What inspired you to travel abroad?
Since I was little, I’ve been travelling to a lot of countries, and I know that I will continue to do it. That’s one of the reasons why I chose my degree—Communication and Business in English and Chinese.
It was because I knew that, thanks to that, I could pursue my ambition to go work or travel abroad. The first time I went abroad alone, without my family, it was a totally new experience, and I knew at that moment that I wanted to continue to do so.
Why did you choose the Learn English in Malta with Maltalingua School of English program?
I came across this school in Malta while looking for an internship to do abroad. Honestly, I was a bit desperate to find an internship and I was just sending my application to every possible institute that I came across.
I was really glad that they accepted me to come help them at the school. It seemed like a really great school, so I was a bit excited to learn that they took me in.
Fisherman selling his morning’s catch near Marsaskala.
What was your favorite part about St. Julian’s, Malta?
I was already a bit familiar with warm or hot environments since I had already spent six months abroad in hot countries like Japan and China.
But what really surprised me, and what I really liked, was the buildings—the houses. Their colour really spoke to me. I really liked the beige colour on the houses with their colourful doors.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I’ve been abroad a lot, and to be honest, the country itself wasn’t that extraordinary. But what I really adored was my colleagues at Maltalingua, and I think that’s what made my stay here really meaningful.
I’ve had several jobs in my life, but this one—because of the atmosphere at the school—really stands out to me. I don’t think I would’ve liked Malta as much if it wasn’t like that.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
They really helped me adapt to a new work environment. They took the time to explain everything to me, and if there was something I didn’t understand, they weren’t bothered to re-explain it, which I was really grateful for.
They also encouraged me to take initiative with my work, and if I had any questions, I could come to them at any moment.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
Since Malta is quite an expensive country, I think I would have spent my money more wisely, especially in the first month. But I really feel like it was because it was my first time alone in a European country where everything is quite expensive.
I also would have done more things, like visit a lot more places and enjoy more of Malta’s nightlife, since they are quite known for that.
First look at the coastal cliffs along the Munxar Path.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
After waking up around 8 a.m., I would come to work at 9 and begin my work in the internet studio, which is where I spent most of my day since I was a marketing intern and it’s the place with the computers.
After my lunch break around 1 p.m., I would just continue my work in the same place. On some days, I would begin work a bit later if I was going on activities with students, like visits around Malta and things like that.
After the workday, I would just go home or sometimes wander around.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Visiting new places was really the best part of my stay here. I really enjoy discovering places, and in Malta, every weekend, I would go to different cities to explore them.
What I really liked, and what sets Malta apart from the other countries I’ve visited, was how easy it was to communicate with everyone here.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
Maltalingua offered accommodation, but I preferred to arrange my own so I could have a private room. At first, I stayed in an Airbnb with a bedroom and a private bathroom.
Later, I moved into a shared apartment where I also had my own room, plus access to a kitchen, washing machine, and other facilities. What I liked best was having my own space while still enjoying the comfort of a real home—and it was only a 15-minute walk from the school.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
As a Business and Communication student, I spent a lot of time at the front desk at the beginning. Even though I enjoyed what I was doing, it wasn’t exactly related to my studies.
So I think it’s important for future participants to be clear about what they want to gain from the experience and communicate it early on. For example, I explained that I needed to do marketing tasks to match my degree, and the team was very understanding and quickly agreed to adjust my duties.
One really great thing about this program is the work schedule—it’s usually 9 to 5—but time goes by quickly because there’s always something to do. Also, talking with the students is a great part of the job. It helps you learn more about different cultures and makes the experience even more rewarding.
While waiting to take a ferry to go from Sliema to Valletta.
Would you recommend your program to others? Why?
Yes, I would definitely recommend this program because it’s a great opportunity to learn and grow in an international environment.
As I mentioned before, it’s important to be clear about what you want to do so you can make the most of the experience, but the team is very understanding and supportive. Also, if you like the sun and the beach, Malta is a perfect place. It’s a beautiful and lively island, which makes the whole experience even more enjoyable.
It’s a great mix of professional experience and personal discovery that can really help for the future.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Learning to be independent. I think that’s what travelling abroad brought me the most.
For example, when I was in China, it was for my studies and I was there with some friends, but I still had a lot to do alone and had to know how to take care of things—even administrative stuff, for instance.
There’s the whole “discovering new cultures and people” aspect, but I feel like learning to be independent is what you benefit the most from going abroad.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Now that I’m back home, I can see how much my time abroad has impacted me.
It helped me grow both personally and professionally. I became more confident, independent, and open-minded. Working in an international environment taught me how to adapt, communicate with people from different backgrounds, and handle new situations.
It also confirmed my interest in working in multicultural settings in the future. Overall, it was a really valuable experience that gave me new perspectives and skills I’ll carry with me.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is going somewhere you’ve never been. It’s going out of your comfort zone to discover places, people, and environments you wouldn’t have come across if you didn’t tell yourself to go and explore the world.
It’s also when you go somewhere without much expectation and come back with so many meaningful memories and thoughts you learned throughout your time abroad.
