Dating as far back as the 11th century, the Knights of Malta (originally known as the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem) were also referred to as the Knights Hospitallers because they built hospitals along the pilgrimage route from Italy to the Holy Land.These hospitals were known for their cutting edge practices in medical science and nursing.In 1570, the Knights built the Sacra Infermeria in Malta’s capital, Valletta.This hospital became famous throughout all of Europe for being the best medical facility in the region and for treating the sick of all races and all creeds.(During WWI Malta served as a military hospital – it was known as the “Nurse of the Mediterranean”.)
At the time we made the decision to have our baby in Malta, we were unfamiliar with the rich history of Malta’s Knights Hospitallers.What we did know was that many of Angele’s cousins gave birth to healthy babies and that they placed a lot of confidence in Malta’s healthcare system.Nevertheless, the adventure of traveling to foreign lands is one thing but going to have your first child in one is another!
Malta isn’t completely foreign to Angele--her parents were born here, as well as most of her relatives.Malta is a small island nation in which everyone seems to be related in some way or at the very least, knows someone who is related to you.In every line of work, including the doctors at the main hospital, Angele seems to have a relative or a family friend.In fact, one of Angele’s cousins is the chief anesthesiologist in the labor ward at St. Luke’s hospital, the hospital where our son was born.
Rio Joseph Jester was born on July 25th 2004 at 4:40pm.He weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces and had an ABGAR score of 9.9, which means he was born as healthy as a full-term baby can be.Since we haven’t had a baby in the U.S., we cannot compare how having a baby in Malta differs from delivering in the States, except for what we have heard from friends.One main difference however, is that in Malta, as in many of the other countries we visited, babies are delivered by a midwife rather than an OBGYN, unless there is an expected problem.Angele had a normal delivery and the midwife was excellent.
While we found the patient care and medical technology to be top notch, having a baby at a public hospital was culture shock to say the least.You can opt to have your baby at a plush private hospital, but if there are any complications in the delivery, you are immediately transferred to the public hospital since it has the most advanced equipment and largest group of on-call specialists.So, most first-time parents end up checking into the public hospital in the first place rather than one of the private ones.
So what made the experience at the public hospital so “memorable?”In the post-natal ward, everyone shares bathrooms and bedrooms.Dads have to be out by 7pm.You have to bring a hospital bag, but it’s more like packing for a camping trip!To keep hospital costs down, youhave to bring your own toilet paper, your own towels, your own baby bath tub, your own diapers, your own drinking water, and your own snacks!If you don’t want to sleep on a plastic pillow, bring your own!You pretty much supply everything for yourself except the hospital bed and baby monitor.
All that being said, we felt that the pre and post-natal care in Malta was excellent.The government even sent a midwife to our home for four post-natal check-ups.When was the last time you heard of a medical practitioner making house visits?Ironically, one of Angele’s Dutch cousins was not as impressed as we were with the post-natal care in Malta.Apparently, in The Netherlands, the government arranges for new mothers to have subsidized home care eight hours a day for the first week post delivery.This home care includes someone to cook, clean, run errands, and take care of the mother!Ever thought about having a baby abroad?After talking to our cousin, Holland might just be the place to do it!
Ultimately, the best thing about coming to Malta to have a child on the World Tour has been the significant amount of time we’ve been able to spend together as a family.Both father and mother have had an equal chance to bond with Rio and we’ve done so in a less rushed and fatigued environment than we would have if one of us or both were working at home in California.We wouldn’t trade this experience for anything, even if we did have to make the pilgrimage to Malta to achieve it!
For being only 122 square miles and boasting a mere 400,000 residents, Malta’s vast importance is out of proportion to its size.It has a rich history dating back to 3000 B.C. and its location, the only land mass between North Africa and Sicily, makes Malta a strategic port in the Mediterranean.
Malta’s past helps to make sense of Malta today.The island has been occupied successively by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, the Knights of St. John, the French and finally the British.From a foreigner’s perspective, Malta is truly a place where East meets West.The language is Semitic, sounding similar to Arabic, but is written with a Roman alphabet.People’s names are often English or French yet most of the villages have Arabic names like Rabat and Mdina.The cuisine is similar to Italian but tea time is a custom adopted from the British.Even the people themselves resemble Italians, French, and North Africans.
When Malta gained its independence from the British in 1964, it was the first time since the 1st millennium BC that it had been ruled by the Maltese.Today, there is much about Maltese culture that makes the island and its people so endearing.If you have the great fortune of getting to know a Maltese family, then one of the first things you will get to experience is Sunday lunch.This is a long lunch, often three or four courses, spent telling stories, joking, and catching up with extended family.Dining al fresco in the summer and autumn months is particularly popular, since the weather is very mild and days are almost always sunny.
Another aspect of Maltese culture is the religious festas.Malta claims to be one of the first Christian countries.Their strong Christian faith started when St. Paul’s ship crashed near shore.He was bound for Rome to stand trial for his preachings about Jesus.Even though St. Paul was a prisoner, his magnetic personality allowed him face time with the Roman Governor on Malta.Subsequently, the governor became a Christian as well as many people in the village of Naxxar.As Christianity spread from village to village, the residents celebrated their faith in the form of festas.Each year, usually from June to September, the villages decorate the streets with elaborate banners and life size statues of the saints.For an entire week, bands parade in the neighborhoods, vendors sell all sorts of local sweets, and churches are decorated with lights, flowers, and lavish silks.Best of all, the grand finale of the festa is an impressive display of fireworks in the church square.
If witnessing the festas is not enough to convince you of Malta’s strong Christian-Catholic devotion, a ride on the buses can be a cultural lesson in itself.Don’t be surprised if you are seated next to a nun saying the Rosary on the way to her destination.You might also notice that when a bus begins its route from the main bus terminus, many of the passengers will make a “Sign of the Cross” before departure.And, while the bus drivers themselves may not seem very Christian, they are still sure to decorate the interiors of their buses with holy pictures, medals, crosses, and verses from scripture!
Because the island is so small, a bus can take you just about anywhere you need to go.But, if you get island fever and need a break, a one hour flight can place you in Italy or Egypt!Malta is situated approximately 90 miles south of Sicily and 120 miles north of North Africa.Incidentally, this makes Malta the southern most country in the European Union (EU).
On May 1st, 2004, Malta, one of the smallest countries in the world, was accepted into the EU.With its small and limited resources, Malta has not produced enough food to feed its population since the 1800s.Because of this shortage, Malta was one of Europe’s first trading partners.With Malta’s accession, many benefits are expected to come, such as less expensive imports, increased foreign investment, and job opportunities.But most importantly, membership in the EU will hopefully help Malta retain its coveted independence, instead of being concurred and occupied by larger nations for another 3000 years.
