As more and more young people pack their bags in search of adventure, academic opportunities and job experience, the lure of ‘going abroad’ may seem like the answer to all one’s problems. But is the perception that anywhere is better than Malta just a myth? How easy is it to make it abroad? Josanne Cassar speaks to Justin Camilleri about his experience after studying for two years in England

Two years ago, at the age of 27, Justin Camilleri finally took the step he had always dreamt about.

“I left Malta in August 2004 to go and study at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, about 20 minutes away from Manchester. It was always my dream to go and study abroad and to spend a few years there - not my whole life perhaps - but I definitely wanted some job experience in another country.”

After reading for a Communications and Sociology degree at the University of Malta, he was awarded a Harold Scorey scholarship to read for an MA in magazine journalism.

Justin’s main reason for leaving was to broaden his horizons.

“The fact that you’re living alone, the independence that you gain by becoming more self-sufficient and the knowledge you acquire of how things are done abroad, are all crucial. I especially wanted to learn what it’s like to work with a foreign magazine.”

He was sharing a flat with four others – although the northwest is relatively cheaper than London, they were still paying a lot of money. The only advantage is that, as a student, he didn’t pay council tax which is about 700 pounds sterling a year.

While attending his course, Justin was also given the opportunity to do work placements with actual magazines. That part was easy because, as a student, you’re not getting paid. The crunch came when he began to actually look for a job in his field. It was here that he was hit hard with the realities of job-hunting in a large country.

“Lots of newspapers and magazines are looking for people with experience, so the vacancies you try and pursue are those for trainee journalists. Despite any qualifications you might have, you still have to start from scratch, from the very bottom. In the UK, even when you finish your post-graduate studies you still have to find a job with a small regional newspaper such as The Lancashire Evening Post. There is no way you are going to apply for a post with a national newspaper when you are just starting out! When it comes to magazines, those of a certain calibre are looking for people with two or three years’ experience who have a good portfolio.”

When I ask Justin whether his not being British ever got in the way of his finding a job, he nods reluctantly.

“The fact I was not English was a drawback because there is that underlying perception (although not official), that if you’re foreign you don’t have the same grasp of the language as a native speaker does. Even when you call people to carry out interviews over the phone, you won’t have that same accent or pronunciation. This is my impression and also what other foreign students have told me. Despite my mother being British I’m still considered a foreigner because I was raised in Malta. Obviously, they can’t come right out and say such a thing because of the written policy that they are ‘equal opportunity employers’. So no one will bluntly tell you that it’s because you’re foreign – but the feeling is there.”

The work experience he had as a student, however, did give him a glimpse of possibilities. One of his work placements was with Mediaweek magazine, a publication about the media industry for people who work in marketing and newspapers to keep them up to date on what is happening.

“It was the type of place where editors would go for the opening of a new magazine in Dubai. Money was no object! I was writing articles for the website and in the second week I was helping out with a conference on the media which was going to be held in Scotland. This Media 360 conference is held annually and is open to everyone. Then I worked for Hotdog Film Magazine, who sent me to cover a DVD launch of the film Scum with Ray Winston. There I had the opportunity to speak to the actor and producer of the film.”

Justin feels that in England there is a certain work ethic which one doesn’t always find in Malta.

“The Brits have a habit of holding lots of meetings, they are great believers in dialogue, and even as a student I was asked to give my opinion. They are a ‘minute taking’ culture – everything is minuted! It is also a culture of control – everything has to be accounted for; everything is done by the book. Even when you are using a book, you sign for it and sign again when you put it back. I have to confess that I found this aspect of the way they do things a bit too much sometimes…”

Justin found the British people relatively easy to work with, but obviously it can vary from one person to the next.

“Sometimes they welcome foreigners because they enjoy the new perspective but others tend to be conservative, giving you the feeling ‘you’re not one of us’.”

Of course, ultimately, if someone is thinking of living abroad what they really want to know is how difficult it is to find work. Two years down the line, Justin can give his dispassionate, honest answer.

“I wanted to work with a film magazine, that was my sole ambition, but the reality of it all is that you cannot find work that easily because film magazines are still a small industry. Coming from Malta you think the opportunities will be much greater, but it’s still a small market because there’s a big difference between how many people watch films and those who will actually purchase a magazine.

The biggest seller at the moment is Pick Me Up which is targeted for the household, like a TV guide with listings and gossip. There is also a big market for celebrity magazines. Looking back, I was maybe too narrow in my interest; you have to be open to other media and not confine yourself to working with just a specialist magazine. You have to start working as a normal reporter or a journalist and then build up contacts and network with people who have areas of specialisation.”

Justin also quickly learned that Malta is not alone in its ‘who do you know’ culture.

“Knowing the right people is crucial, even there! 30 – 40 % of vacancies don’t even get advertised, it’s usually word of mouth that gets you a job, and often, people are recommended. Most established magazines like Empire never advertise, you would have to be recommended to them. It is also important to bear in mind that while film reporting has exploded, those who started 12 and 14 years ago are now well established and are still relatively young. You don’t get into what you really want straight away, you have to do other things and it will take time – there is the factor of luck as well. After speaking to people who work in the business, my conclusion is that there’s no guarantee you will find work in the field which really interests and you have to be willing to accept that.

“My advice is that you have to keep an open mind, and not limit yourself to working in a specialised area.”

The experiences of fellow Maltese who live in the UK have further opened Justin’s eyes on the importance of being realistic.

“One of my flatmates is Maltese. She wants to read for a Masters in English and wants to stay there at all costs because she has a love for England! Even though she has a degree in English she hasn’t found a suitable job so she’s working as a waitress. As she is fond of saying, ‘since Malta is an ex-colony they don’t owe us anything.’ As for whether I would be willing to do anything to stay there – well, yes and no. I am not ready to suffer and not even have a social life. I used to grumble a lot about Malta, but now I don’t anymore. Malta started looking better after a while, because here we have other opportunities, and I did miss certain things like the food and the weather. There’s a big difference between going somewhere for a holiday and actually living there, because you start seeing the negative aspects as well. Obviously, if you have the money that’s the place to be, but after a while even the distances starts bugging you. To catch the train you have to download the map and plan your route – not like here where you can be anywhere you want in 20 minutes. That is one cultural trait I had to change in myself. I used to be very laid-back before and was not that punctual, but eventually I learnt the hard way that you have to plan ahead and allow plenty of time for travelling.”

Despite the few setbacks he’s encountered, Justin would still encourage anyone to try the experience of living abroad, if only for the chance to mature.

“You won’t be spoon fed as you are now, living with your parents. You have to be realistic of course, many young people think that living abroad is like El Dorado but it’s not! Sometimes I think the perception that 20 somethings have of what it’s like to live abroad is too glamorised – there are opportunities but there is also much more competition. Sometimes it’s painted as being too positive, when the reality is that there are pros and cons everywhere, it just takes time to get your feet.”

As an example, Justin tells a story of a Maltese guy he was staying with in Croyden last year.

“He had been living there for five years and used to criticise the English system all the time. He used to tell me ‘I’m just a number, I have no friends, I have no money….doesn’t that tell you something?’ The reality is you have to work for a living, no matter where you live – there’s no glamour. When you’re in a vulnerable situation you learn to appreciate what you have here. I don’t have a social life except my flatmate and a couple of friends. If you’re with other foreigners it’s much easier because you all stick together. When it comes to the English, however, unless you’re introduced into their circle by another English person, they can tell you’re not one of them, that you’re an outsider. They will notice even little things such as if you’re not going to drink as much as they do. I think we Maltese have a joie de vivre which includes everyone, whereas the English tend to be conservative and cliquish. It’s like they are thinking, ‘I cannot trust you fully because you’re not one of us – time has to prove that you can be my friend.’ I felt this even in the course because we were only three foreigners and I was the only one from a Mediterranean country. Those who were from Northern England all tended to stick together. Sometimes you are just not on their list of priorities. I also found it significant that the English people in our course all found a job, whereas only me and another guy didn’t. However, having said all this, I don’t regret a single moment of these past two years. These experiences make you stronger...”