Reset search
Malta
Satellite

Malta
Tas-Sienja

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.

6 travelers at this place

  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day20

    Week 3 of Placement

     March 12, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    Lovely to meet Roosa an fellow OT student from Finland who will be working with us. We now have a weekly schedule to follow and are hoping we will be able to carry out some OT assessments soon. It seems schedules and plans change daily at Inspire so it is best to have a flexible approach and the ability to think quickly to accommodate the unexpected changes and plan activities! Definitely more reading is required.
    Sometimes placement can feel like being on the 'The Apprentice' where your every action and reaction is being observed, really nice to get feedback that your engagement and contribution to the team has been noticed and is appreciated.    Read more

    Map
  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day63

    Week 9: Placement passing by so quickly!

     April 24, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Oh my it is week 9 already! Although I am ready for home there is still so much to do and learn. I do not feel at all prepared for my VIVA 😣 Placement is going by quickly! Having to indulge in a few iced beers and lattes to keep working on learning outcomes in the sunshine!
    When working at the Bulebel site I pass a catering company displaying wedding cakes not too dissimilar to the size I used to do... got me wonder if only things had been different... but then I wouldn't be here in Malta completing a degree..strange where life takes you 😀    Read more

    Map
  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day73

    Week 10 Frustrated

     May 4, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Having to remind myself of the mission statement of Inspire to help me remain focused on what I am here to achieve!
    It's been a frustrating 10 weeks with lots of things planned that never materialise. It seems there is always a reason why things cannot be done instead of looking at and actually doing what can be done with the resources and time avaliable.
    It made me sad to wander around the gardens of Inspire that were once beautiful and accessible to all. They are now neglected and abandoned. The horses and planting area too need some TLC. Funding of course is an issue but I don't think that's the only reason especially when there is a team of willing volunteers and students who are desperate for a project but instead just have to wait.....
    Week ended with a meeting with the CEO and CSO who bamboozled me with all the reasons why things can't be done. And there lies the problem. I now feel as disillusioned as the rest of the staff. I am so ready for home!    Read more

    Map
  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day82

    Week 11: And so it ends....

     May 13, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Or is it just the begining?
    82 days in Malta and our placement ends. So glad to have spent it with Grace - my Malta OT buddy.🤗
    A week of mixed emotions final documents, hand overs and goodbyes. I can't believe it's over, yet I am so ready for home. Did a final visit to coffee circus for some avocado lime and coconut ice cream - delicious . Check out how much the cacti has grown in 3 months!
    Feeling of great accomplishment to end with a distinction for both of us.👩🏼‍🎓👩‍🎓    Read more

    Map
  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day19

    Day 19: The Rosary Chapel

     March 11, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    This was an unexpected treat! On taking some photographs of the view from a tiny chapel built in 1856 a gentleman in the chapel insisted I followed him to the roof for a better view. I had to climb the tiniest stone spiral staircase of 40 steps but it was delightful! Stayed for the English service, so many different nationalities in the congregation and the priest drank all the communion wine and only gave out the bread!! Is this usual in catholic services? Will go again to find out.. Lovely to meet other people who worked at Inspire there too.Read more

    Map
  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day32

    Day 32: Rest and relaxation

     March 24, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    Placement can be exhausting so a restful weekend was in order with frequent visits to my favourite coffee bar 'Coffee Circus'. Found a new car for Jenni. Those of you who know me well know I struggle with pronunciations sometimes (goujons, ambulance etc) well the same just happened when asking for this delicious quinoa salad!!
    Met up with some of the volunteers and attended the opening night of a new reggae bar - Zion!    Read more

    Map
  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day34

    Week 5: Getting ready for Easter

     March 26, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C

    Two short weeks for placement as Inspire closes for Easter. Only working Monday and Tuesday. Unfortunately our educator was ill with a high fever so it was myself and Grace who had to run the multi-sensory rooms. Decided to split the groups to enable the children to explore some rooms individually which allowed for one to one interaction. A successful two days.
    Grace headed home for Easter so had a farewell meal in an brand new Indian restaurant.    Read more

    Map
  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day36

    Day 36: Not much happening!

     March 28, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Sometimes you just have to do ordinary things like shopping and washing!
    Here are some random photos of my trip so far that wouldn't fit on the other pages. I said previously you need to look up when in the churches in Malta, well the floors are pretty impressive too.
    Local people tend to complain about the buses but finding them really good. Although the schedules are more like guidelines they do run regularly even on weekends, evenings and public holidays. Which is a vast difference from York.    Read more

    Map
  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day6

    Week 1 of placement

     February 26, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Who would have thought I would spend my first day on placement playing in a ball pool and the rest of the week looking for new toys and equipment!
    The facilities here are pretty amazing. As well as a fully equipped gym, a 25m swimming pool, and horse riding facilities there are 3 multi-sensory rooms. One for soft play to develop coordination and balance. A dark room for sensory stimulation through tactile and visual input, and a white or quiet room for calm and relaxation. Some of the week was spent observing children (School Out reach Programme) at play in the rooms with their Learning support assistants (LSA). Some of the clients (Adults with LD) can be encouraged to join in team activities such as a treasure hunt or obstacle courses. It was fun planning and setting up a course with varying degrees of difficulty so all the group could take part, including myself and Grace!
    Most of the clients have some degree of Autism. So lots of research required to learn about how to relate to children with this condition to help them develop. Other conditions include Downs Syndrome and Cerebral palsy.
    As well as the LSA accompanying the children there are numerous volunteers, which can make it difficult to interact with the client on a 1:1 basis. Not quite sure yet of the OT involvement or role with the children from the SOP so will see how this develops.
    Overall it has been a very easy week, with only 7 hours contact time with clients at play in the MSR. Regular breaks and early finish times seem to be encouraged here. As I am used to a much faster and busier pace of work adjusting to this relaxed approach is a novelty. This has allowed the opportunity for research into interventions I am unfamiliar with such as therapeutic horse riding. I am looking forward to formulating a better understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy at Inspire and getting my own caseload.    Read more

    Map
  • Gillian MichaelMalta Placement
    Day28

    Week 4 of Placement

     March 20, 2018 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Working with different OTs is really helping me formulate styles and approaches that I may wish to adopt once qualified as an OT practice educator in the future.
    It is really interesting learning about and Autistic charateristics whilst building a therapeutic relationship with twin boys through a play intervention!
    It was lovely to have a visit from Fiona our placement tutor from York St Johns university. Being able to share our thoughts and reflections of the learning opportunities and facilities was very much welcomed.
    Thank you Fiona for taking Grace and I shopping and sorry for telling your husband to drive the wrong way up a one way street - the driving is so random in Malta that I hadn't realised!
    The fresh farm eggs were much appreciated, with another hilarious comment from Grace. On seeing the mud Grace said "I don't think I can eat eggs from a chicken" Gill: "Oh what types of egg do you usually eat?" Grace: " Ones from a supermarket" !!!    Read more

    Map

You might also know this place by the following names:

Tas-Sienja

Join us:

FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android

Sign up now

  • 2020© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Support
  • Imprint
  • English