DEVELOP COGNITIVE EMPATHY BY LIVING IN ANOTHER CULTURE

"Degrees in themselves do not guarantee any growth in emotionally intelligent leadership ability. Emotional Intelligence competencies develop in the midst of life. There are a wide variety of situations in which this can occur."....

..."So many of the situations you name could provide this kind of natural strength building. Living in another culture, for instance, can be a great way to develop more cognitive empathy, where we understand other people’s mental models – how they see the world. 
This competence makes us better communicators: we know how to put things so people understand".

Daniel Goleman-Co-Director of Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations

WHO SHOULD ENROLL

Who should enroll?

High school age students (15 - 18 yrs), Gap-year Students and... students of any age who are motivated and excited about experiencing Italy in an authentic community and not only as tourists.
Language level is not as important, as motivation! Each student should have the willingness to learn and to adapt to changes. If you have the energy and motivation to interact with your new family and friends, you will succeed.

What makes our program so unique? 

1. Our vibrant program is focused on providing participants with a fun and easy-going environment to make friends while building fluency in Italian. You will not believe how much you can learn and experience even in only four weeks.
2. Our program is fully integrated into the local community, giving students endless opportunities to expand their Italian skills and participate in the "real"Italian life", far (but not too much!) from the touristic cities.
3. We shape our program solely around the interests of the participants. 
4. We create a trustful family environment where students build speaking confidence.
5. We also provide on request contact information from returning students! 

PRIMAVERA DEL PROSECCO

From 04/25/2013 to 05/01/2013 the 5th Exhibition of Prosecco and wines of the hills of Conegliano or "Colli di Conegliano" will take place in Conegliano.

Conegliano "City of Art and Wine" has fascinated, over the centuries, those who have crossed its territory, captivating them with the sweetness and the sinuosity of its hills, the beauty of its historic buildings and its frescoes and, finally, with the harmony of the landscape. 
Prosecco di Conegliano - Valdobbiadene today is among the major attractions that bring tourists in this area from all over the world and scholars interested in learning the secrets of its success which has roots in centuries of tradition of wine making.

In the splendid setting of the "Scuola Enologica"
a sparkling event will take place, to give the visitors the opportunity to learn and taste - with the help of expert sommeliers - the best wines available on the market today.

- Address: Conegliano, Veneto Enoteca (Via G. Dalmasso, 12) Campus of Wine School (Scuola Enologica di Conegliano)

MAKING "CROSTOLI" FOR CARNIVAL

Crostoli (called "Galani" in Venice) is a dessert made traditionally for the Carnival celebration. The Carnival ends with Lent, forty days before Easter, on Fat Tuesday ("Martedi' Grasso").

When I lived in Venice and went to Ca' Foscari University, my roommates and I looked forward for the festivities of the Carnival in Venice to start.... because with the Carnevale also the best sweets were available all around town: Crostoli and Frittelle! 

My favorite "Pasticceria" (pastry store) was "Tonolo"  near Campo S. Margherita where our apartment was.

Home made Crostoli are not hard to make, here is Valentina cooking them for Julia and the kids:

MEAL TIME

Participating in the daily Italian life ("vita") is one of the highlights of our program.

The experience to live in a different country really transforms lives and opens the mind to other cultures and traditions.

A very important tradition in every Italian family is definitely meal time. 

So what better way to actively engage in the local culture than learning how to cook from an Italian in Italy?

Julia making Pizza

Julia and Carlo

The traditional breakfast in Italy ("colazione") is usually simply "caffelatte e biscotti" (cookies). Sometimes if la mamma made a cake we would have it also for breakfast with the caffelatte. However, if  colazione is eaten in a bar, Italians like to order "cappuccino and cornetto" (croissant).

"Il Pranzo" or lunch is traditionally the most important meal for Italians. Most shops close down during the "pausa pranzo". When I was in school I used to go home every day for lunch (school ended at 1pm) and my mamma had a nice plate of pasta or risotto ready for us. My dad came home too, to have lunch with his family.

Dinner ("la cena") was a lighter meal such as a soup, salad or leftover from lunch. We never had dinner before 8pm in Italy which seems so late to me considering that now in America we have dinner at 6:30 pm or earlier!

PROVINCIA DI TREVISO: THE VIDEO SAYS IT ALL

CIAO SONO (I AM) JULIA!

So, after much anticipation Julia is finally in Italy where she will spend the next 6 months living with an Italian family, studying Italian, playing sports and making new friends!
Here is what Julia has to say about her experience so far:

"Ciao! Sono Julia. I’ve truly enjoyed working with Lucia on planning this trip to Italy, and I look forward to sharing my experiences! 

So far this gap year has been an amazing experience, it’s allowed me to focus on specific interests and meet new people.

I said ARRIVEDERCI to my family in the US January 18^th ....

...and have spent the last week adjusting to daily life (and European time!) before I begin school tomorrow. 

My arrival in Venice with Valentina (my host mom)

I arrived to an endless amount of gorgeous mountains and vineyards, beautiful, old homes, warm and engaging people, and a language in which I make many mistakes! 

Vineyards

The family I’m staying with is absolutely wonderful and includes me in all aspects of their life. Not only have I walked with them around their precious town of Conegliano... 

Calle Madonna della Neve

Castelbrando

Miriam (my host sister) and I at Castelbrando

...but we’ve already taken a snowy walk in the Cansiglio Forest (see previous Post) visited two medieval castles, and, of course, Venice!

The smaller, day-to-day things have also really captured my attention: I’ve learned about the Italian school and university system. 
I've been surprised at how often I hear American music, found out that they would never think to have eggs for breakfast, and played Italian card games using -donna- and -cappa- instead of -queen- and -king-.

I’m starting to get a sense of words and phrases that are used often like – sacco di something (literally meaning “sack of”) is their way of saying “a lot of” something. For example:"ci sono un sacco di vigneti a Conegliano" (there are a lot of vineyards in Conegliano).

Even a trip to the supermarket and to the open air market or -mercato-

Mercato a Conegliano

to wander around amidst a jumble of unfamiliar words is an activity in and of itsel! I’m very much looking forward to tomorrow when I start school and meet my new classmates!Ciao a tutti. A dopo!" Julia. 

I understand Julia completely. The feeling of wondering around unfamiliar words and a completely different  measures systems is not a good one!When I first arrived in the US it was very hard to get used to the Pounds, Ounces, Gallons, Inches, Feet, Miles...che confusione!! 
Luckily, by helping my daughter Sofia with homework I learned a lot but I still make mistakes at times!
In Italy we use the sistema metrico decimale. Fruit and vegetables are sold in Chili (Kg). At the fruit stand you would ask: "mi da (could you give me) un chilo di mele (apples)?". The Chilo is a little more than two pounds and it's divided into 10 Etti (one etto is about 3 ounces). So.. if you want to buy some Prosciutto instead of apples you use the Etti:"Mi da due etti di Prosciutto?". 
But I love Prosciutto, and when I am in Italy I usually eat a chilo of it.. and a "chilo di pane fresco" (fresh bread)!!