An Insider Looking In - from the Outside

I'll avoid 'ranting' in this blogpost. Yeah, I know, with a title like 'Darryl's Random Rants' you'd expect constant, yet random, ranting. But it's not uncommon for me to not rant, as any of you who've been around for a while would know.

Today I'd like to explore the way foreigners would look at Malta. There's no structure to this post, as such. It's more like randomly placed thoughts and philosophical reason that I'm finally putting down on 'paper'.

Anyway, let's look at history. In the beginning of the current decade, which is approximately when I started using the internet (read: started using the internet, not computers) and I would sign up for online games I was faced with a dilemma. When asked to choose my country from a list, Malta was never listed. So I'd have to use 'England'/'UK', 'Italy' (rarely) or 'Other' (often). This changed, fairly abruptly, in the latter half of the decade when Malta started to be listed.

((Writing this paragraph, I realise how old I must sound when I use terms like 'in the beginning of the decade'...as if I am recounting a story from my youth. Which I am...it's just that it's not that long ago. For the record, I'm 19.))

It's not just the internet. Malta was virtually unknown worldwide. I'd estimate that approximately 10% of the global population had ever heard of the country. However, in just under a decade this percentage has shot up (largely inexplicably) to around 75% (I'm making up these figures...but they are based on my neutral perceptions of global affairs as well socio-cultural life in other countries). But while they may have heard of us, how many actually understand what type of country Malta is?

For example, do they understand that while Maltese would be our "mother tongue" that English is an official language. And a significant number of us (myself included) actually speak English in our daily lives and speak it more fluently than we would Maltese. Not only that, but that the English speakers largely do not have some strange accent. That is, we have the accent of native English speakers. Of course, you wouldn't know this if you heard our Prime Minister at the UN meeting recently.

Let's go further, how many would be aware that we are not an old-fashioned country (well, not up here in the North anyway...hehehe). Speaking for myself, first thing I do every morning is watch Sky News and CNN (flipping between them). Disney Channel is the channel I watch the most since it began streaming in Malta last year. Otherwise, I also watch Paramount and Living. Why am I listing all these? Just to demonstrate that an overwhelming majority of Maltese know about the pop-trends in the US, UK and the rest of the world. But they don't know about ours, or that we know about them. (Not that I can blame them...but I won't go into that as it would turn into a rant and break my promise above).

In all fairness, I, as a Maltese person, do not know the situation in Nieue or several other countries. And the reasons for that are the pretty much the same reasons they don't know about us. We're both small countries for starters, though Nieue is much smaller population-wise. Secondly, neither of us are particularly interesting. I cut myself when I read Maltese 'news'...O.K. hang on...I'm going into rant mode again...I'll stop.

My central point is that, especially in the United States of America, they would not expect me or any Maltese person to know about their country to the extent that most of us (and most certainly, I) do. If nothing else, I watch 2 episodes of the Tonight Show on Saturday and another two on Sunday (repeats, obviously) on CNBC.

But ultimately, this narrow view is common to everyone. When I was younger, I was under the impression that Figolla (an Easter treat) was available world wide. I'm still baffled that the Maltese came up with something this good. That many foreigners will never taste pastizzi (especially the cheese :D) is scandalous.

Being the philosopher that I am, I'm going to extend this further. Isn't it funny how some people (celebrities, politicians etc.) are known by millions, but there are some people who will live and die without 99% of the world knowing or caring? It's quite sad really. For example, I know who Barack Obama is...but he has no idea who I am. In Malta alone, there are people I have never even been in the same room or street with (Duh, you might say. But I'm talking about never have been in the same geographical area at the same time in all our years - these are the dilemmas that keep me up at night).

It's sad. Six billion people have experiences and thoughts but most of the rest of the world have no idea. Admittedly, if we did, we'd have very crowded brains...but we'd probably be friendlier...or more murderous/suicidal.

As I said, very unstructured post today. But I just had to put this down. Each one of us has so many memories and experiences...how do we convey them all to every other person in the world. And how can we claim to be so smart, when we don't know six billion other people have thought about or gone through in their lives.

Right now, it's just started raining heavily outside. And I wonder. Where else in the world is it raining? And where else is there someone like me, looking out and asking the same questions I am. I'm reminded of the song 'Kiss the Rain' and I think I shall proceed to listen to it on Youtube.

There you go, dear reader, I have covertly conveyed my thoughts to you.

Here's another thought: If I ever become famous, I'll have to delete this blog...otherwise I might be locked up in a mental institute.

Darryl, from Malta - Online, talking to YOU, one of the approximately 6.8 billion who I probably know so little about and vice versa in this comparatively unfriendly world.