An Overview of Malta

Like I mentioned in a previous post, over the New Year holiday I travelled to Malta to visit my SO and to meet his family and friends.  It was originally my intention to blog while I was there, but I had not accounted for the fact that in Europe hotels don’t have free WiFi as often as hotels in the U.S. do.  As a result, I ended up keeping track things the old-fashioned way - with pen and paper - and over the next few weeks will be transcribing those writings onto my blog.  In the meantime, I thought I’d give a quick and dirty overview of Malta, since it’s not too far fetched that many people had never heard of it before I mentioned (I hadn’t before meeting people from Malta).

So first the basics:  Malta is a tiny country located in the Mediterranean right between mainland Europe and North Africa.  To find it on a map, first find Italy, then go south to Sicily, and south again.  It’s not a well known country outside of Europe, probably due to its size, but its history and landscape has earned it cameos in a variety of video games, movies, and television series. 

As far as historical facts are concerned, the islands that make up the country now known as Malta have been inhabited since pre-history.  They have structures far older than the Egyptian pyramids (the megalithic temples and hypogeum), with twenty-three known temple sites, suggesting that at one point the islands had a pretty big spiritual significance Fast-forward a bit, and the islands again get some spiritual fame as the site where Paul washed up after a shipwreck (resulting in a neat story of why there are no poisonous snakes on Malta), and as the headquarters of the Knights of St. John (sort of like the Knights Templar, but older). The islands played a big part in several wars and conflicts (including WWII when it was under British rule).

The earliest settlers that I could find information about were from what is now Sicily, and after them it was the Greeks/Romans/Phoenicians. Following a period of being relatively uninhabited, the islands were re-colonized by people from the Sicilian-Arab culture (bringing with them a sort of Arabic language that would eventually evolve into Maltese). At some point the Knights of St. John took over, then I think the French, and finally the British. Malta only became its own nation midway through the twentieth century, in 1964.

Today, Malta seems mostly Mediterranean, with heavy British influence in the structure of some of their institutions (the fact that they speak English being the most prominent). There’s also a strong connection to the Catholic Church and to community (though I sense both are decreasing), resulting in a few little quirks of culture here and there that I didn’t see anywhere else I travelled in Europe. Overall the culture is a bit difficult for me to quantify in any broad sense, so I hope my future posts give a better idea of the island than I have here!

On Airports

I’ve travelled a lot recently, and as a result have been through many, many airports. And every time, I feel grossly unprepared for the experience. Yet somehow, through lots of running, sheer willpower and luck, I’ve managed to avoid any trip-ruining disasters. Though I have encountered such problems as:

• Broken trains connecting two terminals
• Passport left at security
• Delayed flights
• Lost luggage
• Inconveniently located bathrooms

 Like I said, I attribute my ability to navigate these problems largely to luck, but there are a few things I’ve learned that help to make the airport and flight experience easier.

1. Only Bring as Much as You Can Carry: Including checked luggage.  This is especially true if you have some time constraint to meet: connections with different airlines, somewhere to be after you land, or a connection after landing in the US from a different country.  If you're running late, the last you'll want to do is look for a luggage cart.  Even if you manage to find one quickly, you can't take the carts up escalators, or on the moving walkways, meaning you'll have to push it everywhere yourself anyway.  Unless you're travelling a group, with people who can help you get from point A to point B, it's better to make sure that if you have to, you can move around quickly.  If you can't, you may have packed too much anyway!
2. Consolidate What You Do Bring:  This is related to the previous point.  Take as few bags as possible.  Large international airlines have pretty loose carry on restrictions.  You can usually take a carry-on, and a "personal item" (anything from your purse, to a laptop case, to a small backpack), plus a host of things that are not considered to be either (coats, cameras, pillows, etc.).  There have been many a time when I've pushed this leniancy to the limit, and I've always regretted it.  Now I strap everything to my pack and anything I can't carry in a backpack and my purse/laptop bag I put in my stowed luggage or leave it at home.
3. Wear Comfortably Clothing: I've read articles that say wearing nice clothes will increase one's chances of being upgraded to another seat.  While that might be true, the chance that I might be stuck in uncomfortable clothes in economy class is too great for me to even consider wearing something 'nice' and uncomfortable.  It's become less common for people to dress in their pajamas and such for flights, even international ones (though I still wear sweatpants), but you can easily get away with comfy slacks and a t-shirt.  I've always had time to make myself more presentable before I meet someone after I'm done flying, but nice clothes and make-up won't fix a bad mood if I've spent 5+ hours being uncomfortable because I wore silly clothing.
4. Try to Look (and act) Friendly: Even if you’ve just gotten off a 14-hour flight where the kid behind you kicked your seat the whole time and your personal entertainment screen was broken, try to avoid taking it out on the airport staff. This should really go without saying, but if you’re friendly people are more likely to be nice to you and forgive you for minor infractions like forgetting to take off your belt before walking through the metal detector or showing up at the last minute for boarding the flight. If you’re mean, or look mean, you’re probably going to face more delays as the security agents pat you down and ask you several hundred questions about that bottle of toothpaste you forgot to put in the clear plastic bag. 
5. Keep Everything In One Place: This has been especially useful during two occasions: when the airline has lost my luggage and when I’ve gotten stopped at border control. I used to think that the little claim-your-luggage ticket was useless, and threw it away. While the airlines don’t really need it in order to locate your bags, it considerably shortens the time you have to spend in the lost luggage office. In some US airports, they even have little kiosks allowing you to track your bags in real-time, so you know before you wait at the luggage pick-up for a half hour that your bags are still in another country.
   
    As for border control…This varies from country to country. Germany and Italy did not seem concerned in any way, shape, or form that I’d been in and out of the EU a lot over the past year. The Netherlands showed moderate interest, and asked me a few questions, as did Malta. The United Kingdom pretty much treats me like an illegal immigrant every time I enter their country. To be fair, I am usually visiting my boyfriend, which often raises a red flag, since my obvious intentions are to get married to escape from the horrible living conditions of the US (false). Anyway, they calm down much more when I show them additional documentation: my return flight information usually suffices, but I’ve also been asked for proof that I formerly studied in the UK and now study in the US, bank statements, hotel information, and a complete itinerary of my stay. It’s nice to have all of those things handy, instead of having to fumble around in your luggage to find them, or worse, being rejected for entry.  
6. Book On One Carrier: The only time I’ve had a major freak-out is when I booked half of my flight with one carrier, and half with another. My first flight was delayed by over two hours, which would mean that I would miss my second flight. Since the latter was with a different carrier, even if I was refunded for my first ticket, I would have to purchase a new ticket for the second flight, or pay a hefty change fee and the difference to make it later (with no guarantee that I would make the later flight either). After many frantic calls and running around the airport, I ended up booking an entirely new flight with a different carrier because it was cheaper than changing my second flight. Those problems aside, it’s a major hassle to pick up your bags and re-check them during a transfer, which you have to do if you’re flying with two different carriers. (This point doesn’t apply for airlines that are part of some sort of group/alliance. Lufthansa, US Airways and United, for example, are different characters, but because they’re part of the Star Alliance they treat luggage/cancellations/connections as being a single airline). 
7. Get an Aisle for Short Flights, and if you can Sleep Without a Window: This wasn’t always my preference, but flying more often has made it a much more appealing option. On short flights you want to sit by the aisle so you can grab your bags and get out before you get stuck behind someone. On longer ones, it’s much easier to get up to stretch or use the lavatory if you don’t have to climb over three people to do so. Plus if you have long legs, sometimes you can use the aisle to stretch out when people aren’t walking up and down it. The only downside is that it's more difficult to hide your carry-on if it won't fit under the seat, and you don't get to look out the window if there's a view.
8. Drink All the Water: On longer trips, flight attendants will often walk up and down the aisles with water in between their other services. Since cabins are so dry, it’s good to drink as much as you can to minimize the affects of dehydration and jet lag. Plus if you drink a lot, you’ll have to get up more often to use the lavatory, making you stretch even when you don’t want to. 
9. Sleep and Eat Based on the Schedule of Where You’re Going: This can be really difficult, especially when the lights are on/off at a different time than you would like. But this mitigates the affects of jet lag, and makes it much easier for you to get on schedule at your destination. 
10. Bring Stuff to Do: There’s no telling when you’ll be struck with insomnia, when the in-flight movie/entertainment will malfunction, or when the battery on your iPad/laptop/Kindle will go dead, so bring some sort of fail-safe entertainment like a book or a magazine. If worst comes to worst you can always read the airline magazine, but it’s not likely to keep you entertained for the whole 10-hour flight.

All in all though, flying isn't as bad of an experience as a lot of people make it out to be, and as long as you follow common sense, you're unlikely to encounter any real problems.  

Itineraries

Just under two weeks away from my second trip out to Malta, and my itinerary for the trip is finally coming together!  It's looking so hectic, but it also looks like tons of fun:

• Friday, 28th: Depart from my college in the U.S.  First time flying with Lufthansa so we'll see how it goes!
• Saturday, 29th: Arrive in Valletta sometime in the afternoon.  Check-in, relax a bit, and then heading over to my SO's house to say hello to his parents.
• Sunday, 30th: Sight-seeing in Valletta.  They have installed a massive 58 metre (190 ft) lift (elevator) since I was last there, which I intend to ride ad nauseam.  It'll also be the first time I get to visit St. John's Co-Cathedral with a native.
• Monday, 31st: New Year's Eve Party!  As far as I understand, this is going to be like most New Year's parties in the U.S. except for the fact that there will be Maltese people there who may or may not be able to speak English while inebriated.  
• Tuesday, 1st: Lunch with my SO's family, and the first time I'll be meeting everyone, including siblings, nieces and a nephew who I didn't have a chance to meet last time I was there.  So, the most nerve-wracking part of the trip!
• Wednesday, 2nd: Pantomime.  This is something that seems popular in all the formerly British colonies except for the U.S.  It seems to be some sort of comedic, musical, morality play, but since there isn't an equivalent in the states I really have no idea.  Apparently they have a lot of audience participation and occasionally pull people onto the stage.  I can only imagine what would happen if I were volunteered and someone tried to ask me things in Maltese.
• Thursday, 3rd: Going to see The Hobbit!  OK, I really didn't have to be in Malta to do this, but I will be.
• Friday, 4th: Visiting the Hypogeum, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the many things featured on the Malta episode of "Ancient Aliens".  
• Saturday, 5th: Nothing specifically planned yet!
• Sunday, 6th: Heading back to college to finish up the massive workload that comes with being a senior!
• Everything Else?:  If there's time, and weather permits, I'm also hoping to visit a petting zoo, go horseback riding, and eat an obscene amount of Mediterranean food. 

With Christmas approaching, I'm sure time will pass quickly, so I need to start packing!

Going to Malta!

So adding on to the trips I took in August and September, I'm heading back to Europe on the 28th of December for New Year's.  This time I'm visiting my boyfriend and his family in Malta, somewhere I visited during my study abroad and am excited to see again.  When I was there in May, it was absolutely beautiful.  I simultaneously can't believe people actually live there, and that more people don't live there!  It's apparently one of the most densely populated countries in the world (owing to its small size: it's only twice the size of Washington DC), though it didn't seem anywhere near as dense as say, New York City.

Anyway, I guess since it's not as warm in January, it's supposed to be more "green" than it was in May.  I'm not sure how much greener, though, since it seemed pretty arid when I was there, so I'm not sure where grass or plants would come from.  It's also supposed to rain more than last time as well, though hopefully not as much as in Glasgow.  Hopefully since it's in the Mediterranean it'll be at least a little warmer than in the U.S!

Dead Flat Broke

It occurred to me that I never mentioned that since studying abroad, I've actually returned to Scotland not once, but twice.  The first time was in August, when I was invited to a Scottish wedding out in the countryside and took the opportunity to visit all the places I missed on my first trip.  It was nice, because there were a few things that I'd really been upset about not getting around to.  My boyfriend ended up renting a car, so to and from the wedding we were able to visit the Borders, Hadrian's Wall, etc.

The wedding ceremony itself was restricted to family and close friends, so I ended up attending just the reception, which was pretty much the same as receptions in the U.S. except that there was golf in the backyard.

The second time I returned was in September.  My intent was to surprise my boyfriend for his birthday: I'd gone through a good deal of planning with his friends, and had managed to keep it a secret despite my extreme excitement.  The idea was that his friend would meet him at a coffee shop, or some other place, where I would also casually happen to be.  The reality was that it was raining, I was excited, and I'd left my wallet in the airport parking lot.  I had my luggage (a few days clothing, toiletries, passport and camera), my UK phone (with 10GBP worth of service left), and 21GBP in cash, most of which I ended up spending before I realized my wallet was missing.

Oops.

I tried contacting his friend and there was no answer (my flight was early, and he was not awake).  Long story short, I ended up deviating from the plan and texting my boyfriend to meet me at Queen Street Station. He was still surprised, of course, but I was a bit sad the original plan didn't work out.

Either way, being broke in a foreign country is super difficult!  Those forty-five minutes when I didn't have any money, no where to sleep, and no one I knew nearby made me realize that I could probably never be one of those people who just get up and backpack across the continent.

Study Abroad Q&A

So now that people are looking at studying abroad for next year, I've been getting a few e-mails about studying abroad, usually directed specifically about my stay in Glasgow but sometimes more generally as well.  I'm collecting the questions here!

General Questions

Was It Worth It?
I'm asked this question pretty often in a few different variations, "Was it everything you expected," "Did you enjoy it," etc. The answer is yes! Of course, it was completely worth it. Studying abroad anywhere is worth it, and studying abroad at Glasgow University was one of the best experiences of my life. I could not have made the friendships I made, or have had the experiences I had, if I'd stayed in the U.S.

For me personally, it was a great chance to live more independently.  My college is very residential, and a lot is provided to us.  Having to buy my own groceries, cook my own food, clean my own flat, plan my own time, was very beneficial.  My program offered a safety-net if anything really horrible had happened, but other than that, I was pretty much entirely responsible for my own experience.  It was scary and liberating at the same time.

How Easy Is It to Travel?

Sometimes a rented car is the best mode of transport!

This depends on where you're studying.  It's easy to travel around if you're in Europe, for example, but I imagine it's quite a bit more difficult to travel to other countries if you're studying in Australia!  Most metropolitan areas outside of the U.S. have good public transport systems.  I have yet to go to a country where I've had even moderate difficulty navigating using public transport (though buses in Malta are supposedly unreliable).  It gets more difficult the further away you get from tourist areas, depending on the country.  When I traveled to Japan in 2009, I used public transport exclusively.  In Scotland, I used buses and the rail system anytime that I was travelling without an EU driver.  In the U.S. though, I can't even get to the grocery store without a car, so I imagine everywhere is different.

How Easy is it to get Scholarships?
Like everything, this depends.  If your school or program offer scholarships, those are probably your best bet.  If you're travelling somewhere more exotic than the usual UK, there's not as much competition.  General, large dollar-value scholarships ($5,000-$10,000+) are mostly a waste of time: lots of people apply to them. The more specific the scholarship is to your attributes and goals, the easier it will be for you  to get it.  Do a web search to find the best ones for you.

Scotland/Glasgow Specific

What is the Atmosphere of Glasgow Like?
Somewhere between a industrial and artistic city.  It was one of the main shipyards for a while, and only recently has started becoming a cultural hub.  The West End in particular is full of students and young people, and City Centre has a pretty hip crowd as well.  As you get further away from those areas, the demographics change a little: East End is a bit less affluent and a bit more blue-collar, and the suburbs are pretty much like US suburbs in terms of the people living there.

I'd heard before travelling to Glasgow that it's a pretty rough-and-rumble city, but I never felt that way, and never had any problems.  There were a few times late at night when I was either walking home from a club or going through the East End that I was a bit nervous, but nothing ever came out of it.  Really, most cities in the U.S. are far more threatening.

Did You Like Going Through Arcadia?
So as background, Arcadia University runs study abroad programs for students outside of the university as a service.  The semester I went abroad, there was no one else in my college going abroad, so while the administration wished me well, and were very excited for me, they didn't provide any real assistance.  It was nice to have an institutional advocate, and a bit of orientation, from Arcadia.  I paid my tuition in USD, they translated my credits for my college, and they got me a bunch of perks (a weekend homestay, a railcard), that I probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise.  So for me it was worth it.

A Bit of Hiatus

Ugh.  Sorry guys!  A lot has been happening in the past few days or so, suddenly.  I am still updating, and am hoping to get back on a regular schedule next week.  This week, is reading week, which means that I have no classes because I'm "writing essays".  Except I did mine in advance, so it's really a week of vacation.