I miss being a tourist…

Greetings Everyone,

What a time we are living in! First and foremost, I hope that all of you are safe and well.

The topic of this article revolves around one of my greatest passions: traveling.

I truly and deeply love to travel! Believe me, I have had the opportunity to visit many different countries, and I would love to explore even more. The world is vast and filled with incredible sights… but who can possibly see it all?

But what type of tourism do I engage in? And what about others? What purpose does tourism serve?

I recently read an article about tourism that classified three different types of tourism: artistic tourism (museums, buildings, art galleries, religious temples, skyscrapers, monuments, etc.); event tourism (conferences, meetings, festivals, concerts, etc.); and nightlife tourism (parties, parties, parties…hehehe). To these, I would like to add “self-discovery tourism” or journeys that help one find themselves. Although, I believe that we do not need to seek external experiences to fulfill our souls, as fulfillment is already within us (a bit of philosophy here!). You can feel the same wherever you go unless you work on your inner self. Thus, travel is not always necessary.

Personally, I engage in a mix of the first three types of tourism. I think being a tourist is akin to being a student in a classroom: you learn and observe the daily life of a place; you taste wonderful foods; you experience things that may be unfamiliar in your own country, like different music or shows; and you learn about new cultures and their traditions. Traveling enriches your soul and makes you feel free to feel, think, see, do, and even buy. What a discovery, right? Haha. I know many of you share my thoughts on traveling, but I write this because I miss buying a flight ticket and dreaming about my next adventure. When I finally have the chance to travel again, believe me, I will savor every moment. After this stressful period and the constant fear for ourselves and our families, we all deserve to go back to where we belong or simply hug each other tightly until we find it hard to breathe! How amazing would that feel?

It is true that we appreciate or miss something much more once it is no longer available, rather than taking it for granted. This situation, caused by Covid-19, has forced us to change our habits and lifestyles: something as simple as a hug or a handshake may have held little importance before because it was taken for granted… but now? Now that we can no longer do these things, how does it feel? Bad, right?

For those who love tourism, I affirm that tourism is beneficial for everyone, not just for consumerism, which benefits society, but for enriching our knowledge, minds, and souls. You can meet people, compare your story to theirs, learn tips to improve your lifestyle or diet, visit new places, and so on. There is an infinite number of benefits we can gain from traveling. The most important thing is to appreciate our own country or home after visiting a place we may not have liked.

So, my friends, I truly hope that this lockdown will end soon and we can return to our routines, traveling once again to discover more of this wonderful world! I know it will take some time, but never lose hope!

What are your thoughts on this?

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If I was…

Hello Dear Readers,

Christmas is around the corner… 🙂 🙂 🙂

Let’s be honest Christmas is all about giving and receiving gifts, celebrating love with friends and family. At least that’s the mindset many of us have today. And since you all know my love for books, why not consider buying one for your family and friends?

But why books?

Well, I believe a book opens up new worlds to the reader. It allows the imagination to travel and create vivid images from the descriptions on the pages. It enriches our souls and minds, and also helps refresh our vocabulary and grammar rules, this is my primary reason for reading!

Why am I talking about books? The other day, I was watching some videos on YouTube, and one caught my attention: it was the video of the Italian song “Congiuntivo” (Subjunctive) by Lorenzo Baglioni, who participated in the Sanremo Festival, a significant Italian music event. This song highlights the use of the subjunctive in the Italian language. Unfortunately, many of us still struggle to use it correctly in hypothetical sentences, where it is necessary!

To illustrate:

Correct: Se fossi ricca, viaggerei sempre (If I were rich, I would always travel)

In the subordinate clause, we must use the subjunctive, while in the main clause, we use the conditional.

Incorrect: Se sarei ricca, viaggerei sempre (If I would be rich, I would always travel)

This is a common mistake and sounds terrible.

This song serves as a reminder to all Italians to use the subjunctive correctly! Music is a great trick to remember this, and reading also helps as our minds unconsciously memorize grammatical structures. After some reading, we automatically speak better Italian. So, everyone, buy as many books as you can! This advice applies to me as well, hehehe. Speaking a language correctly is important because it’s pleasant to listen to and, more importantly, ensures we are understood.

Good luck! Ah, and Merry Christmas to all!!! Happy 2020!!!

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How do we learn a new language?

Hello Everyone,

In today’s globalized world, knowing a second language is essential, if not necessary. English, considered the most international and widely spoken language, tops the list. I also believe that Chinese and Spanish will soon join this category.

So, let’s start studying them too, shall we?

But how do we learn a new language effectively? Do you know any interesting tricks or tips to achieve proficiency in a short period?

Here’s what I did and continue to do to learn and improve the languages I speak:

I began with English. I studied it at school, but I made significant progress by translating English songs, especially those of my favorite singers. I watched MTV, CNN, and Fox News channels. Thanks to the exchange programs with the United States that my school participated in, I started corresponding with American students through letters. We also hosted some Australians, and I still maintain a friendship with one of them after 17 years.

I then studied Spanish and Portuguese at university. Spanish telenovelas and Portuguese series were immensely helpful. Moving to Spain was, of course, the best way to enhance my Spanish until I acquired the local accent of the city I lived in. Working as a receptionist there allowed me to practice and improve both languages daily through interactions with customers.

Finally, I moved to Norway, where I had to learn Norwegian to integrate better into society. Here, I met two wonderful Brazilian friends who help me practice and improve my Portuguese. Currently, I work as a hotel receptionist, which gives me the opportunity to speak all these languages daily. It’s both challenging and enjoyable!

So, what tips or tricks can I recommend to you for learning a language quickly and effectively?

Study Grammar: Read a grammar book, do exercises, and focus on the rules.

Watch Foreign Channels: Engage with content on international news channels, movies, and TV shows.

Read: Dive into articles, books, and any written content in the target language.

Listen to Music: Songs can help with listening skills and pronunciation.

Even with a busy life, dedicating just half an hour per day can make a significant difference. For speaking practice, look for international exchange programs in your city. These programs often involve language exchange over coffee, where you can practice speaking with a native speaker of your target language. Making international friends can also be incredibly helpful.

Use the new words you learn as often as possible to avoid forgetting them. Importantly, take the risk to speak, even if you make mistakes. This trial and error process is essential because the person you are conversing with will likely correct you, helping you remember and learn.

The most effective tip is to travel to the country where the language is spoken. Immersing yourself in the language 24/7 accelerates learning. If possible, move there for a few months. This method is both challenging and fun!

Good luck!

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“Tu vuĂł fá l´ammericano!”

Do you know what this title means? First of all, it belongs to an old and very popular song written by Renato Carosone, but it has been rearranged today becoming so popular that you can dance it all over the world!

That sentence means: “You act like an American/ You wanna be an American” and it refers to all those emigrants who from Italy, especially from Naples as the song says, moved to United States and when they happen to travel back to their homeland for holidays for example, they act like “big shot” Americans who have it all, when in reality they have nothing.

Continue reading ““Tu vuĂł fá l´ammericano!”” →

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Let´s play with some music!

Another passion I have is MUSIC and I have been searching for songs which contain different languages. The first song that came to my mind was

“Baila (Sexy thing)” by Zucchero

He is an Italian international singer and not just one of the most popular in Italy, but also in Spain and Latin America as in the rest of the world. He likes to mix languages in his songs: I think it can be considered his own way of being international. (He has been singing here in Norway too and I even had the honor to have dinner with him after the concert, what an unforgettable experience!).

Continue reading “Let´s play with some music!” →

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