10+1 powerful reasons to move to Gozo
If you’re thinking of moving abroad, and you’re in doubt which country to choose – we are here to help! We’re taking you to Malta, the island of Gozo! Let’s see 10 + 1 reasons why to choose this country as your destination!
Written by: Mea Barath
There is a smaller island, next to Malta, Gozo. It’s Malta’s little sister, with a rural atmosphere and a beautiful way of slow living. If you want to stay within the European Union, but are not so much attracted by the hustle and bustle, but rather by the Mediterranean ‘chill’, Gozo is the perfect place to be! If you are moving with your family and children, I highly recommend Gozo for you!
1. Slow living and chill
Life has come to a standstill in Gozo. Mediterranean pace, and feeling of the “mela“. The favourite saying of the Gozitans is “No worries!”. “mela” is the most commonly used phrase, its meaning “let’s see”, “we’ll manage”, “everything will be fine”. It’s all a bit slow and life goes on in a wonderfully calm way. No stress. Mela!
2. Idyllic countryside
If Malta is the ‘big city’ with its colourful hustle and bustle, Gozo is like a big village. Or rather a small one. The whole island covers an area of just 68 square kilometres, and you can get from one end to the other in about half an hour – by car. The people here greet each other with a great smile. Hens run free, goats and horses can be seen on the roads and streets. You can see seniors ride scooters and young boys ride motorbikes. In the evenings, old and young sit outside their houses together, neighbours pull up their chairs and chat, laugh, enjoy each other’s company and live a happy community life.
3. English is the official language
English is the second official language of the country, alongside Maltese. Do you need tips on how to improve your English before you go? Click for more! It’s easy to get by, English is spoken by everyone and teaching is also done in this language, mostly. Their pronunciation is very distinctive and is not very good, so even those who would struggle to speak a foreign language in the pursuit of perfection will soon be encouraged to speak freely. However, if you’re familiar with Tunisian Arabic, Maltese won’t sound completely foreign either.
4. Not far away
A flight from a European capital will take you to Malta in ca. two hours. From there, a short ferry ride will take you to its little sister island, Gozo. To visit your grandparents, family and friends is easy-peasy, and of course they can easily visit you too. There is no time difference, Gozo is almost next door.
5. The sun is shining
They say that 300 out of 365 days of the year are sunny here! The wonderful thing about winter sunshine is that it also gives you warmth! When the sun comes out, it’s easy to get up to 20–25 degrees. And in winter, thanks to the abundance of rainfall, the island is green and blooming! And at Christmastime, you can make the holiday extra special with a nice sea bath.
6. The fisherman knocking on your door
And the greengrocer also! And did we mention the baker? They drive around the island, and you can hear their cars with different sounds, from miles away. The local senior ladies just lower their baskets on a rope and ask for the usual. Didn’t I tell you that life here is like a small country village?
7. Gozo is an island of the festa’s
Without exaggeration, there are festas in the whole summer. Every town gets a weekend where the streets are decorated by the locals, the music is loud, and the celebrations are joyous, of course with the inevitable fireworks! Street vendors, colourful flags and gilded statues, it is a real carnival atmosphere. The Maltese people are passionate about having fun!
8. It will soon become your home
I’m really terrible at finding my way around. But after a few months, I found myself mixing cities less and less, and I can tell you that I soon got the feeling that every street on the island was familiar! And not just because all the houses are pretty much the same… Everyone says hello, smiles at each other, and they’re quick to engage you in a conversation. Even as a tourist you’ll find a warm welcome, but after spending a few months in Gozo, I’m sure you’ll really feel at home.
9. The people are nice
Really. After ten months, I can’t recount a single experience where someone has spoken to me rudely, unkindly or even arrogantly. It certainly happens, but it seems to be much rarer than I am used to.
10. Everyone wants to help
Also, I had to get used to it, in a good way. It’s strange how natural it is for a gozitan to help others. Once, the lady below us knocked on the door, and we smiled and said hello to each other as a rule, but that was as far as interaction went at that point. She told me that she had a puncture in her bicycle and noticed that my son’s two-wheeler was also parked in a deflated state at the entrance of the house. She thought that since she was taking his to the bicycle service in the capital anyway, she might as well get my son’s repaired. And she really didn’t know what to make of my immense gratitude, so much so that it didn’t occur to her that it could be any other way. Looking out for each other. That’s the way it is.
+1. The sea is beautiful!
You can swim, dive, sail, or just watch it for hours and let it flow into your soul with a magical power that caresses the human soul like nothing else.
Want to live abroad?
If you require an IELTS language exam for your settlement visa, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Eva.
She specializes in teaching with a unique approach: with lessons that prioritize conversational English and communication rather than grammar.
Did you know?
Malta is home to 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Valletta, Megalithic Temples of Malta, and the Half Saflieni Hypogeum) and it has another seven locations on the tentative list. These include the Grand Harbour, Mdina, Cittadella, and Dwejra.
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Source(s):
Original article: 10 + 1 inspiráló indok, miért is költözz Gozo szigetére – Translated by: BOGI – CONTINENT SURFER
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Like what we do?
If so, please support us, every little counts and much appreciated!
You will help us to come up with useful information regularly, so please support us every once in a while or even on a monthly basis! Thank you!
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