You find yourself in a hospital bed, in a foreign country; hardly anyone speaks a word of English. After the first sleepless night, early in the morning you get a mobile call from Malta’s Consular for Hungary, with instructions from the Maltese Ambassador for Austria to check, ensure and ascertain that I am being well looked after in this state hospital. Within the same hour, I got a call from His Excellency himself, Mr Walter Balzan, enquiring about my health, and whether the embassy could be of any immediate assistance or help to me.

Without asking twice, he was on the phone to the Health Ministry in Malta to ensure that a European Health Insurance Card was issued the next morning for my wife and daughter to collect before flying out to my bedside.

This not being enough, he took it upon himself to re-arrange my airline ticket, due to my extended stay in hospital. On the dot, at the time of departure from Budapest Airport, the newly amended electronic ticket was there.

This letter is being written simply to show my full appreciation to a worthy ambassador of Malta, for his complete dedication, wherein he ensured the well-being of a

citizen of his country at a time of distress.

Yes, Malta should have ambass-adors, preferably in all countries, especially now with our full integration in the European Union. However, ambassadors must have charisma, drive and know-how, like our ambassador Walter Balzan.

To add to the Hungarian saga, at the time of departure from Budapest Airport, Air Malta’s flight had to be delayed by six hours due to a storm.

Thanks to the sheer determination and dedication of the Maltese pilot Capt. Frank Xerri, we managed to take off, after he himself came to the departure lounge three times to explain to about 120 passengers the reason for the delay and all the problems pertaining to our late return to Malta.

Yes, these are the true representatives of our country, especially when they conduct their work with diligence and a love for their country and fellow citizens.

Thank you Walter, thank you Frank, for making me feel proud to be Maltese in a foreign country, especially at such a time of distress.

Tony Cilia Pisani

Zebbug