For the past year I’ve been living in Malta. I joined FRVR as a Release Engineer, and helped shape the production pipeline of a ton of fun mobile games. It’s been an amazing adventure and I’ve learned so much in the last year.
Honestly, if my moving to Malta was only about the job, I’d stay. In a heartbeat.
From the coworkers, to the job itself, to what we’re building and the trails we’re, ahem, blazing it’s been an absolutely ridiculous rollercoaster ride.
But unfortunately, Malta is an incredibly tiny country. That doesn’t leave room for subcultures and niches, and I’ve haven’t had any luck creating a network or finding friends outside of work. So while the 8-10 hours a day at the office have been amazing, it’s the last hours of the day that broke the camels back, so to speak.
That is not to say that the year has been bad. It hasn’t. Not by a long shot.
A lot of friends have come to visit, and many crazy adventures have been had. And oh my god, so much good food. But now it’s time to go home.
The FRVR Adventure
When I joined FRVR a little over a year ago, the company was tiny. It was basically just Chris, Brian and Anna, plus a few freelancers. The office in Mellieha was a tiny concrete box, where we were able to somehow cram in four desks and ultimately four people.
Today it’s a company of 26 and growing, with offices in London, Beijing and Seville … and, of course, Malta. It’s been incredible to be able to a part of kicking this thing off the ground, and I am super excited to see where this madness ends up.
Hjem til Århus
In about two weeks the moving company will come and load up all my meager belongings, and ship them back to Denmark. Specifically I’ll be returning to Århus. I’ve found a lovely flat in the heart of the city (in the so-called “Latin Quarter“).
I’ve lived in Århus for most of my adult life, and while I can’t be sure, it feels like it was mistake when I took a job in Copenhagen and moved there.
So now I return to where I feel at home. Where some of my best friends are. To movie nights, warm embraces and friday night cocktails.
Goodbye sunshine, hello snow
It’s not like I’m not going to miss Malta. It’s an island that’s incredibly easy to fall in love with. The weather is amazing, the food is great and almost anywhere you look the ocean is there.
The people are warm and friendly (if you’re white), and while their relaxed disposition to just about anything can at times be incredibly infuriating, it is also incredibly helpful in removing stress. Once you’ve acclimatised, that is.