5 of us will go to Dublin, 5 will be in Malta, and 7 will be in Oslo. That means everyone is getting their first preference! Oh, oh, looks like our time together is really coming to an end.

Happy to go back to Ireland, but my heart will stay here where it’s warm and sunny.

The first IMEC cohort at their graduation this week. Five of them made it back to Malta to be here for the ceremony. It was great to finally meet them in person.

Imagine the longest table you can imagine at Mamma Mia, a restaurant in Malta. Now add about 30+ people from around the world: Five of the first IMEC graduates celebrating their special day and the last two years, teachers from Oslo, Dublin, and Malta, and of course my IMEC family. I have to cry just thinking about all the emotions in that room. It was absolutely out of this world. Very beautiful. I feel like we’re living the dream of the people that developed this program, creating an international network of people passionate about Early Childhood Education. Wow.

Yesterday morning I presented my research proposal to the IMEC consortium. Altogether there were six familiar faces from Norway, Ireland, and Malta. I presented my ideas, they listened. In the end I received very helpful feedback. Done. Good thing I didn’t get too stressed about this.

I would have loved to develop my proposal with more feedback along the way. I know we gave each other support within the group and I got new ideas from the classes, but I think an academic supervisor would have been helpful. Too late for that now, but I guess that will be the next step once we find out TOMORROW which country we’ll be in next semester. I would love to go back to every country, so I have nothing to be afraid of. Phew.

Ahhh. Best vacation ever. I found myself filled with happiness on a bench at the marina. You were there too, in my heart. Love, Antje.

On Friday we went out to celebrate Dani’s birthday. The restaurant, Dolcevita, turned out to be on the fancy side and the waiter didn’t like it when we asked to share some of the dishes. In the regular restaurants that’s fine, because the portions are always way too big anyways. In the end I was glad I didn’t have to share my frutti di mare, it was the best I’ve ever had.

Happy Birthday Dani. My first IMEC friend.

I submitted the first assignment for this module I’m taking at the moment, feels so good to have one less thing to worry about. I have to be quiet about it, because my roomies are still typing like crazy…

Now it’s time to work on my presentation for the IMEC consortium tomorrow. And then I will officially take one whole day of not doing any homework. I’ve already approved my vacation request.

This week we will find out where we will live in the final semester. I’ll keep you posted.

IT’S RAINING 🙁

We’re too busy anyways with all our assignments due next week.

We’re in the last few weeks of the last module here in Malta. The last months we’ve spent with Linda Mitchell and Vanessa Paki from New Zealand. Linda left over a month ago and Vanessa is flying home this week. Today we got to meet Sally Peters who will be our professor for the next few weeks. I’m telling you, I love going to school.

I was talking to Vanessa about her teaching here in Malta. I didn’t realize that in order for her to be here she committed to teaching double her workload back at home, which also included summer school. That makes having her here even more special, it not only meant a lot to the IMEC group, but also for her. AND getting here was a challenge too, because she is terrified of flying…

A group photo with Linda above, with Vanessa below.

Te aroha

Te whakapono

Mē te rangimarie

Tātou tātou ē

(Love, faith, peace be amongst us all)

…my allergies are keeping me up at night.

Every day for the last months I have woken up with itchy eyes & nose. I don’t think I can put Malta down as my first preference for next semester, I need to sleep again at night.

I can’t believe I’m allergic to Malta!