID Card

Maltese ID Card Finally Within Reach

Guess What I Got?

No, it's not the new G4 i-phone (white, please) that I hope to receive as a gift from anyone sometime in my lifetime.

It's my Maltese ID card. With this, I can finally do something I've always wanted to do in Malta but could not before: present my Maltese ID card when someone asks for it once a year or so in Malta. Actually, it does make life easier in such things as banking and some other kinds of transactions. My doctor even asked for it during a routine blood test.

I'm actually quite proud of it. It took one and a half years to get it. Before getting that ID card, I had to:

• get a job and a work permit (in that order)
  
• become a temporary resident
  
• get denied the renewal of the work permit and risk losing my resident status
  
• become an "other" family member of an EU national and receive a residence certificate pasted into my passport which was about to expire
  
• renew my American passport
  
• renew my residency certificate and have it pasted into my new passport
  
• apply (at least three times) for the ID card, bringing my new passport with my new residence certificate, my authentic divorce papers from the US (with an official apostile stamp on it)--and my partner (Mr. S.) whose ID card mine depends on.

Then after several arguments at the application window (there was even one with the ID clerk, not just between Mr. S and me), my application was accepted. Ten business days later, I received the coveted letter to pick up my ID card. All this happens in an office in Valletta near the water.

Another trip to the ID office and I've got it. There only a slight problem, however. After receiving the little piece of plastic, I noticed that they spelled my name wrong--not a big deal. They just put an "s" on the end of my first name, essentially making me a plural.

When I pointed this out to the clerk, she launched into a tirade of how I didn't check it before, how I approved the pre-card status by signing the form--and how I had to start the process all over. I told her never mind--I'm NOT starting over. I'll change my name if I have to before starting this process over--and so, I remain...

Yours truly,

Ilenes

Malta During the World Cup

It's the World Cup and I'm in Europe!

So What?

Let me get this right: this isn't the same football they have in the U.S., right?

Now don't get personal; even I know that. I also know that I don't care about the World Cup. I know I'm supposed to, but I just don't. Here's what I don't like--a month long yap about the games; a month long beer fest all over the place and men (and women) piled in front of the flat screen TV; a month long of ear-piercing yelps and shrieks every time someone makes a touchdown, I mean, goal.

Who do I want to win? Nobody. Anybody. As long as it ends. I just pray that the Americans don't win because I genuinely fear for my life if that happens.

Now everyone's betting on Germany just because they won one game. For G-d sakes, Germany already won the European Song Contest this year which I was forced to sit through. (Do you know that a German woman got mad at me because I liked the song from Denmark--and she told me not to cheer for them?) Winning doesn't strike twice, you know. Greedy, greedy, greedy.

Actually, I wouldn't mind if the Italians win because I like to watch the men throw each other on the ground and kiss each other--like they did four years ago when they beat France. It's fun to watch Italians win. It's won't be fun to watch the Germans win. It's more fun to watch gorgeous men kiss than shake hands.

Oh, and it's a myth that the Maltese want Italy to win. They want Malta to win. But that's like wanting to win the lottery and never buying a ticket. Sorry about that.

So I'll be glad when it's all over.

And that will be the second week of July. Huh--that's when my kids are coming to Malta, inshallah. When you think of it, that's a really good time to be in Europe when something big is happening. Like when some team wins and then everyone who supported them goes wild, beeping their horns and dancing in the streets.

That's not so bad. Okay--let the games begin. Or continue. Whatever....C'mon, I want to hear from those of you who are brave enough to admit that they don't care about THE WORLD CUP.

Ahhhh...The Maltese ID Card

              Don't Leave Home without It...

               If You can Get One, That is...


It's the key to the island. The bank wants you to have one or it will tax your accounts; the police want you to have one or they will tell you can't stay in Malta; your employer wants you to have one or...I don't know what your employer will do. Anyway, it's the elusive Maltese ID card I'm talking about.


The hours of the office, located almost underwater in Valletta, are varied: Open only mornings except on Wednesday when they open from 3 to 6 PM on a leap year. Almost no one just walks into the office and walks out with an ID card. You have to apply for it.


And almost no one walks in to apply for one and walks out without having to return. That's why I’m in a bad Malta mood today. This is maybe the second time I tried to apply for one and had to come back again because something was missing among my papers, my information, my personal life story.


So what to expect when you get there? First, some gruff police officer who doesn't speak English (or Maltese) greets you and asks you where you're from. You're not allowed to say anything except where you're from; the officer interrupts you if you try.


Then, depending where you're from, the officer points you to a shabby table in the middle of the room with about five different colored forms. They're all the same except for the titles of the form. Here are two of them:

• Application Form for a Maltese Identity Card for Persons Who are NON-EU Citizens--This is the green one I believe I'm supposed to fill out.
• Application Form for a Maltese Identity Card By Persons Who are EU Citizens of Non-Maltese Nationality--This is the one Mr. S. used to apply for his.
  

There are several more--all the same except for the title, as I said.

Each form asks for your personal details--name, birthdate, address in Malta, etc.; the personal details of your parents; your passport number and other document numbers--and a declaration to be signed by the applicant to attest that all the above are true or you will be forced to drink ten Kinnies (a Maltese soft drink) in a row as a punishment.

Other Articles by Me (Ilene Springer)

 

               Please Check These Out

 

From time to time, I let you know about other articles I’ve written elsewhere.   Check them out—and enjoy!

 

How to Get a Good Massage Abroad

I went for my gift massage in Germany, and the masseuse turned out to be a man. This stressful massage could have been avoided if I had done the research - and I advise you to do the same if you want an enjoyable massage when you travel abroad.

By Ilene Springer  |  Published 5/27/2010

The Typical Paint Job in Malta

The Maltese are very good at a lot of things. But painting a room or flat or house is not one of them. Yes, they get the paint on the wall-but also on the light fixtures, switches, sockets, faucet, sinks, countertops and nice tiled or wooden floors.

By Ilene Springer  |  Published 5/5/2010

How to Clean Your Bathroom Quickly

Does the thought of cleaning the bathroom irritate you? The sink, the toilet, the wet towels? If you're working full-time and rushing to get ready for work, when are you supposed to do it?

By Ilene Springer  |  Published 4/29/2010

A Very Wise French Student in Malta

Are the French Arrogant?

There's a saying from the musical The King and I: If you become a teacher, from your students you'll be taught.

As an EFL teacher in Malta, this happens all the time. This time I had a brilliant French student in my advanced class. This guy is going for a PH.D. in language systems for computers. This means he's developing and analyzing language systems for computers. In other words, I have no idea what he's talking about--in English or in French. But he'll be applying to be a professor in a university when he finishes his education.

Needless to say, this guy is smart. His English is excellent and he has very "intense" French ideals.

In other words, he was almost beaten to a pulp by the other students.

As an EFL teacher, the greatest thing is when students have a heavy-duty discussion in English and get so wrapped up in it that they forget they're using English; they just talk, joke, discuss.

This time--with the French student--it was an all-out argument. No, a fight. A real fight, and it got ethnically personal.

A German student in the class asked: Why are the French arrogant?

The French student said: Because they have the right to be. Look at Paris, listen to the language, look at the role the French have played in history, etc.