Posts from November 2009

Il Diluvio Universale

Posted by Serena 9 Comments
Nov 30 2009

Salve a tutti!

Questo articolo sarà molto breve perché siamo in piena crisi di emergenza. Fuori si è scatenato il Diluvio Universale, le cateratte del cielo si sono aperte e il muro di contenimento sopra il nostro terreno è crollato. Le scale che portano alla terrazza sono un torrente in piena, i buchi di scolo sono delle cascate sulla strada del paese e la terrazza stessa è un mare di fango limaccioso. Il nostro povero gradile, con tutti i nostri mobili extra e le provviste di patate e cipolle, è allagato. Mio marito è fuori a lottare contro le forze della natura, cercando di creare dighe per convogliare l’acqua il più lontano possibile dal gradile.

…e poi dicono che l’Italia è il Paese dove brilla sempre il sole. Mah!

 

Greetings everyone!

This will be a very short article because we are in the middle of a crisis. Outside ‘The Biblical Flood’ has been unleashed, the floodgates of Heaven have opened, and the containing wall above our land has collapsed. The steps that lead up to our terrace are a swollen torrent, the drainage holes are waterfalls cascading onto the village street, and the terrace itself is a sea of slimy mud. Our poor chestnut barn that contains all our spare furniture and stores of potatoes and onions, is flooded. My husband is outside fighting against the forces of nature, and trying to create ditches to carry the water as far away as possible from the barn.

…and then they say that Italy is the country where the sun always shines! Huh!

Un Misterioso Personaggio dei Fumetti

Posted by Serena 8 Comments
Nov 27 2009

Following my visit to Lucca Comics 2009, I felt inspired to write something about i Fumetti (Comic Books), then I realized that I hadn’t done a quiz for ages. So eccolo (here it is), a Fumetti Quiz! But first a brief explanation of the name Fumetti: the word fumetto comes from, as you might have guessed, fumo (smoke), used to describe the speech bubbles that emerge from the characters mouths in comic books which look like little clouds of smoke. This term, especially in the plural (fumetti) was gradually extended to include the illustrations, and eventually the actual comic books themselves.

Now for the quiz. I’m going to give you a few extracts from a very popular fumetto, but whenever the supereroe  (super hero) or his young assistant is named I will put stars. See if you can guess who this famous personaggio (character) is.

 

Ancora una volta un pericolosissimo criminale insidia la città. Un criminale che intesse attorno a sè una tela di morte. Uno soltanto osa battersi contro di lui: ******

(Once again a very dangerous criminal threatens the city. A criminal who weaves around himself a web of death. Only one dares to fight against him: ******)

I giornali, la radio non parlano d’altro che dello spietato, astutissimo criminale. Nella sua casa ****** parla con il suo giovane aiutante *****. Speech bubble: *****: ‘Ma ******, perchè non facciamo noi qualcosa contro questo criminale?’ ******: ‘Non ancora *****, non è ancora il momento. Ma quando lo faremo…..’

The papers, the radio, speak of nothing but the cunning, pitiless criminal. In his house ****** speaks with his young assistant *****. Speech bubble: *****: ‘But ******, why don’t we do something against this criminal?’ ******: ’Not yet *****, it’s not yet the moment. But when we do it……….’

Più tardi……  D’improvviso, dall’alto delle scale, il fruscio di un passo. Il grande ******. Un valanga umana precipita addosso ai pistoleros…… Speech bubble: ’Un po malfermi sulle gambe eh?’ Un pugno massiccio si abbatte sulla mascella di un pistolero.

Later…… Suddenly, from the top of the stairs, the rustle of a step. The great ******. A human avalanche falls unto the two gunmen…… Speech bubble: ’A bit unstable on your legs eh?’ A massive punch hits the jaw of a gunman.

L’auto del criminale è già in moto, ma il ****** le è sopra come una nera nube di vendetta! Solo un atleta prodigioso come il ****** poteva fare un simile salto!…… Speech bubble: ‘Ce l’ho fatta, e ora……..’

The criminal’s car is already moving, but ****** is on it like a black cloud of vengeance! Only a prodigious athlete like ****** could achieve a such a jump!…… Speech bubble: ’I’ve done it, and now……’

Lo spietato assassino spinge giù dal ponte ****** privo di sensi !!! Ma il freddo dell’acqua lo richiama in vita. Speech bubble: ……’Wow, mi pare che la testa mi stia per scoppiare!’

The pitiless assassin pushes ****** down from the bridge unconscious !!! But the cold of the water brings him back to life….. Speech bubble: ’Wow, it seems like my head is going to explode!’

Naturally justice triumphs in the end with:

un ultimo colpo, menato dal ****** con tutte le sue forze.

a final blow, dealt by ****** with all his force.

and the criminal is safely behind bar….. for now at least!

 

A couple of clues: Our mysterious superhero is sometimes referred to as Il Cavaliere della Notte and his assistant, Il Ragazzo Meraviglia.

Now see if you can guess who his adversary was. Clue: he is famous for his minaccioso sogghigno sinistro.

 

In bocca al lupo!

Opere in Mostra

Posted by Serena 6 Comments
Nov 24 2009

This winter in Italy, lovers of Modern and Contemporary art will be spoilt for choice. Interesting art exhibitions are a bit like buses, nothing comes along for ages and then a whole load all appear at the same time. For me it’s going to be a difficult choice because I’d love to go to at least five of these mostre (exhibitions)! If you’re planning a winter break to il Bel Paese, or if you’re lucky enough to be living here already, let me tell you about just a few of the great art shows you might have a chance to enjoy:

 

Edward Hopper 

The Palazzo Reale in Milano is hosting an exhibition of work by one of the icons of 20th century American art: Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967). The exhibition runs until the 24th of January 2010.

 

Chagall e il Mediterraneo

At the Palazzo Blu sul Lungarno, Pisa, you will find an exhibition of work by the Russian-French artist Marc Chagall (7 July 1887 – 28 March 1985). Chagall created a unique career in virtually every artistic medium, including paintings, book illustrations, stained glass, stage sets, ceramics, tapestries and fine art prints. The exhibition, which presents a broad range of Chagall’s work, runs until the 17th of January 2010.

 

Telemaco Signorini e la pittura in Europa

Definitely one of my favorite 19th century Italian artists, Signorini (August 18, 1835 – February 1, 1901), belonged to the group of artists known as the Macchiaioli, who were influenced by the French Impressionists. The exhibition, which takes place at the Palazzo Zabarella in Padova is on until the 31st of January 2010.

 

Boldini nella Parigi degli Impressionisti

Giovanni Boldini (December 31, 1842 – July 11, 1931) was an Italian genre and portrait painter belonging to the Parisian school. Boldini, who was responsible for probably the most famous portrait of the composer Giuseppe Verdi, was known as the “Master of Swish” because of his flowing style. You can see an exhibition of his masterpieces at the Palazzo dei Diamanti, Ferrara, until the 10th of January 2010.

 

Capolavori della Modernità

Works by many great 19th and 20th century artists, including Monet, Sisley, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Giacometti will be on show at the Mart, Rovereto until the 10th of January 2010. These works are on loan from the Kunstmuseum Winterthur in Switzerland which is partially closed for restoration.

 

Caravaggio-Bacon

I love the works of Caravaggio, but Francis Bacon’s paintings always make me think of a macelleria (butchers shop)! However this exhibition, which you can find at the Galleria Borghese in Roma until the 24th of January 2010, juxtaposes works by these two artists. Hmmm, interesting!

 

Steve McCurry

Millions of people the word over will be familiar with at least one of the works by this great American photojournalist (born February 24, 1950), even if they don’t recognize his name. He is perhaps best known for his striking image of Sharbat Gula, a 13 year old Afghan girl photographed by McCurry in a Pakistani refugee camp in 1984. The exhibition is on at the Palazzo della Ragione, Milano until the 31st of January 2010.

To discover the story behind this photo, have a look here: Afghan Girl 

Orti Energetici a Pisa

Posted by Serena 3 Comments
Nov 21 2009

Anyone who regularly reads my blogs will know that we are keen gardeners, and that we have a large orto (vegetable garden, or allotment) which provides us with nice fresh produce throughout the summer. So when I was browsing through the newspaper the other day and my attention was caught by the words ‘Orti Energetici’ (Energy Vegetable Gardens!), naturally I read on…..

“PISA – Gli orti pubblici, terreni concessi dal comune ai cittadini agricoltori per passione, non sono una novità. E migliaia sono gli improvvisati contadini metropolitani che coltivano pomodori, insalata o melanzane nelle periferie di piccole o grandi città. Mai però si erano visti orti energetici dove, invece di frutta e verdura, nascono pannelli solari e impianti minieolici.”

(PISA – Public allotments, pieces of land rented out by the council to citizens who are passionate gardeners, are not a novelty. There are thousands of self made ‘metropolitan farmers’ who cultivate tomatoes, salad, or aubergines (egg plants) on the outskirts of towns and cities. Never before, however, have we seen ‘energy allotments’ where, instead of fruit and vegetables, solar panels and mini wind turbines are cultivated.)

The idea has been proposed by il Comune di Pisa (Pisa City Council), which wants to comply with the new environmental building regulations. They have decided to make available, free of charge, allotments on which to plant this strange new crop which will harvest the abundant natural resources and convert them into clean energy. Orti energitici will be available to citizens who inhabit buildings on which, in order not to disfigure the aesthetic integrity of the centro storico (historic centre), unsightly solar panels and wind turbines cannot be installed.

The most efficient ‘energy gardeners’, and citizens who modify their homes to be more energy efficient, will be rewarded with generous tax discounts.

Word Lists – 1. La Cucina

Posted by Serena 13 Comments
Nov 18 2009

When you’re trying to learn a foreign language, there are all sorts of little strategies that can help you memorize those sometimes elusive words. Learning from a book, or in a class isn’t really the best way of developing your vocabulary for the simple reason that it is too abstract, i.e. too unconnected with the real world. Students often notice that they learn more Italian when spending a week in Italy than they would in a month of studying in their own country. Obviously, in Italy there would be far more opportunity to hear and absorb the language on a daily basis, but the important thing that really makes the difference is ‘context’. By context, I mean that your learning is taking place in the real world, for example: when you go through a door in a shop, or post office etc. very often you will see a little sign saying ‘spingere’ on the side that you have to push, and ‘tirare’ on the side that you must pull. In this way the verbs spingere (push) and tirare (pull) gradually become embedded in you memory without you even realizing it.

So how can you reproduce this process of contextual learning when you are at home and far from Italy? Well one simple trick is to make your own labels and strategically place them around your house, or even your place of work. For a start you can make your own spingere and tirare labels so that every time you pass through the door you will notice those words. Eventually the act of pushing open the door will be linked to spingere, and pulling will be linked to tirare.

With this useful strategy in mind I’m going to do a series of word lists that you can print out and attach to the appropriate objects in a way that you will see them on a daily basis. Allora (so), let’s start with la cucina (the kitchen):

il tavolo  (the table)   see my blog Tavolo or Tavola

la sedia  (the chair)

la pattumiera  (the rubbish bin)

il lavello  (the sink)

il fornello  (the cooker)

il forno  (the oven)

il microonde  (the microwave)

la lavastoviglie  (the dishwasher)

il frigorifero  (the fridge)

il congelatore  (the freezer)

l’armadietto  (the cupboard)

il rubinetto  (the tap)

la lavatrice  (the washing machine)

lo scolapiatti  (the dish drainer)

il tostapane  (the toaster)

l’interruttore  (the switch)

la spina  (the electrical plug)

la presa  (the electrical socket)

I recommend that you only print out the Italian word, and let the context of where you place the label tell you what that word means, hence every time you use the washing machine you will see your label saying la lavatrice.

Divertitevi!

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