Author: backpackingchick

malta, my second home.

Posted on by backpackingchick

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MALTA – Languages Spoken: Maltese and English – Location: Europe (right below Sicily)

Oh, my beautiful small island floating on the Mediterranean Sea. This place is like a dream. I don’t really want to share my secret of this island with many people because I like to keep it my secret, but this place is where my heart beats. When I was traveling in Sicily the year before I knew that I wanted to live somewhere in the Mediterranean and I somehow had to make it happen.

When I came home I applied to hundreds of schools abroad because I just graduated from grad school with my Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages degree. I couldn’t just waste it! I declined a job from a position in Washington DC and prayed my little heart out to receive some news from any job abroad that I applied to. The next day after declining that position my life changed, I received an email from an American International School in…. MALTA! The place I was dreaming of while floating on a boat in Sicily. How could this be true? I couldn’t get my hopes up until I went through the interviews, but I thought I was dreaming.

After two very awkward interviews, since I have difficulties speaking to people without seeing their eyeballs… I GOT THE JOB! Telling my parents was probably the most difficult part about receiving the job and of course telling my dog, Inca. She was going to be so upset to learn that I would be leaving for two years with just visits.

As I landed in Malta, two men picked me up to bring me to a hostel. I was so jet-lagged and excited yet fearful of this tiny little island. I walked out from my hostel with complete and utter fear. What the heck? I was not expecting to be sad once I arrived. I remember staring out to the sea and thinking, “Oh my dear Lord, what have I just done! I don’t know anyone for thousands of miles and all I see is water!” My heart sank and I didn’t know how to process that, so I called a fellow ‘abroader’ that knew just wait to say. He eased my tension and confirmed that this is a normal feeling. I just needed to find a place to live and I will feel better. So, I did just that. IMG_0347

After I found an apartment and settled in, I got to actually explore this RIDICULOUSLY gorgeous island. I didn’t quite understand certain aspects to the country. Like the extremely late and old bus systems (which actually grew to be very charming to me.) Sometimes I felt like I stepped  back in time. All the buildings are made of this gorgeous clean limestone with the backdrop of navy blue seas. This must be heaven. The fashion sense in Malta was very unique and hard to actually explain without sounding offensive. It wasn’t bad, it was just different than what I was used to. Now, years later with social media and more access to a lot of different designers, I believe Malta’s fashion has changed. I loved that it was different, it reminded me that I am NOT in America, and that made me smile. I was finally alone and I never felt more alive.

To be continued…

Places Stayed:

  • Swieqi (apartment)
  • Siliema (hostel)