Giovanna lebt in der italienischen Hauptstadt. Ursprünglich stammt sie aus einer Kleinstadt in Süditalien, zog aber bereits vor zehn Jahren nach Rom.

Neben ihrer regulären Arbeit in einem Unternehmen hat sie einen zweiten Job als Sexual Wellness Consultant (ich habe wirklich keine Ahnung, wie man das vernünftig übersetzen könnte, deshalb belasse ich hier den englischen Ausdruck). Was sie dabei tut ist leicht erklärt: Sie organisiert Treffen mit Gruppen, um über Themen wie Sexualität, Intimität, Gesundheit etc. zu sprechen. Damit zusammen hängt ihr Eintreten für Frauen- und LGBT-Rechte.

Kommt mit in (wie ihr wisst) eines meiner Lieblingsländer und lest euch durch, was Giovanna zu sagen hat 🙂

Tell us a bit about the city where you live. What is it like to live there? What makes it special? Have you lived anywhere else so far?

I am not sure if that mean another town or country. I have been living in a small town for the first 17 years of my life, then moved to a small city, then finally in Rome. My house is in a suburbs, so people only come home to have dinner and sleep and there isn’t much socialization around. But there is a nice park close to my house!
I also lived 6 months in Rennes, France. I can easily mention the difference of culture between all these places.

In the smaller cities people is more connected to one another. And Rome is very messy in comparison to nearly everywhere, because it’s poorly managed. However I love the cultural abundance of Rome and I like the fact of being just someone in the crowd.
What I liked abroad was the great organization and the variety of public services I could rely on. However I feel too attached to my city to think of a relocation right now.

What do you like most about your country?

Weather and fine arts 🙂

And what are the things you don’t like about your country?

The huge disorganization. No wonder there are so many jokes on Italian people!

Would you like to live somewhere else? If yes, where? And why? If no, why not?

I have been thinking for long that I would expatriate but in the end I don’t think I have the necessary drive. My life is here.

What should someone who visits your country do and see?

It depends on what they like but my advice would be a choice of art, history and food&wine. Summarized in a few places it would be Tuscany, Sicily and Rome, that are some of my favourite places.

And what should they definitely not do?

Don’t ask for a cappuccino after dinner, seriously

What are your favourite meals of your traditional cuisine?

One of my favourite foods is pizza, that can be made in so many different ways. I like it in the style of Rome, with a very thin crust, and with tomato sauce among the ingredients. I am not one of those people who cringe if you tell them about pizza with pineapple or chicken (or both) on top though you won’t easily find that one in Italy. We are very attached to our traditions!

Also most of the traditional cuisine of the several regions in Italy is great. Just make sure you have enough room in your stomach.

And how about drinks? What drinks should we try when we visit your country?

Wines, definitely.

How do you get around in your country? Do people use public transport or do they prefer not to? Why?

Public transport is good in large cities, otherwise you’d better use a car to move around.

Which artists of your country should we check out? (authors, musicians, painters…)

Let’s start from the Uffizi Museum in Florence and the Sistine Chapel in Rome…

What does your ordinary day look like? Do you think it’s a typical everyday’s life for people in your country?

I go to work in the morning after having had breakfast and attended to my house and pets. I get back after 7 pm. I have a long drive from my house to my office and the other way round. Sometimes I have an evening event with my second job, work on translations, write for blogs… My routine in general is similar to the one of other people without children, just busier maybe 🙂

What’s the best season for visiting your country? Why?

I think it’s early Spring or October, because the weather is generally nice, not too hot or too rainy, and nature is also good. Anyway Italy is so long! Make sure to check the weather before packing.

Tell us something about traditional activities, festivals or holidays in your area. Which do you enjoy most? How do you celebrate them?

Christmas is a big deal in Italy, usually also for non Christian people. New Year’s Eve as well. I like those because there is less traffic, you can spend some time with your dear ones, have a good time with friends, show your affection with gifts and eat something special!

Where would you like to travel in your life? Why?

Anywhere! My personal preference are cities with museums, arts, history and traditions. Maybe it’s easier to ask me where I wouldn’t go: countries that are at war and the ones where some minorities are largely oppressed (such as women and LGBT people).

Most of my readers are from Germany and Austria. What comes to your mind when you think about these countries? Are there any stereotypes about Germans or Austrians in your country?

We largely think that German people are very rigid and have no taste for fashion. What comes to my mind is Metal music, sauerkraut, bratwurst und kartoffeln… And of course there is that old dispute on football between Germans and Italians!

Regards Austria: that people is cold and detached. Here I think of Mozart and Sachertorte, that everybody seems to like except me, woops.

What do you think: Which stereotypes exist about your country and its people? Are they correct – at least partly – or not?

That we are mad about having our food and coffee in our way – pretty true, though I realised that Italian food is sometimes different in foreign people’s minds 🙂
That we are messy and loud – pretty true.
That we don’t like following the rules – true in some cases, still it doesn’t mean half Italy is in the Mafia 🙂
That we are lazy at work – in general it’s not true, except for politicians.
That we are great lovers – hey I can speak for myself only!

If you could change one thing about the place where you live, what would it be?

Our so called politicians…

Your dreams for the future?

Be happy with the people I love and enough money to travel the world. If I am to dream big, a more equal world for everybody and free healthcare (we have it in Italy but I know of so many other places where it’s not possible).

 

Die Idee hinter diesen Interviews:

Wir reden und schreiben so viel über die Länder dieser Welt und auch über die Menschen, die darin leben. Die Einblicke, die wir als Reisende in diese Länder bekommen, sind doch immer nur kurze neugierige Blicke von außen. Blicke durch ein Schlüsselloch quasi.
Statt über die Menschen zu schreiben, so dachte ich mir, sollten wir sie doch einfach einmal selbst fragen. Gerade in den heutigen Zeiten, in denen Menschen ferner Länder doch meist nur einen Klick entfernt sind, ja, wir mit ihnen sogar häufig in sozialen Netzwerken befreundet sind.
Deshalb starte ich diese neue kleine Serie, in der ich Facebook- und Brieffreunde, die ich in aller Herren Länder habe, einfach eine Reihe Fragen stelle und mich neugierig darauf einlasse, was sie dazu zu sagen haben. Auch dies wird ein Blick von außen durch das Schlüsselloch bleiben – aber vielleicht vergrößert sich das Schlüsselloch doch ein bisschen?

 

Weitere Einblicke:

Nachgefragt bei Umar aus Pakistan
Nachgefragt bei Victoria aus den USA
Nachgefragt bei Sören aus Dänemark / Grönland / Island
Nachgefragt bei Martina aus Italien / Slowenien
Nachgefragt bei Stanislava aus Tschechien
Nachgefragt bei Rona von den Philippinen
Nachgefragt bei Raziye aus dem Iran