venerdì 28 novembre 2014

Emi Oshima, dal Giappone all'Istituto Europeo per un internship come maestra di asilo

Emi con la lettera delle colleghe ed il libretto dei bambini
Cara Emi, qual è il ricordo più bello del tuo periodo in Italia?

Per me, tutta la mia vita in Italia è stata bellissima.
Sopratutto il periodo dell'internship è stato meraviglioso.
Ho imparato tante cose dalle esperienze dell'internship.

Perché hai voluto fare un internship in un asilo nido?
Prima di tutto mi piacciono i bambini.
Poi, non volevo lavorare davanti al computer tutto il giorno.
Volevo fare un internship attivo.
Quindi ho scelto un asilo nido.

Momenti da ricordare della tua internship?
Tutti momenti sono indimenticabili.
Quando i bambini mi si avvicinavano chiamando il mio nome "EMI!!!",
mi rendevano felicissima.
Un giorno, una bambina di 1 anno, mi ha chiesto di abbracciarla.
E dopo che l'ho abbracciata, mi ha dato un bacino improvvisamente.
Un altro giorno, un bambino è caduto giocando sul tappetino.
Poi è venuto da me, mi ha mostrato la guancia e io gli ho detto "Non è niente".
Ma lui non andava via e continuava a mostrarmi la guancia.
Ho cercato di capire perché rimaneva, e mi è venuta un'idea.
"Ah, vuole un bacino!!"
Così gli ho dato un bacino sulla guancia, lui è andato via sorridendo soddisfatto.
Per me tutti i momenti sono carinissimi!!

Che cosa hai imparato da questa esperienza?
Emi in Italia
Ho imparato tante cose.
L'italiano che si usa all'asilo nido mi interessava molto.
Una collega mi ha insegnato che in Italia all'asilo nido ai bambini si insegna di "MANGIARE" prima di tutto.
Ho avuto anche modo di vedere il rapporto che c'è nella famiglia italiana, i modi di pensare e di cullare i bambini.

Credi sia sia importante abbinare lo studio della lingua italiana all'intership, così com'è strutturato il programma internship dell'Istituto Europeo?

Si, credo che sia importante.
Se io non avessi studiato l'italiano a sufficienza, non avrei potuto capire o sapere le cose del lavoro così bene.
Ho studiato non solo la lingua ma anche la cultura italiana per 8 mesi all'ISTITUTO EUROPEO,
ho potuto imparare tante cose dai bambini e dalle altre educatrici.

Hai avuto una buona esperienza all'Istituto Europeo?

Ho conosciuto tanti amici da tutto il mondo.
Per me conoscere queste persone è come aprire la porta del mondo.
Mi hanno insegnato la loro cultura, lingua, modi di pensare ecc.
Parlare con loro (ovviamente in italiano) mi divertiva molto.
Con loro siamo andati in molti bei posti, ad esempio Pisa, le Cinque Terre, buoni ristoranti, pizzerie, bar ecc.

Raccomanderesti questo programma?

Si, raccomanderei davvero questo programma.
Se venite a Firenze per imparare l'italiano all'ISTITUTO EUROPEO, fate anche l'internship!!
Farete un'esperienza meravigliosa!!



lunedì 3 novembre 2014

ISTITUTO EUROPEO: Dream, Come, Enjoy, Learn!

DREAM

Florence is the dream city. In Florence everything speaks about history, magic, seduction, romance… Every morning you will wake up in a stunning scenery and will be driven into a new life adventure in the city of Dante and Michelangelo, surrounded by the river Arno, the ancient buildings, and the unforgettable atmosphere of a past that never ends.






COME

Come to Istituto Europeo in the heart of Florence and live an unforgettable and unique experience. It’s easy: contact our friendly staff who will help you making your dreams come true. Stories make people closer: start your story with Istituto Europeo.






ENJOY

Florence is not only art and history: it offers an incredible range of possibilities to discover and have fun. The city is rich in cafes, events and nightlife. Its position makes of Florence the perfect location to start any travel: in Tuscany, Italy or Europe.






LEARN

Istituto Europeo is one of the leading schools for foreigners in Florence. With our long-standing experience in education, we offer not only Italian courses but also other options – music, art, internship, study abroad and short programs. Choose Istituto Europeo for your studies and start with your own Italian experience!












giovedì 2 ottobre 2014

Ana Peinado, practicante del Istituto Europeo - Ciudadana del mundo en la bella Italia





Por Ilaria Gelichi 

Hola Ana, primero cuéntanos algo de ti. De dónde vienes, qué has estudiado,...

Mi nombre es Ana Peinado y vengo de España, concretamente de Córdoba, una hermosa ciudad situada en la región de Andalucía. Tengo 23 años y recientemente terminé mis estudios de Publicidad y Relaciones Públicas en la Universidad de Sevilla.
Me encanta mi carrera y estoy especiálizandome en la rama de Relaciones Públicas y Comunicación.




En cuanto a tu práctica, ¿por qué decidistes venir a Italia y sobre todo, por qué a Florencia? ¿Conocías algo del país?

Siempre me ha gustado viajar, conocer nuevos lugares y sentirme una ciudadana más del país en el que esté, conociendo desde dentro su cultura y sus costumbres. El año pasado estuve haciendo un intercambio de un año en Santiago de Chile y tuve la oportunidad de conocer una buena parte de Sudamérica. Me encantó la experiencia, por lo que me animé a solicitar nuevas becas que pudieran formarme personal y academicamente.

Italia siempre ha sido un país que me ha encantado y Florencia una ciudad maravillosa llena de cultura y vida. Ya había estado en Italia un par de veces, pero solo de turista, esta es la primera vez que estoy viviendo aquí. Respecto a Florencia, es una ciudad que tiene mucho encanto y realmente es una de las más bonitas que he visto.

Decidí por lo tanto,  que sería un buen destino para vivir una bonita experiencia, aprender el idioma y una oportunidad para prepararme al mundo laboral.
Por suerte, el Istituto de Idiomas me dio la oportunidad de realizar unas prácticas en la Administración, por lo que no tuve ninguna duda en agarrar las maletas y venirme para Florencia.


¿Cuál fue tu primera impresión que te llevastes el primer día en el Istituto Europeo? ¿Te gusta tu trabajo aquí?

Fue realmente buena, me gustó muchísimo el ambiente intercultural que se palpa en el colegio. Al haber personas de todas las partes del mundo, tienes la oportunidad de ir conociendo un poquito de sus países, su idioma y su cultura, aprendiendo nuevas cosas constantemente.
Respecto al personal del colegio y a mi coordinador, me parecieron muy agradables y en todo momento han estado pendientes de mí, haciendo lo posible porque mi práctica aquí sea lo más satisfactoria posible, otorgándome poco a poco más responsabilidades para seguir formándome. Estoy contenta con el trabajo que desempeño  y me siento muy cómoda en el colegio.


Cuéntanos, ¿ cuáles son tus objetivos a conseguir durante esta experienca en Florencia?

Mi meta principal es aprender lo máximo posible del trabajo que estoy relizando dentro del campo de la comunicación y tener unos conocimientos aptos de italiano, que me hagan disfrutar aun más de esta vivencia y que me preparen para mi futuro laboral. Por otra parte, al hablar cada día inglés en el colegio, voy perfeccionando mis conocimientos y esto hace que al final sea una grata recompensa.


Por ultimo, ¿recomendarías esta experiencia a otros estudiantes?

Desde luego que sí. Estoy convencida que el salir fuera de casa para tener una experiencia como ésta es siempre una buena idea, es realmente enriquecedor. Creces muchísimo tanto personal como laboralmente, además de conocer personas de todo los lugares, haciendo que tu visión del mundo se amplíe considerablemente.




mercoledì 30 luglio 2014

August 2014 at ISTITUTO EUROPEO: Schedule of Activites


SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES OF
August 2014 (July 28th – August 22nd)


  
Mon  28   9:00 am      Written and oral placement test
                7:00 pm      Welcome dinner € 30
Tue   29   2:00 pm      Presentation about cultural activities in Florence in August
Wed  30 12:30 pm      Lunch (typical tastings of Tuscan cuisine) € 20
Thu   31   2:00 pm      Movie: “Notte prima degli esami” by F. Brizzi
Fri     1     8:30 pm      Florence by night with dinner € 38
Sat    2    7:30 am      Hiking in Chianti with lunch and wine tasting € 45
Sun   3     8:00 am      Day tour to Montepulciano, Pienza & Montalcino with lunch € 69

Mon  4    2:00 pm       The Director meets the students of Istituto Europeo
Tue   5    3:00 pm       Visit to a Florentine workshop: Lastrucci’s mosaics
Wed  6  12:30 pm       Lunch (typical tastings of Tuscan cuisine) € 20
Thu   7    2:00 pm       Movie: “Io speriamo che me la cavo” by L. Wertmüller
Fri     8    2:00 pm       Tour to Siena, Monteriggioni & Castellina in Chianti + dinner € 40
               8:30 pm       Florence by night with dinner € 38
Sat    9    7:45 am       Day tour to Portofino & San Fruttuoso € 50
Sun   10  7:45 am       Day tour to Pisa, Siena & S. Gimignano with lunch € 50

Mon  11   2:00 pm      Visit to Ferragamo Museum € 6
Tue   12   3:00 pm      Movie: “Riso amaro” , by G. De Santis
Wed  13 12:30 pm      Lunch (typical tastings of Tuscan cuisine) € 20
Thu   14   3:00 pm      Conference: “Dante and his Time
Fri     15                      Festa: FERRAGOSTO
Sat    16  2:00 pm      Day tour to the Palio of Siena € 40
Dom  17  7 :15 am      Day tour to Cinque Terre € 40

Mon  18  3:00 pm       Movie: “I cento passi” by T.M. Giordana
Tue   19                      No activities
Wed  20  2:30 pm      Tour to Siena, Monteriggioni & Castellina in Chianti + dinner € 40 

Thu   21  5:30 pm     Concert provided by the artists of Istituto Europeo
                 7:00 pm       Farewell dinner € 30
Fri     22  12:30 pm     Farewell party. Awarding of attendance certificates/diplomas






venerdì 13 giugno 2014

A new lighting for Ponte Vecchio, starting on June 16

by Ilaria Gelichi


A special event in Florence on Monday, June 16: with “Ponte Vecchio, Luci ed Emozioni” start the celebrations for the 60th year of the Centre of Florence for Italian fashion. In this occasion will be presented the new lighting of Ponte Vecchio, a gift by the stylist and entrepreneur Stefano Ricci to his city. The new installation costed 400.000 euros and counts more than 100 LEDs for both the interior and the exterior of the famous bridge. According to the data acquired, with the new lighting the city will save between 12 and 15 thousands of euros, almost 80%.

Maestro Andrea Bocelli will turn on the lights and give his artistic contribute to the event. The lighting will be accompanied by an aquatic show by the French company Iliotope, that will occupy 500 metres on the river Arno from the Canottieri club to Santa Trinita bridge. The show will start at 10 pm and will give viewers 45 minutes made of magic and fireworks. At the end, the voice of Andrea Bocelli will give the final touch to the event.

How to get around: traffic limitations will be the same used for San Giovanni’s fireworks. The Lungarni between Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Santa Trinita will be closed to traffic, but there will be no limitations for pedestrians, who will be able to walk on both bridges.




mercoledì 23 aprile 2014

Marriages and Flowers in Tuscany: Interview with Tori, manager at Tuscany Flowers in Florence



Author: Gayane Simonyan


Tori is an American designer with degrees in Theatre and Interior Design. Currently she works at Tuscany Flowers in Florence - the company was founded in 1997. Her work background is rather diverse and non-traditional with experiences in performance, human resources and teaching as well as design. She finds these experiences serve to enrich her creative process as it gives her a broad perspective on her work. Location has also been a source of inspiration. She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, lived nine years in New York City and now has been living in Italy for nearly six years. All of these places have shaped her career and offered a unique perspective on life.



“As Tuscany Flowers is a boutique agency, each member of our team wears many hats. My primary role is to prepare presentations and proposals and plans for clients based on their personal tastes and preferences regarding the style of decorations they would like to have at their event. These kinds of documents may include collages of images and photographs, renderings or drawings of specific decorative elements and venues. I am also responsible for the company’s website”, said Tori.


-Where has the idea come from?

“Tuscany Flowers combines the expert talent of three exceptional florists and horticulturalists. Antonio Magi, Mari Therese Nielsen and Gianni Berni. They combined their talents to create a signature style that comes from their collective experiences from all over Europe and their love for the Tuscan landscape”.

-What kind of events is it generally organizing?

“We have a number of different types of events in our repertoire from small private celebrations to large extravagant weddings. We often find ourselves in some of the most exclusive locations in Tuscany and the world including Santa Croce Church, The Academia and The Louvre for example”.


-Except flowers what kind of decorations do you have?



“Our horticulture work goes beyond flowers with trees, bushes and large plants and branches. Our clients can choose from an expansive selection of vases, urns, and columns as well as gazebos. We also specialize in unique lighting solutions such as chandeliers, candelabras, and lanterns”.

-How many events/ weddings have you organized so far?

“I’m still quite new to the company, and I spent the first couple of months fine tuning our marketing materials. To date, I’d say I’ve been involved in the proposals of about 10 events and the list is growing steadily”.

-What is the approximate cost of a middle-class wedding/event?

“As a luxury agency, all of our designs are couture, so the cost varies a great deal from event to event depending on the size, season, flowers and materials chosen as well as the nature of the design”.

-How long does it take to get prepared for a ceremony?

“The preparation for an event can range from a month or two up to a year depending on the clients planning needs and size of the event”.


-An interesting story/ event that happened during the preparations or ceremonies that is on top of your mind and you would like to share.

“One thing that impressed me when I began working here was the effect of the large floral arrangements when you see them being constructed for an event. It’s quite different than seeing a photograph. In person you can see every detail and every layer. The arrangements are full of little surprises. You can also smell the flowers, which makes the designs appeal to multiple senses to create an environment that does so much more than a photograph can portray. It’s a beautiful experience to see the work come to life. I’m really enjoying it,” Tori summed up.


mercoledì 16 aprile 2014

Interview with Professor Camilla Perrone: a brilliant urban planner at the University of Florence


Prof. Camilla Perrone
interview by Fabrizio Ulivieri
English version by Monika Mikucionyte




Professor Perrone, in comparison with the way of thinking of so many Italians, you criticize an international image in approaching technical issues in the field of architecture. How was this international disposition of yours born?

The discussion and the exchange of knowledge have always been one of my priorities.
I believe that the matter of spreading knowledge should go back to being a central theme in academic training, at second and third cycle, of architecture and urban studies in general.

Internationalization is an issue that is often overlooked or interpreted in terms of the mobility of teachers and students. Naturally, I think that to ensure this type of exchange is a priority for any university. International agreements, Erasmus, Teaching mobility programs, etc... are an objective to be pursued and a sector that academic governance must support and implement. However, I believe that internationalization should be expressed and pursued through effective exchanges of knowledge through the sharing and diffusion of cultures and disciplinary traditions in a balance that does not crush the entire training towards main stream cultural models.

For several years I have tried to contribute to the achievement of this goal in many ways, personally building opportunities for a cross-cultural, dynamic and open interdisciplinary confrontation, and providing practical learning opportunities to doctoral students from other countries that. I am sure, that this will enrich our educational training and research.

Following this international vision of yours, how are you structuring the Department of Architecture?

On the technical/organizational side, I agreed to carry out the task of delegate LLP Erasmus for the School of Architecture, working on the construction of agreements with European universities (in order to facilitate the mobility of students) and tracking funds for the integration of scholarships, often unfortunately too scarce.

At scientific level, I structured a strong partnership with the Aesop (Association of European Schools of Planning) that allows our students (of the second and third cycle, students of master and PHD) to confront with an international context, both in terms of the topics of the mode of communication and exchange of knowledge.

I am a representative for the National Association and last July I won an international award by this association - Aesop Excellence in Teaching Award, for a PhD course organized on a national scale, in a manner and on issues considered to be of international interest.

I also carried out periods of training and teaching at foreign universities, including York University in Toronto and the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, where I have built international relations for research and training.

My commitment will be oriented towards the future construction of curricula in collaboration with other emerging universities, in a worldly perspective.

How much more of an international strategy would the Italian university need? 

I believe that this moment of global crisis has exacerbated some very difficult situations in the academic machine of Italian universities.

Like any important activity, even internationalization has always needed, and at the same time has always felt the lack of, governmental investments.

There are many programs that can be undertaken, particularly at European level, but as always, they alone are not sufficient for the construction of a structured program of internationalization that is able to offer opportunities and contexts for competitive researches and studies. At least in the field of urban studies, there are very few programs of such excellence.

Some of the Italian research centers and polytechnics have certainly made progress.

I would say that over time, despite the current global push towards flows and exchanges of all kinds, the academic world is paradoxically less internationalized than 40 years ago.

The students have few opportunities, know few languages. Today you can also find some teachers who have hardly participated in any international conference, and that it is difficult to compare with scientific contexts in large diversified. There are too many localisms in the academic world, scientific and educational localism paradoxically emerge with more force this season than in the previous academic years.

I do not think it is possible to overcome this crisis that we are going through now, even epistemological, without imagining a different organization of the training and selection of teachers, based also on their ability to intercept cultural domains external to their own context.

Florence and globalization. Florence represents the global idea of Renaissance and probably it has been persisted without evolving for too long throughout the centuries. How to revive Florence back to a level of a global, international and a competitive city again, at least from the modern urban planning point of view, today?

Florence is a city full of contradictions. Its story proves it: open and vibrant throughout alternate of times in the history of the world.

Narrow minded and reactionary, unable to grasp the value of personality in scientific and academic majors, to such point of forcing outstanding personalities to leave this town (I am thinking of some of the teachers of our faculty, such as professor Benevolo). But at the same time an extraordinary city in terms of teaching a new cultural and artistic sensibility to the world, needed to Italian culture itself.

Today it's an artistic, urban and territorial heritage representing a challenge for every architect and scholar of urban planning in the world. How to preserve it and what to do in order to renew it? 

Difficult to answer. We might say that Florence certainly represents a challenge as well as a historical heritage to protect and preserve, a challenge that is common to the entire world, and for this very reason forces/impels everyone to hand regeneration and renewal on future generations.

Florence is a city of the past, a capital of civic sense and urbanity recognized throughout the world. Nothing would make sense without imagining this town as a city addressed to the future.

It is an international city by excellence in terms of attractiveness and as a museum of the world; on the other hand, it is one of the most conservative and narrow minded cities I have ever lived in or have known from willingness to parallel and debate in academic world point of view.

My opinion is that a comparative approach in developing program of studies, training and research is mandatory (and urgent).

The skyline of Florence, that we all know, is a source of inspiration and beauty. People who come to Florence breathe beauty, are inspired by beauty. How would you summarize the themes, capacities and shapes that are the ground of this beauty? The architectural principles that have inspired the buildings of Florence that we all know?

Perhaps we could define Florence as a work of art made with commitment, sometimes boldness of challenging patrons and artists, and especially with collective intelligence capable of transforming the space into places meant to last and form the cultural and urban heritage which we all enjoy today.

It is intertwined in a melting pot of surprises embedded into one another according to rules either designed or self-determined to represent examples of social, civil, religious, private: expressions of civil power and religious power. However, Florence was also a city of hospitality, in the network of its monasteries (e.g. the dissemination of churches and convents in the Oltrarno that have historically hosted young women rejected by society, the poor, the homeless, travelers and recently many immigrants and refugees), and care facilities (in this case think of the hospital of the Innocents). And nevertheless, it was the mirror of the alternation of cultures and artistic codes .

The architectural principles that all of us are now able to recognize as the great lesson of the Renaissance would not be enough to explain the "beauty" of Florence. Great social mobilizations and public made Florence as it is. Think of the great collective effort in the reconstruction of Florence and its rebirth after the 1966 flood.

Florence lacks green areas, how can you fix this?

In fact, Florence does not lack green areas. There are many of those, even in the center. They are really nice, interesting, and often are the completion of the buildings that make up the foundation of the historic center. But they are locked up in the courts of the palaces and convents. They are private and hidden properties that can only be enjoyed from the above.

In my opinion Florence is a city that should learn to open up, to indulge itself, to navigate throughout its thickness.

Also, just imagine a system with free and intersecting all the private gardens of the great palaces of the center, presenting the city as very livable, urban, regular but at the same time international. Florence would once again be a city for its inhabitants and not just for tourists. Florence, at least the Florence recognized as a cultural heritage, refuses to recognize the right of people to their city and more often treats itself as the global tourism market.

Florence is a city overwhelmed with tourists. How should the developer take this matter into account in order to design any urban intervention within this city?

Definitely a different management of public spaces, a different design of its streets and the construction of new networks of the tramway would free the center from the bondage of buses and cars to give new regenerated space for its inhabitants.

What does it mean to innovate and create in architecture today?

I would not speak only of architecture. The city is a complex system in which dynamics and different needs are intertwined. I guess that a correct answers is that architecture should perhaps seize to create spaces that can intercept the needs and requirements of the variety of lifestyles and cultures that today are intermingled within the city. This can potentially be used by multiple recipients. DiverCity is the play of words that I love to use in order to define an imaginary horizon towards which all efforts, joint ventures, architecture, urban design and regional designs are united to.

Rethinking the steps of the architecture is a priority of this historic moment, "today we need an "enabling architecture," an architecture that is able to provide opportunities, the widest possible range of opportunities for its users.

Perhaps it won’t be a creative sign of a Master, the innovative response that we would expect, but quite a productive insight of a community, that will show the direction for a different architecture. The creativity and innovation in architecture today are perhaps not only, or are no longer, found solely in the artistic genius of one man (a Master), but in the generating capacity of those who build and produce their own living space.

Is the Urban Planning Department of the Faculty of Architecture of Florence planning national and international events?

Actually there are many international activities undertaken by the department of architecture and many countries around the world are involved. They include cultural agreements, students mobility programs, conferences and seminars, coordinate tutoring of doctoral theses, etc...

I point out particularly an initiative organized within a ministerial project called Prin, that I am co-coordinating with other colleagues, and which deals with the new challenges of contemporary cities (defined as post-metropolitan territories). It is an international conference (to be held on March 14 in Via Micheli 2), in which we will evaluate possible strategies to undertake in order to make cities sustainable, livable (and maybe even more beautiful), with experts in dynamics of urbanization and suburbanization and the world in general.

A word of advice to the young ones who are about to become architects.

I suggest to imagine architecture as the result of an interactive process that includes many stakeholders, values, cultures and different histories, and to keep in mind how reflective professionals may be able to grasp ideas and creativity into the dynamics of co-production of the act of creating living spaces under the stimulus of a variety of contemporary inhabitants.