Back to Life

Finally back on planet Earth.

On the 15th of February I officially packed all I owned in Libya in boxes and moved to Algeria. The move to Algeria was no bed of roses.... apart from the fact that I had to postpone my flight thrice as the Embassy could not issue my visa as they had a broken printer ( The silliest visa excuse I have ever heard!) - the past 4 months have been probably the worst I have ever experience so far.... between transitioning in my new job, brushing up my French, meeting poeple, rushing to Rome for yet another visa, Egypt twice, Sweden for a day and Libya business trips, dealing with unexpected bombings, running after airlines and agents to get my shipment and lost luggages, wiping off tears of nostalgia for Libya and trying to learn my way around Algiers, finding a place to like I did not have time to sit down and try settling.... I did not even get the chance to tell my friends that I move country or changed my contacts.

Sorry Maria and Fred for giving you such a hard time to find me...... Frederic had a round the world search for me he actually thought I exploded with one of the bombs a couple of months ago :)

So basically life in Algers was hectic... I am now in Malta, enjoying my friends, the sun, the sea and reintegrating in the Maltese life .... with 'Fenkatas' and friends.... snake bites with Cynthia....Brian Adams with Odette and Ger....drinks with Andrew...... and appartment hunting with parents.

Most of you probably want to know more about life in Algeria..... Algeria is definately better than Libya in terms of places to go eating, drinking and dancing... however I miss my friends in Libya, the lifestyle and big Qaddafi posters all over the place.

Algers is one of the most beautiful North African capital cities I have seen so far (Morroco is the only one I haven't seen so far).....

Algiers is built on the slope of a mountain, the bottom of the mountain leading straight to the sea.... the views over the white washed houses with red roofs and the ever so busy port are breath taking...the mountains in the background are superb...... I never get tired of driving around the narrow winding roads of Algiers, or getting lost along the coast - its a break from the hustle and bustle of the week's work..... a drink by the beach at sunset or a ride on the speedboat at sea after work is the medicine for the migranes you get after a day's work.

The Algerian people are also great. A very big mix between Europe and Tribal Africa.... they are proud of their origns.... although all look the same and speak the same, mind you dare confuse the berbers with the people from Algiers or the Kabuls.... or you're in deep trouble.

The Maltese are at least known in Algeria... when I was first introduced as Maltese in the office many went AHHH ... giggled, smiled and welcomed me.... I later found out that the Algerians make fun of the locals who cannot speak French and Arabic very well and mix a lot between the two - 'they say that they are speaking maltese' - which considering the mix of Italian, French and Arabic in our language could be true - I found it quite amusing.... Every North African country seems to have its little 'story' about the Maltese....

I feel that i have almost fully integrated myself into Algeria now.... I can drive around and can comfortably get lost wihout paniking... I've now been asked for my phone number by 3 police when stopped on a road block (i hope they don't register them as all 3 police got 3 different numbers ) - and my address by one police (though i refused to give it to him unless he gets me flowers and chocolates... if he does follow it through lucky the person who gets a policy knocking on their door with flowers and chocolates).... I've touched the Algerian Mediterranean (though still too cold to swim)..... eaten the delicious croissants...danced and drank at the only 3 clubs in Algiers.....sang some french songs with the Algiers in a state of sobriety...... can hold a whole meeting in broken French, and last but not least got the good old North African stomach problems in Algiers....

More will now come on Algiers in the next few months..... for now I'll enjoy relaxing in Malta and meeting up with friends in Morocco in July.....

So as you can see I'm alive... and no Fred, I haven't drowned, died in a plane crash or got blown up by a bomb.....