... Thrown into the pool

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  Lija, Malta
Saturday, February 23, 2008

Well, Like any blog/connection to home... it gets alittle
weak as time goes on. But its also for another big reason(ill get to that in a
second). First, Im feeling great, everyone around is getting sick but due to my
daily emergenC(mom, i need some more!) and good food ive been good at fighting
it off. Classes are intense but realllll good, the professors are dedicated,
smart and (try to) push the students. My relationships with my flatmates and
other people in the residence is growing quite strong. And finally and most
importantly, the amount of partying/nightclubs has dropped to a normal level of
one or two nights a week.



A couple hours after i posted last week i was climbing into my bunk bed, my
computer was sitting on the end and as i shifted my weight... pop, it drops
7feet to the floor. After the shock settled and got the emotions out, i checked
for apple service center on malta(only one), got it checked out the next day.
The screen is completely cracked but everything else is intact (thank you apple
sudden motion feature which saved my harddrive). After a week of thinking about
it, ive decided not to get it fixed and to finish my time here in europe
without the comfort of a computer. Ive been using my friend's computer to check
email and work on scholarships, school stuff, etc.



So then a night later and this time a friday night... we threw a friend who was
celebrating his birthday into the pool as we were all hanging out, eating
dinner and getting ready for the night. Everyone then started chanting my name,
they cleared out my pockets and then threw me in. Its fun and its just one of
those things that happens all the time. Took a shower, got dressed for the
night, put all my electronics back into my pocket and walked outside. Literally
2minutes later another one of my friends was getting thrown into the pool so i
walked to the edge... and oops, a french guy forgot to ask if i had anything
and kinda was "playing along" but pushed me into the pool with my
camera and cellphone. After alittle release of some emotions, and laying
everything out to dry and relax(including myself), the next day everything
worked good at new(SURPRISE!).



So thats the bad stuff, now the good stuff...



Ive explored more of the island: Including the western cliffs called Dingli cliffs(250meters
down to water), more of Valetta(the entire city is fortified and you can
literally walk the clifts around the entire city, as i did), more small market
places, more accidental bus routes that end me up in some random part of the
city(Rabat, in the northwestern hills, with beautiful 18century buildings built
into the side of the city with churches every block) and some really fun
clubs/nightlife(a club on the twenty second floor of the hilton building which
overlooks nearly the entire island and gives you amazing views as you dance the
night away). But i must say that even though the sights are breathtaking, the
relationships as well as the time i spend alone exploring and relaxing(more now
because of my lack of computer) is the best. I couldnt ask for a better balance
of people around me. The women are beautiful and fun to dance with(i love you
baby ;-)!), The guys are like best friends - always ready to explore and be
there for you, the professors are open and friendly, my roommate is smart and
really balanced kid.... Its like a dream come true. Everyday there is a new
person to meet, new stories and the best of all... a new line in French,
German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese(yes we have about 25new japanese students
who arrived 5days ago) and Danish.



a couple of fun stories from the week:



first, farid(from denmark, really funnny guy who is about 6 3,pure mussel) and
i decided to go to valetta and just explore. After trying to take a ferry
across the harbor and being turned down(due to the choppiness) we walked around
the fort of the city. It took about 2 hours, mostly taking crazzzy photos of
the waves and the rocks, to walk around the city, but well worth it. His family
is from Morroco and loooooves Indian food, so after a couple of weeks of eating
pasta, fresh fish, fresh veggies and basic med. spices(yes, it does get old)...
we trekked around the city to find indian food. Found a great place, not the
best but definitely well worth mentioning. It seemed weird to get really happy
about some basic chicken inidan dishes but it really brings you closer to home.



second, We all go down to the fish market on sunday mornings. Its about a mile
long of some of the best fish ive ever seen. Whenever we go, everyone always
sticks close to me and asks what they should buy and what tastes good. Now,
granted i dont know 90% of the fish... I do spot some i know and suggest those.
The prices are amazing. I can get some ammmmazing fish for sooo cheap, as well
as some other interesting stuff(read some past stories). Its fun to be around
all of it and its yet another fun little weekly activity.



third, The guys in the flat foundout/walked in on me doing yoga. A handfull
asked me to show them and now we all get together and get a nice little yoga
session going on. Then they go out and tell everyone that im some master...
Lets just say im going to be leading classes of 35people in a couple of
weeks(kidding... maybe). Its be nice to do some yoga when the weather gets
warmer outside.



We had a wonderful japanese food dinner tonight that the new students hosted by
the pool. The weather is finally starting to turn, its been absolutely terrible
here... raining and cloudy everyday. Tomorrow is suppose to be 18! I know
freezing but wait... more like 70F! Nothing compared to jori but still, were
going to be heading to the beach nice and early after a relaxing friday night.
Then we have a huge football match in the residence(they dont let americans
play)!



I love you all, thanks for the comments, they are read and loved. Hope all is
well back home... Politics are getting interesting :-)!!!!! and sounds like the
weather is reallly nasty. Much more will be coming... but photos will be on
hold till i find a way to post them through my friend's computers.

Oh and it looks like I might be at the World Bank this
summer at an internship, keep me in your prays as my nomination(from a prof
back home) and my application go through).



LOVE!

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