Living in any new country means that you are going to need to take the time to learn more about the country, its culture and the expectations of how people there behave. Many expats make the mistake of thinking that they know as much as they need to know about their new home, but the truth is, all too often they have not taken the time to learn as much as they can and this leads to mistakes.
Malta is a country that is steeped in history and is known for its strong values and culture. This means that you are going to need to make sure that you take the time to learn what is going to be expected of you as someone who is calling it their home.
The best way to increase your knowledge in a country is to learn from others' mistakes, so to help you with this, we have put together some of the most common mistakes that expats make when they move to Malta and how you can then avoid them.
Not thinking about the paperwork
Moving to any country means that you are going to need to fill out some documentation and paperwork before you are going to be able to call it your home. This is definitely true when you are moving to Malta from another country.
The administrative tasks that you are going to need to complete for your move can be quite complex and they are going to need you to take the time to research what is needed and complete a variety of documents too.
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Not knowing how big the country is
Whilst compared to other countries in Europe, Malta could be classified as being on the smaller side, this doesn’t mean that you should underestimate just how big the island is. If you want to get around you are going to need to either have a car that you can use or be aware of the public transport options that are going to get you to where you need to be.
You need to also consider that some of Malta can be quite hilly and this can impact how you can move from place to place and how easy it is.
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Underestimating the cost of living
Compared to other European countries, Malta can be seen as being relatively affordable to live in. That said, if you choose to live in a more tourist-heavy area, then you may find that your cost of living increases.
It is a good idea to take the time to research where you are hoping to move to and see how much it is going to cost you to live there. That way you can be prepared for the associated costs and how this may impact you in the long-term.
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Taking for granted that they will speak English
Of course, many people choose Malta as a place to move to as many of the people who are native to the country can speak English either fluently or to a high standard. However, this shouldn’t be something that you then take for granted.
If you want to make sure that you give the right impression when you move to Malta, you need to try and learn a few Maltese phrases. Not only will this help you to communicate, but also ensures that your new neighbours will see you as being respectful to their culture and help you to integrate as easily as possible.
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Not checking the temperature
Malta is a warm country, but it isn’t always a high temperature there. This means that you may be left feeling a little chilly when the temperature drops. It is a good idea to check whether or not there is any heating in the property that you are looking to buy.
Without central heating, you are going to find that you may be faced with some slightly chilly times and you are going to need to find a way to warm yourself up.
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Not respecting the religion and culture
Malta is, for the most part, a Catholic country and religion is something that is threaded through most of the things that they do and celebrate. If you do live in Malta then one of the biggest mistakes that you can make is not showing respect for their beliefs.
You need to not only recognise that there are going to be a variety of religious practices that you are going to need to show respect towards but also avoid making any comments that could be seen to be insensitive and disrespectful all year round.
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Not thinking about how hot it can get
We have already mentioned that come the winter months, Malta can be a little on the chilly side, but it is also a place that can warm up too. Given that it is close to Africa, Malta can get pretty hot too. This means that you are going to need to prepare for how warm it can get. Think about whether or not warm weather is going to be something that you and your family can cope with on a day-to-day basis and what things you can do to make yourself as comfortable as possible.
Malta could be the perfect place for you to call your new home. But, if you want to make sure that you have the best chance of settling there and having a great new life, you are going to want to make sure that you don’t make any of the above mistakes.
You are also going to want to make sure that the big move itself is as easy as possible. Leaving you time and space to focus on the other aspects of your move, if you get in touch with us here at Pinnacle, we can help you take care of the movement of your belongings, and you can take of moving yourself.