Friends...Old and New

Today I played soccer (football). That for me spells a day of complete and utter happiness, and no more should need to be said. I realize I haven't written for a while, yet i think I will write of the most recent events and work backwards if there is time. Currently, you will find me chillin' in a longish flat on the small but bigger than you would think island of Malta. This is where another parrallel one semester program that Luther has resides so I'm staying with a few friends from back at the old haunt. Rundown of old friends:

Aaron Lurth, my summer roomate after freshman year when i stayed at Luther for that summer doing our little research project that went nowhere. Also drummer in the Brandon Becker Bonanza Band which performed at the annual Luther Cool Aid event. I was the lead singer, and we did a little throwback to some sweet nineties hits.

Nicholas Hedeman, roomate sophmore year, good friend since soccer class of freshman year and he lived on my floor. Loves his BMW. We play raquetball rather often in which I find myself always feeling better after kicking his ass.

Katie Billings, Nick's girlfriend and thus my second roomate sophmore year. Another friend since freshman year and this evening she is cooking for nick and I a delicious chicken scampi.

Getting to see some familiar faces is so rejuvinating and it's been a long time since ive been this happy. They are some good people, and I'm slowly meeting their other flatmates as I stay here for 4 days. They have graciously let me into their humble (and its humble, nothing like our amazing flat in Nottingham but I won't gloat)flat. It's interesting to experience the lifestyle of other students just like me and get a taste of a different flavor for living abroad. malta is a quirky island that grows on you. First impressions may be a bit of surprise and maybe a bit of a let down. I admit thinking on the first day "this is it" and being ready to make the most of it. But with some great guides, this is a place of beauty and has so much to see and do. and don't even get me started on the people. Sweetest kindest folks you'll ever meet. We went this afternoon to go kick a ball around, and a small group of Maltese kids, about 6 asked if we would play them. Up for the challenge, Nick, Ellen (a concordia chica, way cool, and a soccer player back at college) Aaron and myself tentatively accepted ready to be beaten senseless. But they were young and we actually dominated. I haven't touched a soccer ball since last spring when i left luther in May. Still got some speed, but my touch is horrible and the skills were lagging. Felt great to stretch the limbs, and I know tomorrow I will wake up with a sore bum. These guys ranged in age from I'd say about 8-16. They were joking and jabbing and chattering away the whole time. It was entertaining to see them take things so lighthearted and any time anyone fell down they made sure they were all right. They were relentless in their taunting of each other just as young boys should be, and I revelled in their boyish banter. I had a great time, and when we were done, they somehow found a tame rabbit over in the bushes and were petting it joking about calling it bugsy and such and asking me about where I lived and if I wanted it. Of course I couldn't bring him home, but he was cute.
That was the second run in with wildlife today. Earlier, we left around 11 the whole group of us including the Luther runner Mel, to Mdina, a sweet hilltop city with no cars allowed. You had to pass accross a sort of moat to enter just like the big city of VAletta the day before. All the cities are well protected like fortresses. This city was clean and beautiful. This is probably due to the fact that the only people who live in it, have noble blood that can be traced back to the original wealthy knights that established themselves on the island. Best part though is that my friends took me to this famous (to them) little cafe with great views of the island called Fontanella. It has some of the most amazing cakes you may ever taste and a delicious Perugiona Hot Chocolate that can ever touch the lips of man. I couldn't ask for more than this thick chocolate drink and a piece of the hazlenut apple chocolate cake. I hope your mouth is watering by now cuz it should be!
Sadly, the day was perfect up until mid afternoon when we arrived in the craft village outside Mdnina to find that everything had closed up at 2 for the week. I was looking forward to going to see the original Mdnina glassblowers work and purchase some sweet glass sculptures. This art is something that facinates me more than most any other artistic mediums. I have collected a number of dazzling and sweet looking lampwork glass beads. What a talent. So it was a huge letdown for me to find it all closed. Soccer made up for it though.
Well, I will close this entry to follow the train of good scents from the kitchen to the table that is wafting in my direction. I think our chicken is ready and I couldn't be hungrier. I hope you all are feeling great wherever you are in the world and feeling swell! Ciao!