I stood outside the Asmiov Robotics tent. I felt at home, a grown-up robotics playground called the hi-tech EXPO in Milan, that ran from the 14th till 19th December, and hosted some of the leading technology companies in the world; in total, over 140.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is an amazing place. It’s where hypertext, the fax machine, cancer-causing genes and the GPS were invented. In Milan, they were showcasing their WIMAX wireless energy transfer technology. It can launch energy, without the need of wires, through two metres of air. The technology works because of coiled magnets present in separate devices but which resonate with each other. Place a table in the way of this energy, no problem, WIMAX gets through it without a fuss. Concrete? Not an issue for WIMAX.

I stood there gob smacked, watching a grainy skype video image as an MIT scientist powered an LED bulb using a WIMAX energy source located a metre beneath a table. Their vision is to bring these energy transfer devices to your wireless homes and to embed them in concrete to charge your electric car, whilst parked. MIT has several patents in this technology, it could make millions, and it also has over 3,000 PhD students.

From a small town in Italy, I talked to Laura Margheri, a PhD student in Bio Robotics. She was developing a soft robot based on an octopus. The robot was flexible, made out of silicon and could grasp an arm. It’s still in development, but once complete it could scour the sea floor monitoring the state of the environment, studying marine life and crawling through pipes to find blockages or leaks.

Malta wasn’t to be left out of this exhibition, with local company SIB Laboratories Ltd exhibiting therapeutic Russian space technology. They are bringing this technology to hospitals through collaboration with a number of organisations including the Russian Academy of Sciences, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri from Italy, and the University of Malta.

SIB Laboratories Ltd is adjusting the Regent™ suit and Korvit™ foot simulator to bring to a hospital near you. The Regent™ suit is purely mechanical having straps, belts, and elastic cords that put pressure on your body when you move around. It was developed for Russian cosmonauts to prevent bone and muscle loss at zero gravity. On Earth, Russian scientists claim it can speed up recovery after brain injury or stroke.

The Korvit™ foot simulator is an incredibly simple machine having two rubber balloons on each foot through which air is pumped. The balloons inflate that are meant to make your body feel like you’re out for a stroll when lying on a hospital bed. They claim it can get stroke patients on their feet in half the time. Now, a local team led by Prof. Kenneth Camilleri are studying this equipment, if validated and improved, these technologies would be a powerful and economical way to treat patients.

These amazing projects show the benefit of funding PhD students. Malta is tapping into EU funds (University alone has received over £40 million), but we are not tapping into our brainpower.  Pushing businesses to fund PhD students would finally start turning Malta into that fabled catch phrase: a knowledge-based economy.

Supporting PhD students to do research is the most cost-effective way for companies. PhD students do not cost much, I did a PhD in Edinburgh and used to earn £12,000 per year, local students normally get less, a similar price in euros would extract the best young minds in Malta for the project. A PhD lasts 3–4 years, so in total it would cost around €36,000–€48,000. The benefits are a patented discovery that can be sold.

Are there any other costs? Perhaps equipment and materials but nothing extensive, the University of Malta has recently upgraded a lot of its facilities, companies simply need to support the hands and brains to use them.

PhD students are also highly motivated because they have to publish articles or create patents to move forward in their careers. They often work beyond a 9 to 5 job, for example while researching in Edinburgh I regularly worked 10 hour 6-day weeks, because I wanted to succeed. For companies, this drive implies a potentially high return, at low risk.

Malta will never attract the near US $10 billion endowment that graces MIT (our GDP comes in at around $8 billion), however we could attract a lot more money to support our best minds. They can be attracted to remain or come back to Malta, instead of being lost to the ever perpetual brain-drain to Europe, USA and Australia.

About the Author
Edward Duca has a PhD in Genetics and currently exploring the world of science writing and communication. He thinks that science is not just for himself, but for everyone to enjoy and inspire. Find him on his blog, ‘An Unexpected Science Nugget.’

Joseph is part of the production team from grove to press and onward to Malta. He enjoys seeing the oil he helps produce and bring to Malta enjoyed and shared, perhaps chatted about by a few in the know. The Umbrian olive oil is pressed in time-honoured tradition from tree to bottle in under two days, then packaged exquisitely and imported to Malta in three weeks flat.

It represents a small-volume, specialist product with a niche brand; a true connoisseur’s oil.  It’s peppery to the taste buds; an oil that is part of a dish, not a mere vehicle to cook or dress it in. It’s perfect savoured simply; all you need is a crusty Maltese loaf to accompany it. For how to buy, see article end.

The Story

Joseph and his wife Elsie are frequent visitors to Terni in southern Umbria, a city within striking distance of Rome just 80 km south. In fact, the Roman town of Carsulae whose ruins lie near the olive groves was the last stop of Roman legions returning home. Here, they’d encamp and make ready for a final triumphant march into the capital.  Another stop on the tourist trail nearby is the walled town of San Gemini, famed for its mineral water.

The reason for Joseph’s trips to Italy’s most rural and land-locked region is to liaise with an Italian lab that produces the prosthetics for his dental patients. Over the years, Italian business partners become friends and his trips extended to sightseeing then stumbling across and getting involved with La Poiana, a old farm with an incredible heritage in olive oil.

La Poiana (the buzzard) – the oil’s brand name – is a rambling farm in need of restoration, but Joseph’s Umbrian friends saw the potential of its abandoned olive groves.  Joseph too was drawn to the challenge of restoring the land, replanting where trees had died in the famed killer frosts of Italian winters past.  He became part of their mission to bring back into production some of Italy’s most prized olive growing land.

“I have a passion for wine, but knew that I would never have the time from my career to gain the know-how to start a winery,” Joseph says, explaining how he got in to helping out in the olive business. “Olive growing complements my love of wines and is something I can indulge in learning about.” he explains.

La Poiana Estate 

La Poiana comes from a region renowned for some of the finest oils. In fact, all Umbrian olive production has D.O.P (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) which means the oil is strictly quality controlled and from the region granted the D.O.P. status. La Poiana’s groves are also farmed with organic methods. The estate bottles several single olive oil varieties for the gift and connoisseur market. These are the ‘Laudemio’ oils. In the Middle Ages, Laudemio referred to that part of the crop reserved for the lord, or for the owner of the land and so were always the highest-quality portion of what was harvested. The remainder is sold as a superior blend.

Production is limited with the 400 trees yielding around 600 litres. “At the most, there will only be 550 trees so La Poiana will always be a rare find; a true connoisseur produce,” Joseph says.  The oil in its unusual presentation bottles makes a perfect gift and festive hamper choice. For how to buy, see below.

Olive Oil Varieties 

Three olive varieties, typical of Umbria and Tuscany are grown at La Poiana: Frantoio and Moraiolo are considered strong in taste, while Leccino is usually classified as a mild olive variety

Frantoio: The oil is usually described as fruity (green banana), green, herbaceous (grass and green tea) and pungent – it goes very well on grilled steak, lobster and crab, vegetables like Brussels sprouts and artichoke, pasta, tomatoes and Brousse cheese

Moraiolo: This oil can be described as fruity, green, mildly pungent and quite fruity Its flavour stands out on cooked vegetables and complements fishand pork very well

Leccino: This oil is delicate, mildly fruity, spicy and sweet evoking hints of artichoke, sweet almonds and wild thistle.  It is recommended for dressing salads and meat carpaccios as well as for preparing desserts

How to Buy

La Poiana oils are superb to gift, particularly this time of year at Christmas.  La Poiana is offering Malta Insideout site users a special price of 1 Euro off the recommended RPP for each oil and the blend:

Special Prices:

Single oils, 250ml cube:  Euro 13
Single oils, 500ml cube: Euro 19

Email oliolapoiana@gmail.com to purchase and for delivery information.

International brand-name stores now crowd high streets in Malta. But most are franchises and few can claim to have been conceived on the islands. Not so The Rug Company which has just opened its Malta showroom. Its high-end designer and bespoke rugs now grace the floors of gliterrati the world over, but you could say the company started life here and is now ‘coming home’.

Suzanne Sharp co-founded The Rug Company with husband Christopher in 1997. She spoke to us about their personal story in the rug trade and what it means to bring the brand to Malta.

The Rug Company showroom in Ta’Xbiex is a high-ceilinged, almost minimalist space in a new business centre just a few metres from Whitehall Mansions, home to the British High Commission. Suzanne Sharp is giving instructions in Maltese to workmen completing the finishing touches to the space; she’s at ease in the language of her early years (her maiden name is Miceli), and is instantly recognisable from international magazine photos.

Suzanne & Christopher Sharp. Photo: Suki Dhanda

Both she and Christopher crop up frequently in the glossy weekend supplements of UK papers. Christopher appeared only recently in an FT Weekend magazine interview. The Sharps are clearly people on the move, as their showrooms from Dallas to Dubai and New York to Moscow testify.

Malta now…
Today though, Susan has her sights set on their 19th successful store opening. There are rugs piled in neat rows, some wall hangings and a set of arty photos above the back counter. The showroom is deceptively simple for a product that takes around four months to complete and relies on the handcrafting techniques of the Tibetans and Nepalese that have gone almost unchanged for hundreds of years.

Their rugs are sumptuous heirlooms, often described as ‘works of art for the floor’, and carry four figure price tags. However, Rug Company rugs are made to last, outliving their owners to be handed down and cherished by future generations. The brand shouts high-end contemporary style, but at heart, it’s about a sense of timelessness, heritage and continuity, which seems fitting for a company now rediscovering roots with the opening of its Malta store.

Malta then…
Flash back 14 years and shift scene just a couple of kilometres along the seafront to Qui-Si-Sana, Sliema, and you can imagine Suzanne doing much the same as now – organising her retail space. Back then, she and Christopher owned a single outlet in Malta called ‘Christopher Sharp The Oriental Rug Gallery’, which they sold in 1996 before leaving the island. The intervening years have seen the duo revolutionise the London rug trade and go global, collaborating along the way with designers like Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith, as well as fashion houses such as the Italian label Marni.

How it all began…
How and why the rug trade, and why Malta then and now, is a personal tale that starts in Saudi Arabia moving to Italy before arriving on the islands in the winter of 1990. It’s one Suzanne is fond of telling. She had left Malta in the late ‘70s as teen when her father, an Air Malta executive, was posted first to Rome, then London. She met and married Christopher in London in the ‘80s and moved with him to Saudi Arabia where he worked as a film maker and broadcaster.

“Our interest in rugs started in Saudi. There was little to do socially, so we stayed in homemaking. We decorated our house with rugs bought at the souks, often from Afghan traders selling their wares to pay their way to Mecca,” Suzanne explains. Saudi souks were to give them a deep understanding of what was to become their stock in trade.

After four years in Saudi, they left for Tuscany with the aim of opening a boutique hotel. But frozen to the bone visiting pile after pile of rubble on windswept hills amid a bleak wintery landscape, they realised their dream was downgrading rapidly to a B&B, if that. On a Christmas trip back to Malta in 1990, by now with their two-year-old son Nick in tow, Suzanne’s family persuaded them that life was beautiful down south. “We rushed back to Tuscany, packed up, paid bills and drove down to catch the ship from Naples to Malta. We arrived in Grand Harbour at sunset, and Malta seemed warm, shimmering and golden. A sign of better times to come,“ Suzanne says.

Still bitten by the rug trade, the two saw a niche in the local market and opened their Qui-Si-Sana outlet offering top-end, traditional Persian carpets. Two more children and seven years later, the serial movers decided to decamp back to London ready to take another punt in a trade they now knew intimately. The Rug Company was born.

London calling…
“Our first outlet in Chelsea was overtly upmarket; a conscious move to differentiate ourselves from the cheap, pile-‘em-high carpet traders whose ‘hand-loomed’ oriental rugs had probably been mass produced,” she says. “Then Christopher came home one day with a hunch, saying that people were looking for something more. So, we decided to do something against the grain; we went contemporary.”

Nowadays, interior design magazines are cover to cover with the bare floorboard (in Malta’s case, bare stone) and statement rug look, but without the Sharps, it might not have come to pass so quickly nor been so pervasive a trend. Always ahead of the market, the duo, who were now also designers rather than pure retailers, were on the move again. “We couldn’t base a shop on one style idea. So, in 2001 we sought top-name designers to create unique ranges for our contemporary collection,” Suzanne adds.

Even through the credit crunch The Rug Company was doing well. “I think people see them as investments. You don’t think about spending on fixtures like kitchens and bathrooms, and they can’t move with you. A rug can – it’s personal. We offer a bespoke service tailor making rugs like you’d have a suit or wedding dress made,” Suzanne explains.

Theirs are not humble rugs. Suzanne is quick to point out that the craftsmanship of genuine hand-woven rugs and carpets has always been highly prized and priced. She makes an analogy to hit the point home: “Just look at the tapestries hanging in The Palace in Valletta,” she explains. ”They are Gobelins from the 1700s; exquisitely woven stories, valued and appreciated in their day.”

Back to Malta with hand-loomed love
But what of Malta’s capacity now to appreciate the qualities, durability and design of the Rug Company’s offer? “There were always people in Malta back in 1997 who appreciated the quality of the rugs we offered. But now the time is right, the market grown; look at all the new condos, penthouses and marina developments, and our earlier clientele are also thirsty for something new on the market here,” she says.

Locals’ appreciation of design steers our conversation back to Valletta and also to its bid to be a European Capital of Culture in 2018, an initiative which is talking of the city’s role in inspiring design and innovation and stimulating a creative economy. Suzanne’s path with The Rug Company is evidence that a creative career can bring benefits in terms of both personal fulfillment and financial gain.

Suzanne is clearly fond of her homeland and has managed to take time to show her London PR assistants around Valletta, pointing out all the grand sights and quirky elements that make up the personality of Europe’s most diminutive capital. It’s mid October, it’s hot and feels like summer as we speak. Suzanne’s biog on company’s website says her favourite view is ‘the big blue sea on a sunny day in the Med’. Her assistants say they’d like to linger longer in Malta.

“I hope Valletta won’t end up with European blandness,” she muses, recalling the manicured Tuscan hill towns she once trekked around in search of paradise. “I love the character of the old bars and shops in Malta.” She has a house in Attard and holidays here, surrounded by an extended family of Maltese relations.

All the while, you sense that to Suzanne, The Rug Company’s Malta showroom means more than just another store notched up. It holds a special place for the Sharps in their story. You also sense that Suzanne may be about to follow quite closely Malta’s interest in a creative economy. The Rug Company may be a global brand, but perhaps it’s come home and is about to make its mark in Malta again.

Where to find them:
The Rug Company
Area F, Blue Harbour Business Centre
Ta’Xbiex, TXB 1043
Malta

t. (+356) 21 324 990
For map, click here.

Among that latter group is French couple Stephanie and Stephan Samson, who have three children and who’ve just opened their own brand in food retail: The Donut Factory, in St Paul’s Bay, offering sweet donuts, savoury bagels, other light snacks and drinks.

This first in our series looking at expat-preneurs, as we’ve labelled them, ask what issues they faced, how easy it was and what advice they can give to other expats starting out in Malta, particularly in their sector of food and retail.

End day one and every one sold! Co-founders, Stephanie & Stephan Samson (far left), partner Georges Samaha (far right) & Master Chef Maurice Chaplais (centre).

Q. When expats start businesses, they often fall into defined categories – property, retail, tourism & hospitality and so on; areas they see a need that’s lacking locally or one they think serves fellow expats.   How did you decide on which business type to set up in Malta? 

My husband and I have always wanted to set up our own business. As we’re both real foodies, we were often speaking about places in Malta to go have a nice snack or bite.  One day, with close friends, that discussion went further as we started to imagine together what place we would want to create in Malta, offering real indulgence, both in terms of the food and the atmosphere. That conversation turned into a business plan, and we partnered with our friends to turn this idea into reality – it became “The Donut Factory”.

Q. Do you have previous experience in catering and/or retail?  Would it be necessary you think for people starting out in the food sector here? 

Our partners already run a highly successful retail operation abroad, and that experience was extremely handy to get things started. My own background is in sales and marketing, specifically in textile. I have gained a lot of experience in business development in many different European countries. None of us however had any experience in catering, and so very early on we looked for and appointed a highly-experienced bakery consultant. From finding the right location to developing the interior design, from branding to sales strategy, we always tried to identify experienced partners that could really add value and fill our knowledge gap in this industry.  We were extremely lucky to have a fantastic team around us.

Q. Your business is an independent, but did you look at franchise options first – perhaps as a less risky or less stressful business type to set up? 

Yes, the Donut Factory is a pure start-up and a totally independent brand, not affiliated in any way to any international business. In the very first stage of investigation, we spoke to a few interesting brands. It was immediately clear that the small Maltese market was quite a hard sell. We feel they are missing a great opportunity though! We considered both options from the start but quickly decided to go with our own brand, taking into account the high investment of a franchise and the fact that the international brands were often unknown to the Maltese. Creating our own brand made more sense financially and in terms of potential business development abroad.

Q. Malta has a lot of snack and short-service outlets; wasn’t it risky to enter a saturated market?

As in any market, a clear differentiation is essential for success. At The Donut Factory we focus on exceptional and unique products, that have no equivalent today in Malta. We support our products through a very specific philosophy: we call ourselves bakers of happiness. Happiness not only through a really friendly and smiley service, but also because we do products which we really love and are proud of. In that sense, The Donut Factory is not a snack bar or short-service outlets – we have built a brand with a strong identity and fabulous products, a unique experience which does not exist today in Malta.

Q. What about finding suitable premises? I’ve heard finding property at the right price can be a big issue.

It certainly was not easy to find a place which combined all our requirements: large enough to cater for a full-blown bakery and a coffee shop, with an open kitchen visible to all clients. But perseverance always pays, and we think our location in St Paul’s Bay offers many advantages and very strong visibility.

Q. What were the greatest challenges you faced in set up here – staff, legal, tax?

We didn’t have any experience in the catering sector, nor of course setting up a company in Malta. So there was a steep learning curve, and the journey was and is full of adventure. We found the Maltese extremely helpful and positive about our project.

Q. What advice would you give others thinking about moving to Malta and starting out in catering? 

We definitely believe that Malta is a fantastic place to live in and start a business. However I do think that you need to learn about and get to love the Maltese way of life before creating your own business on the Island.

Malta offers a lot of advantages (fiscal, regulatory…) in a number of sectors such as finance, i-gaming and insurance; it’s however not the case in catering.  We spoke to Malta enterprise but there were no relevant schemes for our activities.  So there is no specific reason to come to Malta to start such a business. In our case, we had been here three years before we took the decision to start The Donut Factory in Malta.

Where to Find Them:

The Donut Factory
“Chapelle Court” , Mosta Road
St Paul’s Bay, SBP3111
Mob 99 26 08 30
facebook.com/thedonutfactory
Google map

We spoke to two expats about their attitudes to learning Maltese, its usefulness in their daily lives here and their experiences learning the language.  Amanda is a British and moved here with British husband and three young daughters. Phil has a Maltese wife and moved to Malta around four years ago; he also has a young daughter. On paper, even working, neither needed Maltese to get along.  But both chose to have a go, with varying degrees of success. Read on for why…and if you want to learn, check the further info at the article end.

Amanda’s Maltese language learning story

Q. Before moving to Malta did you research the language question to work out whether you needed Maltese to get along here?

I just took it as a given that I, and the rest of the family, would learn the language.   I see part of being in a country, and being a good guest in that country, as at least attempting to communicate in the local language.

I did order a CD-rom of Maltese to start learning before we arrived.

Q. Since Malta is officially bilingual, what really prompted you to start learning Maltese? 

I love languages, often they can be a window on to the culture of a country,  but of course when people move to a new country, they have a massive amount on their plate.   I have a deep rooted belief that anyone going to another country should do whatever they can to make themselves feel comfortable in the country.  In the part of Malta I live (Dingli), Maltese is very much the daily language.   But in reality, I hadn’t done anything about it until my kids started at school.  The teacher said that if I learned it would help me to support the kids’ learning.  So, as is so often the case, a mixture of motivations.

Q. What route to learning did you take? Private lessons or group courses? And where did you learn?

Group lessons in the local council offices.  I was the only foreigner; the lessons were Maltese literacy, so in reality, really useful for helping my daughter with homework, much less so for buying groceries and asking for directions (both of which I have attempted on many occasions with people who don’t speak English).

Q. How did you find the teaching material? Outdated or useful? And what about the approach?

The first year of lessons, the material wasn’t up to much – photocopied, very basic, often ancient.  But then some new books came out, Sisien, which were great, targeted at adults, lots of re-enforcement of day-to-day vocabulary, workbook to accompany the  text book, lots of chances for discussion.   Beyond anything else, the lessons were a great way to get to know more about life in Malta, as so many subjects were covered in the books and the discussion.  My teachers have been great; very keen to ensure I get something out of the lessons.

Q. How has knowing some Maltese enhanced your experience of living in Malta?

I have gained a lot of access to the culture, natural history etc of Malta through learning Maltese, but not necessarily through being competent enough to talk or read about it by myself!    Despite many lessons, my level is extremely basic, mostly because it is so easy to get by in English.  I believe the major advantage is being able to follow the side conversations in meetings, at shops etc and not feel totally excluded or paranoid that you are being cheated or talked about.  Usually the side conversations are very pedestrian.  It’s also nice to be able to share a (very simple) joke in the language – it always makes people smile, doubtless due to my appalling accent.

Q. What advice would you give a potential expat about learning Maltese?  

I would always say make the effort to learn the language.  People will tell you Maltese is difficult, but any language is until you put the time in to get to grips with it.  You can live here using only English, obviously, and Maltese may seem of limited use.  But I’ve learnt Spanish (spoken by millions across the world) and Indonesian (spoken by 200 million in Indonesia), and the language I’ve found the most useful over the years is Italian, so it isn’t always a numbers game….

Phil’s Maltese language learning story

Q. Did you feel the need to learn Maltese when you knew you were moving to the Islands? 

I was certainly open to learning Maltese. I lived in Italy for seven years and became fluent after around three, but learning by doing rather than through study, but I lived in a more non-English speaking environment. I lived in Portugal for three years and learned some basic Portuguese by study, it was more difficult as I lived in a more English speaking environment.  I arrived here expecting to learn Maltese, and being curious to do so.

Q. What was your understanding of the use of Maltese vis-a-vis English on the islands and how did that colour your attitude to learning Maltese?

I felt that in my position at work it was useful to learn, as I was managing both Maltese and foreign staff. The Maltese appreciated my trying, and found it amusing. When giving a team briefing, I tried to end with a different Maltese expression each time, and to keep it clean!

Q. Did you start learning Maltese at the start here or later?  

I have tried only a bit – actually I am disappointed at how unnecessary it is, and how little support there is. Many Maltese would rather I didn’t try and just speak English.

My daughter has fun teaching me some things.  I am keen that she speaks good Maltese but we speak English at home (her Mum is Maltese), but she continues to speak Maltese with the family and spends plenty of time with Nana and Nanu. The language would help me to integrate with the rest of the Maltese family; this should act as a motivator !

Q. Were you motivated?

I was motivated, yes. I tried MCAST at Paola and found it difficult to get to in the evening because of the traffic, but it seemed poorly structured and lessons were often cancelled. Some people I know completed the course and were happy, but I dropped out not too long into the course.

I tried to register for a local Sliema course this time starting in October at the local council. The browser I use wouldn’t enable me to register, after five emails a contact there informed me I was registered but Ihaven’t heard anything since.   I have also looked for a decent audio course and failed to find one so far…….

Q. Has your knowledge of the language stood you in good stead so far for life in Malta?  

I am unsure if any Maltese really makes a difference to my life in Malta; I seem to get by perfectly well without. I think this is unfortunate and means that I probably need to make much more of an effort to learn this language than those of the other countries I lived in.

Q. What advice would you give incoming expats about the need to learn Maltese? 

If you want to do it you will need to make extraordinary efforts to learn. I think that the Local Councils need to make it much easier for us to learn.

Further Info:

Where to Learn Maltese as a Foreigner

Local Councils – some offer Maltese literacy (not specifically for foreigners) and others Maltese lessons devised for foreign language learners.  A list of all local councils is on the government website here.  The search function and info on Local Councils  is Maltese even if you opt for ‘English’ when accessing gov.mt! Choose ‘dettalji kif tista’ under the fourth menu header ‘Il-Kuntatjana’ after selecting your local council from the drop down list.

MCAST – we didn’t see Maltese on its course lists for 2011-12, but check by contacting MCAST (Malta Council for Arts, Science & Technology) here.

German-Maltese Circle  offers what seem highly practical evening courses from October. Emphasis is on conversation ‘no grammar, text books or exams’! For students aiming for  basic conversational Maltese for work and leisure.

Photo: Queen Victoria by Leslie Vella. 

Click the links to access the offer vouchers. You’ll be asked to enter your name and email so you can receive a mail with the individual voucher links.  You will be able to download and print the voucher, if required as a ticket.  Some offers, you need only quote your unique voucher numbers.

If you have any queries on accessing and downloading the vouchers, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Activate your discount vouchers

the rubberbodies collective – Lore of the Sea: immemorial waters is offering two complimentary tickets for any of the performance dates: 9, 10, 11 September. DOWNLOAD TICKET VOUCHER here.

Elitennis Under 10s Discount on autumn tennis packages (offer extends to first 20 to book) DOWNLOAD HERE

Full details on the tennis courses for under 10s click here. See also Elitennis on Facebook.
Merille Eco Tours: Agri-Tourism & Delicacy Tasting Group Tour(20% to the first three to book) DOWNLOAD HERE

Details: These sessions will take place at an exclusive olive orchard, where you and the group will enjoy countryside views from our host farm.  Talks on agriculture and the environment are lively, engaging and informative and allow plenty of time for you to taste the traditional, local authentic food and chatting with the farmer. Delicacies include: virgin olive oil with crispy local bread, sun dried tomatoes, pickled onions, pure honey and a selection of seasonal fruits. Tea and coffee will be served together with traditional biscuits. Regular Group Price: 215 Euros including VAT – 13.44 Euros per person; Discounted Group Price: 172 Euros including VAT – 10.75 Euros per person.  Maximum number of persons: 16

Duration of experience: 3 hours

Other considerations:

-       Date and venue availabilty by request.

-       Weather permitting

-       Offer is open to the first 3 to sign up.  Claim your discount here!

Expiry Date of Offer: 30.10.11

Link: www.merillecotours.com and contact email: info@merillecotours.com

So, what does Malta do?

What to Expect in the August Shutdown

The next two weeks are Malta’s peak summer holiday time. If the father of the family hasn’t taken a break yet, he will now be shipping himself and family somewhere like a holiday flat up North – around St Paul’s Bay or Mellieha – or if lucky enough, to a second home in Gozo, and even abroad (certain patches of Tuscany are now hot spots for the great and good of Malta).  If very lucky, some folk will be aboard a motor cruiser or yacht island hopping around Malta or crossing over to Sicily.

Mid August often sees a change in the weather to humid, sweaty, still grey days that promise rain. We can see the odd freak flash flood storm as a taste of autumn rains to come.  It’s not been like that yet this summer, but it’s known as a changeable time of year.

The summer recess in Malta moves in mysterious ways. We might not have ‘Chiuso per Ferie’ on our windows as our Italian neighbours do, but the habitual two weeks’ shutdown does leave its mark. Here’s how:

The good news

Everything a tourist needs stays open. Local businesses know that this is the time of year to make almost all their profits if they rely on tourist bucks from sun, sea and sand seeking visitors.  Few of the habits of Italian restaurateurs here.

The bad news

If you’ve moved to Malta recently, you might not know that a lot of firms – even those in service industries and some retail businesses – will be firmly shut for at least a week either side of 15 August.  So, if you forgot to order that spare part for the washing machine, you’ll have to wait till well after the 15th. Even then, next deliveries after the summer recess can take often until end September or longer to materialise in Malta. You will notice too that supermarket shelves may run out of favourite brands as shipments slow in August.

Although Malta has a dwindling number of manufacturing plants, the tradition of closing up the office still holds even if a firm doesn’t have a production line. The knock-on effect of the shutdown ripples through the economy. We’ve said before that the public sector is hard to reach on the phone after 12.00 from mid June to mid September, but I doubt you’ll get anywhere until September if you try to call a government office now with a query.  We might be proved wrong of course!

The other bad news is that we are all left to battle for the best places on the beach, best restaurant tables and best parking places as the islands teem with holidaymakers, locals and visitors. For some insane reason, we like to take our holidays now, altogether in a pressured two weeks. Malta’s schools don’t go back till around 26 September or later, so we’ve plenty more time to take a break.

The traditional August shutdown, while not strictly needed for most firms these days, is a habit hard to break. Maybe we can blame it on Malta’s most important public holiday, Santa Marija, which falls on the 15 August. The day is in Malta’s psyche; not only because of the religious feast but also because it marks the end of Malta’s second ‘Great Siege’ in 1942 when a small, war-torn convoy of Allied forces’ supply ships limped into Grand Harbour relieving the islands.

Ever since I was a child, I always looked forward to the annual Malta Trade Fair held every summer. Not that I was into buying washing machines at age five! I was simply in awe of all the hustle and bustle going on during the long evenings at the fair.

I was spoilt for choice so much grabbed my attention: the food stalls (in particular those selling ice-cream), the book sections, the odd attraction for kids and the foreign country pavilions. And there was always a section for agriculture and fishing where I’d be able to see live animals too (which I’d obviously drag my poor parents along to).

Why go?
For as long as I can remember, the Malta Trade Fair has been designed to have something to interest everyone – which is why it draws the crowds year after year. For many, it’s an evening out for all the family. For others, it’s a chance to get a good bargain since many companies offer special discounts on their products for the duration of the fair. Whether you want to buy or just browse, immersing yourself into this annual event is as Maltese an activity as you could possibly attend on a warm summer’s night. Strange, but true, it is entertainment and leisure for a lot of folk here!

Who goes?
Of course, the crowds descending on one pressure point on the islands means traffic and chaos – which might put off some, but doesn’t seem to put off the vast number of people who flock to the fair – over 100,000 are said to visit every year.

When & Where?
The 2011 Malta Trade Fair runs for 12 days, 23 June – 3 July, at Maltese International Trade Fair Grounds in Ta’ Qali (between Attard and Mdina, in the centre of Malta). The event is the highlight of the calendar of the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation which was set up in 1955.

Getting there
Those who have difficulty in reaching Ta’ Qali by car can use old bus public transport services to Ta’ Qali on the Mdina Road. But even more conveniently, Malta Trade Fair’s Corporation (MFCC) is laying on special coach and bus services from several areas direct to the ground. Full details here for routes, times and pricing.

With the bus changeover to Arriva services on 1 July, we’re not sure about the special routing by Arriva, or exact timetables, but see here for bus stops and mainline routes. There seems to be a ‘night bus’ to Ta Qali.

There is also a shuttle service from all Ta’Qali parking areas to MFCC, for those who come in their private car.

What you’ll find there
The over 200 stands are not limited to Maltese companies exhibiting goods ranging from cars to dishwashers and from IT products to poultry. Every year, a number of countries set up their own pavilion to promote their country and products – bringing a touch of exotic far away (and some not so far away) lands to little Malta. This year, India’s large stand will bring a taste of Asia to the proceedings with Indian products including food, textiles and jewellery.

For kiddy-family fun, there’s a Luna Park, with rides, big wheel and more.

Voluntary sector – each day of the fair see a participating voluntary groups ranging from sports to youth groups, the Red Cross and various health and welfare associations and charities.

To go, or not to go, that’s the question!
Whether you’re chasing a bargain or trying to befriend an affable pony or simply out to guzzle ice-cream as the crowds swarm by, expect a quarter of the Maltese population to be there with you on the long hot evening you head there.  Buying, browsing or battling the crowd, you’ve got to go once to see an anthropological event.

Visitor Info
Malta Trade Fairs website
23 June – 3 July, 2011.
Opening Times: 18.30 – 23.00 Mon-Thurs; 18.30 – 23.30 Fri, Sat & Sun.  23 June – 3 July
Free Parking
Entrance Fee: €3

Photo: Ilias @ The Voyager

Visas: sometimes more months in the waiting than in the using

Wendie Vandenbeusque may have moved to Malta relatively hassle free, but being able to work here legally was a different matter. Her personal insight shows how complex and tiring the Visa process is for nationals of non-EU countries seeking employment here.

When we left Minnesota to move to Malta I really thought I had done my homework. After hours of research figuring out what steps we needed to take so that we were not deported, or kicked out of the EU for up to five years, I really felt confident that I knew what it would take to live and work in another country.

Getting a job
Once we arrived, it took me nearly five months to find a job. Because I am a business professional with a college education, it was very important to show that I had skills that set me apart from a prospective Maltese candidate. This is important in any country of course, including the United States; jobs should first go to the people of that country. Luckily for me, I found a company that needed a US English writer with the defined set of skills that I had to offer.

Getting my Visa
At that time of my job offer, my husband and I had recently returned from a short holiday in Tunisia, so our travel visa had been updated. This was fortunate as my employer would not have been able to apply for a work permit for me if this travel visa had expired.

The paperwork was endless, but was finally completed and submitted. Then I just had to wait for the application to be approved or denied. My job had been due to start almost immediately, so you can imagine how impatient I felt when I found out that the work permit could take up to three months to be approved. It felt like an endless wait. My consolation was that it happened to be summer at the time so I could enjoy soaking up the sun, writing my novel and keeping busy with all the new friends we’d made.

The work permit was approved in a record time – just seven weeks – which is amazing as Americans are third-country nationals. A third country national is someone who is from a country that is not part of the EU. However, the approval was just the beginning of a new roller coaster ride that wasn’t fun at all.

We ended up with a grand total of 12 visits to the office of Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs. I only attended four meetings (having been turned away twice as I did not have the necessary paperwork with me), but by the time the whole process was over, my husband must have talked to every person who works there!

Spousal Visa (not that easy!)
We were quickly educated in the ways of the Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs office. We found out that a spouse of the employed person does not receive automatically a residential visa; it is granted at the office’s discretion. We were told to provide proof of private health insurance (to cover my husband), documentation that he would not work and that I was making enough to support the both of us. Also, the spouse’s visa extension is only for six months, not a year like we thought. Once you’ve been employed for a year, your company then applies for your permit for the next year. And then, and only then, can the spouse apply for a “Spousal Residential Visa”. This is valid for a year, but again, at the office’s discretion. It entails a whole different set of paperwork.

I have to say that my husband spent a lot of time at that office. He paid another €28 (his 90-day extension had expired while we waited for them to approve the six-month extension) because every time you ‘apply’ for an extension there is a fee. He was given a document which showed that he was good for another 30 days while we again waited for a final decision.

He went back three times and was turned away. The week before his temporary extension was to expire, he was there every day. We found out three days before the temporary extension was to expire that he was finally granted the six-month extension, but he was told that he had to come down to the office for another document every time he planned to travel outside of Malta.

He was so relieved that the extension was granted that the implication of what they had told him didn’t fully register. Since his passport already contained a resident sticker with an expiration date, if we traveled, he ran the risk of not being let back into Malta if he didn’t obtain a special document prior to leaving.

One more visit to the office was needed and they finally relented and updated his passport. So now, he is good until 30-June, 2011 which is fine by us. We are planning an extended holiday in the States this summer, so he will return a month before me. When we come home (we considered Malta our home now!), the first week of September, he will be eligible for the spousal visa, and the process will start all over again. With luck and a lot of patience on our side!

(See also: Wendie’s Expat Insights one year on. And you can read more about her experiences living in Malta on her blog here)

Useful Links
Visa Requirements for Foreign Nationals & Application Forms
Central Visa Office, Malta
Directorate, Citizenship & Expatriate Affairs
For more information visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or contact an official Malta diplomatic representative near you.

Notes:
It is advisable that you check about visa and entry requirements before making your travel arrangements to Malta if not an EU national (use links above). A Malta tourist visa is not required for citizens of United States for a stay up to 90 days.

Schengen Visa Zone
What is a Schengen visa?
A Schengen visa allows a person to temporarily enter the Schengen zone. The Schengen zone refers to the area that encompasses the European states that are members of the Schengen Agreement. The Schengen Agreement is a set of international treaties that abolish physical borders among member states, and effectively synchronizes travel amongst member states under one visa program. If you apply for a visa to travel to one country in the Schengen zone, as long as you have proof of pre-existing travel arrangements, you can enter any other Schengen zone country with the same visa.
See also the Schengen Visa Office website.

Photo: courtesy C.Y. Chow

There's a kiosk serving food and gossip just round the corner

Last Saturday, I found myself on a radio programme to talk about the Internet and Maltese society. I took my son with me because he loves history and technology. I thought there was something very poignant about an eight year-old digital native meeting-old fashioned radio for the first time. Even more so because of the chequered early eighties legacy of the building we were in, when broadcast media and political propaganda became one and the same thing.

I spent a happy hour chatting to bloggers and geeks, experiencing first-hand how social media is gently moulding radio, making it more relevant, personal and downloadable. And my son drew cartoons of men with large heads and a larger microphone.

In Malta, distances are what they are, everything is cheek by jowl. You transit from one world to another in minutes. This Saturday morning may have been about radio, but Saturdays are also about fathers, sons and snacks. In twenty minutes, we’d headed south to the narrow streets of Vittoriosa and on to the Cafe du Brazil in the corner of Misrah ir-Rebha (Victory Square). A seat outside the cafe is a great vantage point for people-watching. It’s not quite the designer sun-glassed brigade of the Sliema front, so it’s easy to spot the odd tourist with the lens. But the old city is adapting to the new visitors. At the Cafe du Brazil, you now get a printed menu, and wraps and vegetarian options together with the more traditional, delicious, heart-burning ftiras. Trust me, on a warm late November day, there is no better place to sip a cappuccino, while the time away and ghost into your neighbour’s conversation.

Somehow, even after the toasted sandwiches, we found space for pastizzi from the band club and a green cassatella from the confectioner next door. The short stroll down to the water front was an excuse to marvel at the super yachts and burn up a few calories.

On our way home, we must have driven by three or four busy kiosks on either side of the road. All of them had people queuing up for something. Some had chairs outside. My head was still spinning in the space where history meets old radio and Facebook – about the state of the nation, identity in 21st century Malta, the vagrancies of ‘the smart island’. And from there, through some mental hyperlink, something must have clicked and I thought: “We are a kiosk.”

Think about this for a second, even if it’s no earth-shattering revelation. Maltese kiosks are all about snacks and networks. Food and conversations. Queuing for a bite to eat or the daily inky newspaper. We are a nation of islanders who eagerly embrace the new technologies and shiny devices, but also stick to what we know best because it’s always been there. We may love our Facebook and our wiis, but we equally love our hobz biz-zejt with chips from the guy in the van who is more in touch with the pulse of the nation than any journalist. We’re very 21st century but also earthy, stubborn, insular, opinionated. We will not blink if someone deposits one of these kiosks in our village square and will fiddle around with it, in the hope we can get something out of it. But the chances are that we will still drift to the little van and get our hands dirty, if we had a choice.

Photo: courtesy Soroll