Week 4 February 27th-4th March

Week four began with classes; I was very excited knowing that I had finally sorted out my subjects. One of my new classes started, management of PE, sport and leisure. As I missed the induction class for this subject I didn’t know what to expect, which made be even keener to get started. I learnt in my first class about working as a team and effective leadership. This class was enjoyable as we had to play a game down in the sports hall. Half the class had to get blind folded and work as a team to place a long rope into the shape of a square, while the other half had to observe and see how the team worked well and who emerged as the main leader. I was very glad that I was in the observation group as it was great fun watching the group try to make the shape which ended up looking like a no shape at all! When we went back up to the class room we discussed the task and what went wrong and realised it didn’t work because they didn’t have a main plan and too many leaders emerged and no one was listening to each other.

I learnt a lot in this class, for a group to meet a target they need to have a leader and make goals and objectives. The next management class that week I learnt about the differences between leaders and managers. I found this class easier than most others as I have already learnt about this topic in my management class in the first semester back in Stranmillis, therefore I was able to show off my knowledge to the rest of the class when the lecturer asked us questions. I really liked the way the lecturer teaches the class as he uses audio, for example videos off YouTube, this kept my attention as I learn best when I have audio or practical rather than just listening to someone talking for the whole two hours of a class.

There were a lot of events held this week within the residence as the AEGEE group organised trips for us. One trip that I really enjoyed was the football match Malta V Lichtenstein Malta may not be the best football team but I really enjoyed watching one of their matches as their supporters where very enthusiastic and had a real passion for their team. The stadium wasn’t even a quarter full of people and in fact most of us Erasmus and international students filled most of the seats! However the Maltese that where there never stopped cheering, singing local songs, waving flags and banging drums. The result ended up 2-1 to Malta which was great as they were losing at the start so the night definitely ended on a high. I was very glad I attended this event as I learnt more about the Maltese culture.

This week one of my friends Rebecca who is also from Ireland had an accident and ended up in hospital with a broken wrist in two places and had to get metal plates put in her wrist ending up in surgery. I and another girl Lynsey went to the hospital just before her surgery to make sure she had everything she needed. I felt for her as she was very upset and thought that her time in Malta was ruined, however the nurses in the hospital were so good to her and reassured that everything was ok and her wrist will be better in no time.  As horrifying this event was it was good for me to see the difference in the Maltese hospitals than our hospitals back home as I was thinking about going into nursing as my future career. The hospital was very clean and modern it almost felt like I wasn’t even in a hospital, the doctors and nurses were also very helpful to Rebecca and even Lynsey and I. this event made it clear that nursing is a tough occupation as you have to be very comforting and positive all the time around your patients. Rebecca stayed overnight in the hospital and came back to the residence feeling far better and more positive about the rest of her time in Malta, especially as she has all us girls to help her until she is finally able to move her wrist again.

All in all this week has been very eventful from starting a new class, attending a Maltese football game and experiencing the health system within their hospitals with an injured friend.