Di seguito gli interventi pubblicati in questa sezione, in ordine cronologico.
 
 

I came here with rather small knowledge about italian mentality. Yes I used to travel here couple of times but this is completely different thing than live here, learn and undertake active project in italian society. I come from central-eastern Europe so my view of normal behaviour differs much from here. I am more closed and need time to feel calm and more open. Of course I am talking in general but we are more analyzing types of personalities and we don't trust so quickly. The other thing is closeness, usually we need more space talking to someone, we don;t touch people during chat. Of course I have known that here will be completely different but of course knowledge is a different thing than practice. I need some time to open myself. In my country there is lots of stereotypes connected with italian mentality and atributes. Generally speaking stereotypes are harmful for each nation but there is always some percentage of truth in everything because this is not a lie that lots of polish people overdose alcohol and we can't fight with this:) the same situation italians will always be for us "pasta people" with too much gel on their hair. One of well-known italian „feature” are their artistic skills, specifically drama skills. Italians are great actors, maybe because they are more able to show their emotions, are more dynamic, and more expresive. Ironically they are known as great actors in each life issue. I can observe that in the televison where popular shows are funny, faked mascarades, in normal life during normal arguments and mostly on the football pitch. Italians are popular football actors and each football is like tremendous drama spectacle. In Poland we are alsways laughing how italians are pretending that something hurts them. But it has its own climate. In the beginning I was analyzing everything I saw here. At a first sight some behaviours were quite shallow for me. Too much of kindness and everything was „tutto bene” even though it wasn’t in reality. I was a little bit irritated about it cause in my tradition it is better to use some euphemisms like „everything is like it used to be”, „there are no changes is my life”, or that is rather bad and of course it affacts our eastern mentallity, more melancholic type. I got used to kindness and what at the beginning I called shallow I transfered it cause it makes italians more optimistic. The thing I haven’t still changed opinion about is that italians are estets and quite snobish about it. This is the thing I can understand because this is a country with the most beatiful architecture, artistic heritage. The most popular fashion companies were born here. People pay lots of attention on their look and to look trendy. It is nice to observe beatiful people who presents like butterflies in somtimes grey reality. Italy is breathtaking even though the weather is not apropriate. It will always be in other countries the land of mafia, luxury , pasta and Toto Cotugno but it is so various in each area that I can’t generalize. Allora, grazie per attenzione. Ciao

Ciao a tutti, My name is Kasia and I am a EVS volunteer in Malnate in La Finestra organisation connected with work with disabled people. I work with my house mate Delia from Germany. I have just started working on this blog due to lack of connection with internet. After graduating my studies I have decided to make a pause and experience something special what would be able to help improve me, my skills, learn a new language and taste life in different culture than mine or those which I have been studying which is oriental part of the world. I hope I will manage to make this project special. I have been here in Italy for 2 months but I still don't feel comfortable with italian language however I think in couple of weeks I will loose my block and fear to write in this language because my work is the best language school ever. In the beginnig of working the worst problem was that I couldn't comunicate with everyone but hopefully I am improving it by speaking and learning every day. The thing is that I can sometimes observe that sometimes people are impatient what makes me feel sometimes stressed as well but beginnings are always difficult. I learn italian every day but last 2 weeks I had a break because I spent my Christmas time "halfly on the airport and halfly at home" with my family because of bad weather conditions so now I have to refresh my mind and transfer my way of thinking again. Working as a volunteer in La Finestra is a great experience. Before this project I had a small contact with such kind of work. First of all I realized how many positive feelings have workers of La Finestra. They sacrify their love for disabled people. Work is not easy because in the beginning I didn't know how can I react for some behaviours of handicapped. Of course time is a best teacher. With a tremendous help of member staff I stareted to understand each behaviour. I love enthusiasm of disabled and I am starting to learn many things from them. During workshops we are supposed to help people in artistic, sport, normal lessons etc. I can feel that disabled people as well are teaching me not only in the typical activities but also as a spiritual help. I like that we are able to take part in many after work projects, hopefully in the future I will be able to help in more activities due to bigger knowledge of italian language and psychological preparation. Living in Malnate is very tranquil. Me and my house mates Delia and Zanda from SOS Malnate we are trying to diversicate our staying here. Mostly by travelling during the weekends. The thing which was difficult at the beginning and still exsists is the transport comunication. Unfortunaletlly there are no many ways of coming back from different cities during the late evening. This was as well quite new thing for me. Right now we're working on some ways to get rid of this problem because by this we are a "little" bit isolated from civilisation. This is my first note so I wrote about everything in general. I hope I haven't made you more sleepy than you were. In this special occasion I want to wish to everyone Happy New Year and may all Your dreams come true. Ciao Katarzyna