Festa del Cioccolato (Cosenza) ~ October 28 – 30, 2011

This weekend, Cosenza will be a little sweeter thanks to the 9^th edition of the “Festa del Ciccolato taking place from October 28^th to October 30^th.  This year, Lungo Crati situated in the historic centre of Cosenza will transform into a chocolate lover’s dream as some of the regions most talented and creative chocolatiers showcase their delicious treats.

Thousands of people of all ages will make their way to this event to see all the tasty chocolate displays and sample some of the delicious chocolate treats that are available for the tasting.

My 7 Links

Back in July, Diana of Il Terrazzo Italiano nominated me to do the “7 Links” meme,  an initiative that was started by Katie over at TripBase

I was meaning to post my 7 links awhile ago but with moving apartments and the start of the new school year, it sort of got lost in the shuffle.

So, without further hesitation and delay, here are my 7 Links.

Most Beautiful Post:  Lost and Found was a very special post for me.  I was so blessed to take part in the reuniting of long lost relatives.  It was such a beautiful life experience that will stay with me forever.

Most Popular Post:  Even though My Top 5: Italian Male Singers was posted way back in January 2009, it continues to be the top post week after week.

Most Controversial Post:  Ironically, it would have to be My Top 5: Italian Male Singers.  I still get comments and emails about this particular post.  I don’t think people realize that it was my personal top 5 and wasn’t something that was meant to be set in stone for all to obey.  Music is subjective and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me.  The post was also written a couple years ago and I will admit that some of the artists aren’t on My Top 5 anymore.  I’m thinking it might be time to do an updated post on this – which may or may not become the next most controversial post.

Most Helpful Post:  My posts don’t tend to be guides or advice on how to do things.  I just write about things that come to mind.  I guess my most helpful would probably be one of my Adventures of Learning a Language  posts.

A Post Whose Success Surprised Me:  My post about Rogliano.  I wrote about this neighbouring and slightly (well more than slightly) larger town near Carpanzano.  I was amazed by the amount of comments from people whose family was born there.

A Post Which Didn’t Get Attention Deserved:  None, I’m just thankful that people take the time to read my blog and I don’t tend to write with the intention that it needs to have some measured amount of attention.

Post I’m Most Proud Of:  I’m most proud of Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.   I wrote this post during a crossroads in my life and I think it really helped me to stay focused on my goals and dreams.

Now would be the time when I would nominate some blogs to share their 7 Links however, this meme has been going around for a really long time and many blogs have already participated.  If you have a blog and you haven`t done the 7 Links blog yet, I nominate you!

5th Edition of the Motoraduno in Carpanzano, CS

The roaring echo of motorcycles zipping through the narrow streets of Carpanzano is not out of the ordinary, especially in the spring and summer months.  However, today the sounds of motorcycles were more predominant as Carpanzano hosted its 5^th edition of the Motoraduno organized by the Pro Loco of Carpanzano.

I first experienced the Motoraduno last summer and have to say it was definitely a sight to see the small streets of this village flooded with cyclist from Carpanzano and neighboring villages.  This is an event definitely catered to the motorcycle enthusiast.  This year, they added “uno spettacolo” or performance which to be perfectly honest could have been omitted.  The performance was without a doubt geared to the male audience and for me personally was a bit tacky.  I personally feel the money would have been put to better use towards one of the other events taking place during the month of August.

All in all, the event was a success.  The evening ended with food, award presentation and a piano bar which continued on into the early hours of the morning.

Does your town or village host a similar event?  What activities/competitions take place during this event?

Lost and Found

Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to participate in something very beautiful.  I was part of a series of events that led to reuniting a family lost after part of the family immigrated to America in the early 1900s.  It is moments like this that make me so proud to have this blog.

I am well aware of how fortunate I am to know my roots here in Italy as I know many have lost theirs after generations in America.  This particular story spanned over the course of about a year and I couldn’t be happier with how it unfolded.

Last summer I received an email from a man in the United States.  He was seeking information about the massheld every year in September in Toronto for the Madonna Della Grazie (the patron saint of Carpanzano).  He was interested in meeting other Carpanzanesi in the hopes that he could meet others with origins in Carpanzano and just maybe find distant relatives or perhaps information on relatives that may still be living in Carpanzano.  He went to this mass and met many people from Carpanzano that immigrated to Toronto.  Of them, he met my Zio and Zia.  A friendship grew and they remained in contact.

Now, let’s fast forward to this summer.   My Zio and Zia are in Carpanzano for the summer so my zio did some digging to see if he could find any information for his new friend.  During one of his many walks through the paese, he stopped to talk to a man who he used to go to school with when he was a child still living in Carpanzano.  This man had the same last name as my Zio’s friend in the United States.   It’s not uncommon to have different families with no relations that have the same last name, but my Zio decided to ask him about his family anyway.  It’s a good thing he did, because it turns out that this man’s grandfather and the grandfather of my Zio’s friend were brothers.  It was certainly more than anyone could have hoped for.  It turns out that this man was looking for information on the part of his family that immigrated to the United States in the early 1920s.  Up until now, he had no luck.

Earlier this week, my Zio and I went to this man’s house and we called my Zio’s friend in the United States.  It was such a moving experience.   We all sat around the phone, the man pacing as my Zio dialed his friend’s number.   The man’s daughter had tears in her eyes when her father spoke to his newly found cousin for the first time.  A connection was finally made.  I held back my tears and couldn’t believe how fortunate I was to be there.  I can only imagine how emotional it must have been for this family and I am so pleased that they have connected and can now grow and learn more about what happened on both sides of the ocean.

I wish them all the best and hope they can arrange a trip to meet in person in the near future!

The Great Escape

It doesn’t seem to matter where you are in the world when you live and work in a city, big or small, it’s not very hard to get sucked into the daily grind and hustle. I work long days and by the end of the week I’m usually tired and completely over the “city life”. Sometimes I just want to get away from it all: the traffic, the noise, the daily routine. I’m really fortunate to live near my relatives who live in a small quiet village not too far from Cosenza. Even though there are times I just don’t have the energy to go, I find it really refreshing when I fight that tired feeling and just go. The school year is winding down and exam preparations are in full effect. There is no time to waste or procrastinate as the days seem to be flying past me at speeds that not even the autostrada has seen. I get home from work completely and utterly spent. This means it’s the optimum time to get away for a couple days and recharge. A couple weekends ago I did just that. There is nothing like fresh air, beautiful scenery, friendly smiles, good home cooking and a night out with friends. It really is the best medicine to combat work fatigue and stress. It really is a treat for me to be able to escape the city and spend some time away from the chaos. It’s the perfect reminder that no matter where we are in the world, we must take time for ourselves so we can appreciate all the beauty around us and the blessings life has given us.

It’s so easy to forget that, so thank you Carpanzano for continuing to remind me how fortunate I am.

There’s no place like home…

Even though Italy has always felt like a second home to me, I still feel nostalgic and homesick for Toronto.  I get the strong need and want to see my family and friends and all the familiar places that hold so many memories for me.  People living abroad know that it isn’t always easy to just hop on a place and visit your family, especially when you’re flying from Europe to North America.  The prices of tickets can get pricey and you may not have many opportunities to make a visit given the fact that when someone travels overseas anything less than 10 days is pretty much pointless.

Overall I’m really happy with my move to Italy.  I was fortunate to find an amazing job that I enjoy very much.  I feel a struggle sometimes between my strong desire to live here and the void in my heart that only my family and friends can fill.  Nothing could ever replace my family and my friends back home.  There are times when I miss them so much I question what I’m doing and why I’m putting myself through this.

We are fortunate in that we have so many technologies available to us that allow us to connect with our families abroad more easily.  Everyone’s life (including my own) is constantly moving forward and it’s so great to see photos on Facebook of my friends and family enjoying their lives but then, if only for an instant, I’m reminded how far away I am from them and how it’s all happening without me.   And then, I feel alone.

Living in the south of Italy, it’s extremely difficult to meet anyone who is a native English speaker so intelligent conversations are pretty much a rare event.  I miss the intelligent conversations I would have with my friends back home.  And sometimes, it’s difficult to truly express myself.  My Italian has come a long way in the year that I’ve been here, but it still becomes frustrating when I can’t fully express my feelings and opinions.  I am lucky that my family is so supportive and they listen to me unload all my frustrations.  Without that I’d be a ticking time-bomb just waiting to explode.

Even though I’ve been living in Italy for almost a year now, I still get a bit depressed, lonely, and homesick for home.  There is no “cure” for homesickness but there are things you can do to help  push past those feelings so that they don’t cripple you or lead you to make a decision that somewhere down the road you may regret.

Here are some things I do to help battle the blues:

1.  Photos, and lots of them!
One of the first things I did when I moved into my apartment was purchase some picture frames and place photos of my family and friends around my room.  Sure, I have tons of pictures on my computer, but to have those smiling faces looking at me every day always make a sad and lonely day a bit brighter.

2.  It’s a Skype Date!
We all have busy lives and hectic schedules.  The 6-hour time difference doesn’t help the situation.  So, I try to set up Skype dates with my family and friends.  We pick a day and time to log-on and chat away.  It’s such a wonderful tool to fight those feelings of homesickness because it’s free (aside from internet costs) and you get to see each other.  Skype dates are the things I look forward to the most.

3.  Now back to our regularly scheduled programming…
I’m not a fan of Italian television and the last thing I want to do to wind down at the end of a long and busy day, is concentrate on Italian telefilms or talk shows.  I had a few programs that I watched regularly in Toronto and I make sure to stay on top of all of my “American TV Programs” every week.   It makes me feel less out of the loop especially when someone asks “OMG! Did you see what happened on *insert various television program titles here*?

4.  A Taste of Home.
Italy is full of incredibly delicious and wonderful foods and I never imagined that I would miss certain foods.  You can pretty much find anything here but there are still a few things that you just can’t find (and there are no suitable replacements for).  For example, about 6 months after my move, I found that I was really missing American coffee.  I can hear you all gasping in horror, but it’s true.  So, on my last trip to Toronto I made sure to allow adequate space in my luggage for a pound of my favourite Starbucks coffee (Sumatra for those who are wondering) and a French Press.

5.  Breathe In
Sometimes, it is incredibly easy to let these sad and lonely feelings just take over.  I find that Yoga has helped me greatly.  I am able to take some time away from everything around me and focus on me.  With Yoga, I am reminded to take deep breaths.  It calms me and clears my mind of all the clutter so I can remember why I’m doing this and how much I’ve learned and grown from this experience and how much there is still left to accomplish and experience ahead.

I think it’s important to realize that feeling nostalgia for home is natural and everyone experiences it at varying degrees and points during their time abroad.  For this reason, it’s important to find the things that work best from you and expand on them whenever and however you can.  It’s not easy sometimes but you aren’t the only one feeling this way.  I try to remember the reasons why I left and the wonderful opportunities I’ve created for myself by doing this and it helps.  I will always miss “home” and the people there but I can’t forget all the beautiful moments and experiences that I’ve had and will have living here.

Are you living, studying or working abroad?  What do you do to battle homesickness?

Happy 3rd Blogiversary, Calabrisella Mia!!!

Photo Credit:  clevercupcakes

My blog is 3 years old today!

When I started this blog, I didn’t know how long I would stick to it or if it would give me the outlet I was looking for to express myself and further discover myself.  In these past three years my life has changed immensely and I can see it as I look back on my past blog posts.  This past year especially has been the most life changing and I wish that I had more time to sit down and share it all with you but we all know there are never enough hours in the day to do everything.  I know I’ve said this before many times, but I do hope to write more and share with you all the things that have happened and will happen on this new adventure I am on.

Until then, I want to thank everyone who reads my blog.  I never imagined people would actually care about what I write.  It is a wonderful feeling to know people read and enjoy something you’ve created.

Sendings lots of love to everyone! Thanks for reading and I appreciate with all my heart all your positive energy and kind words.

Buona Festa Delle Donne

La Festa delle donne or International Women’s Day takes place every year on March 8th.  It is a day that is celebrated not only in Italy but in other European countries as well.  The roots and origins of this festival vary depending on the source.  However, regardless of its origins, March 8th has become an International Day to celebrate and appreciate all the women in our lives (mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, friends, co-workers, etc).  Originally men would give the women in their lives a sprig of the beautiful and bright yellow Mimosa flower.  This tradition has evolved over the years and has become a day when everyone (including women) show appreciation for the women in their lives.

I have so many incredible women in my life who have enriched my life so much.  I look up to and admire these women and I aspire to be more like them every day.  And, I want to send some special Women’s Day messages to two of the most important and incredible women in my life.

My mother, a real-life superwoman who deserves nothing but happiness in her life.  A woman who remains strong in times of hardship, will be your devil’s advocate when you need to make important decisions and who will be there to help you in whatever way she can once those decisions are made.  Mom, I hope you know just how amazing you are and how fortunate I am that you are in my life.  I continue to learn so much from you every day.  You had faith in me and gave me the words of encouragement I needed to stay strong.  I am living my dream thanks to you.

My sister, a woman who at times doesn’t realize her own greatness and doesn’t realize just how much she has done in her life.  Sis, you are literally my other half.  We are so very different and yet so very similar.  I admire you and I’m so proud of all that you have accomplished in your life.  I see great things ahead for you, I always have.  Even though you are my younger sister, I have learned so much from you.  I would be lost without you.

I become more and more aware every day just how many amazing, powerful, strong, and incredible women surround me and embrace my life – whether its family, relatives, friends, co-workers.  I am blessed to have such amazing role models in my life who teach me and help me grow every day.

Happy Women’s Day to all the ladies!! Stay strong and continue being amazing!!!

5 Questions With…Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo – Visitor Guide in Calabria

Anyone who reads my blog will be able to tell almost instantly how much I love Calabria.  It is a beautiful place with so much culture and history that is often overlooked by tourists visiting Italy.  So, as you can imagine I was so excited when Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo agreed to participate in my “5 Questions With…” series.  Without any further hestitation, it is with great pleasure that I introduce you all to Anna of La Dolce Vita di Pizzo as she tells us about one of Calabria’s travel gems.

Tell us a little about why you chose to create La Dolce Vita di Pizzo – Complete Visitor Guide.

I created the website because when I tried to visit Pizzo in 2008 I found it very difficult to get any information.  In fact, it was so difficult that I gave up and went to Spain that year instead!  But the following year I returned to the task, and finally got to Pizzo in April 2010.  I had done two years of internet research gathering every scrap of information I could find about Pizzo, but I still went on a wing and a prayer with many questions unanswered.  My feeling was that if I – who spoke Italian and had lived in Pizzo – found it so difficult to get there, what must it be like for the first time English speaking visitor?  I started bringing all the information I had together in one place.  I didn’t plan to create a guide, but like Pollyanna, it just grew and grew, until I realised that I was in fact writing a guide to Pizzo.

I put everything I had wanted to know about Pizzo into the Guide to create a one stop information service.  It is very important to me that it is an independent, impartial guide, and for that reason I don’t have advertising, charge for inclusion or get any commission from the services in the guide.  My aim is to provide information and services that I would recommend to a friend visiting Pizzo.  For that reason, I call it ‘your friend in Pizzo’, and if you are planning a visit you can do so with confidence knowing that you have all the information you need.  My aim is to make it easy for English speaking people to visit Pizzo, and enjoy their stay.

Why should someone visiting Calabria include Pizzo in their travel plans?

I am totally biased, but for me Pizzo is a very special place.  I’ve lived in Reggio and spent a 2 week holiday in Tropea, and Pizzo is a place that just makes my heart sing in a way that I don’t experience anywhere else.  Locals say that I’m in love with Pizzo, and it’s true, but it’s not just me, I find that other people who live here feel the same way.  You should come to Pizzo for the warmth of the people; to experience the real Calabria unspoilt by overcommercialised tourism; to come on one of my unique Guided Walks; and to eat the best ice cream in Calabria.  But most of all, to see if it captures your heart.

Describe some of the services you offer and what potential clients can expect from those services.

Apart from the free online guide, the services I personally provide are a Welcome to Pizzo package – where I spend the morning with you on your first day to help you settle in and get to know the area – and the Secret Pizzo Guided Walks.  These are very exciting walks (which leave from the Piazza in the evening and San Francesco in the morning) to explore the Old Town of Pizzo.  I would meet lost tourists wandering around the warren of streets and alleys in the Old Town, not understanding what they saw and not getting the most from their stay.  So I decided to share my knowledge and understanding with English speaking visitors, and take them on guided walks to see the parts of Pizzo tourists don’t usually see.

How did you first discover Pizzo?

I first came to Pizzo by accident in 1976, and ended up living there for four years until 1980.  In the 1970s very few foreigners made it down as far as Calabria, but my sister had been on an inter-rail trip with her friends and she’d met a boy in Reggio, so she decided to stay there and work as an au pair.  I came out to join her, and we both worked in Reggio for nine months.  We were on our way back to England, travelling up the coast staying in Youth Hostels, when we wandered into Pizzo one idle October afternoon.  It seems incredible to believe now, but at that time the ancient historic Spanish castle of Pizzo (built in the 1400s) was a Youth Hostel.  We used to sleep in the old prisoner’s cells and run up and down the narrow stone stairways, and eat ice cream on the battlements where Joachim Murat, brother-in-law of Napoleon and defeated King of Naples, was executed by firing squad!

There was some Pizzo magic at work, and within hours of arriving we had both been offered jobs and an apartment to live in, so we decided to stay.  I ended up staying for four years, and we were the first foreign girls to work in the Piazza as waitresses.  Eventually I left, not knowing it would be thirty years before I returned!  When I finally came back after thirty years, I found that everyone remembered me, and it felt like I’d never been away.  Now I feel like I’ve come home.

What is your favourite thing about Pizzo?

That’s easy… it’s the ice cream!  Pizzo is famous for it’s ice cream.  Closely followed by the cakes from the Toscano Pasticceria made by 70 year old Sicilian trained pastry chef Salvatore, who came to Pizzo as a young man.  Then it’s the views, the blue sea and sky in every direction, the sunshine and the beaches, the lights around the bay at night and the amazing sunsets every evening.  I buy an ice cream or a cake, and sit by the sea and watch the sunset every evening.  It’s only seven minutes from closing my front door until I’m swimming in the sea.  Market day, with all the stalls and excitement.  Cheese, especially country made fresh warm ricotta and homemade pecorino sold door to door and bought at my own front door.  The people, who never cease to amaze and delight me… the list is endless.

***

Thank You, Anna!! I think you have done a wonderful thing by providing such detailed information to tourists (and future tourists) of Pizzo.
You can find out all there is to know about Pizzo at Anna’s guide ~ LA DOLCE VITA di Pizzo The Complete Visitor Guide

Check out my other “5 Questions With…”:
5 Questions With… RomePhotoBlog
5 Questions With… Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino
5 Questions With… Cherrye of My Bella Vita
5 Questions With… Diana Spechler
5 Questions With… Megan of TorreBarolo

Marcus of Umbria: Book Review and Giveaway

I really enjoyed reading this book.  I mean, I enjoyed it so much that I read it twice.

Marcus of Umbria written by Justine van der Leun is about a young American woman (the author) who moves to a small village in Italy and falls in love, but not in the way you would think.

I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would.  I’m always excited at the idea of an Italian memoir (or any book with an Italian theme) but most times I’m disappointed.  This book, however, does more than just encompass all things Italian – travel, food, family, and love.  This book takes things further and really focuses on the author’s experiences, her journey, her mistakes, and her discoveries.  It becomes more than the author’s observations of a foreign lifestyle, but also how she fits (or doesn’t fit) into it.

This book is cleverly written and I love that it doesn’t sugar coat life in Italy like so many other books.  Don’t get me wrong, Italy is a beautiful place with a beautiful culture but even the most beautiful things have their not so pleasing side.  The honesty in this book is both comforting and refreshing.  Her description of this small village at times reminded me so much of my own village.  It had me laughing out loud at the silly similarities that those of us who have spent time in a small Italian village could really understand and relate to.

I think this book is a must read for all Italophiles and I am so pleased to have the opportunity to share this wonderful book with my readers.

If you are interested in reading this gem, here’s what you need to do:

It’s really simple, just leave a comment on this post (don’t forget to include your e-mail address) by 12:00am (Italy time) Sunday, March 13, 2011 with the answer to this question:

Have you ever thought about running away to Italy?  Where would you go and why?

The winner will be selected randomly and contacted on Monday, March 14th via e-mail.

Good Luck!