An-American-in-Malta

         

 

                      X'hemm u Merħba        

 

Hello and Welcome.  This web site is for expatriates living in Malta--and for people  anywhere considering or planning to move to Malta.  If you're about  to retire, work or study in Malta, here are the facts you need--which I dug up for myself when I decided to make Malta my home. Please join me on my journey.

(By the way, what do those ancient Egyptian symbols have to do Malta?  To find out, click here.)

                                                                                              I.S.   

Malta Property: It's No Joke

Expat Blogger EAGLE Describes the Situation Here Perfectly:

Here is a really funny, but very apt description of the ins and outs of Maltese property by Eagle, posting on the Expat Blog:

 

Recently on the lookout for a new place, I thought it may be of interest for those looking , to sift through some of the descriptions found in ad placements.

Categories -

Penthouse - Usually top floor, with a terrace, and sole use of roof. Could be shared with other apartments airconditioning units on the roof.

Apartment - Without a terrace, but with balconies in some cases.

Maisonette - Apartment with a door which you can call your own.

Terraced House - House on two or more levels, possibly with a garage or backyard, and roof

Town House - House on two or more levels, without garage.

Villas and Bungalows are standard houses with the Bungalow being single storey , both having a garage, garden and pool in some cases.

These are further subdivided into

Detached - Dont hear the neighbours, Private

Semi Detached - Not as private, with neighbours on a shared wall

House of Character - Something which is falling apart, and old

further subdivided into

Converted - somebodys had an attempt at trying to fix it

Unconverted - Nobodys bothered , it will cost a fortune to repair.

 

To see the rest, please go to the following:

More than Just Talk in Malta

Cleaning Up the National Park--Il-Majjistral--in Malta

The Best Expat Cleaning Crew Ever in Malta

From left to right: Ilona and Ilene--me (actually jumping in the garbage bags), Petra and Silke (all German except for me)

The area you see here were barracks used by the British during and after WWII. For over seven decades now, the barracks and the surrounding area have been decaying and piling up garbage. Today we joined the Ramblers Association of Malta (the walking group) and several local Maltese in cleaning this part up which has now become an official part of Malta's first National Park.

We've talked about it, complained about it and cursed about it--the dirt and garbage in Malta. Today we did something about it.

 

Warning: Nature Lovers at Work in Malta

Mr. S hard at work

Mr. S after hard day at work

I Think the Tower is Beautiful in Malta

Most People Hate this Structure, But I Don't

This must be the most hated building in Malta--the Tower which is the place where some/most/all of Malta's TV and radio stations are broadcasted from. Last Sunday, my fellow Bunion Walkers and I discovered a valley in the middle of St. Julian's leading up to San Gwann. Right in between opposite sets of urban building complexes lies the valley with quite a few farming plots.

Then in the distance is the Tower. Everyone says it's an eyesore, but I like it. (And, no, I don't think it's a phallic symbol.) OK, so it's very tall and stands out and over everything else. But it blends in beautifully, I think. It's made of blue-tinted glass and a brown, earthy-colored limestone. Look how it reflects the sky around it. This was a cloudy, overcast day. The Tower looks different on a clear or sunny day.

What do you think?

 

 

Here's the valley looking the other way from the Tower

 

Urban Art in Malta

Someday this Could be Worth Millions

 

Photo by Ilene Springer
Copyright 2012
Location: Gzira, Malta

The other day I watched a couple squat down with an expensive camera and take a photo of a pile of dog shit. Surprising myself, I stopped and asked them why they were taking such an interest in this particular subject:

Me: Oh, good. Are you taking the photo to show someone--like the newspaper or an environmental group--how disgusting this is?

Them: No, we're entering it in a photo competition about urban art in Malta, in black-and-white.

Me: Well, you won't have to look hard for some good subject matter

Conclusion: You never know: One person's crap is another person's canvas.

 

 

The Winter Mediterranean in Malta

People don't believe how cold it gets here in Malta in the winter. There are very strong winds off the water. I wear my winter coat from the U.S. now. But the good thing: there's no snow or bad wind chill factor as there is on the East Coast in the U.S. And no matter what time of year, it's still gorgeous here.

American English Lessons in Malta

 

Finally, You Can Learn American English

Right Here in Malta

 

 

 

If you've wanted to learn to speak American English, you've had to go to a language school in the US.  But no longer. You can now practice American-style English in Malta with a private tutor and learn to speak the form of English that is the most widely used in the world for business, surfing the Web and communicating informally and formally. 

I'm happy to announce Chocolate English eu --private EFL lessons for students--individuals and small groups.  The lessons will be based on authentic material (non-textbook), such as English-language (both American and British) newspapers, magazine articles, brochures, menus, YouTube videos--plus excursions (in Malta) to food and clothing shops and much more. 

 

For more information, please contact      

ilene@chocolate-english.eu

or check out Chocolate English eu 

 

For EFL lessons that are as good as chocolate

 

 

 

Alternative School in Malta: Waldorf Pedagogy

Are You Interested in Better Education for Your Children?

This article is published by request of a blog reader; it does not necessarily represent the opinion of An American in Malta.com

As a young parents of three-year old twin girls, and very concerned about educational models, we found in Waldorf School in Spain, a pedagogy quite in line with our vision for our kids. And we hope that after hearing about the benefits of this kind of education that you may be interested in starting a school like this in Malta for your children.

More and more parents like us are looking for alternative models of pedagogy that can prepare their kids for life as full human beings, not only teaching an academic curriculum but also concepts and skills basic to having a healthy and happy life.

P.S. to First Act of Stupidity in 2012 in Malta

The following photo is borrowed from a website called

imageenvision.com

Have You Made Stupid Mistakes While Sending a Text Message or Email?

I guess I'm not the only one who has sent the wrong message or email to the wrong person at the wrong time. I'm starting to hear from people who have done the same.

How about you?

Let's hear your stories and I'll include them in the post itself. They have to be real, OK? So email me or post your comment with your real name, but if you want to be anonymous in the post--just tell me.

OK--I'll go first--again: This is actually something I posted in the comment section, but I'll put it here:

A few of us teachers were getting together outside of school here in Sliema. And we weren't sure if anyone would be offended if we didn't include them. So I sent a message to one of the people who was coming, asking "So do you think it's OK to meet tonight? Do you think anyone will know and get upset?" The next thing I know I get a message back, saying "WHO IS THIS?" Oops, what a difference a single digit can make in a phone number!!!

YOUR turn....

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Our first brave soul is Kenny:

I sent an email to someone else before - it was supposed to be sent to a work colleague who was struggling with an essay on rational thinking: cue me with my philosophy degree, breaking out some old textbooks & writing down an outline of some logical principle or other ... unfortunately, I sent it to someone else instead. They emailed me back & said they thought they'd slipped into a parallel universe ...

My First Act of Stupidity of 2012 in Malta

Watch Out for Your Stupid Smart Phones

It was just after midnight yesterday. Mr. S was glued to the TV, waiting for the London New Year celebration, hoping it would be better than the one in Sydney. (Mr. S is half British).

I hadn't spoken to my friend Monica for quite a while. She still works at the school I used to work at. Monica and I are good friends, but we have a strange way of greeting each other with a certain term of endearment that most people wouldn't understand: bitch. Yes, we call each other bitch.

So last night, I found her number on my iPhone, and texted her the following:
Happy New Year, Bitch xxxx

A moment later my phone rings and a friendly Maltese male voice says, "Hi, you just sent me a message. Happy New Year to you, too."

I said, "I did?" (in my mind I had sent it to a woman--Monica.)

He said, "But I think you sent it to the wrong person. You said 'Happy New Year, Bitch.' "

Realizing what I had said in the message, I said, "OMG! I was sending it to my friend Monica--and we call each other that, you know, as a joke. She's a good friend from my school."

He then politely asked me some questions, such as my name, what I do, etc. I gladly told him, considering what I had sent him.

He then asked, "What school do you work for?"

And I told him. And then he said, "Well, this is Monica's husband."

I had to stop and think: Monica is single. She doesn't have a husband.

I told him to wait a moment, and frantically looked up my message.

G-d Almighty, I know only two Monica's in the world. One is my bitch Monica from my former school; the other is my nice and quiet friend Monica from my current school. And, yes, she has a husband who would be quite concerned if his wife received a bitch message on any day--let alone on New Year's.

So after numerous apologies from me and numerous it's-okay's from Monica's husband, Monica (not bitch Monica but quiet sweet Monica--my current colleague) got on the phone and wished me a Happy New Year.

She's working Monday (I'm not) and I hope she has a good laugh on my account.

Would like to tell all my readers--thanks so much for reading the blog and have a Happy, Safe and Smart New Year.

Ilene

Baby Jesus Snatchers Strike Again in Malta

See? I Told You So!

Thieves targeting nativity cribs have struck again, this time also stealing from one on the sister island. Photo: Jason Borg for The Times of Malta.

Click here to read the story: