Woman's letters inspire book on Malta

A couple of times a year Wibke Seifert writes a long letter, makes 20 copies and sends them out to her relatives and friends in Germany to keep them updated about her life in Malta.

The letters, with short anecdotes about her experiences on the island, served as a source of inspiration for the content of her book Mitten im Meer (Surrounded by Sea) that describes aspects of Malta through the eyes of a German.

Mrs Seifert moved to Malta with her husband, Michael, 14 years ago and the couple have three sons Philipp, Tristan and Daniel.

The mother-of-three never imagined she would one day write a book. But, a few years ago, she was browsing the internet when she came across a professor who published books written by Germans who lived in various countries. Intrigued by the opportunity, she contacted the publisher and signed the contract for her book in 2007.

The book, now available in local shops, includes some of the personal experiences she related to her loved ones in her letters. One story tells about the time when she rushed out of her Madliena house, with her baby son in hand, to go and pick up her other son from a playground in Sliema. When she closed the door she realised she had locked her handbag inside. She hoped the 25c coin she had on her would be enough to catch a bus to Sliema.

"That was the first time I ever caught a bus. It was a very unique experience watching the people in the bus... The bus itself was an experience. I love the way old buses are personalised by the drivers," she said, adding it was a pity the transport reform was getting rid of those old vehicles. She, however, understands this would be best for the environment.

"The driver was both rough and charming," she recalled.

Initially, she almost wanted to cry when he did not seem to understand she only had 25c and had to make sure the bus she caught was the right one.

"All he said was that it went to Valletta. He was rough in his ways. I eventually realised the bus passed through Sliema... When I turned to take a seat and saw the bus was full, the bus driver charmingly asked a young man to stand up so I could sit with the baby," she said.

Ms Seifert's book also contains information about Malta's rich history and local perspectives in the form of interviews with people such as a Gozitan fisherman and a man who acted as the Risen Christ during an Easter celebration in Għargħur.

"Artist John Martin Borg supported me a lot by letting me use some of his pictures, one on the front cover and four inside the book," she said, adding she also used illustrations by artist Christine Thum.