SEASON’S GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL!
GËZUAR FESTAT E FUNDVITIT SI DHE SUKSESE NË 2007!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Greetings - Urime !
SEASON’S GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL!
GËZUAR FESTAT E FUNDVITIT SI DHE SUKSESE NË 2007!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
A celebration for Lina
Among the season’s festivities, the one I attended on Sunday was a special one for
a long term, dear friend, who turned 99 on that day.
Angela, mostly known as Lina, but also called GrandMa, Nonna, and Ma, was surrounded by 4 generations of descendants that include 10 great grandchildren, lots of great nieces and nephews, in addition to a host of other friends.
We all had a wonderful time at a cozy restaurant in the area of Queens, N.Y.
The luncheon started around 1pm, and it went on for 5 hours with lots of good, hearty Italian food and a huge strawberry shortcake (her favorite) to close the feast.
The lady we all love is physically frail, but her mind and stamina are to be admired. During the entire afternoon she greeted a lot of people, who were swarming around her with balloons, flowers, gifts, and a lot chatting.
It was practically impossible to take a good picture of her because the crowd was hard to navigate, when everyone happily moved around to talk not only to her, but with everyone else around, to get updated on each other’s news, and to take photos of the event. Some flew into town just for the occasion and it was the perfect opportunity to visit while celebrating a longevity of work and dedication to family and friends. Happy Birthday, Lina, and many more to come!
a long term, dear friend, who turned 99 on that day.
Angela, mostly known as Lina, but also called GrandMa, Nonna, and Ma, was surrounded by 4 generations of descendants that include 10 great grandchildren, lots of great nieces and nephews, in addition to a host of other friends.
We all had a wonderful time at a cozy restaurant in the area of Queens, N.Y.
The luncheon started around 1pm, and it went on for 5 hours with lots of good, hearty Italian food and a huge strawberry shortcake (her favorite) to close the feast.
The lady we all love is physically frail, but her mind and stamina are to be admired. During the entire afternoon she greeted a lot of people, who were swarming around her with balloons, flowers, gifts, and a lot chatting.
It was practically impossible to take a good picture of her because the crowd was hard to navigate, when everyone happily moved around to talk not only to her, but with everyone else around, to get updated on each other’s news, and to take photos of the event. Some flew into town just for the occasion and it was the perfect opportunity to visit while celebrating a longevity of work and dedication to family and friends. Happy Birthday, Lina, and many more to come!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Catching up
Again, my return flights back to NY earlier this month went very smoothly, which is quite a feat today. Austrian Airline was efficient, as usual, and their food and services are something to rave about in these times when traveling is a stressful chore and everywhere one turns may encounter some sort of problem. I must add this was all in economy class too, and I was lucky enough this time to have 3 seats to myself to boot!
As expected, however, upon arrival home I had to face the usual accumulation of mail that, especially at this time of the year, can be overwhelming, to say the least.
The jet lag that wakes me up at 3am in NY for a few days allows me to face the task of clearing out the mail – this time it consisted of more than 520 email messages (received in just one week, and mostly junk), over 100 requests of contributions, a dozen faxes, and one full carton of catalogs, without counting the bills, and invoices that, fortunately, I can pay online as I travel. Now I’ve got to deal with the duties of the season, the gifts, the greetings, and some special events planned by friends, in addition to the handling of papers, calls, and documentation that take a great part of time on a daily basis all year around because of the work that I am involved with, on a volunteer basis.
NY is all decked out for the holidays, and not only in public places and stores. Small lights and colorful decorations are everywhere now, including along all the avenues of Manhattan, on the trees and on the balconies of the high-rises, while the strong smell of pines for sale permeates many blocks and corners.
The rush is on, and the plans for holiday planning are evolving......... !
As expected, however, upon arrival home I had to face the usual accumulation of mail that, especially at this time of the year, can be overwhelming, to say the least.
The jet lag that wakes me up at 3am in NY for a few days allows me to face the task of clearing out the mail – this time it consisted of more than 520 email messages (received in just one week, and mostly junk), over 100 requests of contributions, a dozen faxes, and one full carton of catalogs, without counting the bills, and invoices that, fortunately, I can pay online as I travel. Now I’ve got to deal with the duties of the season, the gifts, the greetings, and some special events planned by friends, in addition to the handling of papers, calls, and documentation that take a great part of time on a daily basis all year around because of the work that I am involved with, on a volunteer basis.
NY is all decked out for the holidays, and not only in public places and stores. Small lights and colorful decorations are everywhere now, including along all the avenues of Manhattan, on the trees and on the balconies of the high-rises, while the strong smell of pines for sale permeates many blocks and corners.
The rush is on, and the plans for holiday planning are evolving......... !
Time Out
At the end of the short stay in northern Italy, one day was reserved for a breather, before tackling the return trip to NY. I spent it indoors, without even putting my shoes on that day, at the home of one of my maternal cousins, located up in the mountains at the foot of the Italian/Swiss Alps.
The few hours there passed quickly with other visiting relatives and some more good food. The air was very brisk outside, but one of the family cats found a cozy spot to snooze, on a window sill, in the feeble sunshine of the winter afternoon.
It was the perfect day for polenta with “tapulocco” , which is shredded beef cooked in wine and spices.
No surprises in food here, while in Albania I forgot to mention previously that I saw and tasted, for the first time in my life, an exotic looking fruit native to the Dajti National Park. Its color is bright red and its size is that of small cherry tomatoes, but with a very fuzzy, however soft, peel that is surprisingly edible. When popped into the moth, its taste is sweet and resembles the one of persimmons.
When it came time to pack to come back home from Italy, I found that I couldn’t squeeze into my suitcase the additional items received as gifts, and, I had to buy an extra duffle bag at the last moment.
Among some of the delicacies I received was a tray of “marrons glaces” (very large glazed chestnuts) typical of the holiday season in Italy. I shall enjoy them with friends on Christmas eve.
The few hours there passed quickly with other visiting relatives and some more good food. The air was very brisk outside, but one of the family cats found a cozy spot to snooze, on a window sill, in the feeble sunshine of the winter afternoon.
It was the perfect day for polenta with “tapulocco” , which is shredded beef cooked in wine and spices.
No surprises in food here, while in Albania I forgot to mention previously that I saw and tasted, for the first time in my life, an exotic looking fruit native to the Dajti National Park. Its color is bright red and its size is that of small cherry tomatoes, but with a very fuzzy, however soft, peel that is surprisingly edible. When popped into the moth, its taste is sweet and resembles the one of persimmons.
When it came time to pack to come back home from Italy, I found that I couldn’t squeeze into my suitcase the additional items received as gifts, and, I had to buy an extra duffle bag at the last moment.
Among some of the delicacies I received was a tray of “marrons glaces” (very large glazed chestnuts) typical of the holiday season in Italy. I shall enjoy them with friends on Christmas eve.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Italian dining
Amidst the many appointments that I had planned, and maintained, as per daily schedule in Italy, I attended some leisurely meals at places well known for their delectable food. They were all outside of the big cities, within the general area of Piedmont, where I spent my youth, around the hills that are at the bottom of the Italian side of the Swiss Alps, which produce some of the best wines of Italy, dating back to the 13th century.
Varied were the reasons for the dinners. I owed one since two years ago to a local business man, who was very helpful in settling a real estate matter back then, and never charged me a fee for his service. Another took place unexpectedly, because of the opening of a newly renovated bar, now owned by an acquaintance, who insisted that I participate while in town. The largest dining experience, however, took place on the first Sunday of this month. I feel honored that it was specifically planned by the local participants to coincide with my presence in town.
The event represents an old tradition, called “Pranzo dei Coscritti”, which means “dinner for people whose birth is registered in the same year”. The practice started almost a century ago (probably around WWI) and was restricted then only to the male population that reached the age of 18, and was then drafted into the military. I had no idea, until a couple years ago, that this annual custom eventually extended to include women. Although it eventually departed from the military concept, it was preserved for all town people of the same age, regardless of their civil status, background or education, to enjoy a big annual luncheon affair together. The town has an organizing committee that keeps track of this population, and the day of the planned gathering initiates with attending mass, followed by a brief visit to the local cemetery, in memory of the departed ones.
The dining usually takes place within the town, or surrounding areas, where all local specialties can be enjoyed. These places, which may have been former farms, are now known as “agritourismo”, which, by law, are supposed to serve only home grown foods, staples, and products typical of the region.
The affair that I have attended twice in the past couple of years starts around 1pm and lasts several hours. The rule is that if the participants are not single, the respective partners or spouses, cannot partake the luncheon, but join the group afterwards, when we usually end up at someone’s house for the rest of the day with more food, drink, and songs that stretch into the night!
To complete the picture I should add that some of the foods served have become quite sophisticated these days, as compared to the past. The portions still are no where near what we serve in the U.S.; on the contrary, each course usually consists of a ‘taste’ of many variety of dishes for a more pleasurable dining experience, accompanied by different wines.
It’s also interesting to notice that it’s rare to see anyone really get drunk or out of order, if when a bit tipsy. The sipping and nibbling that spans over the entire day must have a beneficial effect, and these events turn out to be a real joy!
Varied were the reasons for the dinners. I owed one since two years ago to a local business man, who was very helpful in settling a real estate matter back then, and never charged me a fee for his service. Another took place unexpectedly, because of the opening of a newly renovated bar, now owned by an acquaintance, who insisted that I participate while in town. The largest dining experience, however, took place on the first Sunday of this month. I feel honored that it was specifically planned by the local participants to coincide with my presence in town.
The event represents an old tradition, called “Pranzo dei Coscritti”, which means “dinner for people whose birth is registered in the same year”. The practice started almost a century ago (probably around WWI) and was restricted then only to the male population that reached the age of 18, and was then drafted into the military. I had no idea, until a couple years ago, that this annual custom eventually extended to include women. Although it eventually departed from the military concept, it was preserved for all town people of the same age, regardless of their civil status, background or education, to enjoy a big annual luncheon affair together. The town has an organizing committee that keeps track of this population, and the day of the planned gathering initiates with attending mass, followed by a brief visit to the local cemetery, in memory of the departed ones.
The dining usually takes place within the town, or surrounding areas, where all local specialties can be enjoyed. These places, which may have been former farms, are now known as “agritourismo”, which, by law, are supposed to serve only home grown foods, staples, and products typical of the region.
The affair that I have attended twice in the past couple of years starts around 1pm and lasts several hours. The rule is that if the participants are not single, the respective partners or spouses, cannot partake the luncheon, but join the group afterwards, when we usually end up at someone’s house for the rest of the day with more food, drink, and songs that stretch into the night!
To complete the picture I should add that some of the foods served have become quite sophisticated these days, as compared to the past. The portions still are no where near what we serve in the U.S.; on the contrary, each course usually consists of a ‘taste’ of many variety of dishes for a more pleasurable dining experience, accompanied by different wines.
It’s also interesting to notice that it’s rare to see anyone really get drunk or out of order, if when a bit tipsy. The sipping and nibbling that spans over the entire day must have a beneficial effect, and these events turn out to be a real joy!
Monday, December 11, 2006
L.I.U.C.
My first full day in Italy was spent at this rather newly established Italian university, which had extended an invitation for me to visit it since 3 years ago. Its abbreviation stands for ‘Libero Istituto Universitario Cattaneo’. It was founded in 1991 at the initiative of the Industrial Association of the province of Varese, with the goal of fostering the development of a business culture and training graduates for the business world.
This institution, (www.liuc.it), also known as Universita’ Carlo Cattaneo, is located in a tranquil, at ease, and very tidy town of 15,000 pop. : Castellanza, in the above province of Varese, part of the industrial region of Lombardy, headed by Milan, which is located about 45 minutes away by train. It takes the name from the Lombard economist, Carlo Cattaneo, who influenced its creation due to the ‘need of a locally based institute of higher learning, geared to the economic activities of this area’. The outcome was a collaborative project from authoritative exponents from universities, finance, and industry, and it offers today degrees in 3 major fields: Economics, Engineering, and Law.
Current figures include 2,400 students (of which 290 are enrolled in Professional Masters courses), 200 lecturers (full, and associate professors, researchers, and non-tenured staff), with an excellent teacher/student ratio of 1 lecturer for every 15 students. It’s equipped with good libraries, university residences (252 rooms, 468 beds), cafeteria, parking, and cabling facilities, a copy center, a laundry area, shops, and even a bank branch.
In 2005 1.200.000 euro were allocated to scholarships and other forms of student funding, with 50% reduction in tuition fees for high performers. The tuition fees for visiting students for 2006-2007 are 600 euro for semester (up to 30 credits). One of the most remarkable facts, however, in today’s difficult Italian economic/employment environment is that this university is able to guarantee all interested students at least one business placement as part of their study program (average placement time is 46 days - over 95% of graduates are employed with a year of graduation, while the Italian national average is 55% at best).
My arrival in town from Milan was delayed by an unexpected break down of the local train that came to a halt after the first 2 stops. However, when I was met at the station I was informed that the state of Italian railroads is in such a bad shape that this type of occurrence is not uncommon these days.
It was a grey, chilly day, typical of the Lombardy region in winter time, but the welcome by locals and the university was warm, and the time spent here with the head of International Relations was interesting and very pleasant.
I was taken on a complete tour of the huge campus, which covers the area once occupied by a large, privately owned, factory and villa, now converted into offices, classrooms, dormitories, and the many other facilities indicated above. The original architectural style was maintained throughout the buildings, with the interiors completely guttered out and modernized. The campus also includes a hotel, annexed to the big cafeteria, where university visitors and guests can be accommodated.
Before returning to Milan, I was treated to an excellent and relaxed lunch at one of Castellanza’s local restaurants. My day, however, did not end here. One of my Italian cousins, living in Milan, came to pick me up at the hotel around 7:30pm and I had another wonderful meal, dinner at his apartment.
The day just coincided with his birthday, thus, we also…..imbibed! The day that started at 6:30am, was over by 1:00am of the following morning, but my alarm was again set for an early rise that same day.
This institution, (www.liuc.it), also known as Universita’ Carlo Cattaneo, is located in a tranquil, at ease, and very tidy town of 15,000 pop. : Castellanza, in the above province of Varese, part of the industrial region of Lombardy, headed by Milan, which is located about 45 minutes away by train. It takes the name from the Lombard economist, Carlo Cattaneo, who influenced its creation due to the ‘need of a locally based institute of higher learning, geared to the economic activities of this area’. The outcome was a collaborative project from authoritative exponents from universities, finance, and industry, and it offers today degrees in 3 major fields: Economics, Engineering, and Law.
Current figures include 2,400 students (of which 290 are enrolled in Professional Masters courses), 200 lecturers (full, and associate professors, researchers, and non-tenured staff), with an excellent teacher/student ratio of 1 lecturer for every 15 students. It’s equipped with good libraries, university residences (252 rooms, 468 beds), cafeteria, parking, and cabling facilities, a copy center, a laundry area, shops, and even a bank branch.
In 2005 1.200.000 euro were allocated to scholarships and other forms of student funding, with 50% reduction in tuition fees for high performers. The tuition fees for visiting students for 2006-2007 are 600 euro for semester (up to 30 credits). One of the most remarkable facts, however, in today’s difficult Italian economic/employment environment is that this university is able to guarantee all interested students at least one business placement as part of their study program (average placement time is 46 days - over 95% of graduates are employed with a year of graduation, while the Italian national average is 55% at best).
My arrival in town from Milan was delayed by an unexpected break down of the local train that came to a halt after the first 2 stops. However, when I was met at the station I was informed that the state of Italian railroads is in such a bad shape that this type of occurrence is not uncommon these days.
It was a grey, chilly day, typical of the Lombardy region in winter time, but the welcome by locals and the university was warm, and the time spent here with the head of International Relations was interesting and very pleasant.
I was taken on a complete tour of the huge campus, which covers the area once occupied by a large, privately owned, factory and villa, now converted into offices, classrooms, dormitories, and the many other facilities indicated above. The original architectural style was maintained throughout the buildings, with the interiors completely guttered out and modernized. The campus also includes a hotel, annexed to the big cafeteria, where university visitors and guests can be accommodated.
Before returning to Milan, I was treated to an excellent and relaxed lunch at one of Castellanza’s local restaurants. My day, however, did not end here. One of my Italian cousins, living in Milan, came to pick me up at the hotel around 7:30pm and I had another wonderful meal, dinner at his apartment.
The day just coincided with his birthday, thus, we also…..imbibed! The day that started at 6:30am, was over by 1:00am of the following morning, but my alarm was again set for an early rise that same day.
Winding down
My European trip, after a long stay in Albania, had an Italian interlude before my return home. I left Albania during its annual ‘flag & independence days’ festivities. The traffic on the way to the airport was light, but the flight from Tirana was completely booked, as usual. As forecasted, I arrived at the hotel in Milan in late evening.
As my friends may have gathered, the break in news in this blog covers the time I was in Italy, where I don’t have much time to go online, followed by a few days of busy catching up upon reaching home in NY. It’s always a daunting task when I get back to put my living quarters back in shape, sort out the huge accumulation of mail, and re-routinize my life to US needs and standards.
When I travel westward I also have to deal with the jetlag, contrary to most people that feel it more when going into the opposite direction. Thus, here in NY, I am wide awake at 3am; I tackle whatever I need to do with vigor, and go non-stop until about 8pm when I just totally conk out.
This is the tail end of another busy and rewarding trip, and I’ll reminisce ‘post facto’ about some of the highlights of my Italian visit in the following posts.
As my friends may have gathered, the break in news in this blog covers the time I was in Italy, where I don’t have much time to go online, followed by a few days of busy catching up upon reaching home in NY. It’s always a daunting task when I get back to put my living quarters back in shape, sort out the huge accumulation of mail, and re-routinize my life to US needs and standards.
When I travel westward I also have to deal with the jetlag, contrary to most people that feel it more when going into the opposite direction. Thus, here in NY, I am wide awake at 3am; I tackle whatever I need to do with vigor, and go non-stop until about 8pm when I just totally conk out.
This is the tail end of another busy and rewarding trip, and I’ll reminisce ‘post facto’ about some of the highlights of my Italian visit in the following posts.
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