The Diary of an American Expatriate by Ilene Springer

Author:Ilene Springer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: expatriates, expatirates, Malta, US, living abroad, Mediterranean, EFL, moving, Americans, starting life over, American, expats, leaving America, fresh start
ISBN: 9781782341253
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited
Published: 2012-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

I Panicked

January 09, 2009

A Mean Nun

Yesterday, a nun kicked me off the grounds of a private school near Balluta Bay.

I was walking through the gates of a spot I love to stand for a bit and feel very spiritual. The place is called “The Valley” in Sliema. It’s actually a dry riverbed with huge wild palms and cacti. I love this place. From this vantage point, I can also see where the water of the sea meets the sky.

I was about to walk through the gate--which is almost always open--as I usually do, and then head for the wall where I can look over at The Valley.

This time, though, a nun, in black habit and all, stopped me. (Being a Catholic country, there are many nuns in Malta. It’s funny to see them in a traditional habit, also wearing sandals.)

“Yes?” she said.

“Yes?” I said.

“Yes?” she said again.

“Yes?” I said again, feeling pretty stupid this time and realizing that this conversation wasn’t going anywhere.

So I told her that I come here to look at the view and I pray.

The nun looked at me like I was nuts and said with ridicule, “You pray here?” As if a nun would believe anyone prays.

“This is a private school. You can’t come here to pray anymore. We have little children here.”

So what could I say? I said OK, that I didn’t realize that--and then left. I guess I should have spelled it out for her--that I meant pray--not prey (as on little innocent school kids).

Well, I guess I can’t blame her for being protective of her wards. And then I cursed her--to myself, of course. So now I’ll have to find another spot to spiritualize.

January 10, 2009

Back in Malta for the First Time

I’m really glad to be back in Malta after two weeks away in England When I landed, the air actually smelled sweet to me. And then there was the sun I hadn’t seen for two weeks in England or Germany.

I now know a lot of people to say hi to and chat with. They’re mostly shopkeepers, but they also feel like friends. But I also have “real friends,” other expats who are vital to my survival and joy-of-living here.

When I went food shopping yesterday, I realized I was a bit less scared. And I got a large gas heater all by myself. (A gas heater is a necessary appliance here in Malta because there is no heat in the homes in the winter--and it does get very cold in the houses because of the stone walls and floor tiles). I’m proud that I got this appliance by myself--something I had never seen before, let alone know how to use.

I still feel behind in things. I have to renew my visa for the next few months and am scared it won’t happen and I’ll get kicked out of Malta. I have to study for the CELTA course I’m starting in February--and worrying about how I’ll afford a nursing home someday in Malta.

But it feels good to be home.

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