Landing in the south : a narrative inquiry into stories of arrival in Malta

Abstract

Malta has a low but rising rate of foreign residents. Migration is thus becoming a topic of public interest and holds great potential for research. This narrative study, inspired by my autobiographical background as a German national married in Malta, sets out to gain an in-depth understanding of the personal experiences of Europeans-cultural outsiders moving from North to South-who have stepped out of their established environments and come to live here on a permanent basis. Within a narrative research design, in-depth narrative interviews were conducted with five participants from Austria, Germany, Norway, Serbia and Italy, who came to Malta between 1985 and 2004, aged between 17 and 36. A thematic analysis yielded five main themes: reconstructing the transition; self as outsider; portals to integration; deciphering Malta; and taking stock. Malta-bound migration emerged as a multi-faceted, highly individual process of adjustment and self-review. Most but not all participants succeeded to overcome initial difficulties and feel fully at home. Malta was not experienced as a haven of tranquillity, and overall proved to be tough to come to grips with, but potentially rewarding for those who persevere.