by DHales | Apr 21, 2017 | Books, culture, Current Affairs, history, Italy, Language, Politics, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Il coraggio Courage Every April 25 Italy celebrates the anniversary of the Resistenza (Resistance) and the nation’s liberation from the fascist and Nazi regime. To honor this day, I am reprinting some of the messages of love (messaggi d’amore) written by young...
by DHales | Apr 9, 2015 | Books, culture, Current Affairs, Italy, Language, Politics, Sayings and expressions, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
The Italians British journalist John Hooper got to know the country, its people and its language by spending decades living and writing in Italy as a correspondent for The Guardian. In his best-selling chronicle, The Italians, Hooper provides droll insights for casual...
by DHales | Jan 12, 2015 | Books, culture, Current Affairs, Italy, Language, Politics, Religion, Sayings and expressions, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
"Io non sono Charlie" "I am not Charlie" Like millions around the world, last week Italians sono andati in piazza (took to the streets) in manifestazioni di massa (mass demonstrations) of support for le vittime del massacro (the victims of...
by DHales | Apr 24, 2014 | culture, history, Italy, Language, Politics, Sayings and expressions, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
campanilismo "Is there an English word for campanilismo?” an Italian Facebook friend wanted to know. One dictionary came up with two, both somewhat pejorative: parochialism and provincialism. Another offered a better alternative: “local...
by DHales | Apr 3, 2014 | Current Affairs, Italy, Language, Politics, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Barack Obama a Roma "Veni, vidi, vici." (I came, I saw, I conquered). Julius Caesar reported to the Senate in Rome in 47 B.C. Last week in Rome President Barack Obama also came, saw and conquered—largely with his words (spoken in English, with the exception...
by DHales | Mar 6, 2014 | culture, Current Affairs, history, Italy, Politics, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Le donne italiane Italian Women Italy celebrates la giornata della donna (woman’s day) on March 8, when husbands, boyfriends, and bosses present the women in their lives with bouquets of yellow mimosa. This international celebration is a relatively recent...