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Looking back on the past three months at Le Fanal, I can’t help but feel a mix of pride and nostalgia. Every day in the kitchen was a whirlwind of excitement—surrounded by the delicious smells of fresh ingredients and the buzz of my amazing colleagues. Working with the head chef Pascal Borell, I picked up all sorts of new techniques and tricks, from perfecting sauces to mastering the art of plating. The thrill of seeing each dish come together perfectly and getting positive feedback from our guests was incredibly rewarding. But it wasn’t just the kitchen that made this experience unforgettable. I loved exploring the local food scene, trying out nearby restaurants that offered everything from mouth-watering tapas to exquisite pastries. Each new place had its own unique flavor, adding another layer of enjoyment to my culinary journey.

Now that my internship is wrapping up, it’s a bit of a bittersweet moment. I’m definitely going to miss the kitchen and all the fun times with my team. It’s been great getting to know everyone and sharing laughs during our breaks. Plus, living in Banyuls has been a delight. I spent days off traveling to nearby cities, discovering charming spots like Perpignan and Collioure, each with its own character and local flair. The summer was filled with vibrant festivals and events in Banyuls, from lively music performances to colorful market fairs. It’s hard to say goodbye to such an enriching experience. But on the flip side, I’m really looking forward to heading back to Ireland. I can’t wait to catch up with friends and family and share all the stories and skills I’ve picked up. It’s been an incredible journey, and while I’m sad to leave Le Fanal and all the adventures here, I’m excited to reconnect with everyone back home.

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Made through the 3 month erasmus program. I'm slightly less pale, I've lost weight from sweating in the sun all day.

This final week was more or less a handover for the other interns, showing them how to weed, look after the farm animals in the mornings.

I was gifted with free olive oil from the farm so now I have souvenirs to dish out. I'm quite pleased that I brought the perfect amount of books with me, finished all but one which I'll read during the flight home. I'm looking forward to starting my part time course in creative fiction next week.

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I've officially finished my work experience at the Malta National Aquarium, and on the 16th of this month I'll officially begin my employment at the Malta National Aquarium. About a month ago the aquarium boss said he'd like me to join the team full time. I was delighted with the offer but unsure if I'd take it, having two cats and my girlfriend, Emma, in Ireland. After two weeks of weighing the pros and cons and having some conversations I decided I'll stay in Malta for a 6 month stint. I really enjoy the work and it is great experience for my CV. The 6 month cap was decided as Emma won't be moving here (nor our two cats) and we don't want to be apart any longer.

A factor in Emma not moving is Malta itself, and her feelings are ones I share. There are many great things about Malta - the weather, sea, people, etc. However, some negatives I felt are litter, construction, cars and tourists everywhere and a lack of nature and respect for the environment.

Some of my highlights have been the work, getting involved with the cat park, integrating myself with the locals, going on fun day trips with friends, having Emma over and feeling myself grow as a person. This is my third time living abroad and it's solidified my belief that moving to another country really supercharges your growth. It's great getting outside of your comfort zone.

As the current apartment is for Erasmus students I started searching for new digs. Luckily the first place I found was the right fit - cheap, in a nice area, good housemates and most importantly - a resident cat. Tomorrow I'll be moving my stuff from Santa Venera to San Gwann.

Last weekend was a tough one that nearly cut my Erasmus short. My cat Mac was brought to the vet early Saturday after being out of sorts for a day or two. After tests the vet said he had stopped producing red blood cells due to Leukemia and that he probably won't last another week, which is all I needed, one more week. I was on video call with Emma and Mac all Saturday and I saw him go downhill fast. My usual ball of energy was eventually struggling to move and breathing heavily. He probably wouldn't have lasted the night so that evening Emma brought him to the vet and we said goodbye to Mac. Not being there and being able to pet or hold him and say goodbye, or support my girlfriend was truly awful. We adopted him just one year ago, but in that time had fallen madly in love with him. It's been a tough last few days of the Erasmus but I'm back home tomorrow and looking forward to the next chapter in Malta in a week's time.

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Final Week! I’m excited to fly home and I’m glad from all that I’ve taken from the experience and thankful for all the things I’ve leaned during my time here in malta the last few work weeks have been well I’ve finished my last project and have my references for when I get home. My colleagues too me for drinks and lunch after work as a little goodbye which was really sweet.

I’ve had so much fun on this trip inside and outside of work the weather has been non stop lovely but it’s funny because a part of me misses the Irish weather. Everyone I work with has been overly helpful and kind and the work I’ve done has truly been fulfilling and given me a clearer idea of the paths and work I wish to pursue in the future.

I would highly recommend doing the Erasmus programme to others as it has helped me grow and given me a opportunity to work in a field I never have before and it was an overall extremely enjoyable experience.

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I've been counting down the days until the flight home. I have one book left out of the pile I brought in June. It's a fairly long book so I'm trying to save it for the long flight.

A lot of Italian kids have started at the farm and it's been a bit of a struggle for them to understand me. They're all about 18 years old but a few of them have a bit of cop on. There was a rainstorm warning on Wednesday which resulted in us all being sent home early. In the end, there were only a few drops every now and then so I didn't see the fuss. I was used to more rain than that. Finally this week I managed to feed the farm animals by myself with no hassle. The chickens haven't laid any eggs in the past week which is a bit concerning but it's likely just too hot for them at the moment.

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Another week of more or less the same tasks. I did plenty of weeding, helped with the chickens, horse, and rabbits, watered some olive trees, encountering plenty of lizards.

However, on Wednesday, while we were lifting some logs, I suddenly felt very light headed and out of energy. I didn't drink enough water or keep my hat on so it was definitely a touch of heatstroke. After staying in the shade and rehydrating, I was OK for the rest of the day but I was told to take it easy. For the rest of the week,I ensured I drank plenty of water and kept my hat on. I had a quiet weekend this week. I've completed my to do list for Malta except for the outdoors activities like visiting a woodland or heritage trails. It's recommended to visit them during cooler months.

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This week Malta went into shutdown, where businesses close and observe a feast day that fell on a Thursday. I was still working this week, feeding the chickens and horse, collecting carob for winter, weeding. Carob collection was a big priority at the start of the week and most days I was left alone to my own devices, filling sacks with carob. I worked and listened to a podcast, enjoyed the solitude. Later in the week, I helped with a stock take in the shop. The staff were happy to be finished in time to go home and thanked me for doing what they considered a boring task but I was happy to spend the day in an air conditioned room out of the sun. I helped with a stock take on my first day so I was happy to help with another one. On the weekend, I went to the Tarxien Temple. While it was interesting, it didn't take long to complete a tour and it took 2 buses to get there. Near the temple I found a Thai restaurant and had some pad kae mao with tofu. I was sceptical at first because a few weeks ago I got a tofu dish in the food market in Valletta that was incredibly disappointing. However the pad kae mao was much better. The tofu was actually fully cooked which is a huge improvement.

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a little over 2 weeks now before returning back to Ireland. I would honestly stay longer if I could. i've had a great time while over in france learning the language, travelling and developing new skills in my career. It feels natural going into work, I know what i need to get in and start doing and throughout the day will help where needed as im confident on all sections and can see where an extra hand is needed.

We said goodbye to Arnaud the Canadian student too. His parents were over for his last few days and we met them after they had had their dinner in the restaurant. We said our goodbyes over a last few drinks together as he was off the morning after. I hope to keep up with the friends I have made here and maybe see them again in the future sometime.

Looking back the past two months have flown by and I have felt like i haven't had enough time here though i am excited to see my girlfriend who is travelling over next week to visit for my last week and we will fly home together. I plan to visit barcelona again while she is over and have more plans around banyuls I would like to show her.

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I began looking after the chickens and horse in the mornings this week. I'll be honest I wasn't immediately a fan of this job. The horse and chickens follow you immediately, obviously expecting food. The horse has to led into his paddock so you can do the rest of your tasks. The feed is kept in barrels and its important to close the door behind you. Otherwise the chickens will follow inside and immediately dive into the barrel. I felt like a complete idiot not being able to manage some chickens. I expected hassle from the horse but I underestimated the chickens. They're equally sly. The rabbits are the easiest to manage. I spent the rest of the week doing more of the same: weeding and watering olive trees. I've also started collecting bags of carob off the ground. The owner likes to collect and store it for winter. It has a very sweet taste.

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My girlfriend was over for 10 days recently. Whilst I worked she explored and spent 3 days getting her scuba diving Open Water PADI certification. After work each day we met at a different swim spot to snorkel. Our favourite was Pembroke Pools, a beautiful rocky area away from the crowds with plenty to see under the water. We typically went for food after too, with L'antica Pizzeria Da Michele being our favourite, serving huge, high quality neopolitan style pizzas with great leopard spotting. The first weekend we went to Gozo to visit my uncle and his family. We spent a lot of time at the house relaxing and catching up with everyone. We also visited the salt pans and swam at Marsalforn and Ramla beach, which had a loggerhead turtle nest being guarded 24/7. The second weekend we rented a car and I was given Friday off work too so we explored Mdina, which was beautiful and not as busy as we feared, but were a bit disappointed by most things being closed or requiring payment to enter. Afterwards we drove along the Dingli Cliffs, stopping to get out for a closer look a couple times. Finally we headed to Ghar Lapsi for a snorkel followed by dinner at the seafront restaurant. Saturday we swam at the incredibly busy and beautiful Peter's Pool and jumped in from some cliff edges. After, we visited the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk and ate at La Nostra Padrona which had the best calamari fritti I've ever had. On the drive home we stopped by Tarxien Temples, the ruins of four megalithic structures. When we arrived home the Paris Olympics opening ceremony had just started so everyone in the house watched it together. The final day with my girlfriend i brought her for a surprise activity - paddleboarding. It was surprisingly hard to stand up, particularly at the start, and there were plenty of falls into the water, all causing uncontrollable laughter from how cartoonish and goofy each fall looks and feels. We paddled along the coast, in and out of beautiful caves and over coral for 3 hours. A Dutch couple from the paddleboarding joined us afterwards to explore and get lunch in Mellieħa, stopping at Riviera Beach for a dip after. We dropped them home and spent our last few hours together before I drove Emma to the airport and said a sad goodbye.

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Five weeks until we’re finish now!! The last week work was good I had finished my big project regarding the ID cards so I was out doing smaller tasks from Monday to Wednesday. I organised documents that were being sent off to be archived, I reviewed monthly share balances making sure the figures added up and did some work on excel overlook information on different accounts on Tonic.

Now I’ve been given a larger project to do that will keep me busy for the next week or so I’d say. I’m going over another excel sheet looking for Lexis Nexis forms between Active Individual  account and Active Company Accounts on Tonic it’s similar to my last project so I’m having an easy time with it since I’m familiar with the systems they use now I should fly through it.

On Thursday I celebrated my birthday and everyone was really sweet I was even surprised with a cake and had no shortage of chocolate and sweets.

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This week, the man who usually tends to the chickens went on holidays so I was shown what to do. Each morning the chickens, ducks, horse and rabbits must be fed. While they're eating, I have to collect chicken which will then be taken to the shop and counted. Then, we collect a box of food waste from the shop to feed the chickens and horse. This food waste usually consists of fruit or vegetables no will buy. Its ideal to leave one egg behind in each nest so the chickens will continue laying. Unfortunately the horse makes the work difficult. It's ideal to distract him with a carrot and penning him while doing work with the other animals. Otherwise he will follow you until he gets food. It can be quite intimidating. I'm the only erasmus placement on the farm this week and it definitely feels like there's more work to do. There were a few jobs that definitely would've been faster with at least 2 people, yet I was doing them alone a lot of the time, which was frustrating. Luckily there are more erasmus placements coming in August.

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The past two weeks have been a blast. The internship has now just been feeling like any job, i've built up good relationships with all the staff speaking in french and improving my vocab as much as possible. ive felt comfortable in all sections and will switch between depending on whos on with me during the day or whatever i feel like having a go at. My roomate had been sick the past week and not attending work so i myself and the other staff were picking up where he was missing which felt a bit more fast paced as i had to be covering his section as well as my own or helping the other chefs. i didnt mind though i like the fast pace. The past two weeks have been one of the busiest to one of the quietest in a while. I think peak season for customers has passed since the end of july as the last week has been noticeably quieter. im very grateful for my time here and would honestly stick around if i could.

Outside of work myself and some of the other students and chefs have been going to the beach or hiking between our shifts as we usually finish around half 2 or 3 in the day and are off until dinner service at 6pm. the hiking can be a lot because of the heat. We have done a hike last week at 5am to watch the sunrise around half 6. We went out for drinks last weekend and also met and spoke to two deutsch brothers who had irish parents as well as a group from paris visiting.

On my days off this week i took a bus to barcelona. I was meant to travel with my roomate but due to him being sick he didnt want to travel and rested before going back to work. I ended up going solo, reaching my hotel at 4pm. After checking myself in and having a quick chat with my parents i set out to sagrada familia on the metro. This took my right out in front of the basilica. This was a very tourist heavy area different from what its like in banyuls so i of course took the oppurtunity to visit the closest irish pub. In Barcelona I didn't do too much honestly, besides get some food, browse the local shops, picked up some gifts for when i return home and had a few drinks. i was off again by 11am the next morning to travel back to france which i didn't get back to my apartment until 6pm that evening.

Into the last month now I have realised how quick the time is going by. One of the students thats been here with us from Canada returns home next week, it'll be disapointing to see him go since ive bonded well with the other students that are here. I look forward to the time i have left and hope to make the most of it.

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Temperatures were still high this week. We completed our woodchipping task, finally clearing the piles of olive trees. The mulch was used to cover the ground of the olive Grove. Hopefully the mulch will be beneficial for the trees over time. In the owner's garden, I helped clear palm tree leaves which are surprisingly sharp and awkward if you don't pay attention. I pricked myself on the leaves a few times. For the first time since picking strawberries, I picked cherry tomatoes this week. The tomatoes were easier to pick than strawberries, more exposed and easier to find. Despite the sun exposure, it was quite a relaxing job.

This was Antoine's last week, a lad from France I got on really well with and helped the workday go faster. On his last night, we watched the Olympics opening ceremony and had pizza from a place near my apartment.

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I've been spending more time in the local cat park and getting to know the local feeders: Lorraine, Marica, Sasha, Joey and Eileen and her mother. I know almost all the 100 or so cats now and can easily spot a new face. One such new face was very easy to spot - a kitten, the only one I've ever seen there. It looked very scared. It took some time but I gained it's trust slowly. I text Lorraine who said it's likely abandoned and the best thing to do is take him in so he can be brought to the vet the next day and put up for adoption. Unfortunately none of the feeders could take him that night. Although it was not mentioned in the accommodation rules, I imagine pets are forbidden, even if its for just one night, for the sake of a cats health and finding a proper home, so I definitely did not do that. The next day he was brought to the vet and put up for adoption. About a week later he was adopted into a loving home and named Giorgio. Picture: (left) when I found him, (right) in his forever home.

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On Saturday I booked an evening boat tour that takes you around the island. We left at 4.30pm and the line for it was fairly long but I got a good seat on the roof of the boat by the railings so I could see the water. There were a couple of stops on the way first they took us to Blue Lagoon the water there was so blue and you could see the bottom everyone on the boat got in and the water wasn’t even cold and thankfully no jellyfish but it was extremely salty so I only stayed in for a couple minutes because I kept getting water in my mouth.

After we were showed around the caves and given a brief background on them. They took us to the set of Popeye village we weren’t allowed to actually go there but it was nice to see. And Finally we went to golden bay around sunset there were already lots of people there swimming at the beach there anyway I ordered a hot dog while I was there and talked with some of the friends I made. When back on the boat they served us barbecue around this time which was really tasty and finally once it was dark out we headed back around 8.30 it was a really nice trip and I’ll definitely do it again.

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The temperatures are still high in Malta and there's not much wind. We have watered all the olive trees and have circled back to where we started. We finished adding mulch to an area and have begun mulching for a new area. The mulch is only for aesthetic value however. None of that mulch is being added to flowerbeds to prevent weeds emerging. All the flowerbeds I've weeded in June now have weeds again. Adding mulch to these flowerbeds rather than just dumping it on the ground of recreational areas for aesthetic purposes would make much more sense. Using the woodchipper to make mulch is our first task everyday. However we will soon run out of trees to put through the chipper.

This weekend I went to the cinema to see Twisters. Cinema tickets are slightly cheaper than Ireland. I learned that Maltese cinemas take intermission to show more ads. I was very confused when the fill suddenly stopped and the lights came on. It really broke my immersion into the film. The film itself wasn't even that long to warrant an interval.

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the past week has been quiet enough. work has been continuing steady i have been working on the entrees now for the past two weeks. i have been enjoying this. there is a few more components to the dishes and more care is taken with them. i have been doing a lot of prep work for the entrees as well, such as cleaning anchovies, prepping lobsters, making bisque and helping with the prep on the menu of the day which is changed daily.

Temperature has also increased reaching upwards of 30 degrees the past few days which only makes the kitchen hotter. i bought a fan for my room due to the heat as well, probably something i could have gotten weeks ago. my parents had come to visit last week. they had left on monday. we spend out time at the beach or out for coffee and usually spend my evenings after work with them for a bit and introduced them to the other students i have met while here.

There was lots of music and live performances over the previous weekend. there was a stage set uip and a dj playing on saturday with performers and dancers. this moved onto the small stage they use regularly to show a multitude of different singers and dancers and musicians that entertained many guests eating and drinking around. i stayed for a while on my walk home from work too, just watching some of the performances. there does not seem to be anything going on this weekend which would be the first weekend in a while, but nothing was going on last night and theres no movement in the town to suggest any performances on tonight.

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The Last work week went well I was slightly under the weather so I didn't do much besides go from work to home all week. I’m still working on the project given about the ID Cards but I’m just about finished I should get it done this week hopefully.

Over the weekend I was feeling better so I took a trip to the Cat Park on Sunday there wasn’t anyone there so I had the whole park to myself, all the cats were lounging about in the shade and I got loads of pictures of them there was also a budgie cage that I got pictures of on the other side of the park which was nice.

All and all didn’t get up to much last week and work continues to go well.

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The temperatures rose this week and work is becoming a bit difficult. Luckily we were tasked with watering olive trees which involves sitting down in nice shade and not too much movement,  as each tree needs to be watered for 5 minutes. I tool advantage of my staff discount to sample the cold drinks the shop sells. So far I've tried cranberry, cola and ginger and each one was nice.

This weekend I visited St Paul's Bay and had a swim. I had an excellent view of St Paul's islands from the beach. The electricity went out in the afternoon so I went out for dinner at a local pizzeria.

and had a swim

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The past two weeks in work i've been helping on both entrees and plats. I've built up a lot more confidence with the dishes and a better relationship with the chefs. i have them speak to me in french as much as possible until i dont understand just to help me practice my french and learn more. i am able to understand the tickets when they are called out and get myself ready for the dishes that are to be made.

I've also been playing petanque with the chefs somedays after work. this is a game where you throw out a small red ball and in teams you have to use hollow metal balls and try to get your balls closest to the red ball. All the chefs have their own set of petanque balls. I had a look for a set for myself but was unable to fine them. Maybe I'll habe to get them ordered if I really want.

Last week on my days off i also travelled to Mallorca. I went over to surprise my girlfriend who was on a holiday over there. I took trains from banyuls into barcelona where I took a quick flight and a taxi to the hotel they were staying out. i had to wake up very early to travel over and still have enough time of the day with them before taking the same route back.

My parents have also been over to visit the past week. It's nice to have seen people from back home. I have went on a little train ride up into the mountains to the vineyards which also includes a tour of the cellar with terres the templiers winery and a wine tasting afterwards. I travelled into collioure yesterday but ended up returning home sooner then expected as collioure was very packed and heavily touristy.

My phone has unfortunately passed away this week. i think it is gone for good so thats a great thing to happen halfway through my time here. I'll have to sort out getting a new one but luckily i brought my laptop over and have been able to use it as well, and to keep up with my blog. This does mean they'll be no photos until i have a way to get a phone and back into my camera roll

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This weekend I got a packed bus to Valetta and visited the national art gallery, MUZA. One thing I've noticed while in Malta is that double decker buses are needed for capacity or single deck buses need to be made more frequent. Most buses are every 30 minutes and if that bus is packed, God help you.

The art gallery was fantastic. As usual I forgot artists names as soon as I left the gallery but I saw many interesting pieces and exhibitions.

Afterwards I wandered along the waterfront and then had a pint and read my book. I considered visiting the war museum in St Elmo but I decided to leave that for another weekend.

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another week done, work this week was well. After having spent a month not here I feel settled enough I’m still working on my current project going through account details on their document manager and making sure it all corresponds correctly to the information on their system tonic.

Over the weekend I took a trip to Paceville to check out the night life and it was so fun i met lots of students in the same situation as me on internships for the summer. I made friends with a group of Swedish girls who were all on summer internships too. It was very crowded since everyone had come out to watch the match that was on at the bars, I had a good time and hope I can find time to go back again.

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I am now a full month in Malta. The last few days haven't been too hot and quite windy. It's honestly been a relief.

A new erasmus student started at the farm and I got on well with him immediately. He's made this week fly by. I've settled into a routine at work and at home. At work I begin by using the woodchipper to make mulch for flowerbeds. In the afternoon I usually do some weeding or watering, nothing too strenuous as it gets warmer during the day. I also make note of birds and insects I see. The most common birds I see lately are sparrows and swifts. I also see carpenter bees quite often, a type of solitary bee that's incredibly big but not aggressive. Once at home I read until dinnertime and then watch a film. I try to go to bed at 10pm but it often takes a while to fall asleep. Every morning a rooster wakes me up about an hour before my alarm.

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Third week and first month in Malta complete. I have slowly adjusted to the heat and I bring two bottles with me to work. Luckily they have water coolers to fill up regularly.

One of the other erasmus students had his last day on Friday. I had assumed he would be here for 3 months like me.

This weekend I visited the Maritime Museum in Birgu. Birgu is a beautiful part of Malta and I would like to explore it some more while I'm here. The Museum ran an exhibition on Malta, an island at a crossroads, exploring the transition from French to British occupation and then independence.

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Another week of work done. The upside - It's the week everything really started to click and I can be left to look after myself fully and have taken on a lot of responsibilities. The downside - a 200kg fishtank fell on my foot on Friday. Went for x-ray but no broken bones surprisingly, despite worse pain than broken bones I've had. David very kindly collected a pair of crutches for me the next day as by then I couldn't walk at all. I'll be sticking to light duties in work for a few days.

Thanks to the crutches I was able to head into Valletta for the night for a drink. The streets and lanes are beautiful and full of character and life at night. The heat and humidity here really crank up the discomfort of a hangover though..

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Another week over, getting a lot more comfortable in my work and in my french. Trying to communicate only in french to my colleagues and also to be given more work and responsibilities. I've stayed helping on the hot section when I can and becoming comfortable here. Got to see how many sauces and garnish are made this week as well as work with pigeon and snails. The photos I have taken are quite gruesome though so I won't be sharing on here. I feel I am getting a better relationship with my colleagues which allows me more confidencen work. Outside of work we said goodbye to one of the danish guys Karl Saturday last week. We enjoyed our final night with him in the local bar before seeing him off the next morning. Now its only myself and simon in our apartment. This makes it pretty quiet when we don't have days off together. Today we travelled back to Perpignan to get some new tattoos. I've just completed getting mine and now it is Simon's turn. After this plan to do some shopping and get someood before travelling back to banyuls and getting my uniform organised again for the week. One of the guys from work has also offered this week to take me to winery that he is fond of to show the wines they make in banyuls. Because of the topography of banyuls all the wine is hand picked and can't be harvested with machines due to the incline it resides on at the base of the Pyrenees. I'm hoping to hike the Pyrenees at some point while I'm here. The same colleague has said he sometimes drives up the mountain to walk to a lookout spot early in the mornings and has offered to join him someday too. This weekendn banyuls they also celebrated the festival of music which commemorates the start of summer. There was live music everyday and shows for kids as well as a large bonfire on the beach sunday night. We hungut briefly during the festival on our way home from work but unfortunately didn't get to appreciate most of it as it was finishing up soon after we left work

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Second week done and into the third week. I've mostly been weeding various parts of the farm. The other workers have advised me to take regular breaks in the shade when I need to as it's been quite hot this week, especially around midday. I didn't do much this weekend because I felt I needed a rest. However I managed to get inspired and write a few short stories over the weekend. They're all rough drafts but I'm happy to have something done. I plan to visit the maritime museum this coming weekend and hopefully one of the nature reserves around the island.

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Second week down, finally finished my last project this week I’ve been moved on to a new one which I should be working on for the next two weeks or so, so I’ll be kept busy for the time being. Everyone in the office is lovely and we’ll be having a department lunch next week looking forward to eating at a new place wherever they choose. Otherwise this week has been quiet but I’ve been enjoying myself and the heat regardless.

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Well, I've become good friends with the cats. I carry treats in my bag and visit them every day after work or when passing by. I saw an animal welfare poster in the park and contacted them to see if I can help with anything. I was put in contact with the local feeder, Lorraine, who I helped the following day. I discover the cats have a private section of the park under lock and key with bedding and food and water bowls. Lorraine tells me there are approximately 200 and that she has been helping take care of them for 20+ years, along with a few other dedicated locals. They do their best to trap and neuter the cats, bring them to the vet when unwell and feed them twice a day, washing every bowl daily. Despite this, the cats are unfortunately in quite bad condition. After travelling the country a little I've realised homeless cats are widespread here and this park is far from unique. Lorraine looks after multiple colonies like this one, and there are just too many cats with too few resources. The cats of Romeo Romano Gardens cost hundreds to feed a week, with no discount from the petshop or help from the government, so vet visits are only for the very sick. I'm going to help with feeding and anything else I can while I'm here.

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Last Thursday all the chef's went to the local sports site where there are basketball courts and nets and a skatepark to play some football. this was really enjoyable and great way to see what was around but also build up a relationship with the team. My competitiveness did lead me to try maybe a bit too hard and I ended up with a large scrape on my leg from slide tackling. This week work has been picking up drastically, we've been doing prep for weddings and having large groups in on the weekend which is great. I enjoy the work and flow of the kitchen and everyone has a chemistry that helps make the kitchen run smoothly. I've pretty much been over the amuse bouche section as I seem to always be the one to prep and change what's going out and send the dishes when a docket comes in. It's been alright but slowly trying to move away so I see more of the kitchen too. Been showing the Danish lads I live with this section so it's not my sole responsibility. I luckily have also been helping prep and plate on the grill more recently. This is more what I'm wanting to improve and continue and I'm becoming more confident reading and understanding the dockets when they come in and helping the chef on the grill. I've got to work with lobster and oysters this week which I wasn't familiar with so it was a good skill to learn. I think im becoming quite good at shucking oysters now with how much I've been doing them daily. I also visited the local aquarium which is located right beside the restaurant. They had some very large exhibits and some interesting fish, crustaceans and jellyfish. One night while walking home this week I was stopped by chef in his truck and asked to go to his laboratory where he will prep large portions of food for weddings around the region of the country. I was going just to help unpack from the last wedding which was 3 hour drive from banyuls. I hope to get a chance to accompany chef to one of the weddings away from the restaurant and see what it's like. The other night all the chef's also went out to a bar to have drinks as one of the waitresses was leaving to go back home to Cambodia. Today I'm just taking to easy and getting any washing done while tomorrow will be taking the train to Perpignan.

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On Saturday I visited the old city of Mndina, Malta's old capital. I took a packed bus from the apartment to right outside the city gate. My main objective was to visit the natural history museum. Unfortunately the bird and mammal rooms seemed to be closed. However, everything else was interesting. I learned a lot about the geology of Malta. The island used to be joined by a land bridge to Sicily. After the natural history museum, I visited the cathedral museum and St Paul's cathedral. One ticket covered me for both. The museum was filled with countless silver artefacts and religious paintings. One of my favourite exhibits was a series of woodcuttings by a German artist depicting the stations of the cross. The cathedral itself was impressive. The ceiling was decorated with various paintings depicting St. Paul. The cathedral was closed at 3pm for a wedding. Afterwards, I found a restaurant that wasn't too busy and had gnocchi and a Maltese spritz.

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First week working at Jezmond Mizzi the first day I went to their main office where I talked Rachel my mentor who I had met the Thursday prior there she went over the company background introduced me to other staff and gave my the project I would be working on. On Tuesday I was moved over to their smaller office in Birkirkara which is only a walk away from the apartment and where I’d be going from now on. I have been working on my current project given to me for the past week I don’t find the work too difficult and the people around me are pleasant to work alongside. I’ve learned much about how to use their Document managing system and their account Managing system called Tonic I have my own desk I work quietly and as quickly as I can I’m almost finished the current project assigned to me and I’m excited to learn more.

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The first week of work is in the books. I've adapted surprisingly well to the 6am alarm. I'm working with the aquarists, currently being trained in to run my own section with 7 fish tanks. Tasks are primarily cleaning the glass in the morning, doing water changes and feedings. Each species is very sensitive, so salinity and temperature of each tank is checked daily and adjusted accordingly. Feeding is also different for each tank. At 1pm I feed two Zebra Sharks, holding a piece of squid underwater which they rapidly take into their mouth by creating a vacuum effect. This effect, and a slight miscommunication on instruction, resulted in my hand being pulled towards the sharks mouth and my finger grazing a tooth just enough to draw a drop of blood. So I believe technically speaking, I can now say I've been bitten by a shark.

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First week of Erasmus placement complete. I've met many interesting people so far. One person working at the farm actually lived near the apartment and he was very generous with lifts home. He was also called David. However this week happened to be his last week. But he made my first week much less stressful. So far this week I've done a stock take in the organic store, planted geraniums in the garden, deweeded various areas of the farm and today I picked some strawberries. My routine varies which is interesting. I've completed The Grapes Of Wrath and a book of short stories also. I have lots of time to read in the evenings.

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Some of the amuse bouche going out. Sardne rillete with olive tuille on the rocks teriyaki tuna tartare in the bowls and cured salmon in a glaze with finely chopped veg

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I have started my work placement in le fanal in banyuls sur mer. I work with 4 other students doing an internship. 2 from Denmark, a German and a Canadian. In the restaurant there is pastry chef who is the daughter to the owners as well as 4 other chefs divided between the sections. There is about 6 chefs everyday. So far business has been slow but I try to stay curious and ask the other chefs what they're making andriting down what I can. For the week I had been put on the amuse bouche prepping for them in the morning and evening shifts forhe required customers in that shift. I have also gotten a chance to help with the grill, plating and prepping for the main dishes. The restaurant serves mostly fish dishes but they also cook swan, beef and rabbit. It's unfortunate how quiet it is at the moment as I don't like not being busy but I'm hopeful it'll pick up in the summer. It's a good introduction to the restaurant while it's quiet and I can get a feel for the prep that needs to be done and how the place operates. I've been getting on well with the other students and chefs and have went out for food and drink with them, trying out some of the restaurants around the seafront. I have also gone on some coastal walks around the village and up the hill it's built on to explore. Some of the meals from this week we're home cooked as we're in an apartment full of chefs so we all want to show what we can make and have something different to the french cuisine around us. I'm off now today and tomorrow, I think I might get train into Perpignan to explore as it's bigger and has more shops and food spots to try. We had cleaned the apartment this morning but realised there is some more bits we'll need to pick up if we're gonna be staying here all summer but trying to keep my spending low to not go overboard. I also want to try get to the gym in banyuls as I haven't had a chance since arriving.

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On Saturday I took the bus to Valetta and visited the Archeology Museum. The Museum had many interesting exhibits on Maltese Temples and artefacts from throughout Maltese history, including skulls and coins. The most recent coin features Queen Elizabeth. I also learned that since gaining independence in 1972, it was the first time Malta used their own currency, rather than using whatever currency colonizers used. I was surprised at first to have to pay for a ticket as I'm used to free museums in Ireland. However a student ticket was only 3.50. Afterwards I strolled along the street outside and found a Costa. I sat and read my book and enjoyed a strawberry refresher that isn't available in Ireland. I'm currently re-reading The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck which I had started on the plane. I'm currently about 75% through and I'm really enjoying it.

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After landing in Malta late Wednesday night, it was a pleasant surprise that the heat and humidity wasn't as bad as expected once we stepped off the plane. We arrived at our new home to another pleasant surprise - a spacious, modern apartment with aircon in the living room and every bedroom.

We were up early the next morning to meet Ruella at her office, which we decided to take the 30 or so minute walk to and get to know our area. I was happy to see plenty of middle Eastern food options along the way. After Ruella's briefing we were brought for introductory meetings at each of our work placements. At the National Aquarium, my superiors were shocked at my height and worried I might not fit their uniform, but I just about squeeze into it. We discuss the role, I meet some colleagues, and leave - excited for my first day on Monday. We're dropped off in Valetta to collect our bus cards and say goodbye to Ruella, and as a thank you for her extra effort in securing my desired role I give her a jar of small-batch raspberry jam from West Cork.

The three of us have a wander around Valetta and get a bite to eat. I went for a local dish - rabbit liver.

On the way home I did my first shop at a nearby LIDL. Carrying full shopping bags uphill in Maltese heat could be an Olympic sport. I relaxed and read for the rest of the day. Finally I cooked us all dinner - minestrone and and roasted chicken breast for the two meat eaters, myself and Sarah.

The following day I mostly relaxed and read. Late afternoon I went to a nearby gym. It was full of old hardcore weightlifting equipment and unnaturally large men. It was a bit intimidating but I got stuck in. That evening I remembered I brought my Chromecast so hooked it up and watched the Tommy Tiernan show with David.

Yesterday, after some reading, I headed out on a big hike aiming for Pretty Bay on the west of the island. I made it most of the way before my bad knee forced me onto a bus for the remainder. Having not researched the beach I was surprised to find the bay is home to an active shipping container yard/harbour! Luckily the water was still pristine so I jumped in. Afterwards I strolled the coastline and chatted with a couple locals.

Just before reaching the apartment I wandered into a park and was delighted to find some cats lounging about. After exploring the small park I realised there are roughly 50 cats and that they are homeless and fed by locals and a charity. I decide that tomorrow I will buy cat food and make some new friends.

This morning I woke up and figured I should write my first diary entry. Now, off to empty the shelves of my nearest pet shop.

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Finishing up my first week in France. Moving on from Perpignan this evening to see our work placement and meet the chef's I'll be working with. When we first arrived I was shown to my accommodation. I was the first one to arrive before sharing with a Danish student and some Italian students. Myself and the Danish students, who are also studying to be chefs, made a meal for the italian students when they arrived and are together to introduce ourselves and ask about each other. We've spent the last 5 days doing french lessons in alfmed and preparing our introduction to the chef. We were brought out on a tour of Perpignan during our first few days and given a picture hunt to familiarise ourselves with the city. During this week alfmed also had a garden party for all the students to meet each other where we mixed with Spanish and Italian students as well as having the Danish students I'm working with and myself. I look forward to moving onto banyuls and starting my work placement in le fanal and learning as much as possible for the time I'm over.

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Yesterday we went to the Easy Job Bridge office and  had our first meeting with Ruella going over the rules of our accommodation, how to use the emergency phone and informed about some of the sights we should visit. From there we visited our host companies and had our first introductions with our mentors and others we’d be working alongside. Jezzmond Mizzie is my host company their main office was nice and everyone there was super friendly. After we met each of out Host companies we were dropped off in Valetta to collect our bus cards and to explore, we stopped to have some food and I ordered some pasta and salmon and ice tea which was very delicious.

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The three of us landed in Malta last night and headed straight to our accommodation. We were amazed at the size of the kitchen/living area. We had an introduction meeting with Easy Job Bridge at 9 and walked there from the accommodation to take in our surroundings. We each went to our respective placements and introduced ourselves. After landing late last night and early meetings, we were all very hungry. This bowl of mushroom pasta is what I had for our first meal together after our meetings.

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Waiting at the gate for my flight to Perpignan. Excited to fly and start my work period

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Excited to get the opportunity to fly to France to work with Pascal in his restaurant in Banyuls ser mur. This feels like a great chance I improve my own skills as well as learn new ones. I look forward to travelling to France and seeing the culture and scenery the country provides as well as explore the range of food creates there, using this experience to build on myself and my own skillset.

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My name is Sarah Doyle, I’m a student at Bray Institute Further Education I’ve recently finished my course in IT and Office administration. I’m feeling excited and grateful for the opportunity to put all I’ve learned into a practice for this Malta trip and looking forward to visiting Malta having not been there before.

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Feeling fine

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Feeling excited about what adventures I may have on the trip. I'm somewhat tentative about my work placement, but feeling positive Ruella will find a good fit for me. Looking forward to setting off!