Realities Of Being A Punctual Person In Malta
Malta has a serious problem with punctuality. The worst part of it all is that we wear our tardiness as a badge of honour, a symbol of our Mediterranean heritage. This may mean more siestas and a laid-back life, but it also means a personal hell for those who enjoy arriving on time.
Here’s seven things every punctual person in Malta knows to be true.
1. You’ve perfected the awkward ‘I promise they’re soon coming’ smile for waiters
Alone at a table for eight, you feel the need to constantly reassure the staff that you are, in fact, not a crazy person.
2. You’ve cracked the true meaning of texts
“There’s xeba traffic” means I left late
“Ma there’s no parking” means I’m in the town next-door
“My aunt just called, can you text me if you move from where you are” means I overslept and I’ll be there in like three hours.
3. You’ve learnt to enjoy a drink alone
You’re standing around at Big Gs, your friends aren’t answering their phone – you might as well drink up and get the party started on time.
4. You’ve invested in a portable charger… or three
Nothing drains your phone’s battery quite like boredom. If you’re a truly on-time citizen, you’ve probably splurged on a battery-pack phone cover.
5. You always carry a book with you
Silver lining: long waits mean more time to catch up on your reading or emails… or in Malta, both.
6. You’ve heard every variation of the “move to Germany” joke
We get it, some nations understand that a watch is more than a mechanical bracelet. Trust us, we’ve heard them all.
7. And you learn to live with the fact that everyone thinks you’re a square
No, it’s not just msieken who arrive on time – it’s more a question of respect.
