Sunday, May 31, 2009
Palio de Legano
Last night we went to a dinner for one of the eight groups participating in the Palio de Legano - a reenactment of a 12th century battle. Each group has a horse in a race today so the dinner resembled a giant pep rally. Earlier in the day Paula, Peter, Emma, and Sophia took me into downtown Busto Arsizio to see several churches and the town center. I also attended a party for Paula's niece's confirmation. It was fun to see an Italian family in action!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Janet's journeys
Paula, my host, and I spent the morning at a soup kitchen. They have been open for six years and are all volunteer driven. The clientele looked very familiar. Paula's family has three children/youth so we are all practicing other languages.
Previously the team stayed at Minoprio which is a park, research center, school and educational facility. The grounds were beautiful and the greenhouses impressive. The hospitality of the principal and her husband was a blessing.
Our first day we went to Castgiglione Olana to visit a 14th century college for monks and the church of Corpus Christi. Then it was an early night for me in the motel.
We then moved to the Como region and Minoprio. We had meals with two different families on Sunday as well as climbing the Volta lighthouse which looks over Lake Como. 143 steps to the top!
Monday was a boat ride on Lake Como and visits to Villa Carlotta and the village of Bellagio. The evening was an interclub meeting with a guest speaker who published one of the two major newspapers in Italy. His speech was in Italian but it was interesting to watch the listeners respond. They have been very kind and placed us next to English speakers at the club meetings.
Tuesday we toured a private art high school and a museum in Cantu of early woodworking tools and furniture. Then it was lunch with the Cantu Rotary Club. In the afternoon we toured Minoprio and then had a delicious home-cooked meal with Anna and Luca.
Wednesday we started at a veternarian's office and then met with the director of government social services for the region. He gave the impression that the government is able to meet every need. (National health care helps as well!) As we were leaving, I closed the van door on Michelle's fingers so we spent the afternoon in the medical world. The rest of the team had lunch with two fashion designers and then toured an archeology museum and the theater. Michelle and I joined them at the theater for another Rotary meeting and then late night pizza.
Thursday we experienced Como hospital while Michelle got stitches to repair the skin around her fingernail. We then joined the team for a delightful lunch with the president of Rancillo coffeemakers and then the Rosetti shoe factory. (Les wanted me to bring him a coffeemaker but he gets a much more affordable had instead!) After meeting our host families in Legano, we spoke at an interclub meeting and arrived home at midnight.
This afternoon Paula and I are off to a second poverty project. The weekend will give us time to relax and experience a reenactment of a 12th century battle that led to the region's independence.
Ciao!
Previously the team stayed at Minoprio which is a park, research center, school and educational facility. The grounds were beautiful and the greenhouses impressive. The hospitality of the principal and her husband was a blessing.
Our first day we went to Castgiglione Olana to visit a 14th century college for monks and the church of Corpus Christi. Then it was an early night for me in the motel.
We then moved to the Como region and Minoprio. We had meals with two different families on Sunday as well as climbing the Volta lighthouse which looks over Lake Como. 143 steps to the top!
Monday was a boat ride on Lake Como and visits to Villa Carlotta and the village of Bellagio. The evening was an interclub meeting with a guest speaker who published one of the two major newspapers in Italy. His speech was in Italian but it was interesting to watch the listeners respond. They have been very kind and placed us next to English speakers at the club meetings.
Tuesday we toured a private art high school and a museum in Cantu of early woodworking tools and furniture. Then it was lunch with the Cantu Rotary Club. In the afternoon we toured Minoprio and then had a delicious home-cooked meal with Anna and Luca.
Wednesday we started at a veternarian's office and then met with the director of government social services for the region. He gave the impression that the government is able to meet every need. (National health care helps as well!) As we were leaving, I closed the van door on Michelle's fingers so we spent the afternoon in the medical world. The rest of the team had lunch with two fashion designers and then toured an archeology museum and the theater. Michelle and I joined them at the theater for another Rotary meeting and then late night pizza.
Thursday we experienced Como hospital while Michelle got stitches to repair the skin around her fingernail. We then joined the team for a delightful lunch with the president of Rancillo coffeemakers and then the Rosetti shoe factory. (Les wanted me to bring him a coffeemaker but he gets a much more affordable had instead!) After meeting our host families in Legano, we spoke at an interclub meeting and arrived home at midnight.
This afternoon Paula and I are off to a second poverty project. The weekend will give us time to relax and experience a reenactment of a 12th century battle that led to the region's independence.
Ciao!
I'm still here!
Buon giorno from Italy! We have stayed very busy from morning until midnight. Many Rotary clubs meet in the evening starting at 8:00 with dinner and the program is not until after 10:00! After our first presentation in Italian, it was suggested that we do our program in English. But the team wants the challenge and our third presentation was much more fluent. Many of the people we have met want to practice their English skills so we have not been too lost.
We stayed for four days at Minoprio, a horticultural school for 14-17 year olds. Those from outside the area board at the school. The only internet access was in the principal's office. Chris, our computer guru, was able to type his journal and load his pictures each evening and then upload them quickly each morning. You may not see pictures from me until we meet up again at the hotel for District Congress as I have not deciphered how to load my pictures. I was present for most of Chris' pictures so pretend I took them!
The hospitality of all the Rotarians and friends that we have met is very memorable. I look forward to sharing my trip in detail when I get home. Arrivederci!
We stayed for four days at Minoprio, a horticultural school for 14-17 year olds. Those from outside the area board at the school. The only internet access was in the principal's office. Chris, our computer guru, was able to type his journal and load his pictures each evening and then upload them quickly each morning. You may not see pictures from me until we meet up again at the hotel for District Congress as I have not deciphered how to load my pictures. I was present for most of Chris' pictures so pretend I took them!
The hospitality of all the Rotarians and friends that we have met is very memorable. I look forward to sharing my trip in detail when I get home. Arrivederci!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Notes from Saturday, May 23, 2009:
The first site that we visited was a traditional Toscanini village that sits on a hill in the outskirts of Milano, Italy. Castigilione Olona Village is named after the Castiglioni family, which was one of the most powerful families around 401 AD, and is located in the small valley of the Olona River. Surrounded by the ruins of the old boundary wall of the village and constructed of red colored Lombard bricks this site is filled with history told mainly thorough pictures on the walls of ancient buildings.
The first part of the village that we visited was the Church of the Collegiata. WOW! Absolutely overwhelming… Approaching the building you immediately notice the steep pathway of stones from the river to the front steps of the ancient building. The Church of the Collegiata was build between 1422 and 1425 by the architects of Alberto, Giovanni and Pietro Solari. According to our tour guide this location served as not only a church for the village, but also as an educational facility. The teachings included that of the arts, literature, and grammar.
The two main areas of the Collegiata included the Baptistery and the actual Collegiata Church. Inside of each of these areas are original carvings and hand paintings of various biblical stories. Images of the Virgin Mary with Child, St. Lorenzo, St. Stefano, John the Baptist, The Four Gospels, and Jesus being Baptized are among a few of the images that we were able to view. What was most fascinating about these images was the stories behind them. During a time when written language was scarce these images acted as a means of documenting history and transferring information from generation to generation. Also, these paintings though hundreds of years old showed great leaps in the development of painting as an evolutionary form of art. The artist, Masolino da Panicale, began to move past one dimensional designs to depicting movements and hand gestures as well as 3D images. As an educator, this really hit home for me. .. The images that I was able to capture with my camera could never do this section of the village justice…
The first part of the village that we visited was the Church of the Collegiata. WOW! Absolutely overwhelming… Approaching the building you immediately notice the steep pathway of stones from the river to the front steps of the ancient building. The Church of the Collegiata was build between 1422 and 1425 by the architects of Alberto, Giovanni and Pietro Solari. According to our tour guide this location served as not only a church for the village, but also as an educational facility. The teachings included that of the arts, literature, and grammar.
The two main areas of the Collegiata included the Baptistery and the actual Collegiata Church. Inside of each of these areas are original carvings and hand paintings of various biblical stories. Images of the Virgin Mary with Child, St. Lorenzo, St. Stefano, John the Baptist, The Four Gospels, and Jesus being Baptized are among a few of the images that we were able to view. What was most fascinating about these images was the stories behind them. During a time when written language was scarce these images acted as a means of documenting history and transferring information from generation to generation. Also, these paintings though hundreds of years old showed great leaps in the development of painting as an evolutionary form of art. The artist, Masolino da Panicale, began to move past one dimensional designs to depicting movements and hand gestures as well as 3D images. As an educator, this really hit home for me. .. The images that I was able to capture with my camera could never do this section of the village justice…
Friday, May 22, 2009
Saying Farewell
The District 6940 team left 5/22 from Pensacola headed to Milano, Italy for their visit to District 2040. Several Rotarians were on hand to wish them well.
Left to Right: Debbie Bodenstine (FWB), D6940 GSE Chair Jan Pooley, Team Leader Janet Westlake, Team Member Christopher Small, Team Member Michelle Thomas, Area 1 AG Ed Boywid, Team Member Trish Hanson, Sam Foreman (Gulf Breeze), Team Member Rebecca Brudek, DG Ron Richards, Innes Richards (Pensacola), Area 2 AG Leon Hirsh
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tomorrow We Leave
We begin our adventure domani. I know we are all excited.
To follow our personal blogs please click on our names to the right of this page under "Contributors."
Check back periodically for our updates.
Ciao for now!
To follow our personal blogs please click on our names to the right of this page under "Contributors."
Check back periodically for our updates.
Ciao for now!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Ciao Amici!
Abbiamo nove giorni fino a quando partono per Milano!
I can't believe that our trip is ALMOST here! I am ready for the adventure. :)
--Trish
I can't believe that our trip is ALMOST here! I am ready for the adventure. :)
--Trish
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