After a seemingly endless week filled with excitement and the new experiences of a foreign culture and country, we have started to adjust to the Maltese surroundings and most importantly, the different time zone. We spent last week shadowing various classes to determine what we want to study while we are here. The University of Malta offers a wide variety of courses for their students and to our delight, there are many that pique our interest and develop our current fields of study! Due to the group's lack of experience with public transportation, we have all been walking to the University. Since we aren't dealing with the freezing temps, the 40-minute walk is quite enjoyable. Everything in Malta is relatively accessible by walking so we have been able to explore the island with ease and everyone is getting their steps in!

On Monday we spent the day in Valletta to celebrate the Maltese national holiday of Saint Paul's Shipwreck, which consists of a giant parade that goes through all of the city of Valletta with music, confetti, flags and fireworks. We took the ferry across the bay from Sliema to Valletta where we strolled down the streets of the city admiring all the stands and art that the locals had displayed. The parade went all day and into the night as people threw confetti and streamers from the windows and roofs of their homes as the band marched down the streets which were packed with admirers. It was so much fun getting to experience such a vibrant celebration! Malta really knows how to throw a party.