It’s been three months since I’ve been working full-time in Malta, it’s gone so quickly and I think I’m finally starting to fit in a little bit. I am past the imaginary finish line of the “probation period” and things have been going well, even though the only Maltese word that I can seem to remember is ‘Mella’ (of course). Homie and I have come to the conclusion that the only reason that we can’t seem to memorize any of the Maltese language is because we don’t ‘have’ to. English is spoken by 98% of everyone on the island, so we are able to communicate quite easily.
All of my colleagues are Maltese, except for the owner who is Greek, and two others who are German. I don’t get mad when I’m the only one in the room that can’t understand the conversation, I just feel isolated. I tell myself that they are not talking Maltese around me because they don’t want me to know what they are talking about or that they are purposefully trying to exclude me, it is just that this is their language and when you let your guard down during the course of the day it is easy to slip into your native tongue. At least that is what I hope they are doing! But then there is another part of me that is annoyed and kind of hurt by it. I know I would not speak in a language in front of someone, let alone carry on a 20-minute conversation in front of that person, if they could not understand what I was saying. I think it is really rude and insensitive, especially if that person was the only person who didn’t understand. Just today we ordered take-away and most everyone was in the board room eating lunch and everyone was talking in Maltese. I wanted to stand up and take my lunch to my desk where my iPod and the Internet were, but I didn’t. I wish I could just politely say, “Could you speak in English please?” and I can not do that either for some reason. I’m so afraid I’m going to offend someone, unintentionally, and I don’t ever want to create problems with my co-workers.
In any situation in America, whether social, work-related or family and friends related, I’ve been a really down-to-earth, assertive and tell-it-like-it-is kind of gal and I’m not here. That pisses me off too. That I can’t be myself. I have been popular and well-liked in all of my previous positions and I love making people laugh. And it never fails, I inevitably become half of the office’s confident. But I don’t see that ever happening here.
Right before the Christmas break the people I sit with in a rather large room were all called into the board room for a short meeting. We were told that because of reorganization and expansion purposes we were going to be switching offices. Because part of my job includes recording instruction videos for our software, I was getting my own office. I thought this was great for my work, because it does get noisy every now and then and I was wondering how I would manage. But then it occurred to me that I will be segregated from my co-workers even further. I am curious to see how it works out, sitting by myself has its advantages, but then I won’t have the opportunity to get to know the people I work with better.
Other than the language barrier things have been going well at work. I’m finally understanding the software and have no problem finding the tools I need on the network to do my job. I love the fact that I can walk to work and it is just a short 10 minute jaunt to and from. The office atmosphere is relaxed and they have flex time, meaning that you can come in up to 10:30 a.m. and then leave at 7 p.m. I have health insurance and direct deposit. I have access to the Internet and freedom, meaning I am left to meet my deadlines without anyone looking over my shoulder, criticizing my work. Then, I called in sick.
I was sick. I had a terrible head cold. In the States, I probably would have went into the office, but here, it just seemed like too much trouble and I didn’t want to give anyone my cold. I emailed the HR gal and about a half hour later she called me at home. She wished me well, told me to take care and said the Doctor would be by shortly. Huh? I said, “Doctor?” She said, “Yes, the company will send a doctor to your flat.” I said, “Will he call me first?” She said, “No, but he usually comes by in the early afternoon.” A couple of hours later the phone rang and it was the doctor, he was lost. I truly did not feel well, (thank God) and tried to give him instructions to our flat, but he lost patience with me and, well, he hung up on me. Now I was thinking I really didn’t want to see a doctor who was angry with me. So Homie, always coming to my rescue, offered to go and see if he could find him. Of course he was successful and less than 10 minutes later I could see them on their way to the apartment.
So he examined me and sure enough, I had a sinus infection that may possibly turn into bronchitis, so he wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic (I’m actually surprised that he didn’t ask for my Father’s signature…) and for ibuprofen. As he was giving me all the instructions for the medication, the rude American that I am, I interrupted him and said, “Well, I can go back to work tomorrow, right?” It was a Thursday. He looked at me with a worried look on his face and said, “Slow down! You may want to take an extra day to recuperate and get back to normal before you go back to work!” I just looked at Homie, shrugged and said to the doctor, “Well, if you think it’s best.” It was a great 4-day weekend.
Spaniards abroad do the same about speaking in their language and feels quite rude. I don´t have problems understanding Spanish but when I am with Sp and foreigners I speak in English even to the Sp people and they look at me as a pedantic snobbish weirdo. Luckily the foreign ones look at me just as a weirdo. Unfortunately, most of the times, sensitiveness in this matter grows when you suffer this in your own flesh… not a priori.
Bless
I can totally feel your pain about the language barrier, even though I am Maltese and speak the language. Used to work in an international school where many of the staff spoke only English, so usage of Maltese in the public areas of the school was frowned upon, which was sensible indeed; it avoided creating cliques and piques.
When I first moved here in ’94 and had an office job in those days, I just let the Maltese flow over me and wasn’t too bothered to be honest about it happening around and my not understanding. It was usually tittle tattle, water cooler stuff and I just got my head down and found that the use of Maltese let me off having to engage. At family gatherings, it’s common for most of the lunch conversation to be in Maltese and again, I use it as downtime to drift off on my own! I’ve just got used to it. To be honest, the conversation always lapses into English, or some English, depending on whether it’s football results being discussed or business! That’s the whole issue here, the use of the two languages – and how it’s perceived and taught from year dot at schools.
Even the Shadow Education Minister acknowledges that there is not clear policy on bilingualism. The country is officially bilingual, but doesn’t follow through as it should have ALL literature in both lingos and it often doesn’t, for instance. See this article for his thoughts on it all: http://www.maltainsideout.com/13359/living-with-two-tongues/
Right now, you need Maltese at ‘O’ Level to get into Malta University but last year, the govt decided that no student can elect to be examined in their subject with the paper in Maltese. So, English rules, but you still need Maltese to enter uni. All a bit of a mess!
Just rest assured that no one will be intentionally excluding you, it’s just they feel more at ease in Maltese over sandwiches at lunch!
Darn! I thought they sent a doctor to you because they cared! Oh well, I think it is pretty cool myself. Most of us here in the states wouldn’t go to the doctor for a cold because it would cost an arm and a leg! lol Besides, they always just say “it is a virus” and no antibiotics for that!
As for the Maltese language, I can just imagine how you feel. Similar to me going to Deaf Chat – and can only pick up a sign or two. The difference is not all signers can speak, so it is their only language – ASL (American Sign Language.) You either learn or sit quietly waiting for someone who can speak, read lips or sign.
Love your writings Wendie…. keep on a’going girl – love reading up on you!
I can relate to this on sooo many levels! I was confident and chatty in the UK at all my jobs. I was popular and knew everyone very quickly. I find it much harder here, I too don’t feel comfortable asking people to talk English but hate it when they’re jabbering away in Maltese. My manager though, who is English has no problem calling out ‘English Please!’ whenever they start and no one takes any offense so we should just give it a go one day!
I hope things get a bit better anyway for you!
And with the doctor thing, also not something you’d get in the UK. Back in the UK if you were off for MORE than 3 days you’d need a doctors note when you came back in. But you could have three days off, some in on the 4th day and nothing said about it.
In Malta, people took the piss for a long time. Everyone going sick all the time, for hangovers or just to go and enjoy the nice weather so most companies have really clamped down. My boyfriends work, like yours, send a doctor round the same day. They can arrive anytime between 9am-9pm and if ur out getting something from the chemist when they arrive… big trouble! So u have to sit in all day without getting medicine and just wait.
At my workk, they dont send a doctor round (only as it costs them and they’re tight!) but if you are off for more than one day then you have to bring in a doctors note. I struggled the first time I was off. I had a really bad cold and was off for 2 days. I was NOT up to getting on the bus and waiting at the doctors but nor was I poorly enough to call out an emergency doctor. Result- no note!
They are stupidly strict about it
!
I understand what you mean about the language barrier for the simple reason that my bf is English and he doesn’t understand Maltese & often enough we find ourselves in this situation. You are definitely right about people letting their guard down and talking in their native tongue. Do not think that they would be talking in Maltese purposely so you do not understand though. I am guilty sometimes of slipping to Maltese but when I notice I correct it or if someone who does not understand is around.
Re: the sick leave yes they send doctors here. Most gov companies do anyway. Some private ones also. It’s mostly to make sure that you are really home on sick (some people take sick leave instead of leave just to have a day off). It’s annoying i know.
Crazy a doctor visit to home!! This would never happen in the U.S.