Malta was last week ranked the third best country in the world to live by International Living magazine, an American publication which promotes the idea of living abroad. Patrick Cooke asked some of Malta’s current expatriates for their verdict.
A new wave of expatriates may be tempted to set up home on Malta’s sun-kissed shores following International Living magazine’s quality of life survey last week, but Malta’s current expats are not in total agreement with its findings.
Caroline Crutchley, a 57-year-old British woman who settled in Malta in 1988 after falling in love with the country on holiday, certainly agrees with Malta’s 94 out of 100 score in the leisure and culture category.
“It feels like I’m living in a museum and I have still not got over the marvel of walking down a street and seeing history on every corner,” she said.
However, she is less enamoured with the environmental situation, despite Malta scoring a relatively high 72 in the survey. “The overbuilding and rape of the countryside is terrible. I have learnt to not feel pain every time I see it,” she said.
Twenty-eight-year-old Jorge Rodriguez came from Spain almost three years ago to learn English and find a summer job. He decided to stay due to the economic downturn in Spain and found permanent work.
Reacting to Malta’s score of 61 for infrastructure in the survey, Mr Rodriguez said: “The infrastructure needs an urgent revamp, particularly the roads and transport system. A country which lives mainly from tourism needs a public transport system that works perfectly.”
Although he misses big concerts, Mr Rodriguez thinks culture and leisure opportunities are adequate for Malta’s size, and he is thankful for the low crime rate, which received a score of 93 in the survey.
German Rob Kossatz, 29, moved to Malta last year, attracted by the fact that English is an official language. In reaction to Malta’s score of 68 for cost of living, he said: “If you have an old flat not too close to the sea and you eat unhealthily, you can have low living costs. If you want a new flat and to eat healthily, living costs can be pretty high.”
The best thing about living in Malta is the low crime rate and the climate, according to Mr Kossatz. Malta scored 100 for climate in the survey, the highest score in the world. “It’s close to perfect,” Mr Kossatz said.
Briton Daniel Hurley, 32, was lured to Malta by the offer of a job in the i-gaming industry, a big employer of expats locally. He was full of praise for Malta’s healthcare system, which received a score of 83 in the survey.
“This is an area where Malta truly can claim to be world class. I’ve visited the hospital and it appears to be excellent. It certainly puts some British ones to shame,” Mr Hurley said.
Maria Peterson, 75, arrived from Britain 15 years ago. She was scathing about the infrastructure and environmental situation.
“We have daily rubbish collection and yet we still see rubbish strewn about the place, we have cars and commercial vehicles still emitting fumes, and dogs are allowed to roam the streets and foul the pavements,” she said. But British woman Melody Morgan-Busher, a resident since 1993, commended Malta’s low crime rate and caring values.
“Children are generally safe and most passersby would offer assistance if appropriate. When I did a First Aid course in Malta, the trainer explained that fending off excessive helpers can be a problem in Malta – how different to America or Britain!” she said.
Dutchman Vincent Laven, 26, came to Malta recently and works in the translation sector. He perceives the cost of living to be low, and although he laments that Sliema is overcrowded, he described the town – a favourite with expats– as fun.
Most of all, he likes the weather. “One word: amazing! Even the rain feels warm,” he said.
Greek student Osama Kanawati, 23, has lived in Malta for five years and enjoys the nightlife and restaurants, but he too hit out at the infrastructure.
“Malta has a very poor sewage system; I don’t even think it exists! I have never been in a country that has so many electrical blackouts and the water system is not great either,” he said.
Austrian Christoph Galea has been working in the i-gaming industry for three and a half years and thinks leisure opportunities are lacking in the winter months.
“Summer is fun as it’s warm till October but in winter it’s dead and quite boring. What’s missing is an indoor swimming hall, perhaps something like a thermal bath. Even an indoor skiing hall would be great and very popular,” he said.