Almost Done

This week has been pretty uneventful save for the fact that I started my last course ever. I am so excited to not have to sit for hours on end in the same white-walled room, interpreting authors’ writing and having someone throw their opinion in my face all day long. Anyway, I’ve come this far so I think I can deal with four more days of class and three exams. At least I can look forward to sitting in the same insulation-exposed room (my basement), interpreting authors’ writing -  All. Summer. Long. I bought a poster to decorate the otherwise drab walls of my basement; it serves two purposes: on the one hand it spruces the place up a bit and on the other it should help me focus and relax a bit since I figure that my stress levels might get out of control. Who knows if it will actually keep me calm? Knowing me, I’ll probably end up ripping it into a million pieces – “who’s calm now?!” Yikes. 

In other news, this weekend was pretty fun. On Thursday we did the usual Paceville thing but on Friday we branched out and went to Gianpula, Malta’s largest open air club. It was absolutely packed with people but I have yet to decide if I liked it so much because it was actually good or because it wasn’t Paceville. Either way, it was a lot of fun and it was well worth getting the bruise on my leg so that I could get up on stage to dance with everyone including the DJ who was pretty gung ho to dance with us “foreigners,”  that is until the bouncer kicked us off. So that’s it for me this week, I best be off to sneak some studying in before the sun tempts me to go outside. 

On stage, pre bouncer kicking us off

Prom

On Friday night I found myself getting ready for prom at the residence almost exactly five years to the date from my grade 12 prom.  Despite the fact that prom shouldn’t have really been a big deal, I was still excited to dress up and have fun with everyone on a much cheaper budget. There was no ticket to buy, no nail or hair appointments, I already had my tan, and there was no drama of organizing the limos although I somehow ended up being the one to organize the transportation to the bars afterwards, some things don’t change I guess. 

Prom throwback, 2006

Malta Prom 2011 

Other than that, the weekend has been relatively quiet. The weather has been a bit crappy which is fine by me since I have had to force myself to get some work done and I don’t feel like I’m missing out on too much sunshine. I can’t believe that on Monday I will start my last course here which means that in three weeks time I will have completed all 15 modules and then be on my way back home. Anyway, that’s it for now I hope that everyone is doing well.

PM, Boat, Rugby

This week, the Prime Minister, Lawrence Gonzi, came to my university for the inauguration of a new wing in the building. The main university is located in Msida but the Valletta campus was originally the main site until 1968; it had been the main learning site since 1592! The Prime Minister and a few others came to address the International Master’s Programmes and after some formalities, there was a little meet and greet session and a few of us from our class got to speak with Mr. Gonzi  and I was fortunate to get a picture with him. 

On Friday night, instead of doing the usual Paceville thing with people from the residence, we went on a night time boat cruise and sailed to St. Paul’s Bay and anchored there for a bit before turning back to the residence. It was a great change from doing the same old thing every week.

 

 Yesterday I went to watch a rugby match in the afternoon, two of the guys from the residence, Hugo and Titi, play on the team so a bunch of us went out to support them for the final which they won. It made for a fun afternoon and after that I just headed back to the residence for a relaxing night.

Congrats Hugo and Titi

Playing on the bus before our driver showed up

Hike #2

It's been nice to be back on the island after the weather in England last week turned sour during the latter half of my trip. It figures that the first six days that I was in Oxford the weather was gorgeous but as soon as I emerged from the homework dungeon, the weather took a turn for the worse. Anyway, the weather here has been pretty consistent and warm in Malta and today I went for a really nice hike from Marsaxlokk to St Thomas Bay. We stopped at St Peter's Pool halfway through the hike and it was absolutely beautiful; it was a great spot to relax, catch some rays and swim. I definitely could not muster up any kind of courage to get in the water- as beautiful as it is, I just can't deal with being cold. 

Other than that, everything has been pretty normal save for the fact that a turtle (tortoise?) barged (as they do) into my room last week and had to be put back into the garden; worse things have happened. 

So that's it for this week, hope everyone is doing well. Also, I would like to take a quick second to wish my mom a Happy Mother's Day, thanks for being the best.