Hello all,
I can't believe that it has already been one month since we left the US, spent a few days and Rome and since we arrived here in Malta. The first few days seemed to pass slowly but lately the weeks have been flying by! I feel like I am going to blink and find myself back in Minnesota.
I think that I last wrote about St. Paul's Shipwreck and the festival we attended. A lot has happened since that Saturday and because it has been so long I am not sure I can remember everything we've been up to...
Classes have been going well and I recently started writing my first research paper which is about the role of peace in Islam. Very interesting! We have to write six total and I want to get them out of the way as soon as possible because I know that once it gets really nice that it's going to be impossible to focus on anything academic except for studying the sea anemones and the sand between my toes.... 
The weather has been getting nicer every day and it has been averaging about 64 degrees! The nice weather has completely changed my daily routine. I've been going to the beach a lot more lately and have even gone swimming three times this last week! All of the Maltese think that we are crazy when we come walking up from the sea, dripping water all over the sidewalks. They won't start swimming until it gets warmer - it's still considered winter here! Obviously they need to visit Alaska or Minnesota to see what a real winter is like. I was told today that "snow" is not a word and can't be found in the Maltese language. Interesting huh? Some days we've been able to lay in the sun on top of our roof which is sometimes better than the beach because you can get away from the wind and it feels about 10 degrees warmer up there!
I'm still getting used to being here but it is becoming more like a home every day. However, I've had my fair share ups and downs in the past couple of weeks. Some cold and flu strains were being passed around our group and I was fortunate enough to catch a cold and somehow to get a UTI that just won't go away. I was put on medicine that treated UTI's and as mom discovered later online, also Anthrax. Similar symptoms? Trying to kill two birds with one stone? I don't know but I found that to be pretty hilarious. Better be safe than sorry right?
Besides health concerns, life here is pretty good. I really do miss life back in the states but I also am really appreciating the more laid back atmosphere and culture of the Maltese Islands. I think I feel more at peace and less stressed here than when I am at school. My only obligations here are to write my papers and show up to class. I'm not working, I don't have ten million activities to be involved in and the weather is much nicer which is a welcome change.
This week, on Thursday, we leave for Greece and Turkey. We'll be gone from the 10th through the 17th. After our trip we have a two week spring break and I am really looking forward to having some time off! Jeremy is coming to visit about half way through break and we'll be hanging out here in Malta and heading to Gozo. I'm getting pretty excited!!! Before he arrives I plan on finishing a few of my papers and getting my scuba diving certification. I took the class already but need to do the open water portion of the training which equals out to be about four dives. I'm a little nervous but am excited to check this off of my list of things to accomplish.
I plan on posting pictures before I go to Greece and will hopefully have internet while we are away so I can update you all on our travels!
Again, I hope everyone is doing well! Stay safe and know that I think about all of my friends and family often!
