AS IS THE ACORN
SO IS THE OAK

To what degree the success of Maltese expatriates and that of their offspring may be attributed to distinctive Maltese values is a matter of debate and conjecture. Clearly some have managed to attain positions of prominence and privilege they would not have otherwise reached in Malta, given the island's constraints on job opportunities, advancement and equal employment, more so in family owned ventures where nepotism reigns supreme.

The transference of positive Maltese traits, such as a determined will to survive in face of great odds and hardships has served them well. The substance of "Malteseness", in terms of who they are as a people and individuals set aside from all others by language and tradition, is a source of renewable strength and fortitude.

Eventual success of Maltese migrants depends in large measure on their level of education and English language proficiency, albeit other key factors come into play. One's unconditional love of extended family, the upholding of a strong religious identity, and being blessed with an extroverted friendly disposition, colored with an unmistakable Maltese slant, are qualities which served them well. The stubborn Maltese character was forged out of a constant struggle to establish an identity in a world largely oblivious of their small country's existence. This translucent "neglect" has had a pronounced cause and effect on the Maltese collective and individual psyche.

Far removed from home but never from the heart, overseas Maltese hold on to their national identity akin to how a shipwrecked person clings to floating debris, refusing to let go as the inevitable process of absorption begins in their adopted land. Assimilation is no easy task. It is painful, ridden with self-guilt and introspection. There are some who never acclimate to a substantive life outside of Malta. They feel distressed, isolated, torn apart from the womb of mother Malta, "Il fiore del mondo". They long for a return to normalcy amongst familiar sounds, sights and smells of paradise lost.

The struggle for survival is often compounded by a conflict of mores and behaviors which run contrary to Maltese sensibilities. An accommodation of old and new ways need to be found if one is to become an integrated member of society in an alien land. Bridges must be spanned between the retention of enduring Maltese character peculiarities and the assumption of a new national identity. The process tears apart people of good intentions in ways which impact them and their children's future. Families with strong traditional inclinations find the tug-of-war particularly troublesome, in a bid to preserve language and religious beliefs amidst an environment which often is less receptive towards such core values.

How many and to what degree Maltese traits are passed on from one generation to another is highly speculative. The inability of preserving the Maltese tongue against the onslaught of English, beyond the first generation of Maltese born abroad is clearly evident. The youngsters often do not share their parent's kinship and affection for Malta, nor do they understand the language let alone converse in it. This is not to say they are less Maltese in other important aspects. Many retain a strong affiliation with family. They endure at school and at work, in competition with peers from more established native households. Disadvantaged, they have gone on to secure positions of prominence in professional, scientific, business and technical fields. There are of course some, who shorn away from home fail to become acclimated.

By far and large the Maltese are a people possessed with determination . The essence of being Maltese is a cherished gift, more so for countless expatriates sharing dual nationality. They hold Malta no less in awe because of devotion and respect towards their adopted land. They are sons and daughters of a far flung Maltese diaspora *, with remaining strong family ties in Malta. Theirs is a struggle to retain a Maltese identity, which incrementally fades away as one generation replaces another. In due time they will have become absorbed within the country which nurtures them, indistinguishable in appearance and mannerisms from other citizens.

Let it not be forgotten that this inescapable transformation, from observing one set of old country rules of conduct in favor of another is not a new phenomena. The Maltese are not a distinct race, but represent a conglomeration of people who originated from Europe and to a lesser degree from other Mediterranean regions. Malta is a land of emigrants, a place of safe haven which over the millennium beckoned others to its shores, as surely as distant lands now embrace its own citizens. The cyclical migration of people enriches us all, including those who stayed behind, never to leave Malta's embrace, as others departed by reason of choice or necessity. Let it remain forever so.

* Between 1946-1994 a remarkable 153,760 persons departed the island in search of a better life. This figure represents 41.56% of Malta's current population of 370,000. Their destination of choice: Australia (89,577); United Kingdom (31,669); Canada (20,219); United States (11, 310); and points unknown (985).
(Source: Malta Year Book 1996)