Welcome!

Since some months three new volunteers arrived, to Mantova, to pick up the baton...

Emilia

I am carrying out a project of 12 months for the association Filofestival in Mantova. We have already begun to work for the session 2009 of this Festivaletteratura. I help to prepare the invitations for the foreign authors. I really like this project, working with books, authors and publishers. It is also a useful experience for me to learn much about the sphere of the organization of cultural events.

Fanny

I have been here in Mantova for one month now to assist international activities in Alce Nero. I am from a rainy and hearty place that is called the North of France! I am looking forward to speaking Italian to understand the Italian culture and people around me. Landed to Milano, on a raining day, my dream of sun vanished! But the fact to arrive in winter doesn’t change the beauty of Mantova: When I arrived here, directly someone told me “forget the parties that you expect, There is not much to do here.” But for me since one month, I haven’t got bored one minute. At Alce Nero, projects follow one after the other, from Segni di infanzia to the organization of intercultural party, through Rintraccari. Time is passing already quickly, I hope that my nine months won’t pass at this speed.

Vard

My name is Varduhi and I come from far away Armenia. I am doing EVS in Castiglione delle Stiviere with cooperativa Mosaico, where I’m supporting educational activities with babies at a nursery school and youngsters at Mondolandia centre. At first I used to live with Ola who has now finished her EVS, so I am alone now. I am looking forward to next project approval, so that we can welcome two more volunteers like me!

Segni d'infanzia and Rintraccarti

These last months, our volunteers also participated in two important cultural events in Mantova like Segni di infanzia (http://www.segnidinfanzia.org/)

and Rintracciarti (http://www.rintracciarti.org/)

Good-bye everybody

Well... where are they?! Those who welcomed us, who transmitted to us all they learnt? After nine months for them, and one for me, my supports have just flown back to Sopot, Blackpool, Lipetsk... Now we must manage without them, learn how to wake up without them, cook without them, learn Italian without them. But they were there, to teach us not to enter that shop because it's too expensive, make us appreciate Russian music, make parties, find out the best coffe...

To end on a high note we organised a theme evening on "Italian abroad and we in Italy”. Here are some pics about that last party together, which Tania conceived: there are thise still at the beginning of their discovery, and those who already feel at home...

In order to bring to light everybody's ideas, we scattered throughout Arci Tom dynamic games during the international buffet, a mix of moussaka, paella and foie gras.

Choose the pic that in your opinion best represents a foreigner's expression when in Italy.

Italians seen by foreigners

Italians abroad

Where do you feel more foreigner?

Leave a message for your next journey...

We also tried to explain a bit how it is like feeling foreigners, the sensations you feel before departure, and then leaving a place where you already belong: and here are Tania's discovery in Italy, Lisa's feelings, or Francesco's EVS experience in Russia.

More pics of the party...