Putting My Project Into a Feasible Context – Some Further Reflection

After a day’s worth of thinking and various versions of Golden Circles (read here to get the joke), I have managed to come up with a title for my project: “How is urbanisation impacting the image of Malta in relation to Tourism and Expatriation?”. That being said, it is very, very complex title to tackle in two weeks. I am well aware, and I was made aware that it is a very broad subject.

I thought I should share some personal thoughts in relation to this project. I work in a multinational company, so I get to meet a lot people from different cultural backgrounds. I have many friends who are not Maltese, so I come across numerous opinions and perceptions of the Maltese Islands. For better or worse, the Maltese landscape has changed dramatically in the last few years, in some areas more than others. So, it stands to reason that foreigners, whether tourists or expats, see this country in a very different light.

What I want to achieve with this project is to find a way to make foreigners see Malta through the eyes of a local – in the way that is beyond the usual touristic spots. It gets a bit personal here because there are many who have a very low opinion on Malta, in some cases they described it as a ‘shithole’ which I find offensive, especially considering that the issues with overpopulation is forcing the country to take drastic measures, from overexploitation of earth to economical influx. I want to show that Malta is cool too.

On a different note, I went with a stamp as it is linked with mail, and mail is something that “travels” all over the world. It is small and compact, a bit like Malta, yet it makes it to everywhere. It is the case of the “tiny but mighty” in a metaphorical sort of way… It would be an interesting keepsake and a sneak-peek of how the island is seen through the eyes of a local.