I moved to Italy the first time because I was in love with their design, culture, and language. After living in Italy awhile began to realize that once you know the language, even a rough version, the country and people open up to you. It's kind of the difference between giving someone some food and teaching them to grow food.
So instead of learning a few recipes, the way that you cook will simply be changed. It's a way of thinking/feeling a relationship to food and hospitality that most Italian people seem to have naturally, you'll begin to embrace it. It's an amazing culture, and when you're speaking Italian and begin eventually thinking in Italian and enjoying the life in Italy, you will find it joyous and relaxing.
In my opinion the most important thing to prepare for visiting Italy is to learn some Italian even a little before go and then continue to learn Italian when you're there. If you are polite and respectful, you will most surely make friends with some Italian people and they will show you what they think is beautiful, an Italy you would never see otherwise. I sincerely believe this will be a much more amazing experience than going and taking a single cooking class or tour and you will have a much more long-term positive impact on the quality of your life and health.
Learning Italian has made it possible for me to understand/communicate in French, Spanish and Portuguese on a basic level, so it's not as abstract as some believe. Please join me in supporting the Italian language continuing to be taught in our local school systems.
Seattle:
depts.washington.edu/frenital
www.scuolaseattle.com
www.seattlelanguages.com
www.wal.org/wl/classdesc/italian.html
www.danteseattle.org
Books/audio:
Sentieri \251 2011Attraverso l'italia contemporanea - Julia M. Cozzarelli
Parliamo italiano!: A Communicative Approach by Suzanne Branciforte
and Anna Grassi
A vicenda: Cultura by Romana Capek-Habekovic and Claudio Mazzola
progetto italiano - book and Audio CD
Tuscany - renting or buying property:
Elena Cantinelli
intermediazioni immobiliari
tel/fax +39 055 5040092
mobile +39 335 7889353
intermediazionimmobiliari@hotmai.it
Rome - renting or buying property:
www.beatrome.com
Rome - hotel:
The Grand Hotel Plaza
www.grandhotelplaza.com
Agriturismo Fonte de' Medici:
www.fontedemedici.it
Osteria di Passignano
www.osteriadipassignano.com
La Campana
www.ristorantelacampana.com
Due Ladroni
www.dueladroni.com
Gusto
www.gusto.it
Bar del Fico
piazza del Fico
27/28 Rome 00186 / tel: 39 6 686 5205
SAPONERIA CLUB
Via degli Argonauti, 20
Libetta Village | Ostiense | Roma
Infoline,
Liste e Prenotazioni:
+39 06 5746999
Goa Club
Via Giuseppe Libetta, 13, 00154 Roma, Italy
+39 06 574 8277
Bagno Dalmazia
www.bagnodalmazia.it
