Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread…

The ANSA newswire tells me its National Bread Day in Italy today. I’m totally down with that; I love the smell of freshly baked bread almost as much as I like eating it. I think my favorite Italian bread would have to be the Ciabatta which in Italian, means “slipper”. The bread is crusty on the outside and somewhat soft on the inside – just how I like my bread!

My mom used to make bread all the time when we were younger and I used to be her little helper. I have yet to attempt to make bread in my adult life though, maybe its time I gave it a whirl!

What is your favorite type of bread?

Italia here I come!!

My plane ticket is booked. That means, this summer (August to be exact) I’ll be taking my first solo trip to Italy. I can’t even begin to describe how much I’m looking forward to this trip. It has been 10 years since I visited last and as hard as it will be to go this summer without my father, I can’t help but feel how important this trip will be for me.

In the summer of 2006, I took a “career vacation” from my job in Music Publicity to decide if it was something I really wanted to continue pursuing. When it came time to make that choice my father was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer. I put everything on hold in order to be there full time to care for him during his illness. I don’t regret the decision I made. As hard as it was, if I had to do it all over again I would because through that experience we grew even closer than we already were. He was always so proud of the fact that I embraced his Italian heritage. He always made sure to tell me that no matter what; I would always have a home and family in Italy that I could turn to whenever I needed. I have this unexplainable connection to my father’s town, and even though it’s been 10 years, I remember it so vividly as if I were there just yesterday. My cousin tells me the town hasn’t changed which, for me, is so reassuring because my life has been flipped upside down and I have spent every day trying to adapt and move forward – it will be nice to see that some things don’t change.

I’m looking forward to spending time with my family in Italy. I have so many fond memories of the time spent with them and I trust there will be many more to come. I have a feeling that this trip will be life changing for me. I’m at a crossroads in my life, and I’m not sure where I’m headed next. I hope that this trip will help me feel closer to my father and also help put things into perspective and clear my head so that I can make the choices that I need to make. It’s been a hell of a couple of years and I’m definitely due for some magic that only a place like Italy, more specifically Carpanzano, can provide.

The countdown begins…77 days!!

Adventures of Learning a Language – Part 2

In my personal opinion, when it comes to learning a language, there are four basic principles that you need to master: speaking, listening, reading and writing. In my quest to conquer the Italian language, I have immersed myself in the language as much as possible. I have taken areas of interest and incorporated it into my daily life. For example, I enjoy movies, so I make an effort to watch movies in Italian without subtitles so that I am forced to listen to what the characters are saying.

Living in this day and age, we are fortunate to have television programming readily available to us in just about any language. Watching Italian television has been a great way for me to practice my Italian listening comprehension on a daily basis. I’m sure many of you who have gone abroad will understand when I say that even with a decent grasp of vocabulary, understanding someone when they speak to you can be very difficult. Italians in general talk quite quickly, and it can be overwhelming to a rookie.

Over the past couple years I have tried to watch more Italian television and in the process have become hooked on a couple shows.

Affari Tuoi (RAI International) is an Italian game show similar to “Deal or No Deal”. The shows host, Flavio Insinna, is extremely entertaining. In the Italian version of the game, there are 20 pacchi (boxes) representing one of the 20 regions of Italy and holding those boxes are representatives (and possible future contestants) from each region. There have been some very interesting contestants on this show, always full of energy and emotion.

C’e Posta Per Te (TLN/Telelatino) is sort of like a talk show and attempts to reunite individuals with their long lost loved ones (family, friends, etc). An individual is invited to come to the show with no knowledge of who wants to see/talk to them or why. If the individual accepts the invitation they will find themselves seated in front of a large envelope, which will open to show the person who wishes to see them. It is then the invited guests choice to allow that person to speak, and then ultimately to remove the envelope altogether and be reunited. I am constantly finding myself drawn to the emotional stories of these people always hoping for the best possible outcome.

For me, watching television is a fun way to practice my listening comprehension. You could also try watching movies, or listening to music. Learning a language shouldn’t have to be boring, so if you can incorporate something fun and interesting into the mix it is bound to be a good thing.

What are some of your favourite Italian shows?

Italian Football…more than just a game!

I don’t think anyone would argue with me if I were to say that in Italy, il calcio (italian football/soccer) is the most popular sport in the country. It’s probably even safe to say that to many football is like a religion.

With the race for the scudetto coming to an end today and in a few weeks time the start of Euro Cup, it seems only fitting to write about my personal connection to the game. Growing up I remember waking up to the sounds of roaring crowds as my dad watched soccer every Saturday and Sunday morning. My father and I were both Juventus fans. If Juventus was playing and he had to work I could always count on a phone call from him asking me to tape the game so he could watch it later on that night.

I experienced my first World Cup in 1982. My father always told me stories of the day when Italy won the World Champions title and me, a young girl barely 4 years old, standing with him out on the street waving my little Italian flag to the passing cars hoping they would honk to show their support and joy for the win. That tradition continued as we all got older. We always tried to watch all of the Italian World Cup soccer games together.

In 2006, I was blessed to have watched every Italy game with my father during World Cup. We were together and celebrated just like we had when I was a little girl. Italy won the title of World Champions that year. I didn’t know then that it would be the last time my father and I would have that. I was really proud of Italy for winning and I’m so happy that my father was around to see it happen.

So, as you can imagine, Soccer has a special place in my heart. The memories it holds for me are pretty special. I’m looking forward to Euro Cup 2008 in the next few weeks because I know my dad will be with me in spirit cheering along for Italy with the passion and heart he always had for the sport he loved so much.

Forza Italia!!

Sometimes hype is just hype!

Have you ever picked up a book, started to read it, and then found yourself battling to get to the end? To say I love to read is an understatement. I have a pile of books I want to read that seems to grow every time I walk into a bookstore. I have read some pretty great books, and a fair share of not so great ones. I never know what I’m going to encounter when I crack open a book but one thing is certain, I always read a book to the end.

I really thought I met my match with my latest read though. I was given a copy of “Love In The Time Of Cholera”. It was one of Oprah’s Book Club picks so it couldn’t be that bad right? I struggled through this book counting down the pages to the end hoping the words would magically disappear off the page so I wouldn’t have to read anymore. It is sad to say, that not once did I feel completely and totally engaged in the story, which was surprising to me because both the novelist and book received such incredible reviews. There was very little dialogue, the characters I envisioned in my head had no voice and that took away a lot of their personality. The almost 400 page book was filled with overly descriptive words of irrelevant things. The word clutter just made things boring and difficult to follow.

With strong determination I tackled the beast and came out the victor. I finished the book and can now move on to my next read. Yay!

What was the last good book you read? What was the last bad book you read?

Does that look a little slanted to you?

When you think of leaning towers what is the first thing that comes to mind?

“La Torre di Pisa” or as it’s famously known, The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the bell-tower (campanile) of the cathedral in the Italian city of Pisa in Toscana (Tuscany). Construction of the bell-tower began in the summer of 1173 and took somewhere around 177 years to complete. Situated behind the cathedral it is a “must-see” for tourists visiting the region. The bell-tower famous for its impressive lean was never actually supposed to lean. It was intended to stand vertically, however, during its construction it began to incline. Many efforts were made to stop the incline during its construction but the bell-tower was determined! Over the years, some of the greatest minds of the world have been called in to crack the code of the lean and save the leaning tower from eventual collapse. Only time will tell if the millions of dollars that went into saving the tower will be fruitful. Until then, it continues to wonder and amaze tourists, artists, and architects alike.

But, could it be the Tower of Pisa has some competition?

Work began mid March 2008 in Venice to fit a titanium belt to one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the bell-tower in St Mark’s Square. The tower’s foundation made up of thousands of wooden posts driven into unstable ground is slowly breaking down and failing to support the weight of the tower. In turn, the tower is beginning to lean as the foundation underneath is literally cracking at a rate of a millimeter a year. The tower, built in 1912, is an exact replica of its predecessor, which collapsed unexpectedly in 1902. In order to prevent the tower from toppling over, again, the titanium belt will be wrapped around its foundation two meters below the surface and will be invisible from the outside. How long will the belt hold this Venetian landmark? Well, you can never truly predict something like that, but for now the tower is safe, and the breathtaking view from the top of the tower can be enjoyed by visitors for many more years to come.

For a list of other towers that lean check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaning_Tower

Ti Amo!

So, I have been immersing myself in Italian cinema and fell in love with a movie called “Ho Voglia di Te” (I Want You) based on the novel of the same name. As you can probably guess by the title; it’s a love story…the kind that we seem to only dream about. But does that kind of love only have to exist in our dreams?

Love…whether short lived or for eternity…is a very powerful thing. In true “life imitating art” fashion…il lucchetti dell’amore (the locks of love) made popular by the novel turned movie is a remarkable expression of the power of love. The Ponte Milvio is one of the oldest bridges in Rome and if you were to go there today you will most likely be amazed by the lampposts entangled with layers of chain link holding hundreds upon hundreds of locks. It seems like a romantic idea….a couple in love…goes to the bridge….fastens a lock with their names written on it to a lamppost and then in an act of true love throw the key into the Tiber…forever. I’m a romantic at heart…I still believe that THAT kind love and romance exists and when I see images of the lampposts completely covered in these “love locks” its heart warming. Sure you can easily say that most of those locks were probably young love, lust, or just some guy trying to get in some girls pants…but I do believe that there are just as many locks that are symbolic of a couples true and lasting love for one another.

The idea has grown so big that the bridge itself was in danger…the lampposts couldn’t hold the weight of the sheer volume of locks. The police have had to cut the locks off the lampposts…only to return again in a couple days to have them completely covered again. In a world that can sometimes be so overpoweringly negative the idea of il lucchetti dell’amore is uplifting and although it was dreamed up by an author…it must have had some impact on it’s readers who have now taken the pages out of the book and brought them to life.

Image from Ho Voglia Di Te

Adventures of Learning a Language – Part 1

Learning a language can be really exciting…it’s like decoding a puzzle and discovering a whole new world. It isn’t just about learning how to say something in another language…it is also about taking in the culture that is married to it. That can be a real adventure.

Having grown up with an Italian father I became accustomed to life as an Italian. My father and his family brought with them many traditions and experiences that make up who I am today. Having tomatoes line the floor of our garage may seem strange to some but to me it’s autumn. Building a “cantina” or “wine cellar/cold room” in our house didn’t seem pointless…it houses the homemade sausages, wine and sauces that are staples to any great Italian meal. However, with all of this culture around me the one thing I missed out on was learning how to speak Italian. With my mother, a stay at home mom who was Canadian, I was brought up speaking English. Although we spent the majority of our lives surrounded by our Italian side…the language was something that was never really pushed on us. I took Italian classes in school but never learned much more than the basics.

I would like to go to Italy this summer with a greater understanding and use of the Italian language. I understand most Italian but it’s the speaking part of it that needs work. So I have immersed myself in all that is Italian – movies, music, cooking, and news. I am learning so much more than I ever thought I would. That is not to say that I am fluent in Italian…I am by no means close to that yet. But my understanding of the language is getting stronger and with some time and practice I can be in a place where I am confident and comfortable speaking the language.

Learning a language certainly isn’t easy. I was going through my textbook and said to myself “I need to figure out how to conjugate verbs”. I can structure a sentence in Italian if it’s something basic and in the present tense but what about the past or future. So I grabbed my very informative Italian Grammar book and began to focus my attention on conjugating Italian verbs.

I felt defeated!

Take the word “Parlare” (to talk). Did you know that there are 57…yes 57…ways to conjugate the verb “to talk”. They say English is one of the hardest languages to learn but I’m pretty sure that we don’t have 57 different ways to conjugate the verb “to talk”. And it’s different for other verbs that have different endings. There are a number of different verb endings in Italian, for example -are (parlare), -ciare (cominciare), -ire (venire), -giare (mangiare), -care (giocare), and so on. Depending on how the verb ends changes how the ends of the conjugated verb ends. Confused yet? Ya, I know.

I see a lot of cue cards and memorization in my future! But I know, once I get those basics down I will be much further ahead then I have ever been in mastering the Italian language.

The funniest part of all of this is that I am learning “proper” Italian. At some point I’m going to have to learn the dialect of my family’s town…but from being around my family…our dialect isn’t as bad as some towns.

Does anyone have tips or tricks for learning a language?

Ci vediamo!! (“see you”)

Chi ben comincia è a metà dell’opera…

Chi ben comincia è a metà dell’opera.
Translation: A good start is half the battle.

Why does anything involving the government take so long?

I started the long process of obtaining my Italian citizenship a couple months ago. I am applying for a dual citizenship (Canadian/Italian). I have wanted to get it for a while but never actually took the steps necessary to actually get it.

My father was an Italian citizen when I was born. However, because he became a Canadian citizen after I was born, there is a lot of documentation that I have to get my hands on in order to prove that I qualify to get the citizenship. I must obtain a search letter from Canadian Immigration stating when, where and how my father became a Canadian citizen (thereby showing he was an Italian citizen at the time of my birth). In order to get the search letter from Canadian Immigration, I have to send them “long form” pieces of documentation to prove that I am his daughter. Easy right? Not that easy! In Canada, when you marry, have a child, etc you never seem to get the “long form” of your documentation. Ironically it’s the “long form” of the documentation I seem to need for everything. So I’ve spent a lot of time filling out forms, and even more time waiting.

Now, I’m just waiting on the search letter to come back, which normally takes 3-4 months. Once I have that I can finally bring my application to the Italian Consulate and hopefully not have to wait too long (wishful thinking) for my citizenship to be approved.

I can’t wait! I want to embrace my Italian heritage and having the opportunity to be an Italian citizen is an honour. I guess this is how many immigrants felt when they moved to Canada and eventually became citizens here.

Stay tuned…

Lazio’s hidden gem?

Villa d’Este is a magnificent villa situated in Tivoli, an ancient Italian town in Lazio (less than an hour away from Rome). It was built in the 1500s and is absolutely breathtaking. During my visit to Tivoli, we stopped in to admire the magic and wonder of this enchanting place.

The luxurious gardens, fountains and statues, surrounding the villa will leave you speechless. Walking through the gardens, you feel as though you are in a dream with breath-taking images everywhere you look.

Inside, the villa is lavishly decorated with frescoes, proudly displaying the art of the Renaissance and transporting you back in time. To experience Villa d’Este is to take a walk in time. You can almost feel time stop while you spend hours walking the grounds, trying to take in every last detail. Words and pictures will never truly convey the sheer beauty of this place. It is a must-see for anyone planning a trip to Rome.

Has anyone else been to the Villa d’Este? What did you think of it?