videos!!

aaaaah, they worked!

a little of the city in the bus ride.

touching the mediterranean a.k.a. the attack.

a super packed club dancing too (drum role)... dedicated to mark & brigid.

sorry everyone. here we go, one more time, everybody's feeling fine, here we go now.

(read the post below to give these pictures some context)

the capital, valetta:


































out at bar native:


















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around lija (the city my residence is in) houses & cafe lattes:






















my farmhouse home and roommates for the last week:




















the animals i love & hate (chickens & cats):




i'm still having trouble with the video uploads, but if i figure it out i'll put them up asap.
love love love.

beyonce, can you handle this?

ok guys. i finally have documentation of this place. there is so much to tell you... where to begin?

first of all, i now have a phone here! i can receive international texts and calls, so if you are bored or just miss me, hit me up. here is the number: +35679676758 (yes, 8 numbers)

i had orientation on friday and saw the university, which is beautiful but confusing. i am going to get soooo lost there. hopefully people will be nice enough to give directions and not laugh at the little american girl with her map out. classes are done so differently here. i do not register until 2 weeks into the semester, and you do not know when the classes are being offered until you go to school on the first day and check timetables at each faculty (which is like a department - sociology, history, etc.). some classes may meet the first week, some not. it's all very laid back and fluid, which i am NOT used to at an american university.

after orientation some girls and i took a bus to valetta, the capital of malta. the buses here will need a blog post of their own. i took a little clip of part of the ride.

here are some pictures from valetta:

valetta is one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen. i was standing out on this cliff, and it reminded me "this is WHY i'm here". i want to bring everyone i love to this place so they can see and experience it too. malta really is a combination of so many different worlds. there is a lot of old europe in it, but there is a definite influence of northern africa and the middle east in the country too. (i found out th movie "munich" was shot here too - as if anyone saw it.) and the club area *more on this later* reminds me of modern london or tokyo. it is like epcot center in disneyworld everyday!
there will be more pics on facebook. the internet here is really, really slow, so it takes a very long time to load these things. i am not sure if the videos on this blog will work at all, so i may have to use youtube (thanks for the tip dirrrty girls). also, i don't think i'll be able to video chat or skype! i am so sad about this. i will pretend it is not true until i know for sure.

we walked around exploring the city and the water. i fear i will never know this country as much as i would like; there is too much to see and do! i can't wait for more.

after some delicious mango gelati, we returned back to our residence to get ready for a welcome party for international students at "bar native" in Paceville. i had heard that the maltese like their bars and clubs, but this part of the country is CRAZY. bars don't have a closing time, and most people don't leave until like 5 or 6 in the morning. we had so much fun. they played some really incredible 90s american music, and we danced for hours. don't worry mom, i was very safe. there are a few pictures from the night, and also a video that must be dedicated to brigid and mark.

unfortunately, i slept far too late today, which is a shame because it was an absolutely beautiful day in malta. we walked around near the residence area in the afternoon and i couldn't stop taking pictures. the houses here are incredible. they look like a movie set. each little front of a house has unique, colorful doors and balconies. i'm obsessed with their door handles and knockers. i will take more pictures close up for ya'll. (i'm hanging out with this girl from lousiana, jodi, and i am now adopting this phrase i've decided; deal with it.) we went to a little cafe and got coffees and desserts, which there are pictures of. i also found a post office, so i know how to send mail now!

i've already met some really amazing people, both other exchange students and people from malta who have promised to show us around and take us out. i keep fogetting i have to start school...oh well, it is all part of the experience. i move into my dorm on monday too - which i am so excited about. there is a picture of the farm house i have been staying at with my two roommates.

and lastly, this place is absolutely swarming with cats. the only animals i have seen since being here are my arch nemesis (the chickens) and all these cats. they are so cute, but i worry about all of them having enough food and water. cats, cats everywhere and not a drop to drink. i should probably stop petting them though, just in case...

anyway my friends, i miss you all very much. so many of the people here are from europe and it is easy for them to go home for a bit, or have friends and family come visit frequently. unfortunately, i live in the reality of an american recession. but if something changes, and ya'll win the lottery get over here as fast as you can. (i can't wait for my sisters to see this place!)

ok you guys, these pictures are taking forever...i'm sorry there is only one, but i can't wait anymore! and none of the vidz worked either! aaaaah. i will come back and load them on a little later, hopefully the internet will not be so busy. i love and miss you all ~ hope everything is well at home!

Sahha! (Goodbye!)

hello friends.

i am sorry that there are no pictures or videos yet to show you of this place. it has been too rainy to risk taking out the camera. i can't wait to get some up here though. malta is the exact way i always pictured an old european city. the roads wind every which way, and the buildings are white-washed stone with little balconies overlooking cobblestone streets. it is gorgeous. i want it to clear up so i can explore more.

last night my roommates (mauroline and elvira) and i ventured out into the city to find dinner. in lija, the city where my residence hall is, there are not many restaurants or bars but we found a great place and had fun learning more about each other. they make me want to go to holland on my next adventure. also, apparently a love of beyonce is universal.

i was devastated today when i realized that i do not think my video chat will work here. alas, i may have to stick with just instant messaging. i did create a skype account for anyone else that has it. my name is clairefrances21.


i have orientation tomorrow and will have to start picking out classes. somehow when i imagined studying abroad, i forgot about the studying part... i think it will be good to have some routine here though. also, it will get me off of this campus and let me see more of the island. Speaking of which, i should probably try to get some sleep. i still am not adjusted to the time here. but i did catch up on my spice girl listening last night between the hours of 4 am and 8 am. they sound so great with crowing chickens on background vocals.

Il-lejl it-tajjeb! (Good night!)

i promise to write more later, but just a quick thing.
not that anyone was planning on it, but please don't call or text my number while i'm here, because i will have my phone on as an alarm and a watch, but if i get texts or voicemails then i have to pay roaming rates...which sucks. just facebook me, or post here. i love random thoughts.

well, the chicken has flown the coop. one of the longest journeys of my life began in the minneapolis airport when an airline employee asked me "are you flying all alone, young lady?". yes, i was about to do this all alone; and yes, i was over the age of 14.

i arrived in malta yesterday afternoon. the country is absolutely stunning. i took a taxi from the airport to my residence hall which let me see some of the country, and i can't wait to see more. it was gorgeous yesterday, but alas, when i arrived i fell asleep and slept all through the day (which i know you are NOT supposed to do). i was then up til 5 trying to fall back asleep so i could get on schedule, but it has not happened yet, and i keep falling asleep today. however, i am not missing much because it is very rainy and cold here today, so my goal to explore has been deeply hindered. (by cold i mean like 50 degrees, so i'm sorry minnesota.)

the semesters at the university here overlap, so i will not be able to get into my dorm for a few days. i am currently sharing a farmhouse apartment with 2 girls from holland. they are very nice, but speak in dutch most of the time, so i feel like i'm not part of the club in gradeschool that started a secret language. my orientation is on friday, and i start classes here on monday. however, i am not sure at all what i will be taking - which is making me kind of nervous, but i'm sure it will all work out fine.

i have not mentioned the chickens. there are so many chickens right by my apartment, and unlike the movies would have you believe, they do not crow once at dawn. they crow and caw all day, and it is so loud you wouldn't believe it. it sounds a lot like women screaming, which is not a very pleasent way to wake up from a nap.

i miss home and everyone so much already. it is hard to adjust to a place where i do not know a single person. but i'm sure that will change. until then, i would love to hear from you guys if you ever get a chance. either on here, or you can send me letters!! i also love peanut butter.

here is my address:

Claire Hill
University Residence
Robert Mifsud Bonnici Street
Lija, MALTA

goodbye for now. i will write more when exciting things start happening, beyond me being very tired and very annoyed with chickens.
love, claire

Here. we. go.

Five days. Boom.

The Countdown

i now have t minus 13 days before i leave for my trip.
i can't believe it is coming so soon - so many things to do.

must remember to buy sunscreen, to check with a cell phone provider, and to exchange for euros...

here are some of my current feelings: excitement, nausea, ecstatic, nervous, hopeful, overwhelmed, sadness, joy, gratefulness, relief, stress.

i hope that all the wonderful new technological advances allow me to stay in touch with everyone while i'm gone. i am going to miss you all so much! i can't believe i'm going to be away for so long - and truly on my own. no kurt, or sophie, or missa, or christopher and anne, or anne with me to remind me of home....i'm making myself homesick and i haven't even left yet.

please do not think i am not incredibly thrilled to be going. my nerves are just running high right now.