A few years ago I decided to leave my home country and try my luck abroad. This wasn’t a spontaneous decision at all, rather it was the result of many years during which my disillusion and frustration with Malta had been growing and growing until I felt I had to take action or I would fall into a very negative perpetual state of mind.
Of course, I have many friends and dear family back in Malta, but honestly, I don’t miss living there. I make it a point to visit at least once a year and I usually have a good time catching up with friends and spending time with my family, but I don’t feel like I would like to go back and live there.
As you can imagine, several friends and family members ask me why this is so. I’ve finally found some time to really list the reasons for my moving away from Malta and why I don’t feel as comfortable living there as I do in other places.
While this post will be very honest, I’m afraid that some readers will find it too negative or downright offensive. Please keep in mind that is an honest outpouring of my thoughts and feelings and is no way meant to attack anyone or show any lack of appreciation. I did grow up in Malta and received many good things, I was blessed with a great family and a good education and also had lots of great experiences. However, as I grew older I started to feel that this was not the place where I wanted to spend the rest of my life in, and this is an attempt to describe why.
Malta is described in propaganda as being an idyllic “paradise on earth” island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Surely life is incredibly good over there! Not to mention it’s a tax haven!
First of all, Malta is no tax haven if you’re Maltese. There are a few schemes designed to attract business and executives from abroad. These schemes have been widely used and abused, and that’s where the reputation for being a tax haven is coming from. The island is also famous for housing a great number of online gambling companies. These companies came to Malta due to the fiscal and regulatory incentives and they are by and large doing extremely well.
Online gambling is not something that interests me and in general, I don’t like the vibe that they have about them. I’m sure many Maltese will disagree with me on this, but this is my view on the topic. The gambling companies pay very well and usually provide attractive offices and perks to their employees. Due to them, property prices in the Sliema and St Julian’s area have risen to incredible levels (many would agree that it’s bubble stage already). A whole financial services industry has grown to support these companies.
The downside? Apart from the moral doubts of working at these companies or even incentivizing them to move to Malta, I see a lot of dependence on them. If another country were to offer better regulations and tax incentives, it is likely that many of these companies would leave, as they don’t have any significant ties with Malta. They are merely using the country. In the eventuality of them leaving, we will see serious repercussions on property prices and the financial services industry. Whether this situation ever plays out is anyone’s guess, but it’s definitely something that has always bothered me.
Now I don’t mean to turn this into an attack on gambling companies. They do well to seek out the best environment for them to operate so I don’t blame them for anything. I certainly didn’t leave Malta because of this, so let’s explore some other more important reasons for me leaving.
If I were to describe Malta in one word, it would be frustrating. There is no doubt that islands are (were?) blessed with natural beauty, great weather and beautiful sea. I think the small size of the islands is, however, a big problem for people like me. It is clear that you can find idiots in every country, but in bigger countries, you can mostly keep away from them. You can frequent different places, live in different areas, and generally live amongst people that you like. Not so in Malta, every time you step outside of your door you are bound to experience some kind of ignorance, be it illegal construction, irresponsible driving, and unprofessional behavior. There is no deeply ingrained culture of doing things the right way. Rather it’s more of a “whatever, if it barely works then it’s good enough”.
I acknowledge that I have trouble really describing what it is that frustrates me and pains me so much about living in Malta. I also know that most Maltese genuinely love living in Malta, and whenever I have tried to speak out against the way things are done, the usual reaction is to try and shut me up and tell me that things aren’t so bad.
I inevitably realized that there was no way I’m going to change the culture of a country. One of the best pieces of advice was given to me by a Bulgarian builder in Malta. In one of my frustrated moments the builder, who was fixing some stuff in our office, overheard me complain about things in Malta. He calmly came up to me and told me “my friend, if you don’t like the menu, change the restaurant”. It was a seemingly joking and simple comment, but it rang so true for me that that was the moment that I decided to leave for good, and sure enough two months later I left.
Living in Malta, at least as a local, involves sustaining yourself (whether you want it or not) on a constant stream of local news. You can’t escape the latest political mess, and the smallest incidence can make front page news. It is really an environment that discourages you to think big and expand your mental horizons. For many years I found it very stifling and I harbored a lot of internal anxiety, frustration, and anger due to this situation over which I had little control.
Since moving abroad, all these effects instantly disappeared and I finally felt free to be what I really want to be and rapidly increase my knowledge in the areas that interest me. They say that a person is the sum of the other people that are closest to him. In Malta, I always struggled to surround myself with people who would constantly inspire me and drive me to become a better person. Due to the small island mentality, there seems to be a lot of jealousy and people try to keep you in line. You’re best just being an average Joe behaving like everyone else if you want to live a good life there. Do something significantly different than the rest and you’re going to have a very difficult time indeed.
But come on Jean, you might say, what about the lovely “best in the world” weather that Malta is blessed with? Well yes, Malta does indeed have very hot summers and mild wet winters. The problem is that the vast majority of houses have zero insulation and in the winter months you can feel really uncomfortable due to the insane levels of humidity and cold inside. Although I always felt bad during the winters, reality really struck during my first experience of winter in the UK, when I realized that I was much happier in winter there than I had ever been in Malta. Like many other countries, buildings there are well insulated and have good heating, so you can stay in your flip flops and shorts inside in winter. In Malta, I would be wearing jackets, long johns and a beanie and I’d still be uncomfortably cold.
One other big pain point: the roads. Malta’s road surfaces are among the worst in Europe and are more befitting of a third world country than a country that presents itself as being a hub of innovation and being on par with its European counterparts. Last year I tried taking the Brompton to Malta to cycle around during our holiday but ended up walking back home after 200 meters. There are way too many potholes, bumps, and uneven road surfaces to be able to ride a bike like that comfortably without damaging it. Not to mention the challenge of staying alive when riding a bike in Malta. Some of my friends have been severely injured due to irresponsible driving or bad road surfaces, and one of them even died by the roadside after being run over by a youngster driving without a license. I won’t even get started on the Maltese judiciary, but I’ll just mention that after eight years this man has not been sentenced yet. See here and here for more great examples of Maltese incompetency where justice is concerned.
A related aspect is the lack of good pavements. Unfortunately, Malta is not a walkable place at all. We grow up getting accustomed to getting out of our houses and into the car to get whisked to wherever we need to be. This leads to people exercising less and the resulting obesity issues. Malta has the highest child obesity rate in Europe, and I believe the walkability issue is a significant contributor to the problem. Owning a car is almost a necessity and gives you the independence to go wherever you want. Public transport leaves a lot to be desired, and it only comes in the form of buses. There are no car or scooter sharing initiatives at all. Of course, we can all see with our own eyes that traffic has increased exponentially during the past twenty years, to the point that you are now guaranteed to get stuck in a traffic jam every time you go for a drive, at any time except during the night. Given that in general people tend to keep their cars far longer than the European average, we have a lot of pollution from vehicles and that affects everyone’s health. Back to the lack of paving, in other countries, I got used to walking a lot, but in Malta it’s impossible to run any errands on foot except if you’re going around the corner from your house. Pavements seem to be an afterthought and come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tiled, some have rough surfaces, some are super narrow etc. What this also means is that we have a big problem with accessibility. One of the main highlights of my trips to Malta is spending time with my 93-year-old grandma, and I would love to be able to take her out for a walk while we chat about our lives. Alas, it’s pretty much impossible given the state of the pavements and the very close proximity of cars and trucks belching out exhaust.
Lastly, let’s come back to the idyllic island thing one more time. During the past thirty years, there has been way too much indiscriminate development. Many ugly buildings were built and a good part of them were built in areas which were meant to remain in their natural state. The result is an over exploited island where very few green areas remain. As a kid, I used to go out and play soccer with my friends in the fields nearby. This was commonplace wherever you lived in Malta. Nowadays there is no chance that kids would be able to do that.
A Times of Malta showing illustrating over development in Sliema and St. Julian’s.
Everything’s been built up, and as I said, it’s been one huge land rush with developers making big money while they exploited every inch of the island. Of course, this constant development has also brought with it a lot of air and noise pollution, apart from visual eyesores. We are now seeing an increasingly high rate of respiratory diseases, and frequent complaints about noise due to construction. Gozo, the other island, is currently at a very nice balance between nature and man-made buildings, but I’m afraid that the developers will turn their greedy eyes there next.
Over exploitation (umbrella rentals) of one Malta’s iconic spots – Blue Lagoon
How about the famous Smart City? Rather than attracting all the big IT companies and making Malta another silicon valley, as was originally promised, it’s been sitting there mostly empty. Moreover, it seems likely that it will soon be turned into another luxury apartment complex. This land had been given to the Smart City developers on condition that it will be used for ICT purposes, but it seems that the new fashion is to completely disregard such contracts. Real estate agents are already selling apartments on plan even though it is still technically an IT office center and there are absolutely no building plans in place to turn it into an apartment complex. Something similar happened just last year with the former ITS complex in Pembroke. Such free-for-all practices are very common when it comes to building and development.
It’s not only big developers who are the problem though. Many individuals have also constructed illegally while the authorities have turned a blind eye. There is a whole village of illegal properties in Armier bay, and no political party has done anything to remove them over many years.
Armier bay illegal construction.
To make matters worse, much of the remaining countryside is taken up by hunters who occupy whole swaths of land. Yes, in Malta bird hunting is a very popular past time, and incredibly just a few years ago a referendum to ban this barbaric practice in spring failed to get a majority backing. Any walk in the countryside is sure to be accompanied by the sounds of guns as the hunters try their best to blast every bird out of the sky.
A protected bird illegally shot down in Malta.
No wonder you will hardly see any birds in Malta. Illegal hunting is a widespread and serious problem, with poachers specifically targeting raptors (birds of prey) and Herons as well as rare migratory birds such as the Greater Flamingo, Black Stork and Eurasian Spoonbill, among others. Moreover, as I mentioned, hunters occupy a lot of public lands and block off access to hikers, mountain bikers and the regular folk who are out to enjoy a bit of countryside.
Sometimes people will challenge me by posing the question: “If Malta is so bad, why do so many foreigners fall in love with Malta and want to live here?”. I think that’s a very interesting question that merits delving into.
First of all, Malta is a very very unique place, for many reasons. It has a rich and varied history having been under the rule of several nations and cultures. Its size and geography is also unique, as is the fact that Maltese people have their own language. I can definitely see how these exotic qualities can be such a strong attraction for foreigners.
They would have never have experienced such an environment before, especially if they come from a big city/country where things are much more impersonal. Landing in Malta you tend to feel very welcome as people are very friendly and ready to help out, it feels like everybody treats you like family. This leads to foreigners saying hey, this is an awesome place to live in. Back home I’m just a number and nobody cares about anyone, but here everybody is so involved in each other’s lives, this is something special! I totally see why a foreigner would feel like this. I myself sometimes wish I were a foreigner so I could feel that way. If you don’t speak Maltese there is a better chance of insulating yourself from the daily gossip and mannerisms that end up getting on one’s nerves.
Here’s the thing though. While I acknowledge that some foreigners do move to Malta, love it and enjoy living there for many years, many others try the experience and leave after 3-4 years because they just can’t take the way things are done there. It’s one thing living a life of work-beach-party (Malta is the best place for that) and quite another when you decide to settle down, start dealing with the authorities, buy a house and try to get contractors to deliver quality work, etc etc. People who are used to not having to struggle to get simple things done will start to get pissed off at how much time they’re spending dealing with seemingly innocuous tasks, and eventually end up leaving the island. Of course, the passage of time also amplifies the feeling of living in a very small place that acts like an echo chamber and innovation is stifled by the local way of life and culture, and that can also lead to one deciding to leave and live in a more open environment.
I guess I’ve written more than I meant to, the reality is that I really struggle to put my feelings into words, and that is why I don’t frequently share my thoughts on the subject. I prefer to focus on the positive things I have in my life rather than acting all pessimistic. My feelings about Malta at the end of the day are genuine sadness for what was once really an idyllic place but has been destroyed over the years. I would love to say that I hope to one day return, but I really can’t see how the culture can change and the harm due to construction undone.
P.S. While in this post I focused on the negative things about Malta that led me to leave, there is, of course, the flip side. There are many great things about Malta, and I do still think that it is a very good place for digital nomads to spend some time in.
Further Reading
- Bloomberg – Why the EU is furious with Malta – covers problems that I mentioned in the post and other big issues that surfaced in the past year since I’ve written this post.
Having just returned back from our first visit in Malta. We can honestly say how disappointed we were. We went to Buggiba and the rubbish, dog dirt and stuff strewn down the streets is appalling. No wonder the cats are fat. The whole place is a building site. Public transport is good and our hotel was excellent, but idillic views…no no no. We won’t be returning. Sorry Malta.
Having read your article I have to say, what courage it took to express your feelings and what I read into it is pure sadness at what has happened to Malta. I was born in Malta whilst my father was stationed at RAF Luqa and married to a Maltese mother. It was in the late fifties that I spent my formative years and grew up holidaying in Marsascala. It was an absolute idyllic childhood, where I was free, swam in clean water and was so happy. I experienced a return to the UK which was lonely and sad as I knew no one and so missed my Nanna and Nannu, two of the most wonderful people one would ever wish to meet. I still miss them today. However I agree with you completely regarding all that you have expressed, as I have returned to Malta on several occasions and have distant family still there. My heart wants to bleed and I always cry when I see what has happened to such a small land masswhich was so beautiful at one time. No room to even move, huge traffic flows everywhere, dangers of pollution, people who dont seem to have any say in what happens to the environment, increasing cancer rates that is beyond a joke and a nation morally in decline. When there are no rules that are obeyed and money becomes the centre of all life, chaos desecends. I always pray that the young people of Malta rise up against the corruption that is overwhelming in Malta.
Perhaps it would take a giant earthquake to topple all that has just ruined the island because it seems the very beauty of the original malta I knew and loved as a kid has disappeared and eventually so will all the tourists whose expectations are greater than what Malta has to offer. It has been the ruin of its own greed and eventually it will cause a lot of hardship for its people.
Thank you for listening.
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts Jo. Your comments are spot on.
Hi Jean,
Just came back from Malta, spending the New Year’s there. This was my 4th visit and I used to live there back in 2008 for a whole summer. I like Malta, but that country has a lot of issues. The ones you mentioned: terrible traffic, jealousy, rude locals and so on. Unfortunately Malta’s beauty is fading. It is not going towards a good direction. Also you can see the signs of the climate change too: summers are way too hot and winter is getting to the extremes too (too much rainfall; heavy storms).
Customer care is crap down there. Prices are getting higher n higher. Vegetation is poor. There are no clear rules in literally everything: busses come as they come but not really according to schedule. There are 4 star hotels which wouldn’t even get 2 stars in other countries in Europe (like in my country, in Hungary).
I could go on and on but I guess you know what I would be writing about.
Good choice you moved away that tiny rock (sorry). All my Malataese friends left it. Now they live in Canada, in England, in Thailand and in Hungary. I wouldn’t move back for any money. Where do you live btw?
Tibi
Hi Tibor,
I currently live in Spain.
this is vary true, i come Malta one year last, is island very ugly and dirty.
if you come Russia it is vary beaty and in Russia we snot have coruptions!!
Hey, I agree on all of it. To be honest I would add more but ultimately it all resonates with what you said, that is, a dismal quality of life.
I am in Belgium at the moment trying out this country for a couple of months and getting a feel. I also lived in England for three years and its true, one winter season there and you already see and feel how much better it is than Malta.
However, one thing keeps pulling me back to Malta and I would like your opinion about it. Family. Call me over attached but I still cannot detach myself emotionally. I am 30 now and my parents are not exactly the youngest folks anymore and need more help and assistance than before be it driving to the hospital, living alone, not to mention the occasional hospital emergency. So tell me how do you deal with it in in your inner dialogue?
Also, how did you vet the country you are in? I have my criteria but I would like your opinion as I think I could benefit to hear your side, perhaps it will make my search easier.
Regards
David
Hi David,
I’d love to know what you would add to it.
You asked two very important questions. The first is about family. I don’t think it boils down to a question of attachment at all. The way I was brought up I was always encouraged to seek knowledge and create the best life for myself. I think this created the framework for me that enables me to take such decisions. Further down the line my family encouraged me to study abroad, knowing very well that that might lead to me staying abroad after graduating. They also supported me in my decision to become a digital nomad and travel the world while building an online business. Following that, they also welcomed my foreign girlfriend (and now wife) into the family with open arms, so I think the possibility of living abroad was always contemplated by them and accepted, with all the emotional hardship that a parent feels at being separated from their children by geographical distance. I hope that helps explain that it wasn’t a sudden decision for me and neither was it that much of a surprise, I suspect, for my family. In the end, children have to build their own life and be free to go down whatever road presents itself. As a new father myself, I now feel the love and attachment that parents feel towards their children, and I know that it would be tough if in the future my children will decide to live somewhere far from us, but I am fully aware of the possibility, indeed I would say the probability is quite high given the rate of globalization and opportunities we now have. Thankfully, technology can help, and we pretty much chat daily over Whatsapp and have calls on Skype every now and then. On those occasions where we visit the family in Malta or when they come over, the bonding and togetherness is much higher than anything I had experienced when I lived in Malta. This is quite natural, after months apart you tend to make the most of every minute of the week you are together, with lots of great conversations, sharing and affection. I think this has been a great positive aspect so far.
Perhaps I should write a separate post about this as there really is a lot to say about it. You do mention one thing that can be a make or break factor for many people: health. If you have family members who have health issues and obviously need your assistance, I understand that it can be very tough consciously deciding to live somewhere far from them. I haven’t gone through this myself so I don’t have much more to say about it, except that I understand both those who decide to go back and stay with their families to assist, as well as those who decide to live in another country while obviously trying to make arrangements so that their family is also cared for and does not suffer in any way. Ultimately it’s a question of having that inner chat with yourself that you mention and decide what’s best for everyone.
With regard to vetting countries, I made a list of 5/6 essential things that I would look for in my ideal country/location, then proceeded to visit 50+ countries in search of that ideal location 🙂 I know it sounds funny and almost impossible for most people, but that’s what really happened. I think those 5/6 items really developed and solidified in my mind during my twenties, and whenever I visited a new country I treated it as an investigation into whether it meets those criteria or not. Once I found a place that hit the bull’s eye and therefore was so much better than Malta for my wishes, it was an easy choice. Luckily my wife’s ideal features list overlapped heavily with mine further reinforcing the idea of moving there.
Hope that helps David and thanks for asking those two questions.
I agree completely, the sheep mentality in Malta is enough to make you want to throw yourself off il-Barakka. I’m also considering leaving Malta after i think this all through. Right now i’m trying to find a country to move to, any suggestions? I really like the UK but i got no clue if certain benefits we enjoy in Malta are available there such as going to hospitals for free, safety and no pickpocketing.
I know Spain offers free healthcare but again i’m not sure if it’s just for local residents. Something else we hear often in Malta is that abroad they have higher wages than ours but apparently their rent is also ridiculously high. That’s the one thing that worries me the most about the UK because i imagine it’s not cheap to live in…
Well, you are right, but as you said about being a kid playing football in the fields is now impossible. It is possible if you live in a small village like Qrendi(I’m proudly from there and children play outside and espicialy in summer),Bubaqra,Bahrija, Zonqor, most Gozo villages and also places like Mgarr, Zebbiegh, Bidnija,Manikata, Benighsa, parts of Zurrieq and Mqabba and also Siggiewi and Dingli. These places espicialy Qrendi, Bahrija and some Gozo villages are full of 10,11 year old children playing in the streets without any parental supervision needed. I am 12 years old and love life in my village and summer is fun playing football and things. Then places like Hamrun and Marsa are zero at those things.
Hope this helped some people.
Thank you! You put into words very well my feelings at this time living in Gozo with a newborn baby, unable to leave.
I am surrounded by tourists, expats and older Gozitans and my wife is from Serbia, a terrible thought for most Gozitans. I lost my job because i defended myself from a drunk policeman.
Its a great place for many who are here (tourists, older retired expats and older Gozitans) but the small pocket of people trying to make a life here are struggling.
It is at least nice to know there are also rational Maltese people, I only fear, like you, many leave the country rather than affect change.
You forgot to mention the MOSSIES! Enough to drive anyone away.
I don’t understand what you mean by that Lisa, could you explain?
I think she is referring to the Spanish sparrows (which I do not really mind).
Mosquitoes … Mossies …
Ah ok 🙂
I couldn’t agree more, we have just come back from a weekend trip. I always wanted to visit Malta, and my girlfriend made it a birthday gift. I am glad I went, absolutely impressed by its friendly people, history and nature. But mankind has kind of ruined the place, and is really fast making it a bit of a bad place to be. Visitors will not mind too much, but living there… no way ! I hope someone gets into power that fixes it a bit, because it can really be a gem 😄
Where are you living at the moment Jean?
Hi. Thank you so much for your article. This is a disaster! I just bought a ticket to Malta for 3 weeks. I am devastated. Everything I hate is happening there…..and those hunters. I don’t like people and now this. How is it possible that we can’t become a better specie on the planet? I am from South Africa. I also liked Spain. Oh dear I really feel your pain.
I completely agree with these comments. I have just spent 6 weeks in Sliema for the fourth time.The roads,footpaths ,driving and general litter is absolutely atrocious.The amount of construction is also way out of control,the council couldn’t care less and the minister Bonnici is very vague about council responsibilities. Some of the “Footpaths” are made from SLATE, if it rains its slippery if it’s dry with the dust it’s slippery so you can’t win. The ugly buildings(Portamasso) at St Julians are way out of character and more high rises are being erected. The author of this article nails the problems completely. I found the Maltese people fairly rude until you started to speak in Maltese. There are no ques,or general good manners,while there is a lot of history in Malta I don’t consider there to have much of a future.It is a very much third world infrastructure, but as the locals say this is Malta not much you can do.
As a writer, I visited Malta and Gozo earlier this year. Like so many others, I was initially completely charmed by Malta. However, since returning home and continuing my research, I have become very familiar with the assassination a year ago (and lack of investigation or convictions) of Daphne Galizia, as well as the vast areas of corruption on the island.
Forgive me if you or one of your readers addressed this in the many insightful comments but I didn’t see you refer to this other than in regard to the many gambling companies.
Is this something you deliberately decided NOT to tackle for fear of reprisal?
Thank you for sharing your extensive thoughts as a born and bred Maltese:>)
Hi Karen,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. My post was written around a year or so before the incident you refer to. I have chosen not to update my post as it’s not my intention to keep a list of all the things that go wrong in Malta. It was simply meant as a way to clear my head and write about why I left the country myself.
I will say that that incident is a big black dot in Malta’s recent history, and has dealt a severe blow to the island’s international credibility. I can only hope that the case will be solved and the people behind the crime be brought to justice. Unfortunately, as I mentioned in the post, corruption is the order of the day in Malta and I don’t think this tragedy will be enough to change things.
Oh God how I agree with you and it’s only getting worse and worse here! I am looking forward to moving out of here soon and I’m also pretty sure I won’t regret my decision!
All completely spot on. Am living here at the moment and I could not have said it better myself. Am so fed up….
Hi, I think that most of what you wrote is spot on but you did not delve too much in the reason why you actually left.
I am Maltese, have a reasonably good job in Malta but have been planning a move to another European nation that I have not yet been able to finalise. As I am writing this reply I can sincerely say that at 40+ I cannot afford to buy a house, not an apartment or a maisonette, the apartment that we Maltese call differently to overcharge. A house with a tiny garden is what I want. The average reasonable house costs well over €500k whilst renting it requires more than half my monthly salary (I work in IT, not at a gaming company but I still earn over 4k gross per month).
But I digress, the main issue as I see it (I worked in many other countries) is that Maltese people just lack empathy and therefore respect. Rarely if ever, does anyone think, in this forlorn island, how their actions will affect others, as long as they profit from the situation. A quick not very direct example: I have seen, many times, Maltese products, made in Malta, sold considerably cheaper abroad.
Being vegan costs an arm and a leg, and I have had to give up going to restaurants with friends as being an accomplished cook, do not want to pay for salads or pasta with simple red sauce in restaurants. “You are too finicky” is what I am told. No my dears, I care. The animals that you eat have been treated so horribly that I’d rather die of hunger than mistreat them myself. Apart from that, rather than flaunting your “green” new hybrid car, know that your steak is polluting much more than my almond and chickpea burger (apart from being massively unhealthy).
The lack of respect can be seen everywhere, in the large issues as the ones you mentioned (building recklessly, lack of professionalism, etc.) as well as the smaller everyday life issues. As anywhere else in the civilised world, it is against the law to park in front of a garage because you would be blocking access to the same but … “I could not find any parking spot so what should I do…” is the answer I get when I have to park my car over half a km away from my home because nine out of ten times someone has parked in front of my garage. Oh and you know what a police inspector (could have been a superintendent) in charge of traffic said publicly on one of the major radio stations – “It is okay to park in front of a garage as long as it is either for a short period or that you leave your contact details” WHAT!?!?!
At work things get no better – “Eh mela x’naghmel, noqghod naqla l-b-jd nahdem u ta’ fuqi jaqla d-doppju tieghi…” (No way shall I break my b-lls working hard when my boss / manager earns twice what I earn) is the mentality I met in over 20 workplaces that I worked at, both public and private sector.
The only thing that is really excellent, free health services that are all encompassing, is also marred by corruption and clientelism.
I do not like the sun, it hurts my skin and my eyes have a low tolerance for bright light that in Malta is so plentiful. Malta is as dry as bone, but when it rains all the water is left to its own devices to flow to the sea.
So in a nutshell that is why I want to leave. Small things that when added up make a massive monster. I make up excuses for not leaving, valid reasons like my parents’ ill health, etc, but in reality I am just afraid I shall have to return to this land defeated and accept whatever crap deal I get.
I agree on all your points Steve. In Spain I’ve also encountered an excellent free health service as well as very affordable and top notch private health service.
I left because all the points I mentioned summed up together frustrated me in a very deep way and I felt it wasn’t a healthy environment in which I could grow professionally, mentally and physically. Having found other places that suited me much better, it was a no-brainer to leave and settle elsewhere.
Don’t come to Ireland then!
Sadly, I have to say I agree with you. I’ve been visiting Malta and Gozo for almost 30 years and in that time it has changed so much, and not for the better.
I’ve just come back from Gozo and I was struck by how rude and unfriendly people were now. With the influx of people from Africa and the Baltic countries, and money from the EU the attitude of some people seems to have become more insular, rude and selfish.
Malta has definitely lost some of its charm for me but I will go back, just with lower expectations.
I lived in Malta twice in 2011/12 and came back to give it a second chance and stay for 2014/16. I totally agree with you.
At first Malta looked like a perfect place for a young person: working, making good money and having sun, sea and party everyday at disposal. In my first year housing was still kind of affordable, and speculation was just beginning.
After a while during my second stay it became unbearable. The constant disrespect to others embedded in the maltese culture: lack of rules, anything goes mentality, greediness, corruption. The trash on the streets, the difficulty to breath due to pollution, the crowed streets, overflow of tourists, rents increasing and landlords rip off practices, lack of green areas, high prices in almost all products with no alternatives, lack of cultural events. I could go on and on.
And of course, being so small, the island just amplifies these problems. There is no get away at all.
But worst of all is not that Malta had problems. It is that there were no real plans to fix them. No light at the end of the tunnel. And it seems it is still that way.
I cannot be happier were I am living now. I get offers to go back on a regular basis, possibly as a manager or to other higher level roles as my career progresses, but I would rather be unemployed than to go back. Still, there is a shadow hanging around, that one day I may have no option but to go back, as one has to pay bills. I hope that day never comes.
Agreed, would you mind sharing where you are now, just out of curiosity?
Hi Jean, In Spain living close to Gibraltar.
Nice!
True Jean, I left Malta back in the 80’s returned briefly, I wanted to make Malta better Environmentally, reduce waste, spoke about Health and Safety at the workplace. But the Government did not like my experience, because I was to innovative in my ideas. I left and returned back to the USA. I still love Malta, but your view i this article are right on.
Thanks for sharing with all the Expats!
Grazzi Hafna insellimlek!
You forgot a few things (unless they have been already mentioned in the comments – to much to read) such as:
1. People walking on the side of the road instead of using the pavement. The pavement is just a street decoration you see.
2. People who talk and discuss whatever comes to mind when they meet their friends RIGHT IN FRONT OF A DOOR / GANGWAY where people need to pass.
3. People who are ready from an ATM, instead of getting out of the way, so that the next person in line uses the ATM, they would stay there in front of the ATM while the hapless person is waiting for their turn, until this person who is ready from the ATM arranges his stupid money and forget me not notes in his stupid purse and his purse in his pocket.
4. You never dare sing loudly with the choir in church – everyone will look at you as if you are doing something wrong.
5. People cross the road even though they press the button at the pelican light and it is showing not to cross. Then when they cross the traffic lights still would mark red – in vain of course because the idiot would have already crossed.
6. Issue of jaywalking is non existent. If you hit a person and you are a motorist you are at risk of getting a 5 year jail term.
7. The motorist is 99.999999999999% always at fault.
8, Everyone says how important it is to eat healthily. Yet for some unknown reason the food deemed healthy is always the most expensive.
9. I go do the Vehicle Road Test for my car. I prove that my car is road worthy and with a computer printout show that my car does not pollute more than a stipulated limit dictated by my country. However, my license goes up because my car is getting older and hence polluting more. If that is not contradictory I dont know what is.
10. Be at a doctor in a waiting room. A person comes “Who is last?” and everyone,,,he is last… but I was before him….yes and you were before me….and that person was before that one….then an argument ensues. If it is a hospital waiting room – World War III starts.
This is just the tip of the iceberg as they say. It just goes on and gets worse.
What a sad car lobbyist you are. You’re one of those motorists who thinks he owns the road and that they belong to cars. Have you ever been to the most advanced cities in Europe? If so haven’t you noticed that their infrastructure priorotises pedestrians as intended in the traffic hierarchy? You’re blaming pedestrians for not using pavements which are either non-existent, not adequate, or obstructed by cars.
Motorists are at fault? Seriously? We’re the only EU country where the maximum you can get for killing someone on the road is absolutely laughable. Where killing someone while driving drunk, overspeeding and with a suspended licence gets you only a suspended sentence. Road rules are ignored by the majority. Practically all accidents have one common denominator – overspeeding. Once in a while check those decorations with a number on them hanging on the side of the road and compare them to your speedo, you’ll be surprised with the results.
If you try and live with that car centric mentality in any other EU country you wouldn’t survive one week.
I have just returned from first trip to Malta. I was shocked at over development and tacky seaside buildings. Valletta was lovely. I will not be returning.
That is probably the biggest problem, and I believe it will stop many from ever returning as tourists.
MALTA is a SHITHOLE!!
Would be more useful to share why you think that.
No, I don´t think it is a shithole at all. But as a Spaniard, I must admit that it really shocked me first when I started discovering all those things you described in your article… To me it’s a bit like Spain but 30 or 40 years ago. And please, don´t get me wrong. I’m deeply acknowledge to Malta for granting me with the opportunity to have a job here and a comfy living. But it’s totally true when you say one thing is what you see in the travel brochures and a quite different thing is having to deal with these maltese eventualities. Nice article, by the way.
Thanks for sharing Ruben, I am now living in Spain myself and am very grateful about all this country offers, although I find the political situation here particularly depressing and not conducive to the country improving.
Well well . i am not maltese,But i have lived there for many years, and left and back again over a forty year spin .. and wll done you said it all,, Sad but so so true..
Great article! Really enjoyed reading it – from the photos Malta looks like a piece of Paradise, apart from the hot weather, so it’s interesting to hear a different perspective from someone in the know; refreshing. Very sad to hear about the exploitative over-development & building of concrete boxes, which make a greasy profit for a few but depress the hell out’ve the rest of us, it’s like that in my UK city, which is why I intend to move somewhere prettier, in the UK!
Thanks, Malta as an island definitely was like a piece of paradise, but it’s no longer the case. The photos they show on the ads are always the same places like Blue Lagoon, Valletta, Mdina and Gozo. Those places are more or less still unspoilt, but when you live in Malta you don’t spend your time in those places on a daily basis and have to face the real Malta.
I have even heard that Maltese people are losing their apartments because foreigners are buying properties, and raising the price so high, that the Maltese cannot afford paying, and that the foreign companies do not employ any Maltese subjects. Are we being discriminated? You bet!! Like the French and Germans await us to speak their language. If we go to these two countries, you would be forced to speak their language. The should learn our two languages too. We do not have to learn theirs!
I respectfully disagree with these statements. Foreigners should not be discriminated against. Nobody should be discriminated against in fact. We joined the European free market out of our own choice and we operate in a capitalist economy with little government intervention, so prices can and will go up if demand increases, there is no question of discrimination against anyone there. With regards to languages, it’s up to the foreigners to decide whether they should learn Maltese or not, depending on whether it is useful for them or not. I am pretty sure any foreigner who comes to work in Malta is already quite fluent in English, which is one of Malta’s official languages, so there should be no problem there.
Jean thanks for your post, you summarised almost of my thoughts, but I am not Maltase so I can move when I want, but Maltese families will have a big issue whether the economy go up or a crisis arrives.
I would like to add a big issue about rent without any real social rules for the permanent resident.
In my country if you are resident the rent contract is 4 years plus 4 years so the price is blocked for 4 years and after that there is an automatically renew contract with an increase by a percentage decided by the the government. This rule is to help the family otherwise the increase of the rent can be a problem for those families because not all families wage are connected with the market.
It seems that the population is not loving their country.
very well said…so true…..so sad our din l-art helwa ended by this way…iam 58yrs old lived in uk and been in other countries….if i can turn the clock back i would to the same like u did..but with one condition that i stay single while iam living abroad…cause having kids malta is still abit safer then else where???
Thanks for sharing your views Renzo. With regard to raising kids there are plenty of other places that are just as safe and where kids are given a much more holistic education. It’s also worth saying that in Malta there is no real University experience since everybody just attends lectures and goes back home. When I studied at a British university it was a much more holistic experience where students have the opportunity to grow in many ways not just in the subject they are studying. The fact that you’re living on campus plays a huge role in this in my opinion, apart from the activities and groups offered by the university itself.
agree 100% in fact i m going to do exactly the same as you did.
i m just gonna wait abit more cos of my work!
good luck
Hi Jean
I was in Malta last year on a cruise ladder, a full day. In Valletta, really impressive the first impressions of the architecture and the wonderful weather in January.
Your story is authentic, competent and inspiring.
My History with Portugal, my country of origin is very, very, very similar to yours with Malta.
so in the last months I planned to spend a few months in Malta to see if it would be a place for me to live.
About 2 weeks ago I read something on the internet that made me almost change my mind. Now your article has finally convinced me not to go for months, maybe just on vacation.
In Malta as in Portugal as in any Country of the World, I do not think that any foreigner is in a position to really see in depth the true reality of a Country as some natives do!
Portugal is a Country with many problems at various levels, and unfortunately with the EU things have worsened considerably.
the Portuguese government is giving tax exemption for foreigners and several other perks and disfavoring the Natives who are getting poorer and poorer. There are no jobs and the Accommodations are at prices that natives can not afford. finally a disgrace.
On top of that I never appreciated the Portuguese Mentality and now after 30 years living in Switzerland so much less.
I would like to find a country not too far away to spend the winters, and escape the cold and sunless here in Switzerland, but so far I have not found this place.
I wish you a very good time. Best regards from Switzerland.
be blessed
Marie
Thanks Marie. I’ve been to Portugal several times and even to me there were problems that were obvious, probably because many of them are similar to what I found in Malta. The question of attracting foreign entrepreneurs and businesses is a tricky one. I think that if implemented correctly it can be one of the only ways to regenerate a country’s mentality. We all know that it’s almost impossible to create a new mentality just by changing the government or slightly improving education. It’s usually the private sector that can bring about big and quick changes to a country and its workforce.
The problem is that to attract businesses and entrepreneurs you need to offer special incentives, as Portugal is doing. It is only natural that the natives will feel discriminated against. The same exact thing happens in Malta. I don’t think there’s a way around that unfortunately. The natives also have the choice to move to other countries (like Malta) where they themselves would get special tax treatment. The second problem is that you need to be careful what type of entrepreneurs and businesses you will be attracting. For example, in Malta the tax incentives ended up attracting gaming companies, and consequently many highly qualified Maltese people ended up working in that sector just because it paid so much better than the other businesses previously established in Malta. I don’t like the gaming environment and I don’t think there’s much satisfaction in that kind of work, but there are many who disagree with me as well. So if Portugal manages to attract good businesses that employ Portuguese people (but not take advantage of them as cheap labour), then I think the strategy can work very well in changing the way the locals think for the better. Only time will tell, but Lisbon is already becoming a very attractive location in Europe, so perhaps something good is already happening.
How would you rate Switzerland as a place to relocate too?
So true! As retired expats we’ve had enough after 4 years too.The constant noise,dust and dirt ,rubbish dumped everywhere , dogs poo on pavements ,pollution etc.Now,even the sea is ruined from fish slime .Time to go back home .
Oh yes, I think I forgot to mention the fish farming issue in my post.
Slime from fish farms is rapidly destroying perhaps Malta’s only remaining great asset, which is the sea around it. It’s a massive scandal that this goes on uninhibited while the fish farm owners make their millions.
I agree with almost everything you have said. I lived in Spain for 16 years before coming to Malta for work (in the infamous online gaming world) and frankly can’t wait to go back. Like you I find too much traffic, an unhealthy diet, pollution, an unwillingness to accept criticism, expensive rental properties and very poor customer service to name but a few down points. Yes parts are pretty and yes the climate isn’t bad, but overall it is not a place I would advise anyone to settle in.
Thanks for sharing your experience Stuart. Where in Spain where you based before?
Hi Jean,
I spent some time living near Barcelona and then down in the south in Andalucia.
Excellent, both great locations.
Hello to both Jean and Stuart,
I would like to learn more about Spain, I like the honesty that both of you presented about Malta. I am presently doing research about neighboring countries and looking for work (which I imagine is quite difficult for a US Citizen, like myself, to do [with work Visas]. I was wondering if you both could provide similar insight about Spain, as I am looking into the Andalucia region, specifically Malaga and Marabella (however, I am open to any in the southern region).
Thank you again for such truth. It is nice to know the other side of the coin (because, so often, the positives are exaggerated as you two, and many other valid commenters pointed out). I lived in London for nearly two years and COULD NOT WAIT TO LEAVE!!!! It was dreadful!!! I left as soon as I could and lived in Malaga for just over a month. I am fully aware that a month is NOT ample time to learn what I can about a location, so this is why I am asking for further honest information. I want to represent both sides of the coin in my research.
Thank you for consideration and thanks again for your article!
Best,
Nicole
Hi Jean
Where did you choose instead ?
I’ve lived in various countries since I left, and I wouldn’t focus on Malta VS any other particular country or city.
I came from uk to work in malta and try to get a life here but the maltese are ALL arseholes to work for ,the wages are crap they expect you to work a 60 hour week and want you to be desperate.
I thought they were decent people but they have arab mentality ie as much as they can gain for as little cash outlay as possible.
Please heed my words and dont fall into the trap thinking you will be able to be happy working here.
I am going back to uk next year and cant wait.
Malta is ok to retire to if you have a pension but dont even consider a job here they treat people like shit its a primative culture once you see it in reality no health and safety either.
I was considering moving from Scotland to Malta for work in winters. Can you get short term work contracts? I don’t like the cold winters in Scotland, so thought this may be better. Scotlands winter is generally September/ October till end of March/April. Even in summer it’s not really warm but this year was a first was beautiful. I would be looking for Corporate Insurance/Accountancy or Counselling/Support work. This post and comments has been positive for me as its good not to always have a romantised image of a place and have some reality of the issues.
As a visitor from the UK I fully understand your views about your country and it sounds like your also proud but frustrated to be Maltese.
I’m disabled and find it virtually impossible to get around Malta and costing me a small fortune in taxis. I’ve already had several falls and unable to access shops or restaurants because of steps this country is not doing itself any favours.
I’ve complained about the state of our roads but will be grateful now ive seen the state your infrastructure. Good luck in the UK and enjoy our county and hospitality.
Your article is just so true! After 6 months in Malta, I wish I had never have left the UK. I thought that Maltese people were lovely little flowers… Well, I was clearly wrong! Not to mention the insane and disrespectful drivers… awful…!
I am foreign born but my parents were Maltese and I am going through those house issues as we speak so I totally agree with you.
Nail on the head Jean! I don’t know you but I am glad to see you’re enjoying your new location.
Having been told to “piss of home” enough times, I’m doing just that, taking my knowledge, work ethic and tax with me after 2 years.
Take care.
Thanks and best of luck with the move Ian.
What you have said is all true and exactly my sentiments. But I suspect these are “first world problems”….problems affecting those living in developed countries. A refugee from Africa may be happy with his or her lot in Malta
Australia is considered one of the best countries in the world. However living there you would’nt think so for all the complaining by people about all aspects of life and politicians in opposition attacking the government how things could be improved.
So everything should be seen in perspective.
May I suggest you google ‘Why I Left …….”.You would be surprised what countries make the list.
Malta is one of many.
Good luck
I would agree with you Paul on that. There is no doubt that objectively people in Malta are better off than many other countries in the world.
However, it is also true that first world problems can still debilitate people and even destroy them psychologically. I think this is precisely one of the mistakes that people in Malta make. By comparing Malta to African nations there is a feel good factor which leads to overlooking real problems. Each individual human being is also different and more adept at adapting to different circumstances. Thus in my case Malta had many elements that go against my way of thinking and my nature, so I was able to find better conditions elsewhere. For this reason I also think that independently of the problems in Malta, there will still be people for whom Malta is genuinely the best place and thus they have no reason to leave.
I wasn’t going to leave a comment but now I have too.
As I read this, I am looking out my balcony doors and in 1 direction I see the beautiful ocean, in the other I see dried up countryside. I look opposite and I see 6 trees, but 8 cranes surrounded by ugly poorly built apartments ( I live in Salina, looking at Qwara) and litter on the footpath and road.
At this precise moment, the bin men came to empty the communal bin (yes we actually have bins here to put our rubbish in instead of leaving bin bags on the side of the road, unlike the rest of Malta) left the rubbish they dropped on the road, then stopped the truck in the middle of the road so no one can get passed to go to the shop!!! An everyday example of Malta.
I too am a expat looking to leave after been here a year because of all the reasons mentioned. Shit footpaths, if any at all, horrendous roads and even worse drivers, construction on every street leaving behind an ugly mess that never gets cleaned up.
I love the weather and the fact I get paid better here than I did in the UK (igaming), but that’s about it.
Yes traffic is shit in every city in the world, but at least in most the roads are well maintained (not in Malta).
There are horrible, ignorant, lazy people all over the world, but the experiance of this is highlighted far more in Malta.
By the way my landlords here have been good, far better than my last one in the UK who stole £3000 from my house) and I have managed to find nice properties for 750pm in both Salina and Naxxar, so it can be done, but makes it a nightmare to get to work as most decent paid jobs are in Sliema area.
Igaming is a big part of the reason why Malta is becoming more expensive, but is not the reason for the ignorant, lazy people. Unfortunately that is because of the general Maltese mentality. (But the whole world has horrible and nice people and I have met really nice Maltese people too and most of which want to leave, which says it all).
Malta could really be a paradise but sadly is not and will not be.
It is a dry, hummid concrete jungle.
Time for the foreigner to fuck off.
i Totally feel you, im 15 Years Old and i hate this Country.. and im Happy that im Talking with you cause you Understand me and not Be Ignorant and Criticize me, That’s only what they do when i talk with Someone who’s Maltese.. ”Malta is the Greatest!” or.. ”Hahaha” just Laughs at me.. or say im an Idiot or Stupid or whatever, but i will Leave and Stay on my Word, and if that won’t happen, Either Try to live it out or Welp.. i could just End it, Honestly i hate this Country and im not Proud at all that i have Maltese Blood.. im Proud that i have some British Blood more then anything.. im Living in Poverty with my Family who doesn’t Help me at all Mentally, the Kids or Teens here are so Bad.. Oh my God.. don’t even Ask.. all of my Real Friends are Foreigners and from Online, and Thanks to them i am Were i am now, Still Living, i just Need to say One Thing.. Grow up Maltese People, stop being Ignorant, Closed-Minded and Selfish and ect and Start Growing Up, the Goverment is already Bad, What’s Next? just 3 more Years until il Leave, also Where would you Suggest me to go live? in Europe! i was Thinking Between Germany and the UK but i don’t know
Hi Kenneth, you’ve got many years ahead of you so right now I would suggest that you study and think about what you want to do abroad. No place is perfect and the most important thing is to be well prepared for life and work and then go pursue your dreams. It’s impossible for me to suggest a country but I do suggest that you travel and find the place that feels right in your heart. Best of luck Kenneth, I’m sure you have a great future wherever you decide to settle.
Hello Jean,
I read your article and I totally agree with what you have wrote. Recently I went with a friend who owns a glider and we flown around Malta. I was amazed at the horrible state of this island turned to. The amount of tower cranes was unbelievable and the amount of cars from above where just like ants running around searching for food. Another point I would like to mention is the attitude of the people changed a lot for the worst. My job reflects meeting with different people and in these 22 years I saw a big change in the way how they communicate and talk. Nowadays people are more aggressive and nervous. The way of life is very hectic and very fast and not to mention that the amount of people suffering from depression increased drastically infact I am one of those that suffer from depression and in this environment that this country turned to it will not help me at all. In the near future I am planning to move abroad but my plans are in Australia or in a Asian country.
Regards
Tony
Hi Tony, what you speak of are real, negative changes that have unfortunately happened during the past 20 years. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi jean…i will say nothing except that in your words I feel mtself speaking and my emotions…
Hi Jean
I love reading your article! You are spot on.
But what advice can you give on Alicante and particular regions in that area?
I appreciate you live in Barcelona but I would love to hear your opinion.
Hi Jason,
I think that Alicante is a very nice town with a beautiful promenade, but it’s too touristy for my likes in the summer. Kind of what you get in St.
Julian’s in Malta. I do like Valencia a lot though, and friends tell me that Javea is also a hotspot for expats.
Jean, I am 60 years old and I was born in St. Julian. You are much younger than I am so you don’t remember this sleepy small fishing village and the peace that reigned supreme way back in the 50s when I was born.
The area then was basically a place where most of the residents had their holiday houses which they visited every summer. The house where I was born and lived for 30 years was two houses down from Il Peppino Restaurant, bang inthe middle of St. George’s Road overlooking Spinola Bay. I remember as a child and a young by my dad and the rest of the family eating dinner on the front porch al fresco as the light cool evening sea breeze tickled my hair as I was sitting on a deckchair awaiting dinner to be served.
But as you rightly said this all came to an end after the rape of Sliema when those magnificent houses were torn down to be replaced by the current jungle of concrete that makes me cringe every time I pass by and look at them. Those houses which should have been protected to form part of our national heritage and their destruction was the beginning of the building development mania that saw the total obliteration of my beloved fishing village. Then this destruction continued to spread relentlessly throughout the rest of the island and despite that the area where I live in Old Railway Road used to be called a villa area in Balzan, and all sales of properties there carried with them a letter saying that no high-rise building or apartments could be built there, today, I am witnessing the rape of Balzan as developers are relentlessly demolishing all the villas there and replacing with buildings that not only are an eye-sore and an insult to the beautiful villas that remain still standing, but that cost almost half a million Euros.
These apartment are not more than match-box sized, literally doll houses that you will likely bump your head and wouldn’t be able to stand up straight if you are over 6 feet tall and if you open your arms you will hit the width of the walls on both sides. They are nothing more than claustrophobic concrete boxes that I wouldn’t even live in if they were being offered for free. A ground floor apartment is being advertised for Euros 450,000! The point is these apartments are selling like hot cakes and this is when I have to question the IQ of the Maltese.
A very important point you made that these exorbitant prices are nothing but a bubble that will soon burst and when that happens there will be severe repercussions for people who have invested millions in properties that will not even be worth a quarter of the price they paid for. Actually property agents are predicting that it will be the few surviving houses of characters, villas, bungalows and terraced houses that will eventually be in demand, but because so few would be available their prices would double and even triple!
Like you at a very young age, I had booked a one way ticket to the UK. My sister was already living there and since my dream was to become a journalist and a writer, when in Malta neither of these fields were considered a profession in the 70s, I thought I would stand a better chance to succeed by living in England. But I was the youngest of two children and when my father had a heart attack, despite my parents never asked me to return, I did. I don’t regret it but now they are both deceased and I have no family left here. I survived cancer and a stroke in 2004 and my health is no longer what it used to be. So, yes I might as well say it: I missed the bus! Too late now to move away from as a journalist in the 70s and 80s with The Times of Malta I went through a real tough roller coaster ride I am not likely to forget.
To all young people, my advice is – if you are unhappy like Jean and myself LEAVE NOW! Don’t drag your feet. This country’s future is very bleak and politics is at the route of all the mess we are now in. Corruption is rife, politicians are all mercenaries and there isn’t much of a choice between the two main parties. Building developers sponsor the election campaigns of these same politicians and hence why we are seeing the type of scenery Jean showed us in that photo taken by a staff photographer of The Times of Malta.
If you want your children to grow in a healthy environment take the opportunity NOW when you are still young, full of energy and have no ties. Seek your future elsewhere. I a few years when thank God I won’t be here, this small island will collapse in total anarchy and no one and nothing will be safe any more.
I have always hoped that among the money who contest the elections at some point a statesman, typical of the old school would appear, grab Malta by the scruff of the neck and save it from the self-destructive path that it seems to have chosen. But when money takes the place of God, values and principles, any hope of such a miracle is likely to remain a very far fetched dream.
Jean, this article is worthy to be published in a newspaper, but I would be extremely surprised if any of the current papers would actually take up the offer for obvious reasons.
I wish you all the very best on your journey and thank you most heartily for your contribution towards a clear and truthful assessment of our beloved island at a time when most people have dug their heads in the ground purposely so as not to see what’s going on around them.
Thanks for sharing your experience Dr Fenech, the childhood memories you have are indeed idyllic. Unfortunately, today’s kids have been robbed of having those kinds of experiences anywhere on the island.
With regard to publishing in newspapers, I had in fact been contacted by a few news outlets to republish the article, but I turned them all down. I write on my blog as a way of making sense of my thoughts and sometimes as a means of therapy to the negative feelings that these situations and experiences conjure. Therefore it wasn’t my intention for this to be a very public and popular article. I’m happy others found solace in my words and have found my description of things helpful, but I don’t have any wish to be on Maltese media in any shape or form.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
Hi Jean, I read your post and the described situations can be applied to Mallorca (the place where I am from) or Ibiza as well, specially the point about idiots that its harder to avoid them since its a small place, the lack of decent public transport, and sky high rental prices.
Living here has also a downside that has not been posted in your blog: we have too many tourists and seems they have more rights and treated much better than local people, if in any other place they behave or display the attitude they do here (specially germans), they would be right punched in their faces. for instance locals are fined with 400 euros if they bring their dogs to the beach, but tourists we receive, get drunk, act as if everything was theirs, they park where they want with the rental cars without respecting signals and authorities do NOTHING at all.
Also a paradise on Earth as Malta, but you have to be rich, ,german or both things, for middle class locals there are very few options left.
Greetings from Mallorca and enjoyed reading your post
Hi Dave, I spent half a year in Mallorca; it’s a lovely island and I have many happy memories, however, I can relate to the problems you mentioned. It is in many ways similar to Malta, with the main difference being that the Germans and British seem to be the ones who are running the place rather than the locals. My feeling there was that the locals at some point realized that they could make a lot of money from tourism, but ended up selling their souls in the process, and now it’s too late to turn back time.
A much too large proportion of the world is in the thrall of Lucifer, due to indoctrination from a very young age.
How much money is enough? To some people it is never enough and they don’t mind committing atrocious crimes to amass personal wealth, and screw the consequences.
It must be tough being born into a paradise only to see it being turned to crap by greedy ‘go-getters’ who have local governance in their pockets.
I was lucky enough to be born into a craphole, which, if anything, seems to be marginally improving, apart from the recent flood of mass immigration by societally incompatible people from the war torn MENA region, and the impossibly huge national debt, which I have neither contributed to, nor paid any interest on.
People need to find God again… and those who choose to work against him must be brought to book…. (and hung! :))
Hi Jean,
I currently live in Sliema and I have to say I agree with the points you made. I hate criticising Malta as my grandma was Maltese so coming here was like re-connecting with my grandma and my roots. But I have to be honest and I know Malta isn’t what it used to be. Even in 4 years since the last time I was here, it seemed to have become over-crowded, over-populated and lost a lot of its charm.
As another Maltese person told me, the island wasn’t meant to be inhabited by so many people and it seems like a lot of Maltese are leaving. It’s so sad knowing a lot of beautiful old buildings have been destroyed to make way for ugly apartment buildings (especially on Tower Road, Sliema). I don’t think the size of the island would be such a problem if there were less people, less apartment buildings, more greenery and less urbanisation.
Perhaps if/when this economic bubbles bursts, it will be good for Malta in the long-term.
Agreed with your thoughts Mark, thanks for sharing.
On Point 100% Im planning on selling my house and retire in Sicily. I know Sicily has Its downfalls aswell but hey I get to live in A huge piece of Land in A Villa surrounded By cliffs and not having to work because of rental investments being so damn cheap in Taormina and turn out A Huge Profit. I feel your every Word you wrote and trust me A lot of people I know Are moving oit of the Country because its become so hectic to live here and A small errand ends up taking hours. You Mentioned traffic at Night is Slow but now its Traffic till 11pm near enough everyday at least where I live. Many People are moving out because the Mentailty thats been implimented in the Minds of people here. Malta was in my Opinion the Best place in the world and the safest. Well that changed and the lost nearly all its Culture of doing Stuff. It might not be A Silicone Valley but It certainly thinks like One. Yes A lot of Maltese are moving Out despite the locals say its not true I know of 6 couples that moves out of the country thats 12 people and. I Know many more thats are going to. The problem here is If you Complain about something they just stick the old Ara ma tahsibx li….. Eeeee… Billi barra ikbar… That kills me every time. Truth is people who bought properties on the Cheap side 5 years ago are selling for huge profits and retiring in Places where Rental Investments are Cheap and turn high profits like Portugal, Sicily and the Lot and basically retire at A young Age….. Sorry for the Long Post 😁 And Good Luck
Agreed and thanks, investing in Sicily is interesting, I will look into it. Portugal is definitely a hot market and I have written a guide on how to invest in Portuguese real estate on this very blog.
YOU FORGOT TO add people vet you from top to bottom in eg .what car u drive to which part of the rock u live and even what one is wearing and not only that but speak it out .Many of these people are below you but still want to point things out.In d uk mostly no one cares who you are ,Who u know and what you were.On d other hand Malta has changed for the good in many categories,But after 7years back here I still feel the need to escape
I agree 100% jean and more,i have lived here for 20 years now coming from uk,my parents retired here,my mother being half maltese that was the connection with malta……..after 2 years i felt oh! my goddess what have i done,but got stuck,5 years ago i had enough and was about to leave when my father got cancer…..
Ok…nowhere is perfect but Everything you mentioned and more you come across every day here…the list just keeps growing..rubbish in the streets and countryside,two faced attitudes etc etc, when i go running in what little countryside there is near my house,you would not believe the rubbish and what people dump………i have heard some say malta is the jewel in the med,somehow i think that is a big myth or referring to a distant memory of what malta may have been…..maybe a jewel for everything that is chaos and wrong.
I wish you all the best jean and hope one day i will be able to write “Why i left Malta”
Thanks Jason and good luck!
Thanks for this article, Jean.
I’ve been learning how to accept the whole situation and what happened with Malta in the past decade because I thought, I was the only one thinking this way.
Now, when I have found your post and other people’s comments, I am back to square one. :))
That’s funny Lucie but also a bit sad because I know many people feel like that. It’s not right to just accept the situation as if it couldn’t be any different.
couldnt agree more with all you said, except the part about locals treating foreigners like family (that’s what Maltese like to say about themselves – we’re kind hearted etc b/s …I was a foreigner in Malta, and was never treated like family). I have been moving places all my life, and came to malta without properly researching the place, thinking “every place has its pros & cons”, no need to research. On the very first day I arrived, on my way from the airport, I realized something was off. The next day, I went to my office for the very first time, and thought I was in a giant car park. I felt suffocated with no way to escape. The worst part for me was I used to go to Sicily every weekend to escape the place, and each sunday evening, when I came back, having breathed fresh air in Sicily, I would smell the mixture of fumes, dust, & greasy food pervasive in all urban areas in Malta, it was making me nauseous to sickness. Over the next 3 years, there is not a single thing I have come to like about Malta. And the fact the only person I found sane in the place was then murdered to international headlines did not improve my perception. Needless to say, I have now left the country, and am advising anyone who consider to go : only if you re forced to, only for 2 days in a row max, and only for the experience of a throwback to the 70s.
A very good article Jean and I agree –
I have been visiting Malta on and off for 40 years and have seen changes that, to my mind are destroying the island and its culture. In a recent article in the Malta Times it asked “Were the Maltese losing their identity”? In all honesty, I think so..The island is over developed now but building still goes on unabated with the rule of 4 + 1 stories (Height) being widely ignored. There are some 250,000 vehicles on the island and traffic jams are now the norm. There are visiting cruise ships in Grand Harbour that pump out high levels of toxins which when combined with vehicular exhausts result in very poor air quality and increasing respiratory illnesses. For many years I harboured the desire to live in Malta but after this last visit, No. There was litter everywhere, it’s dirty and unappealing, rents are a rip off with rises of 25% per year. That’s greed!! There are far better properties and opportunities for less in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus etc. ..
Hate to be negative but I’ve had my last trip to Malta….
Regards to you Jean
Hi Jean I found your story very interesting ,my husband and myself bought a property in qawra 15 years ago and spend approx 4 months every year there at different times of the year, ok we go mainly for the weather,but a bonus is no community tax to pay( as yet) and we have enjoyed our time there. However I totally agree with nearly all your comments mepa is a disgrace , the only way to improve buggibba is to bulldoze the whole lot down and start again. The energy company “arms” operate a two tier system on tariffs . Foreigners like ourselves paying a higher price per unit ,I’m not aware of any other country operating a system like this. Malta have received a substantial amount of EU funding over the years and still as you say the pavements are appalling. The list really goes on!!! Originally we intended spending a lot of time there in the winter months but it’s not materialised due to being just too cold indoors. (It’s warmer outside) no Malta has changed over the years it’s all about greed now , the property prices have rocketed( which is great for us ) so not complaining about that ,but the downsize is the rent increases which have virtually doubled in the last two years ,forcing tenants to take on extra work or move out, where Jean will it all end? As you say the bubble is expanding, I hope you are enjoying life where ever you may be kind regards doris
Jean, your blog is bang on and I applaud you for sharing. The struggles continue and I believe will always be there until the Maltese people embrace change and move away from the small island mentality. Hawaii was successful and is a world class destination that once you go there, you do not want to leave. That is not because of the climate, topography or government. It is because of the people and their love for the island which they do not mind sharing and want all to enjoy it. I have been in Malta for almost two years now after spending my life in Canada and see the struggles but have time to put towards seeing change happen. Pray for this change to happen. Take care
Jean,
I totally agree with all that you said in your article.
I was living in Ireland for 10 years and due to unforeseen circumstances I had to move back to Malta earlier this year. The frustration I feel about moving back here is unbelievable. Apart from all the points you mentioned here the internet service is a rip off. I don’t use my internet all day but still in a week my measley
1GB that comes with the monthly plan got swallowed up.
I used to get 15GB for just a couple of Euros more in Ireland.
I am hoping that when my son is older (as he is only 7 now) I will be able to move back there, but for the time being I have to grin and bear it 😬
Well said Jean… All you said is so true.. As i felt absolutely the same… Left long ago and never wish to return… Sad but true…
I am a retired Banker worked and lived over 40years in Germany (Frankfurt am Main), where presently, I am now also enjoying my retirement. I have never had any regrets in leaving Malta. A long, long time ago I had the idea, that on retirement, I would buy an apartment and return to Malta. Later, I changed my plans, and was of the opinion that a summer holiday long-let would do just as well. As time went by, it was sufficient for me to spend 2 or 3 weeks in Malta, occasionally, and return home. I prefer travelling to other countries like France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and spending my time there. And why you might ask.
In my opinion, Malta is in a process of moral degradation. way back it started gradually in small ripples, but through decades it is turning to a tsunami. Corruption, assassinations, money laundering, Bank scandals, other scandals an almost non-existent rule of law, and let’s not forget racism, no regard to the environment whatsoever and, and, and. Choosing a government, from the 2 major political parties is like having a choice between the Pest or Cholera. And last, somehow, you cannot have a regular normal discussion with grown- up persons, whatever the theme is. Forget it, it´s either, yes but you don´t live here, you have no idea, you don´t understand or like oh, you don´t like Malta.
So be it, the people of Malta, it seems, have chosen their future course. And I will go mine.
So true I feel the same about malta. I love malta but I dont think I can make it to stay here any longer. I have a life and I need to go to a healthier environment and nature.
I loved your piece on Malta. I myself I am a native islander from Mallorca and could underwrite almost everything you said of your experience in Malta and make it mine relating it to Mallorca. The roads are better in Mallorca but everything else you describe sounds very familiar.
That’s interesting Francesc. I actually left Malta to go live in Mallorca for a while, although I don’t live there anymore. I have good memories of the island, and the roads are certainly much better than Malta. I don’t think you have problems with hunting either. On the other hand I did have the feeling of the island selling its soul to the British and the Germans.
Having just returned to Australia after a short visit to Malta I have to agree wholeheartedly with this article.
What a shame it was to witness and experience exactly what this article describes. It certainly left me with sadness as it was not the Malta I expected to see. It used to be ” nice place to visit but not live there” now I don’t think I want to visit again.
I have been in Malta for a few days as a tourist to see almost all of it (no judicial experience yet) is sadly true.
The attitue is not “Hakuna matata” but rather “I don’t care”.
Young men look like a members of a cloned flock – how young wemen see any difference?
What nature? There is no nature. Architecture is like in bombed Syria.
how true -i visited twice from the UK and both times was shocked at the amount of ugly concrete buildings, poor roads, waste dumped everywhere and dirty beaches. There was almost nowhere to walk without being on a busy road. It was difficult to find any natural habitation /village and anywhere that served ‘natural’ food. This was in 2014.
Interesting post. Been living in Malta for 9 months now, with my Maltese partner and new born baby. I think it’s human nature to moan about the place you grew up in with your fellow countrymen, whilst at the same time defending or promoting it to others. Ones view is always coloured in this way. I have to agree with all of your comments, but for me the positives here in Malta, for the time being outweigh the negatives. I am lucky enough to have my business in the UK and benefit from the low taxes, which makes a huge difference. If I were to come to Malta, in the hope of finding work and living the dream I wouldn’t of lasted 5 minutes. Without doubt the most annoying thing I’ve found is a total lack of manners compared with the UK. A queue is really not that difficult – I’m still amazed that if you pull over to allow an oncoming car through the driver NEVER puts even a pinky up to say thank you. But the. The Brits are too far the other way, constantly apologising for their own shadow. Hopefully my son will be somewhere in the middle!
I read your post with interest, I left scotland7 years ago to live here,and I agree with every thing that you have said.when someone posted about how beautiful Malta was,I replied,you didn’t mention the const noise,building work rubbish in the streets,and screaming motor cycles on a Sunday on the coast road and other places,all I got was go back to your Scotland, I like motorcycles, oh and also all the rubbish thrown on the beaches.
Hi Jean , I commented on your blog in September 2017. Things have turned out worse for me in the time that has passed. I have had job opportunities closed due to a lack of familiality with government appointees and unfortunately over the last months some of my friends from university have left for a better life in the eu and beyond. It seems like I am destined to follow in their footsteps. The deterioration of civic life and the normalities of society in Malta are mainly due to people like you and me that are just packing up and leaving. There are other issues, but I think after we got into the EU, so many good people left that the country ended up permeated with feral youth and a demography of deliquents. If all the people I deal with lack integrity my place is not here. The best people in Malta at the moment by and large are not Malta-born…and we have to thank the lackluster economy of Italy for them.
I just came across your article. It is good to know that I am not alone in this feeling of helplessness, as I see my country’s deterioration. Thankfully, two of my 3 children had the good sense of moving abroad. Only my advanced age stops me from following suit.
You are exactly correct, I feel the same. I moved here from the United states only because I had too. My husband is Maltese but has been gone for most of his life and gets even more frustrated than I do. We have been here nine years now and still feel the same although since we are retired we do not have to deal with all of the idiocy on a daily basis. Since we have grown children still living in the US and they have only vacationed here they are interested in retiring here also. I miss them terribly but don’t think they would be happy here but they are still young enough to move back if they wish. On the other hand my husband thinks that life is much better for them here. I disagree in most cases. I know that I would miss going out to the beaches almost daily but that is about it. The lack of central heating and cooling thru ought the house is the killer for me. Other than that I can take it. I don’t really communicate with the Maltese, have tried but few people I know I have nothing in common with them, maybe it’s me, I don’t know. If I had to work here I know I would go out of my mind, there is virtually no customer service, it amazes me when the island depends so much on that because of the tourism. Anyway, I hope you are happy wherever you are. Your article hit home with me and I’m not Maltese.
Very interesting article. From my expirience I think that if you believe that you can’t or will not leave Malta then you may not actually see how bad it is, especially if you always find the positive in life/things. That may be why people can’t see the ever increasing negatives here. Once you think that you can actually leave and have a better life elsewhere it all changes.
One crucial thing which wasnt mentioned is the ever increasing prices of property. Here you dont get value for money in property, and worst is that there s an ever increasing bubble environment, and if something goes wrong such as for example tax harmonisation in the EU which seems to be looming around us then it may result into disaster, especially for those who bought property now. Further to this, I dont see it as reasonable to spend Eur300k for an apartment with people living under and on top of you…with less money you can get a house that would be considered a Villa in Maltese standards in some other countries in the EU, which would equal an above Eur1Mil price here. Again on property, me and my GF have an above average salary but still can’t afford a house here, salaries are remaining low when compared to the ever increasing costs of living. We re planning the move in a couple of years, hopefully we wont be faced with most of the common issues that are found here…
I otherwise agree with most points mentioned, though to say that illegal hunting was a factor you considered is far fetched, I dont know when you left but nowadays illegal hunting became more of an inevident exception, up to 10 years ago it was different..
Agreed on the points you mention. With regard to hunting, everyone has their own reasons for not liking or leaving a place, and it’s not up to anyone else to say what is a real factor or not. As a person who works flexible hours and loves mountain biking, I can assure you that it is very easy to come across illegal hunting if you venture into the countryside on any given morning, when most people are working. The fact that most people are in their office and so don’t see the illegal hunting doesn’t mean it’s gone away.
I’d also say that hunting in general is very detrimental for Malta. Even if it’s legal hunting in season, there is still the problem of having parts of the countryside cordoned off illegally by hunters, making it a problem for ramblers, mountain bikers or just families out to enjoy the countryside. I don’t think anyone can feel really relaxed walking in the countryside with gunshots sounding from all directions, whether it’s legal or not.
Well, your point which is everyone has thier own reasons and factors is the most valid. I don’t know how long you ve been away from Malta but I assure you that the situation changed, of course you still find rotten apples who dont care about the law. With regards to widespread gunshots, it happens only on a few days in October, and you cant pretent to enter private property either. Then again, hunting is practised world wide and in much better conditions then in Malta as here you barely get anything anyways. It all goes down to how over populated this small island is. One of the factors which pushed you away from here is one of the factors which is attracting me elsewhere, and that is, to practise hunting properly. Although for me, that s more like a perk rather then a main factor.
I would respectfully disagree on this point. I still visit Malta and I haven’t been away that long anyway, apart from that I have friends and family so I’m not disconnected from the situation. In my opinion hunting and trapping are still a big issue and are compounded by Malta’s small size and a significant bad actors who break the law year after year. For the benefit of anyone else who might be reading this, you can take a look at Birdlife’s news section for examples of recent episodes.
Well everyone has thier opinion, but rather than only following those who s interest lies in pushing and exaggerating any illegal case to tarnish everyone s name for thier personal extremist propaganda, I suggest you can try follow like someone Natalino Fenech, which in my opinion is of the best Malta best ornithologists which has written several books about the situation in Malta and its progress. His main page is “The Birds of Malta – Public Group” on FB. There you might be able to appreciate the change in mentality thats happening, of course you ll always find close minded people running around, but these weed themselfs out.
I’m not familiar with Natalino Fenech’s work so I can’t comment on that. I do hope that it is true that things are improving. At the end of the day, it’s not about statistics but about actually going out into the countryside and experiencing reality. Until that experience improves, I stand by my thoughts that illegal hunting and cordoning off of public land is still an issue in Malta.
I live in San Francisco, and it looks like a lot of the Cryptocurrency tech. companies are moving to Malta, which will most likely turn it into something similar to SF (except SF has high crime, high homelessness, high taxation, high prices – especially on housing, terrible roads, etc..). Malta is around 2.5 times bigger than SF yet has half the amount of people (so more room in Malta than SF), you’re a tax haven (unlike SF) and you guys have similar weather. I was thinking I could get a home there for cheap and when prices go up, sell it. I’d like to live there for awhile too, but after reading this, I’m not sure I could live there forever. Any recommendations on which particular city is the BEST to live in for a foreigner?
Malta- the island without the ‘island life’ pace.
Lived away from Malta for just under 9 years, spending time in Scotland, Canada and England.
Yes, we do have the sunshine and the sea over here, but there is no way this is a relaxing place to be.
Agreed.
Agreed
I am on holiday here for first time. I have read your article. Couldn’t agree more with the bits relevant to me. It’s like holidaying in a building site. Terrible island. Wish I had done my homework. Can’t wait to go home, never to return. What a shame! Makes me upset to be part of the human race spoiling things. At best do a 3-4 day trip to take in valetta and mdina. Thars it. Everywhere else is spoilt.
Regards peter
Sad but true, so check out Gozo too apart from Mdina and Valletta.
This is one of the most nuanced and best described “Why I left Malta” articles I’ve read and you pin pointed exactly every aspect of what I found infuriatingly troublesome that made me leave the island after 3 years.
One thing I can add as a foreigner living there is, if you dare to hint any of the above in even the most apologetic tone, you will get slammed with a “Go back to your own country” and “if we are so bad, why do you live here then”. Frustrating.
Thing that scared me the most however was and always will be the corruption. Every chance people had, they would try and pull one on you and there ain’t nothing you can do about it especially as a foreigner as no judge or public tribunal would ever rule in your favour, so all you can do is bend over and ask how far up does the bat goes this time around
Well done on the article
Thanks for sharing your experience. As many other commenters shared, the “go back to your own country” attitude exists, although many Maltese deny it. The sad thing is that if they were more open to accepting criticism and different views, Malta would be a much different place.
Of course, the people are a reflection of the top brass and vice versa, and it’s hard to see sensible progress when a country is fueled by corruption.