Moda

What a week.

Fashion Week, officially.



I contributed by exploring numerous shopping districts and centres. One in particular, Corso Buenos Aires, had so many shops, full of uncountable lovely things I would have liked... the problem was choosing. There were that many nice things that I simply couldn't be bothered picking and buying a few, rejecting the rest. There, shopping problem solved!

Unfortunately I have been doing a substantial amount of dancing and required a new pair of heels, which I therefore bought out of PURE NECESSITY. Not at all because they had a pretty black bow on the side.



I finally made it to Abercrombie & Fitch - an American store famous for employing only models. You walk in and voila', a ridiculously shaped model with his shirt open welcomes you and offers a free photo. The store has a particular scent, the lights are dim, the ambience sexy and clothes are too expensive, so it was almost like visiting a tourist attraction.

I have also gone to a few more cheap aperitivos... Found one of the best places for food - the buffet includes good pizza, gnocchi, pasta, rice, salumi, salads and cheeses, and even "nutella pizza". I actually have to force myself to cook at home today (lunch anyway) because I'm eating out so much that my food isn't getting cooked!

As I mentioned, it has been Fashion Week, and the centre of Milan, around the Duomo and Galleria, has been filled by people waiting around to see catwalks of upcoming brands, presentations by designers, make up artists and hairdressers, and general events. I did catch one catwalk - brand Kocca - and spotted Valentino walking around.



What was more interesting was discovering some people's behaviour during this week. Some of my friends told me there was a Prada catwalk presentation, and they would "try to see something". Basically I joined them in an alleyway, surrounded by dozens of well-dressed people who were hanging outside a door, guarded by a few bouncers, behind which was a little courtyard, before you'd get a hint of the door which led to the room where the catwalk was happening. Needless to say, we saw absolutely nothing, apart from a few pretentious people and photographers. It was quite interesting to note how important this all was to many people. That being said, these friends of mine persisted with many other catwalks and somehow managed to get into one - brand Etro - which was a nice reminder that persistance and optimism does get you somewhere!

Anyway yesterday (di nuovo auguri babbo!!) I went to Venice with an organised day trip. Will write about that another time, I promise lots of nice photos :)

busy busy

On Saturday I had the chance to go see rehearsals of Piccolo Coro MDG (http://www.piccolocoromdg.it/), a choir of about 50 kids under the age of 11, which I used to be part of, and which gave me some of my most treasured childhood memories. As if watching them sing cheerfully and beautifully wasn't enough, I got to meet Sabrina Simoni, the conductor of the Piccolo Coro d'Antoniano, a similar chorus except much more famous due to the annual TV show Zecchino D'oro - the kids' San Remo I suppose :) Check out this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flNeiFN7IDY&feature=fvw) lovely song.
Soooo that was nice. If anyone out there knows of any young Australian singers, she did ask me if I knew any to go on the show...!

Also on Saturday my cousin Tommaso had his Confirmation. Very happy I was able to make it and "represent" our side of the family! It was truly a lovely evening with four hours of dinner, which was something like 3 antipasti, 2 first courses, 2 big second courses, sides, dessert, coffee and digestives. So, mildly satisfying shall we say ;)

Now I've settled in permanently in Milan, and GOD KNOWS HOW, I had to fill another whole suitcase with stuff to bring over from Conegliano. Plus a big backpack. Hence, I have come to terms with the fact that I'm NOT ready to be an essentialist in Milan. Shoot me.
That being said, I promise to try to "need" less, as well as work on filtering some of what I say - being bilingual has often allowed me to say things I wouldn't say if people could understand me... so, two things to work on!

Moving on, I did my first big shopping at the double storey supermarket down the road, and the first meal included smoked salmon. Baby, I missed you :)

On Tuesday I went to the university for a welcome day... got to know about three (nb: not one, but THREE) student/youth organisations which put on events for international students in Milan. Their free membership cards offer us organised parties and cheap deals a bit everywhere, there is just too much choice!

I spent the day with a few students from France, Russia, Argentina, Mexico etc... it was just a pleasure to be surrounded by the language mix, and I managed to find a girl with whom I feel comfortable speaking French. Also beat a couple of Italian guys insome games of table soccer ;)

In the evening we went to Eleven, a ridiculously nice cocktail bar which normally charges E20 for entrance, E10 just to hold your coat for the night, and E15+ for drinks. Since it was our welcome night, we pretty much had free everything, including an aboundant buffet.

This was followed by a visit to Milan's most famous night club - Hollywood - known for hosting fashion events and attracting numerous VIPs. Honestly I didn't see what the fuss was about... Apart from meeting a fashion photographer, the night was characterised by the usual music and dancing, just near white couches and well dressed people.

As for tonight, we're invited to a Spanish-style aperitivo/night.

transition

I was curious to see how my linguistic mind would switch from the Australian English environment to the Italian one. For the first ten days or so, I still woke up thinking in English. But now (two weeks after my arrival), I struggle to find fairly common words in English, or it takes me a little extra concentration. Interesting!



Yesterday I got an AIRE declaration (for Italian residents abroad), and today I an Italian ID Card... so it seems that the State officially accepts my hybrid status, and I have papers to prove it! :p



Last night I met up with a few old school friends for an aperitivo, it was very funny to remind ourselves of sillytimes as kids and all the gossip and drama we experienced through primary school!

I'm back in Conegliano and actually missing Milan. I fell in love with salsa/bachata dancing again, and it's proving to be a very addicting drug.



What's news in Italy?
The whole nation seems to be finally united against Berlusconi; when I was in Verona there was actually a big anti-President demonstration. Tv news don't stop talking about his sex scandal with Ruby and inability to solve the nation's problems. He's expected to present a defence on April 6th... meanwhile about the case he's said: "...just one thing: I'm not at all worried."
Also on daily news are the poor little Swiss twins, two gorgeous girls kidnapped by their father and taken who knows where before he committed suicide. He's supposed to have also killed them, but the French, Swiss and Italian police have not yet found them... :(
The San Remo song festival started last night. The publicity and aura surrounding this tv show is ridiculous and has turned it from a music and talent program to a gossip show, mainly about its hosts. I forced myself to sit through the first hour.
We also heard of Cyclone Carlos, and the fire in Bunbury... it hurts to know that so much damage is taking place back in Oz!

Ciao ciao :)

Milano

It's grey.
It's full of people. And amongst the normal-looking crowd you spot some individuals created to make us feel inferior with looks, tall skinny people you just know model professionally.
It's busy, and fast-paced.
The driving is ridiculous. I'm still to decide whether drivers here are stupidly dangerous and inconsiderate, or extra-alert, skilful and talented. It's fun to watch anyway.
It gives me cheap coffee at every corner.
It could also give me very expensive coffee and clothes. But I prefer to admire those places from the outside.
The Duomo is absolutely wonderful.
I have not gotten lost yet, which is weird.
I had a fairly big Friday night with some locals I knew, and got a fair dose of salsa and bachata in... finally! It was a bit like breathing again ;) We'll check out another Latino place tonight.

My apartment is lovely! It has everything we need, except a large caffetteria/mocha and a BIN. Yes, there is no rubbish bin. They've been using plastic bags hanging on the wall :p But it's heated, quite roomy, and I have plenty of space for all my things in my room. Stefania, the housemate I hadn't yet met, is really nice as I imagined.

My university - Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, sede di Milano - is beautiful.
An old monastery, it has really high ceilings, a couple of courtyards, and is situated next to a basilica.
There are a lot of American exchange students.
My roommate Mary brought me to "quietly sit in" her (advanced) Italian language class and I ended up being bombarded with questions by the teacher and students.
The mensa (caffetteria) is very convenient. A 3-course meal is E3.50, which I think is cheaper than making a good lunch at home, and saves me a lot of time.
The aperitivo is good too. This is a time in the evening, before dinner, like happy hour. Except you get free full buffet included!
Things are NOT as expensive as everyone said.

Saturday I did a day-trip with some students to Verona. There is currently La Festa dell'Amore on, in honour of St Valentine's coming up, so there were big markets in a couple of piazzas, seeling everything from Carnevale masks to cheese and wine. Lovehearts everywhere and bits of paper with love messages on waaay too many walls. We visited things like Juliet's supposed palace and balcony and a nice castle-museum. Walking around the whole day was lovely but quite exhausting after less than 1 hour's sleep the night before.

Tomorrow, Monday, I will go back to Conegliano until Sunday next, when I will 'permanently' move in here.

That is all for now, alla prossima :)

wanderer

I've been doing a lot of aimless wandering lately. The French call it 'flâner', what a beautiful activity! I love alleyways, and the freedom of turning corners just to see where they lead to. I love old, run-down buildings. Especially deserted houses, it makes me wonder how many people have lived through them, if they're still alive, why the house is still there and deserted, and what it would be like to spend a few days in there.



The other day I was awake at dawn and went for a walk around taking snaps of a bright red sky. It was gorgeous, and luckily the weather really isn't too freezing to take a walk around at 7am. The next few days are forecast for 16 degrees :)



A fantastic gift from some family friends has been a new mobile phone, a Nokia C5-00, from which I can connect to the internet and Skype. Still figuring out what to do with all these applications, but it is incredibly convenient!

I went out with a friend for an aperitif the other day and now she's organising a get-together with my old school friends. There are still a few family friends to visit before I head to Milan on Thursday - this is just for a couple of days to drop some of my stuff off, meet my house mate, pop into the Australian Consulate, sign up for a couple of uni things :)

Ciau ciauuu

La vita è bella

I'm really happy to be here.

The day I arrived my grandma said she's now a different person, and I got to go out to dinner with my aunt for her birthday (first meal in Italy: pizza, check!).

Conegliano, where I grew up, is a really lovely town, after living in Australia I can better appreciate its unique character and look, thanks to many sweet old buildings, some small one-laneway streets, then a couple of wide boulevards lined by trees now naked after a cold winter, the main streets lined by honest boutiques which promise quality and convenience (more on that later), and of course points of reference like the Teatro all'Accademia and the castle on top of a small hill, which just looks gorgeous with the hint of mist we're getting these couple of days.

After getting out of the Venice airport, I actually had to remove a layer of wool, for what awaited me was lovely 10° weather! These next few days are forcast for about 12, so it's not as cold as I was expecting at all =]

So, having already been taken shopping by my grandma, I've discovered this funny feeling when I walk past clothing stores here. (Please don't find references to silly films like Confessions of a Shopaholic - I'm not THAT bad) It's amost like they emit warm waves of trust and attraction, when walking past you know that if you enter those doors you will feel comforted and assured of great quality, of items of clothing which will be your friends and look after you for years, at a price no higher than stores in Perth. Even at the weekly markets! In Australia, meanwhile, I tended to get a cold feeling from most stores, a greediness which pulled me in and took advantage of my weakness for shopping, offering many Made in C***a products which looked great on the first time, but often let me down after the third time I wore them. So, I think I'm in for trouble.

Plans for the next few days: buy a mobile phone and internet USB, catching up with a few family friends, possibly going to a 'chocolate party', and seeing rehearsals of an old kids chorus I was a part of :)