Ready to have an amazing summer!

On the second day, we went to the office and met the lovely Ruella. She took us around to our workplaces and introduced us to our employers. Such a warm welcome really inspires us before the start of our placement! 💼

We arrived in Malta on Sunday evening after a long flight and settled into our apartment. Everything went smoothly, and we got some rest for the week ahead.

Monday – Orientation Day

On Monday, we visited the Easy Job Bridge Centre near Valletta, where Ruela introduced us to Malta, our work placements, and the apartment rules.

Afterwards, I met my supervisor at Urban Valley Resort & Spa, where I’m doing my placement at the Front Office Reception Desk. I received my work schedule and got prepared for my first shift.

Tuesday – First Day at Work

I started work at 8:00 a.m. and was given a tour of the hotel’s seven accommodation blocks. I then learned how to welcome guests and assist with check-ins.

It was a busy day because the Greek national team arrived for a semi-final tournament, so I got to see how reception handles large group check-ins professionally. After work, I relaxed by going to the gym and then to the beach for a swim.

Wednesday – Gaining Experience

Today, I continued improving my front office skills by helping with guest check-ins, preparing shuttle bus lists, and answering customer questions. Another sports team from Barcelona arrived, so the hotel stayed busy throughout the day.

Overall, I’m becoming more confident each day and learning a lot about customer service and hotel operations. I’m really enjoying my experience in Malta so far!

​My host company, Arts and Crafts Malta, is located at 62A Kurat Schembri, Mosta (Studio) / Triq il-Kbira, Mosta (The Art Gang Shop)🌼. We specialize in organizing various events and cultural activities for children and adults, including tailored programs for people with disabilities, children with developmental delays, and international children who have moved to Malta from other countries.

​To be honest, I’ve been so busy with work that 😮‍💨, unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to go inside the church yet 🫣, even though I genuinely enjoy its majestic view from the outside every single day. I hope 🙏 that once we wrap up all the events scheduled for this week, I'll have a bit more free time. I will definitely drop by during a lunch break to explore its grand interior and take some photos!

Our organizer at Arts and Crafts Malta, Kami, somehow found out that I used to do fire shows in the past. And can you imagine her reaction? On my very second day of work, she asked me to take part in a small fire performance for our event!

I was incredibly nervous because it had been quite a while, but as soon as I caught the flame 🔥, muscle memory and pure excitement took over. What a rush to feel this element again, and right here under the warm Maltese sky! This has got to be one of the most unexpected workdays of my life❤️‍🔥.

​Well, 'a day off' is a relative term... Anyone in the creative field will understand! I spent the entire day learning a song for a short fairy tale play for a children's event. This was my very first time attempting to master a song in a foreign language in just a day and a half! Naturally, memorizing it perfectly in such a short window is next to impossible. However, we came up with a highly creative solution to this tricky task: they hid me backstage while the puppet actor performed on stage, which allowed me to peek at the lyrics a little bit! 😉 I’ll share some photos from the event soon to show you how it all turned out.

​I also have some great news! My student friends from our BIFE team helped me out big time by picking up my personalized bus card (shown in the second photo). Here in Malta, this Tallinja Card grants completely free travel on most day and night bus routes for residents and students. This means I can now commute to work completely free of charge and freely travel around this magical island! Stay tuned!

​We made all the puppets with our own hands (like the seahorse I'm holding in photo 1000025789.jpg), and they glowed beautifully in the dark. We also brought in some elements from our fire shows but used safe LED light equipment instead.

​Our audience—both children and adults—was absolutely spellbound. To be honest, even we, the actors, were amazed by how stunning it looked from the inside!

​Another wonderful highlight was meeting a fellow Ukrainian here—the photographer for the event is a guy from Ukraine, which was such a heartwarming connection. As soon as I get the photos from him, I’ll share all the magic with you right away!

Thursday was my day off, so I started the day by going to the gym. While I was there, I met a local Maltese guy who told me more about life in Malta and some interesting places to visit. We ended up spending most of the day together, and he showed me a great swimming spot in Sliema. Later that evening, he invited me to play football with his friends from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. I really enjoyed it and it was a great way to meet local people and experience Maltese culture.

Friday – Learning New Skills

On Friday, I worked an evening shift from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. During my shift, I continued practicing guest check-ins and learned a new task called Guest Requests. This involves helping guests with anything they need during their stay. For example, if a guest requested an iron and ironing board, I would contact the housekeeping team to deliver it to their room. Once the request was completed, I would follow up with the guest to make sure they were satisfied.

I also escorted guests to their rooms after checking them in. One of the guests even gave me my first tip, which was a nice surprise and made me feel appreciated for my work. After my shift, I went home and relaxed for the evening.

Saturday – Discovering Sliema

Saturday was another day off, so I decided to explore Sliema. While walking around, I tried a Dubai Chocolate Croissant, which was one of the nicest pastries I have ever tasted. After exploring the area, I spent some time at the beach enjoying the warm weather and the beautiful views.

Sunday – Meeting Guests from Around the World

On Sunday, I returned to work and spent most of the day escorting guests to their rooms and helping them settle into the hotel. One of the things I enjoy most about this placement is meeting people from different countries every day. This week, I met guests from Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and many other places.

My supervisors continued teaching me new skills and showing me more efficient ways to carry out my duties at reception. Each day I feel more confident in my role and continue learning valuable customer service and hospitality skills.

I have spent the entire time learning the art of filigree from the first day. The first few days I practiced creating the basic patterns that I would be using and then in the last few days I have learned how to “fill.” This is where I make these patterns to a specific size and fit them into the frames given to me by my supervisor where we will then make into jewellery.

It hasn’t been all just work though. I have been lucky to experience the Maltese coastline. I have spent almost every evening after work relaxing in and beside the water. I have also been able to explore some of the neighbourhoods surrounding my work and apartment, soaking in the unique area I am living in.

We made an array of pick items and our chef showed us a traditional dessert from his hometown which we piped with black pudding and onion jam.... Genius, I asked him where he got his ideas and he said "I'm a crazy man" so there's home for me.

I'm on my second day, and have already learnt so much, but particularly the take on food which is astonishing to me. I'm doing snacks plating and prep for the moment but will soon be doing more.

In Valladolid everything was around me, converso is located in a hotel next to a tiny living village with 1 shop that never seems to open and a bar. So transport has become a necessity, though it is entertaining piecing together each day, we get a weekly allowance of fruit and veg from the hotel but it'll only take us so far... I need oats.

Today, our main magic was Face Painting and Body Art! We transformed the kids into dinosaurs and magical creatures, and created sparkly glitter tattoos and henna designs. Just look at the video to see how spellbound the children are while waiting for their new looks! It feels incredibly rewarding to bring these bright smiles to their faces and add a splash of color to their holidays!

Plus, it’s located right on my commute back from work. Whenever we wrap up our shifts not too late, I make sure to stop by and stock up on groceries. I have to catch it early, though, because quite often I head home so late that almost all the shops in our town are already closed!

Recently, this supermarket literally saved me—I bought new pillows there. The thing is, the pillows in our apartment were extremely hard. At first, I tried to ignore the discomfort because I was just so incredibly happy to have the opportunity to experience this beautiful country! But after a while, it caught up with me: my neck stiffened up completely, and I got a terrible headache.

When my supervisor, Kami Clifton, found out, she was so kind and even offered me a day off! However, I didn't want to leave the contracts I was drafting at the time unfinished. Instead, I suggested working online from home. We had already tried this remote setup before, and it actually turned out to be much more productive, especially since Kami’s internet connection at the studio can be quite poor sometimes. So, thanks to a new pillow and a flexible schedule, I'm back on track!

Monday to Thursday – Recovering

Unfortunately, I was sick from Monday to Thursday with a temperature and a sore throat, so I was unable to attend my internship. I spent these days resting and recovering so that I could return to work feeling better.

Friday – Back to Work

By Friday, I was feeling much better and was able to return to work. It was nice to be back at the hotel, catching up with my colleagues and getting back into my daily tasks at reception.

Saturday – Busy Shift

Saturday was a very busy day at the hotel. We had 37 check-ins, so reception was extremely busy throughout the shift. I spent most of the day checking in guests and escorting them to their rooms. Managing so many arrivals at once was challenging, but it helped me improve my organisation and communication skills. I was also lucky enough to receive several tips from guests, which made the day even more rewarding.

Sunday – Relaxing Day

On Sunday, I had a relaxing day at the beach with my friend. We also played tennis together, which was a great way to unwind after a busy week at work.

I feel I have made significant progress. Learning how to do all 4 steps. Creating the frame, filling, soldering it together and finally cleaning and polishing the piece.

I have created some of my own pieces and contributed to the shops work too.

I have also learned some other skills too. I have learned how to gold plate and confidently do it by myself. I have been given several pieces to plate fully and in two tone. The process requires a lot of accuracy and patience to pull off well.

It hasn’t all just been work. I have established a nice routine too. Going for swims in the morning before work and then after to cool off. It’s keeping me fit and active while I’m cooped up behind the workbench!

I have also experienced some of the night life! My favourite bar being Babel Bistro. It has live music every night from 8-11. There are a variety of bands who frequently play so every night is always different and it’s nice to go after working on a Saturday evening.

We are continuing our work on 'New Waters'. Today, we had a rehearsal combined with a video shoot for our promo and commercials...

At my placement, I spent most of the week getting familiar with my workplace, meeting everyone, and learning how things are done. I was a little nervous at first, but each day I felt more comfortable and started settling into the routine.

Outside of work, I was also trying to get used to everyday life in Malta. I had to figure out the bus stops and routes, learn my way around the area, and do simple things like buying groceries. It really felt like I was starting from scratch, but I enjoyed becoming more independent and discovering how everything works.

Overall, my first week has been a mix of challenges and new experiences. Even though there's still a lot to learn, I'm already feeling more settled and confident. I can't wait to see what the next few weeks bring and make the most of my Erasmus experience.

"Hey everyone! Today is a new day and a new location. Wendy (she's an intern from France doing her internship here in Malta) and I are on our way to a new work assignment..."

And this is what our workdays look like during our internship in Malta! Here is a behind-the-scenes look at my placement as part of the summer school by Arts and Crafts Malta (ACM)! In this video, we are running a sports relay race for children in the spacious hall of DGYM Academy in Mosta.

​According to the contract—the draft of which I prepared in detail back during the online stage—we organize creative and educational workshops, but warm-ups and active games are a mandatory part to get the little ones energized!

​Today on our schedule, we have a fun relay—the sack race. See how confidently the girl is jumping in the green sack? I always spot her and stay right by her side because children's safety is our number one priority! The mats in the gym are a bit slippery, so I have to constantly stay on the move and keep the distance under control with every single little participant. This is a real fitness marathon for me. It’s a pity, of course, that I don’t have as much stamina and energy as these kids 🤪, but the other interns from Arts and Crafts Malta were wonderful at helping out and filling in for me when I got tired. Overall, we have a very friendly and international team!

​The sack race is a great way to develop children's coordination and team spirit. The gymnastics gym is equipped with excellent mats and large mirrors, so the kids can see their progress, while the other participants are already at the starting line, waiting for their turn with yellow sacks. The atmosphere is just mega-positive, the kids are thrilled, and for me, it’s a brilliant experience of mentorship and t

eamwork!

I have been keeping very busy. Devoting most of my time to working in and out of the workshop. If I am not working away on my own work or any assigned to me in the workshop. I am on the beach, bus or at home with my head tucked into my sketchbook.

Learning the art of filigree has been absolute pleasure. It is a form of jewellery and art that is fluid in both in its tradition and possibility of innovation. I have barely seen and explored both sides of this art form and excited to explore and experiment further along with adding it’s unique skills to my repertoire and abilities for future pieces I have imagined and excited to involve it in.

Spending a lot of time in the workshop and in my own individual work has left me with little opportunity to explore the culture and island along with meeting the variety of people who call it home.

However, I have made conscious efforts the last few weeks to be more involved and social. Along with my passion for jewellery, I have a deep and kindled love for music. I have always been active in my local music scenes in Ireland. Playing in bands in Wexford and now in Dublin. I wanted to see what Malta had to offer for live music. I have been to two gigs so far. It has been a great way to meet local artists and musicians which have been very welcoming.

I also could no longer hack the lack of playing music while being here. Last week I caved and purchased a lovely classical guitar, nice and quiet so I didn’t bother my neighbours in one of my typical late night and manically inspired writing sessions. It has been a lovely companion for slow evenings when I have wanted to get away from work and jewellery for a breather and different artistic outlet.

I have been keeping my head down though. Engrossed in my work as well as progressing to my greater career and learning goals, I have also made steady progress to the ones I wanted to achieve while here in Malta. Trying anyway I can to pry my way into any opportunity or relevant experience I may have access to in the jewellery industry. I have attempted to make arrangements to and hopefully will get to see first-hand the process of recycling scrap silver back into workable material. I also have taught many workshops. And will hopefully get to go to the suppliers where we purchase material and other more traditional products that we resell along with our own fully in-house produced pieces.

I have been having a blast. It’s been an enriching experience so far and have no fear that the second leg will be the same if not more motivating, exciting and expansive in what it will offer to honing my craft and my employable/career skills.

During my second week in Malta, I began settling into both my internship and daily life. Coming from Ireland, I was still trying to get used to the heat. Even simple activities like walking to the bus stop or travelling to work felt more tiring because of the heat. I quickly learned the importance of staying hydrated, wearing light clothing, and managing my energy throughout the day.

I also became more accustomed to working a 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule. At first, working full-time was a significant change from my student routine. I started planning my mornings more efficiently, allowing enough time for my commute and preparing for the workday ahead.

At my workplace, I continued observing how professional projects are managed and gradually became more confident in the workplace. Each day helped me become more comfortable asking questions and learning from the experienced architects around me.

Living independently in a different country has also helped me become more responsible and adaptable. Although adjusting to a new environment has been challenging at times, I can already see myself becoming more confident both personally and professionally.

Overall, Week 2 was about adapting. I became more comfortable with the Maltese climate, adjusted to the demands of a full-time work schedule, and continued developing valuable skills that will benefit me throughout my architectural career.

By my third week in Malta, I had become much more confident in both my internship and my daily routine. I was beginning to understand my tasks more clearly and was completing my work more efficiently. As I gained experience in the architecture office, I felt more comfortable asking questions, learning from feedback, and applying what I had learned. My confidence continued to grow each day, and I felt like I was becoming a valuable member of the team.

Outside of work, I also started exploring more of Malta. After spending the first couple of weeks adjusting to my new environment, I began visiting some of the island's beaches in the evenings and at weekends. This gave me the opportunity to relax after work while experiencing Malta's natural beauty and culture. Spending time outdoors also helped me balance the demands of a full-time internship and made me feel more settled in my new surroundings.

Overall, Week 3 marked a positive turning point. I became more capable at my work while also gaining the confidence to explore Malta and make the most of my Erasmus experience. Both my personal independence and my architectural skills continued to develop throughout the week.

This week we had a real "debut"! For the very first time, we taught kids how to play and create with a special dough recipe.

The most interesting part, though, was kept behind the scenes: my fellow intern from France and I had never actually tried this recipe ourselves before! 🤫🤫🤫

It was our little secret! So it turned out that we were learning and experimenting right alongside the children we were supposed to be teaching. Naturally, we were both super nervous, but we totally nailed it!

Sometimes the best moments of an internship happen when you step out of your comfort zone and learn something new together with the kids. ❤️🎉

This week I helped in completing an order for a different jeweller who ordered a kilo of simple bands we can mass produce in the workshop.

This shifting focus also freed up more time between work. This allowed me to work more on my own ideas and concepts. However, I was feeling a little less motivated and a bit uninspired this last week. That definetly affected my individual work. I think it really outlined the importance of taking time away from the workshop. You cannot expect to make good work if you can’t take the time away to work it out as well as become inspired. My best and different ideas come when I’m not toiling away at my bench. Even if I can’t get enough of the work. Choosing voluntarily and to no complaint, to work long hours and long weeks. I need to consider a healthier balance.

Monday

I started my new role working in Food & Beverage from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. before moving to Reception until 7:00 p.m. I met Allan Bates, who was very welcoming and told me about his role in the hotel. I feel much more confident answering calls and speaking with guests now. After work, I went to football training and later watched Morad perform at Gianpula.

Tuesday

I worked at Reception from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We had around 24 check-ins, so it wasn't too busy. After work, I went shopping to buy food for the next few days.

Wednesday

Work was quiet today. I made a small mistake with a guest request at Reception but learned from it. Everything was sorted in the end. Later, I went to football training.

Thursday

Although it was my day off, I decided to work. I bought a birthday cake to share with the staff in different departments, and everyone enjoyed it. Afterwards, I met my friends and celebrated with them too.

Friday

It was my birthday. I went to the gym in the morning and later spent the day with my friends. In the evening, we went for sushi in Valletta to celebrate.

Saturday

I organised a yacht trip for myself and five friends. We visited places including Comino, the Blue Lagoon and St Paul's Bay. After the trip, we went to Paceville and finished the night at the beach.

Sunday

Back to work after a busy weekend! We had 27 arrivals, so Reception was busy. I worked at breakfast in the morning before moving back to Reception for the rest of the day.

We also had a gardening session! The guys were pulling weeds, and the kids from this special school and I were carrying them to the bin. Even though Nicholas, the group leader who I was assigned to, took great care of me and tried to take on the hardest parts of the job 🤗, I still managed to cut my finger! 👆🩸 Good thing I always carry a first-aid kit with me. 💊⚕️💉🏥

It wasn't easy, especially considering that I'm not really great with dough. On top of that, I had no prior experience or training in working with people with additional needs. But we made it through, and everyone was really happy with the result, especially since we wrapped up the session outdoors. Take a look—it looks pretty appetizing, doesn't it?

Getting ready for DGYM Summer School! Today, I spent all 7 hours of my working day cutting out these silhouettes. Almost done—just a tiny bit left! This is for the event called SUPERSTAR FASHION SHOW + HUNTRIX KARAOKE. It's quite challenging for me because I've never actually seen this event in person; all I have is the program schedule. It's hard to fully grasp what we're preparing and why, especially since my background is in Music Performance, so everything related to children's entertainment and animation is completely new to me. Even though I have experience organizing and running events for adults, working with kids is a whole different story. You have to know all the latest cartoons, games, and trends they love. The saying really holds true here: 'Seeing is believing' (or 'a picture is worth a thousand words')...

My sister, Dearbhla and our friend Anna-Sofia made the long journey from Dublin to Malta to see me and enjoy a holiday in the sun too.

I was allowed a little more time off from work than usual due to my hardwork in the shop recently. We spent a lot of time relaxing and basking in the sun but we had a couple of day-long outings.

We went to The Blue Grotto, did the boat tour and spent the day at the waterside of Wied Iż-Żurrieq. We also went to Mdina and Rabat. Exploring the small but historic "silent city" as well as venturing into the catacombs.

We spent most of our time relaxing however. I was happy to have the time off so we spent most of time lounging by the waterside and catching up. We also spent our evenings in a variety of restaurants wining and dining, trying the local seafood which although tasty, I can't quite say it beats the local freshly caught cuisine from my home, Kilmore Quay.

We also had a couple late nights. Touring the many bars on and around Strait Street. My visitors got to meet my co-workers and friends I had made during my placement. We also treated ourselves to fancy cocktails one of the nights in my favourite spot, Kamy.

Although I did work throughout the week, filling frames, soldering and cleaning up the workshop. It was nice to get a good dose of home before my last month on the island. Showing them around the places that I have come to find and love during my time here; and to share them was a lovely and unexpected experience.

I was more than happy to be back though. The time off left me full with inspiration and a thirst to be back at the torch and tweezers!

This week was fairly simple and saw me doing some unusual work. I was tasked creating postcards some of the days to stock up the shop with some new and different offerings. This also left me with my sketchbook and my imagination. I did inevitably trail off and produce some sketches of jewellery which I have begun to work on but yet to finish.

They were really class and fun to hang out with, and I ended up spending some time with them after parasailing. I really enjoyed meeting new people and having a random day out with people I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise.

Parasailing was definitely one of the highlights of my week. It was a bit scary at first, but I’m really glad I tried it, and meeting the people from Spain made the experience even better.

We walked around our locality and explored some of the streets that we hadn’t really paid attention to before. Since I’m doing an architecture internship, I also found myself looking at the buildings and noticing different details like the balconies, doors, windows and the way the houses are built. It was interesting seeing the local architecture in person instead of just looking at buildings as part of my work.

It was a pretty simple day, but I actually enjoyed it. We didn’t have to plan anything or spend much money, and it was nice just walking around, talking and taking things slowly. I think after a busy week, sometimes doing something simple is exactly what you need.

One of the best things I did this week was go to see the new Spider-Man movie with a friend from work who is also doing Erasmus. It was really nice to go out and do something fun after having such busy days. I loved the movie so much and it was definitely one of the highlights of my week.

Even though the weekdays have been quite tiring, I still really enjoy having little plans like going to the cinema or hanging out with friends. It makes the week feel a bit more exciting and gives me something to look forward to after work.

Last week, we organized an exciting Superstar Fashion Show workshop for the children at DGym Academy!

​We started the session with a story about Gaya and the Planeteers, exploring nature elements and textures. The kids then created their own unique fashion sketches and designed doll outfits using colorful papers and collages.

​The grand finale was our runway show on the red mat, where the children proudly walked like real models and showcased their creations! Although we were so immersed in designing that we ran out of time for the karaoke and ribbon dance, it was wonderful to see so much imagination, energy, and radiant smiles!

Our 8th week of summer school turned into pure neon magic! Together with the team, we prepared an interactive adventure — the Fairy Neon Glow Party — where everyone could feel like a part of an enchanting fairytale forest.

While Sara and I worked our magic with vibrant face painting, turning the kids into delicate butterflies and woodland fairies, Gianmarco entertained the children with games.

The main excitement unfolded when Queen Titania came to visit the girls. She announced the rules of the grand initiation: to become true fairies, the young apprentices had to pass a special trial of Nature. A heartwarming puppet show awaited them, where through fun and wise characters — the lively Bee, the hardworking Ant, the bright Butterfly, the Ladybug, and the Caterpillar — we taught the little ones about nature's life, the power of teamwork, the secrets of honey, and the mysteries of the night forest. For every mystery unraveled, the future fairies received a precious gem.

Once all 8 magical crystals were gathered, Queen Titania declared the initiation complete — and it was time for the most anticipated finale: making real potions!

Small black cauldrons, a large golden pot, fizzy sparkling reactions of baking soda, vinegar, neon colors, and hundreds of sparkles brought a true wave of pure excitement to the children!

This day left behind a sea of genuine smiles, glowing eyes, and the feeling of a real miracle that we created together! 🌿✨

Creative moments behind the scenes ✨ We recently learned how to transfer prints onto mugs with a heat press machine — so satisfying to see the final results!

​I’m glad my singing and fire-spinning skills were useful to Kami, and that my sense of responsibility and care helped keep all her puppets and stage props completely safe and organized while she was away. We did a full inventory check once we finished up.

​I’m truly grateful to Kami for this experience, especially for the chance to practice my English (her English is so professional and articulate). It’s a little bittersweet that I didn't get to work directly within the music scene, as Malta hosts so many festivals where working would have been amazing since music is my main path. I was busy working most of the time, so I only caught glimpses of those festivals. Still, even within Arts and Crafts, I managed to sing a bit, and I got to brush up on my fire performance skills as well. Thank you, Malta!

This week we started a new project, creating a filigree brain. My Boss had done a similar project before, not entirely finishing the project but coming close. This time he was determined to create a full recreation.

This involved me and my coworker, Charlotta, filling tiny frames my boss would make while he sized up and made the next frames. He would also solder and form these frames to the main structure that slowly formed as we continued to work on it.

Although there was other work to get done around the shop, we spent a significant time on the brain this week, making good progress, almost completing the base and stem of the model.

We used a highly detailed 3D printed model to shape the thin and malleable filigree structure, this made the process of actually shaping the piece smooth and efficient, requiring only a hammer, pliers, patience and the correct amount of force for our work to quickly take shape.

The long hours this week meant I didn't get to too much relaxing or activities outside work besides one or two evenings that I went to one of the bars that I frequent with my colleagues. I wasn't too displeased as I had quite a lot of time off the week before last and was enjoying the motivation and determination in the workshop with this big new project.

I did manage though to get to the Pinta Beer Festival on my day off where I was able to get some beer from home! It was far from my first choice and it wasn't on draft but it was nice to have a taste of home. It did come as a sober reminder that my time here was drawing near and I should appreciate and enjoy every last moment that I could!

However this weekend I went to Gozo! I had been putting off going since I got here but finally felt it was the perfect opportunity to experience the other island.

I went to the famous Ramla beach with the beautiful red sand and explored the small and quiet village of Nadur where I stayed over the weekend going to the famous local restaurant, The Fat Rabbit.

I explored some local churches and saw experienced the slower lifestyle on this island. Everything closed down during the day so which was quite the change from Malta.

Although I was only there for 2 days I saw a lot but unfortunately with the heat and the local buses being a bit unreliable many of my plans were derailed so I am eager to return eventually and see more of this beautiful place!

I finished many of the pieces I had started earlier in my placement. Cleaning and shaping the armlet I had designed, although a bit rushed I like how it turned out.

I also finished and cleaned up many of my prototype rings as well as one I had made for my friend back home.

I went out for drinks with my co-workers and friends one last time, hitting all our favourite local spots and reminiscing on the past 3 months.

I worked a lot my final week too. Watching over the shop by myself quite a lot as one of my co-workers was in Italy and another was sick for a period which resulted in me watching over and working in the store by myself a few times. A task that would have terrified me when I first arrived but I had come comfortable with all the processes within the store as well as serving customers and making sales.

All in all, the experience was out of this world. I enjoyed my time here so much, the opportunity to get real experience in a workshop and then thrive there was invaluable. I spent so much time there, willingly, working long hours and constantly pursuing goals I had set each week and being open to learn meant the placement was beyond just beneficial but truly an experience that will do nothing but benefit me in the future. The friends and connections I have made are sure to be long lasting and I am excited to return to the island in the near future!