Malta

I got back yesterday afternoon from a crazy weekend in Gozo, which is the second smallest Maltese Island. It is just like Malta but much more rural and really, really green. Sort of what I would imagine Ireland to look like. It was so incredibly beautiful and I did have a good time, but allow me to explain why I would call it "crazy."

First of all I paid 25 Lira for this trip -- thats 75 dollars! Yikes right? The only reason it seemed like a good deal was because it was supposed to include the following:
Tansportation from Malta to Gozo and everywhere on Gozo, all of our meals for the entire weekend and free drinks, accomodation, and activities like rock climbing/abseiling, snorkeling, and hiking. On top of all of that we were going to Carnival which is a huge party for Catholics (and Malta is very Catholic) where they all go absolutely mad for one week preceding Lent. Sounded like a great time and a good deal because some of those sports activities cost quite a bit on there own, plus we wouldn't have to worry about food. Or so we thought...

The reality of the weekend was quite different. We went with the Malta University Sports Club (MUSC) and they did not seem to care that we were very cold, very hungry and completely without the sports activities we payed so many lira for. It was not really MUSC's fault that the weather was so bad, but they knew on Friday that we wouldn't be able to do much in Gozo because of the storm that was coming. Had they told us that before we left perhaps we would have demanded a refund and stayed in Malta for a much cheaper Carnival celebration. Almost worse, MUSC did not give us much food at all and charged us for meals they weren't providing (and for WATER!). When we asked for extra blankets or some way to heat our rooms they told us we should have brought personal space heaters. Apparently that was mentioned in an email on Friday morning. When we went to do (or attempt to do) our abseiling activity on Saturday a storm moved right over us and we all got pelted with hale and soaked in rain. It was an incredible experience though and we actually had a great time. As soon as it passed the sky was clear and blue; the weather moves so quickly here. After that happed MUSC had to take us back to change in dry clothes, but all of our coats and shoes were wet and stayed wet the rest of the weekend. I really had a great time though. Really! I absolutely love my friends and almost all of them were there. We just made the best out of every moment, and it really felt a lot like camping.

I borrowed these photos from a friend:

http://www.travellerspoint.com/photos/gallery/users/emiskell/

My camera will be working again soon (hopefully before my trip to Gozo) and then I can post more pictures.

I was in the lobby on Sunday with my friends Vince (from BC, Canada) and John (from Kentucky) and for some reason we started to discuss Aaron Burr killing Alexander Hamilton. We were talking about how crazy it was that the Vice President of the United States shot and killed someone and how that kind of thing would never happen now. Can you imagine? The Vice President...shooting another person. We laughed about it. Considering the news we heard on Monday morning about Dick Cheney shooting a man (albeit accidental) it was the strangest conversation we could have possibly had that night. I hope that man is okay.

I had my first lesson in the Anthropology of Gender this morning. Last week the professor was a no-show and we weren't quite sure if she would be there this morning. I think she was about 10 minutes late and "officially" changed the start time of the class from 8 to 8:15. She isn't a morning person. I think I am going to like this class, especially since the professor said we could have our final presentations off campus over a cup of coffee. "It's not where you give the presentation, but the content that matters." Oh Malta...

Today I finally have free, reliable internet access. I still won't be able to post pictures until maybe tomorrow though and I know that is what everyone actually wants to see. I am working on it!

Malta is really incredible. I live in Lija which is pretty much in the center of the island. A bus ride generally costs 20 cents (60 cents in American money) to go anywhere so I have already been to a lot of places in the short time I've been here. I keep feeling a rush to see everything as quickly as possible but I still have 4 months to explore, and that's just what I intend to do. In a couple of weeks I will be on the beautiful island of Gozo for snorkeling, hiking, and most of all, celebrating Carnival! More on that later.

Time for class!

Lizzy