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You are here: Home / Expats / 6 Malta Expat blogs to watch

6 Malta Expat blogs to watch

by Liz Ayling
February 16, 2011September 21, 2016Filed under:
  • Expats
Expats: they land here for all sorts of reasons, but their blogs unite them

Expats: they land here for all sorts of reason, but their blogs have a lot in common

Malta is awash with expats these days. Brits may dominate but there are large communities of other nationalities – Swedes being a prime example. Judging by the enquiries we get, a good portion of our site visitors are Malta expats or wannabe expats to the islands. From time to time, we cater to their issues in particular through our expat insight articles on topics ranging from moving with family to car imports and quality of life.

When you drill down the expat blogs that crop up in searches, you find a lot abandonned; the blogger moved countries; had a baby; got absorbed so much in local life that the expat urge to critique Malta evapourated. All reasons we’ve come across for leaving blogging behind. Most expat blogs focus on the problems encountered with sorting out the move, job, school, finding friends and so on. Expat blogs tend to fit a genre and fizzle out when the author has crossed the Rubicon or left.

Here, we’ve found some of the most prolific and long-time Malta expat bloggers. These six represent those who stick at it, for a variety of reasons, and have gone beyond writing a diary for folks back home. All are women. We discovered that men tend to be more in evidence on expat forums. Nearly all our bloggers have jobs and some work manic hours juggling work, family and other business interests as well. All the more credit to them for finding time to blog. Our listing is in no particular order.

Joe & Harry Abroad
Joe & Harry is about a young Brit couple and their time in Malta over the past year or so. A dose of trials and tribulations. In igaming, or one half of the duo is still. A typical latest post starts with a note about culture shock: ‘…even though I only moved within Europe I still experienced this [culture shock] to a degree. I didn’t think Malta would be so different..’. What makes this blog stand out is the fluid writing and a tone of voice that’s fun but dishes out useful info. It’s grounded in its view about the place.

Malta 4 Me – living the dream one day at a time
American Wendie Vandenbuesque on hubby and moving from Minnesota to Malta. The blog charts the roller coaster ride of the couple after they put a pin in the map, found Malta and washed up here. Wendie is an aspiring author and the blog is background material for her book. It’s been far from a dream (take the whole visa issue for a start!), and certainly all about one day at a time. Well written, a nice change from Brit-centric views, and includes insights and advice on the language conundrum, bureaucracy and the foibles of Maltese life.

Reflections
The blog title says it all – this nearly 30-year-old Canadian gal (married to a Maltese) has no set theme for her diary-style blog, which started in mid 2009, but it is none the less endearing reading for it. The author is into crafts and will need her practical skills big time as we follow her in renovating an old town house. Her experiences are a lesson to those who imagine a house of character bliss! Here’s an excerpt:” I couldn’t wrap my head around how a house could be left in this condition,…did people really live here like this? …we have A LOT of work to do and where do we even start?! Honestly I went home that night disheartened, a little upset and stressed out.”

An American in Malta
Ilene crops up a lot if you’re into the blogosphere in Malta. She moved here in 2008 citing reasons to leave the USA as: exorbitant healthcare and the need for neutral place to call home with European partner. She also felt the call of Mediterranean blood somewhere down her family line. Like Wendie, she’s not found it plain sailing but she’s carved her niche, is leaving her mark and is damned dogged about making life start at 55 somewhere new, with all that visa and job issues throw at her. A medley of info, tips, personal ups and downs.

Capers & Olives
This is a quiet, unassuming blog with some wonderful photography and personal, heartfelt text. It belongs to Juniper, a 30-something mum, an American married to a Maltese. It contains vignettes of Maltese family life; affectionate and gentle. “The ponderings and small adventures of a 30 something mum, the Mr. and their troublesome trio, readjusting to life in Malta.” Juniper posts almost daily which is amazing as she works full time, has a busy crafts business, and copes with three young kids as well as studying. A lesson in life is what you make it wherever you happen to be. A different tone I feel to most expat blogs – no gripes here!

Sabine in Gozo (d. 1st July, 2011):
We’ve kept this entry on Sabine in her memory and because she was such as pioneer and dedicated blogger; a lone voice in Gozo when she started out.  Sabine passed away on 1st July, 2011.  Here’s what we wrote about her when we crafted this post. We kept it in the present tense:

“Sabine Cassar-Alpert has been here well over 20 years, living in Gozo. She is a pioneer blogger in Malta, having started out in 2006. In fact, her personal blogging came to the notice of her employer and she managed to re-engineer her job at the five-star hotel & resort in Gozo where she was, until recently, e-commerce and marketing manager. Sabine has a wealth of info and stunning photos on her 6 yr-old blog and is a well known figure on the islands. Cultured and very knowledgeable on all things Gozo.”

Photo: Gege Gatt

Tagged:
  • bloggers
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Next Post Malta through the lens: the Richard Ellis photographic archive

About Liz Ayling

Liz Ayling is a serial blogger, feature writer and self-taught geek who has been an expat in Malta for over 20 years. She founded destination site Malta InsideOut in 2009. You'll find her at at her screen in an old village farmhouse which she shares with her Maltese husband, teenage son and two cats. Liz considers herself an insider nowadays but never ceases to be surprised by all that Malta has to offer.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Three Languages says

    January 17, 2013 at 04:28

    I’d love some tips on Malta. I’ve been once, and didn’t do my research. The trip wasn’t great, as I was stuck in Paceville. It would be interesting to know more from people who live there!

  2. Elizabeth Ayling says

    February 25, 2012 at 18:57

    Malta Observer, thanks for beaming in to our blog here. I’ve just read some of your posts with interest; the police delivering voting cards being one of my bugbears too! Sadly, Sabine Cassar-Alpert, who you mention, passed away last summer. We’ve updated the page here to reflect that. She was certainly a formidable blogger and while I never met her, only corresponding via mail, she was a wonderful woman and had a deep love of Gozo.

  3. The Malta Observer says

    February 25, 2012 at 16:58

    Oh, and the blog Sabine In Gozo 🙂

  4. Malta Observer says

    February 25, 2012 at 16:53

    I like An American In Malta Blog.

  5. Elizabeth Ayling says

    February 28, 2011 at 13:05

    @CJohn Zammit, thanks for your vote of thanks and appreciation of MIO

  6. CJohn Zammit says

    February 28, 2011 at 03:56

    This website is a delightful ‘destination’; I just found out about it from the IVA website. I’ll be a regular visitor!

  7. Ilene Springer says

    February 23, 2011 at 19:50

    Hello Sabine–I don’t really know you, but I wish you the best of luck in recovering from your illness–and in getting employed again–Ilene

  8. Ilene Springer says

    February 23, 2011 at 19:49

    Thanks so much, Elizabeth, for your very kind words about my blog–An American in Malta. You have way with words–let me know if you ever want to be a guest writer.

    Best,
    Ilene

  9. Elizabeth Ayling says

    February 22, 2011 at 21:48

    Sabine, we realised, we read your blog and saw the life’s rollercoaster you’ve been going through since autumn last. We wish you a speedy return to better health, and are following your progress on your blog. Your achievements for your employer should be flagged, we think!

  10. Sabine says

    February 22, 2011 at 15:51

    Hey, thanks a lot for plugging my blog, and your very kind words about it! 🙂
    However, please note that the description isn’t 100% accurate any more: due to severe illness, I have been unemployed since last October.

  11. Harri says

    February 17, 2011 at 22:12

    Hi there, I just got your comment informing me of the mention- thank you so much 🙂 It’s so nice to know that people are reading and even better, enjoying the blog 🙂 I like to use it to keep friends & family updated on our progress but at the same time try and give information and help to others looking to do the same.

    I love maltainsideout so will happily consider doing a guest post shortly! Thanks again for the mention x

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