I put the music on; the wonderful voice of Lana Del Rey comes out of my speakers. My mind goes back to Malta: this magnificent music was tuned up on a boat at the Blue Lagoon.

Every holiday has his best moment, and this day at this wonderful place on the island of Comino was mine during my two weeks stay in Malta in the beginning of September. Swimming in the clear turquoise water, a snorkeling mask on my head, hearing nothing. Under water everything is silent. Fishes swum with me and I saw the sea plants and anchors of the boats stuck on the blue bottom of the sea ten meters below. It really took my breath away!

Even if sometimes it felt like that, holiday isn’t exactly the right word to define my stay.  I followed an English Course at the EF School in St. Julian’s. I had a wonderful and useful time. We had to work hard to improve our English: lessons one part of the day, then practising, which included making interesting excursions – organised by school or our self – to explore the island (the capital La Valetta, fishers village Marsaxlokk, ‘Silent city’ Mdina), laying on the beach or visiting the night life –  it was worth it.  Why this beautiful island isn’t very high on the ranking list of happiest countries in the world (47th)? Maltese people live in a paradise. They are very kind and live in a country where the sun shines every day…

On the other hand, the roads are full of cars; it takes one hour to join a place 10 kilometres further. It is very crowded. Malta doesn’t have a big soccer team too, it hasn’t won a game at home ince years: but they have terrific supporters. The ‘South End Core’, as they call themselves, encourages their favourites during 90 minutes. We went to see the game against Bulgaria with some EF friends. Everyone in the colours of his country: Luigi, Luca & Ebe (Italy) in blue, Herald0 (Brazil) in yellow, Cátia in the colors of Portugal, Genesis and Ollantay (Venezuela) in red and me in orange: very cosmopolitan, but our support wasn’t enough.  Malta lost 1-2.

My stay in Malta was like a victory for me. A fabulous experience; I made new friends from all over the world and improved my English, my certificate proves it. I stayed in a residence with swimming pool, and even if the breakfast and the rooms were very basic, everything was close by: the EF school, the beach and St. Julian’s nightlife.  Going to school on your slippers and in swimming trunks – or almost – feels like living in a paradise. And because I haven’t seen everything of the island yet – lack of time because of school  – the ‘stepping stone of the Mediterranean’ as Malta is historically called, deserves to be visited again.

By now I’m waking up by finishing this story. the song of Lana Del Rey is over. Maybe I should put it on again…

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