MALTA- "week one"

Thursday

The first week moving to Malta has been an interesting one. I shall be creating blogs, in addition to the dance related ones, of my time here in this Maltese island with what I have been up do and learning. I am very lucky to have moved over with a very supportive partner, Lee and so will be keeping a video blog with him to further show what we are up to.

We flew from London Luton at 6:25am and arrived in Malta at 10:25, from here we got a taxify (equivalent to Uber) to where we will be living. 30° heat we waits with suitcases knowing we were living somewhere on the street, but couldn’t find the flat. Our landlord arrives and shows us to our room, where we carried 6 bags unassisted or without an offer of help. We walked into a shock of finding out someone else was staying in our room, as he did not think we were moving til the day after. 1. We had paid from the first of the month meaning he had sub-let and 2. You would think he would tell us before he knocked on our future door and it being opened by a guy in his boxers. We then got taken to the living room to stay the night, and got shown around ta'xbiex (where we live) before being shown a pool in his other apartment which in his words “is free to use whenever we wish and hope sorts out the earlier confusion”. A quick stroll down the highstreet got us our take out pizzas (with chips as a topping) and alcohol to break in the house. After pulling out the sofa bed and having a couple of drinks and face time home we had the earliest night we have in about a week.

Friday

I woke up feeling it was a lot later than it was, as we had not set an alarm due to a week of 2-4am starts. 8:30 and Lee is rewriting his CV and we start repacking what we took out to live in the front room. By 10 we saw the room was empty and we began the job of deep cleaning. The room was left in an OK condition with some washing tablets and some full water bottles in the room (not complaining). In Malta we were told to but 2l water to drink, which seems to be what everyone around the strip is doing.

We moved the bed (which was half blocking the balcony), swept up all the dust from underneath, stacked up the bed and moped the floor. Returning the bed to its new position we then deep cleaned the balcony, moved the dresser and bed side cabinets and wiped each surface. Now it felt like home that we reorganised the space differently to its prior occupants. This new layout gave me enough open space for a stretch area with the wall mirror conveniently in front of this place, and left a dresser opposite the bed for film nights. I out my fairy lights up that I brought from home and we began unpacking.

An €84.84 shop later ensured we had enough basics to start out, spices stocked in the cupboard and view the vegetarian options available (quorn exists here but is missing their chicken Kiev’s).

The rest of the day was spent with a cuppa on the balcony catching up about what we were doing, feeling and worrying about.

Saturday

Ignoring the pool, we woke up and went down to the sea for a morning swim. It was so strange as the cordoned off area looked smaller than we thought, and was surrounded by boats. Walking in I realised I needed my flip flops as we were walking on the bare rock but once swimming I swapped my flip flops to my hand and floated about all morning. The water was the perfect temperature with it being 31° outside, and was longer than first seen to swim up and down the passage. This was a morning I could get used to, I wouldn’t even mind jogging in this heat if I ended up in that water. It was so clear I could see my feet a metre below, and even a few small fish swimming past.

Once done we went back to the flat feeling hungry and relaxed. After eating we had our to-do-list of the day.

1. Walk to sliema (quickest walk to the town over) and get Lee some new guitar strings

2. Print off CVs

3. Find and explore the university

4. Get bits and bobs for the house

Many diversions and backgrounds later I first laid my eyes on the university. It is SO BEAUTIFUL and I cannot wait to start. Slightly smaller than edge hill I found the arts building which was unfortunately locked. Everything seemed to be so I am assuming Saturdays is an early close day, with the library shutting at 12:45 summer time. The university sports many outside relaxing areas, filled with trees and benches and colourful paintings to admire. I was so happy I started twidling my feet and discovered a new move for choreography (if my body can remember it again).

Back at the flat we invited everyone out for drinks go get to know each other. I’m not the most confident when first meeting people so hoping a few vodkas later I open up more. We plan to go to St Julian’s (two towns over) and pre first. Being the only girl out may be interesting and my feels best not slow me down, I have to show the boys how to dance.

Sunday

Last night was so good. St Julian’s reminds me of a holiday strip and we spent the night jumping from one bar to another. Everywhere was busy- it was €8 a cab there, and they play throw back hits.

Sundays were designed to be “sport days” for me and Lee but drinking the night before and walking everywhere then being the only girl out in heels (you can wear flats here) I was not up to much and spent half the day in bed. The other half was spent back in the sea where we moved further up the rocks to the busy area. It is crazy how long the bit of sea to swim in is and how it varies by a few steps. Here it was full of people and a lot deeper so we were always tredding water. This at least made it easier to swim, as it is horrible to in flip flops. After another spontaneous walk around the strip we stumbled upon some new shops, where I found a better vegetarian variety and a mosquito repellent. Watching a bit of Grimm later I was asleep by 10. These days are knackerig me just need to get a sleeping pattern now.