Introduction
Hi there👋 I’m Tomoka! Thank you so much for visiting my blog.
In this blog, I want to share my thoughts and experiences as a 24-year-old living in Malta, as well as introduce some of my favorite spots around this beautiful island.
For this post, I’d like to share a little bit about myself and the journey that brought me here.
Why I Decided to Move to Malta
I made the decision to move to Malta around October of last year. Before that, I knew almost nothing about the country.
As my Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa in London was coming to an end, I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Malta—an island where my partner has family roots. Time flies, and this month officially marks my sixth month of living here!
My Story: Chasing the Modeling Dream in Paris
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a model. Right after graduating from high school, I moved to France all by myself and managed to sign with a modeling agency in Paris.
Living in a sharehouse on the outskirts of Paris, my new life was far from easy. I struggled to secure enough work, and unable to renew my visa, I eventually had to return to Japan with a heavy heart. Back in Japan, I felt completely lost and spent my days feeling anxious and restless.
✨ The beautiful streets of Paris I saw in my teens remain one of my greatest treasures.
After returning, I joined an agency in Tokyo, but things didn’t go as planned there either. Once I passed the age of 20, I began to think it was time to give up on my modeling dream for good.
A Longing for Europe and the Journey to London
Despite giving up on modeling, my desire to live in Europe never truly faded. For three long years, I kept applying for the UK’s YMS visa lottery. On my sixth attempt—just when I was about to give up entirely, thinking it would never happen—I finally won the visa in my very last eligible year and happily moved to London.
When I arrived in London, I didn’t have a specific career goal. I just wanted to leave Japan, live freely in a place where nobody knew me, and start fresh.
Fortunately, I heard that the Michelin-starred French restaurant where I had worked part-time in Japan also had a branch in London. Through a connection, I landed a job there. It became my very first full-time job as an adult—working at a historic, elegant French restaurant nestled in London’s bustling business district.
From there, my passion for wine blossomed. I started studying to become a sommelier, eventually changed jobs, and prepared to take the sommelier certification exam.
🍷 My days in London were filled with the joy of learning about wine.
A Sudden Move to a Sunny Island
As my two years in London drew to a close, I felt a strong desire to finally settle down somewhere stable. While a big part of me wanted to stay in London, it was difficult to envision a long-term future there. At the same time, returning to Japan didn’t feel right either.
Right at that crossroads, my partner—who has roots in Malta—suggested we try living there together. With very little knowledge about the country, I managed to secure a job, pack my bags as my UK visa expired, and relocate to the island of Malta.
Adjusting to Malta Life & Restarting My Modeling Career
Having only ever lived in big, bustling cities, I initially struggled with the unique dynamics of island life—the close-knit community and the much slower pace of time. I constantly missed my life in London, had no friends here yet, and felt incredibly anxious about whether I could survive on this island.
However, an unexpected turning point arrived. Due to the lengthy administrative process, it took over three months for my work visa to be approved. Since the application was in progress, I couldn’t return to Japan, leaving me with an abundance of free time.
Out of pure curiosity, I stumbled upon a Maltese modeling agency on Instagram and decided to send them some photos. To my surprise, the agency’s director wanted to meet right away, and just like that, I restarted my career as a model after a three-year hiatus.
Finding Peace and Freedom on the Island
Approaching this unexpected second chance after having once given up on my dream, my mindset was surprisingly calm.
Now that I have a primary job and don’t rely on modeling to pay the bills, I can do it purely for myself, simply because I love it. This subtle shift changed everything. The immense pressure I used to feel completely vanished, and I no longer ride an emotional rollercoaster with every audition. Ironically, letting go of that pressure has led to booking even more work than before.
Malta has taught me a completely new way of living—one that prioritizes my own well-being. I’ve learned how to say no to things that don’t serve me and how to build a work-life balance centered around my happiness. Because of this, I’ve truly come to love the person I am while living in this country.
Slowly but surely, I’ve made wonderful friends, and I deeply appreciate the happiness of living on this beautiful island surrounded by the sea.
🌊 The pure bliss of having the ocean always by my side.
I hope to continue documenting my life, discoveries, and memories on this island bit by bit.
Thank you so much for reading until the very end!
With love,
Tomoka