21st Feb-7th March


This week, classes ran as normal, and we actually had a full week in class, with the exception of our Wednesday off. This week, the introductory theory classes had been done, therefore all our practical classes were held in the university sports hall as we got to show off our skills. This included a third badminton class, which was great fun as usual, although I encountered some difficulties mastering the overhead volley, providing great amusement for Becca and Matthew, at least I only have to teach how to do the move, not actually perform it. We were also taught the best teaching points on how to serve the shuttlecock in this session. Our team building activities session also continued, again helping us to become more comfortable with the other students. In one game, where we had to be carried through a hoop without touching the ground, Matthew’s dodgy knee began to give him trouble. So far, many of the Maltese have found it difficult to understand Matthew’s accent and he often gives me stick for the way I talk so slowly and clearly to be understood. So, when Matthew was being carried and his knee started playing up, he shouted ‘Simon! Tell them about my bad knee!’ They could all understand him perfectly at this stage, I couldn’t stop laughing and Matthew was forced to suffer on through the hoop. During each team building activity, the class was split into groups, with each person having a specific role in that group. The role’s were leader, praiser, encourager, recorder and summariser. We all had a turn at each of these role’s, and was particularly good when we were leader as it helped to push ourselves further outside our comfort zone with the class. Our lecturer put a strong emphasis on praising and encouraging, and when any activity went wrong, we would start again until we succeeded.
The three of us attended our practical hockey session, which proved a challenge as the facilities were not exactly the best, as we were playing on a terrible gravel pitch. We just went through the basics of hockey such as how to hold the stick. Much of our first practical sessions were similar to this, introducing us to the implements we were using.
The best part of this week was the annual Gozo carnival at the weekend starting the 4th march and ending on the 6th, although the carnival actually went on from the Thursday. We had been told tat this was the biggest festival in Malta and has been celebrated since 1530. Becca and I had decided to travel early on Saturday instead of the Friday as we didn’t want to miss class and I wasn’t feeling the best. This turned out a great plan as I got plenty of rest (knocking back about 5 lemsip’s) and it persuaded Matthew to join us, preventing him from having one of his ‘douvet’ days, where he decides to hide under the covers all day doing nothing. In total, there were about thirty people that decided to make the trip to the Maltese island, all of which were crammed into an eight person house. Becca thought she had it bad sharing a bed with a few people, me and Matt had to share a small sofa with another person, and it was freezing. Before going to the carnival, we took a bus trip to the Calypso caves. We went about ten feet into the cave before we turned back as they were tiny and in complete darkness. This lead to a walk along the beach which made for some good photo’s. Back at our one night ranch we began getting ready into our costumes that we bought at the 25c store. All of us decided to go us pirates and as we all went to the same store, we all looked identical, which turned out to be a good thing, as the carnival was so crowded, we needed to be easily identified to prevent getting lost. The costume consisted of a old smelly gold shirt, tank tops, eye patches, a big hoop earing and even makeup, we looked ridiculous!

After a barbecue at the house, we headed to a town called Nadur, which was the main spot to be. The streets were filled with bright colours and massive floats with people in crazy costumes dancing on top. They even threw fish from the floats, the place was stinking, I certainly wouldn’t to be living in those streets the day after! The carnival really showed us how serious the Maltese take their festivals and the extreme efforts they go to, they can certainly throw a party! On the Sunday, we got the ferry after a massive clean up at our rented house. The ferry was just a bit rocky to say the least, but at least it didn’t last long.  

Matthew and I have been training regularly with our new football team and Matthew made is debut this week, unfortunately I could not as my clearance is yet to arrive from the IFA, although it is looking good for next weekend! They lost that game comfortably, despite Matthew’s best efforts. I’m hoping I can have an impact next week, a clean sheet would be nice!