20 maart 2025

March 16, 2025

After months of preparation and growing anticipation, the two RSG Enkhuizen Cambridge atheneum 5 groups, 32 wonderful students, were more than ready to get on their flight to Malta. This flight was the start of a 12-day Erasmus+ study trip to Malta organised together with our lovely partner, Stage Malta.

For some students this meant a first introduction to flying, which raised the good spirits even more. They were amazed by the beautiful views of the snow-covered Alps, and before landing we could enjoy a wonderful clear view of Malta and her sister islands, Gozo and Comino.

At the airport we were ushered into mini vans and taken to the Rivotorto Retreat House in Birkirkara. Needless to say that for some it was also the first time they drove on the left. Rivotorto is going to be our base camp for the next twelve days, where we will be treated to scrumptious breakfasts and delicious Mediterranean dinners by four charming Maltese ladies.

In the coming 12 days the students will be working on their Erasmus+ research assignments and their personal diaries. The programme will enable them to explore their personal learning goals by focussing on multi-lingual competence, digital competence and international citizenship. The outcomes will be reflected in their personal diaries as  well as their personal, social and learning to learn goals.

March 17, 18 and 19, 2025

On Monday we were given a warm welcome by Miss Martha of Stage Malta in the Chamber of Commerce in Valetta. After brief introductions, Miss Martha challenged the students’ perceptions of themselves in order to instil in them a willingness to embrace change. Should we live according to the labels we set for ourselves, labels  like being ambitious, strong-willed, chaotic or introverted?  Should we allow these labels to confine us or are they just a stepping stone to finding our super powers? She promised the students that these 12 days would be another milestone along the way to this, enabling them to explore their personal learning goals and challenges.  We ended on a lighter note with traditional Maltese snacks and a slice of  tasty chocolate covered red velvet cake.

The afternoon was spent at the five star hotel, The Phoenicia Malta, in Valetta, where we were introduced to the intricate organisation behind an enterprise that caters to royalty, celebrities, and dignitaries from around the world. We enjoyed a tour of the Grand Ballroom, the 7.5-acre garden overlooking the city of Valetta, and the hotel’s architectural features reminiscent of Malta’s rich heritage. The students were made aware of the countless job opportunities awaiting them here.

On Tuesday we visited Bormla Market and the Three Cities, Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua, with our knowledgeable guide Charlotte. She introduced us to Maltese history and laced her story with many memorable facts. We learned that the Knights of St John were the first to introduce ice cream to Malta, but also how to prepare an artichoke Maltese style. She showed us the House of the Executioner in Birgu and talked about crime and punishment during the times of the Knights. We ended our tour at Fort St Angelo where we marvelled over the strategic ingenuity of the Knights of St John.

Wednesday’s programme was geared towards fine-tuning the research students have been working on over the past few months. The Malta Experience, an audio-visual show that tells the dramatic story of Malta’s 7,000-year history, provided a suitable context for the wide range of research topics. The guided tour through the Holy Infirmary of the Knights of St John was a reminder to students that storytelling and giving interesting presentations is an art. The passionate guide showed them that captivating storytelling is all about speaking the right lingo and asking the right questions. We learned that the word salary is derived from salt, which was a commodity at the time of the Knights of St John and that customized guillotines were used by the Knights for swift amputations.

March 19 is a special holiday in Malta as the Maltese celebrate the Feast of St Joseph. We were fortunate to be part of the celebrations in Rabat, where we experienced the colourful religious processions with accompanying musical bands in the streets. This part of Malta’s heritage, the Catholic faith, will be one of the common themes during our stay. The church bells wake us up every morning at 7.15 and everywhere we turn there are reminders of the Catholic faith: small shrines inside private places, and a huge variety of charming plaques and statues that adorn Malta’s doors and streets. Here the students learned the value of community involvement and how it brings about personal growth.

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