Feedback about our stay in Verona and our participation
in the project meeting – Spring 2012
The Hungarian participants came home some three days ago but I must say we are still full of our nice memories and experiences collected in Verona.
The city, the people, the weather, the hotel – everything really was past our expectations.
We think that this second meeting was a good step in the process of making new friends and putting down the foundations of further cooperation. During these three and a half days – although the group was really large - consisting of over 50 people – we could talk to nearly all of them not only about „business” but about their personal opinions, professional ideas and views on a lot of different issues.
It was especially interesting to meet the young people from some of the countries who – with the help of the interactive group activities – brought in their different viewpoints as well as their extra energy and high motivation.
We think that the proportion between strictly project- related activities and the s
o-called tourist programs was just correct, - due to the kindness and hospitality of our hosts, Marina, Ivo and Salvatore - we learned a lot about the region’s past and present as well as monuments and sights and – due to the presentations by the invited guests – we got some ideas about the problems and steps taken by the local authorities and institutions to solve them.
We must add one more important aspect, that of the number of project partners. Telling the truth we had had some discussions about how effective a partnership program with eleven partners can be – and we had doubts. Now we must admit that we were wrong. Due to the organizational skills of the project coordinator, Mariana, we can be efficient and produce what we had promised and what we think is important in order to complete this running project with success.
Now we have already started to look forward to meeting in Cyprus again and we hope that the meetings in the future will be as successful as the ones we have had so far.
Thank you all for the enthusiasm and energy you are putting into our joint efforts,
Kate and Andrew Fazekas
Hungary - Site 23 Ltd.
Thank you so much for this wonderful feedback.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with you that our second reunion was a very successful one.
YOUNG AND ADULTS FOR A BETTER LIFE: Intergenerational Solidarity
ReplyDeleteGARDA LAKE AND ITS CITIZENS
In Lake Garda we found the perfect combination of culture and nature sun-drenched Italian and visiting it a beautiful look and stunning lake in the middle of a great mountain are discovered. Its waters were blue and extraordinary clarity and we found in old village, l I guess typical in this area, decorating the landscape. We strolled through the narrow streets and graceful terraces, full of young, old, families and children enjoying the Italian espresso or Italian typical ice cream which are a great attraction for many tourists.
Walking in the streets of the city we can find out that both generations (young people and elderly people) are represented in the city although seems that the elderly people are more than the youngest. Thinking about that point the elderly people is who life, during all the year, in this kind of cities because young people studies in big cities and they usually come back home on weekends. We are in March and a high quantity of them is in the city and their parents and grandparents are waiting for them in this charming lake.
Analyzing the topic of tourism I believe that a reasonable explanation for the different between young and elder people who are more, in that month, is that we aren't in the most tourist season, where young people can travel more and where a lot of them use this tourist place to find a perfect summer job. We ate a delicious ice cream in a little restaurant in front of the lake and we were served by a lady who was in her forties.
That reality was only one specific situation and it can’t be very representative for our comparison, but I believe that it can give us a vision of the reality: spring and summer are worked season months and "underpaid" (“perfect” for young people) and autumn and winter are months for the owners, who are usually older, and they serve the tables by themselves.
Relate with young and older is easy in Italy, we share our common past and if we speak slowly, both Italian and Spanish people can understand without too many problems (With Agnese, Ivo, Salvatore and Marina we got to understand inventing the Italo-Spanish-English language!!!
Both young and elder people are close and although the older can’t speak or understand very well English they treat you with good mood and with a smile in their faces.
Looking around in the streets of the city we can find signs that Italy belongs to the EU so we have flags in the principals buildings in the and the ride we have a great sign of this, flags of many countries of the European union and of the Union.
I have spoken about the Italians’ mood, that during our visit has been very positive and optimistic but are they optimistic or pesimistic in general?
Italians are living a very difficult situation in their country like we are living in Spain. It’s said that our character are positive and optimistic but nowadays is complicated to maintain the smile in our faces. Although seems that for old people is more difficult because they don’t see a good future for them whereas that young people are beginning their life and they are building their future. Both generations are suffering but each one in its way.
But Mario Benedetti says:
The Future is coming
Slowly but is coming / the future is coming slowly / but comes / today is beyond / the clouds that it has chosen / and beyond the thunder / and the mainland / it is lingering / like a suspiciously flower
which monitors the sun / It don’t asked questions / it is coming illuminating / the last windows
slowly but it is coming / the future is coming / slowly but comes /and it is approaching / it is never in a hurry /it comes with projects /and bags of seeds / with Angels battered and faithful / swallows /slowly but it comes / without making much noise
(Random Questions, 1986)
Monica Moreno
FFZM-Spain
March 2012
YOUNG AND ADULTS FOR A BETTER LIFE: Intergenerational Solidarity
ReplyDeleteVERONA: FELLOWSHIP OF THE YOUNG AND OLD
Verona is a city with a large history where we can find the old and the new in the same street and the young and elderly people sharing its environment and its wealth cultural and historical. Verona is a work of art in itself: a fascinating cross-road of historical periods and cultures (both classical and Germanic), a blend of both Nordic and "Mediterranean" influences; the city is at the same time both antique and contemporary and we can observe this in its citizens too, where young and elderly share their life and their moments.
Walking in the streets of the Romeo and Juliette’s city we find both generations enjoying with the same things: chats with friends and family in a nice terrace, walking and doing window shopping in their nice little streets, drinking and eating a wonderful food in a old tavern and fashion restaurants and visiting its monuments and the place of the real and romantic love, Juliette's house!!
The difference between both generations is the time in which they do all this things. During mornings and afternoons we have seen that a high quantity of old people enjoy with all this activities and the young people floods the city when the sun goes down. Well, the exception is the tourists who take the city during all the day regardless of their age.
Comparing Verona with Garda Lake we find a big difference between young and elderly people who work in tourism. In that case, the restaurants, shops, monuments, etc., are full with young people (in their
twenties or thirties) who can speak and understand very well English. This is an important point: Verona is one of the most tourist places in Italy and it’s important that the staff have the skills to work with tourists and being sincere is more easy that young people may speak and understand English that old people (In Barcelona happens the same: in the service sector prefer to have a young people without to many experience but who can speak English that to have a elderly people with a long experience who can not understand what is saying the costumer).
In the case of Verona the service was fantastic and our different waitresses/waiters and shop assistance were very kind and fun and if you need any information about any place, addresses or information you could ask and even though the person didn’t understand or didn’t know the answer they answered to you in a friendly and polite way.
Another important point in the city of love is that both generations go to Juliette’s house to find the love or to show its love. Young and elderly people want to maintain their love, as Romeo and Juliette’s did but without a sad end and they dream with find their real love and Verona is the perfect place to see this common objective. Both are difference but both want the same: to have their heart engaged and happy!!
Monica Moreno
FFZM-Spain
March 2012