America Oggi July 27, 2008 MAGAZINE
(Translated from Italian)
CURRENT EVENTS
Sixteen Italian American students in a NOIAW Program in Rome conceived by Aileen Riotto Sirey and "blessed" by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Roots...Female Style
By Gabriella Patti
Two weeks to discover your roots? Too little time. No, it can be sufficient provided that the Cultural Program is the right one... Like that of NOIAW (National Organization of Italian American Women) based on an idea of Aileen Riotto Sirey, Chairwoman and Founder of the group and made a reality together with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a cultural exchange exclusively for women.
It began last year with a group of young Italian women crossing the Atlantic to be hosted by Italian American families. This year, 16 Italian American female students from 18 to 22 years of age completed a two week visit to Italy, primarily in Rome with trips to other cities.
Accompanying them were NOIAW representatives: Maria Tamburri, Executive Director and Claudia Massimo Berns, a member of the Board of Directors.
While we spoke with them in the lobby of a hotel in Rome, we heard the screaming voices of demonstrators protesting the American President, George Bush who was in Rome. The protesters were yelling antiwar slogans. The two chaperones were a little worried about some of their students who were out shopping. But Lisa Bonarrigo and Nicole Mangiere, who were with us in the lobby, reassured them:
"This is nothing like demonstrations we have seen in New York" said the students. And, in fact, when the other girls returned to the hotel they said they were not aware of anything yet they had. been on public transportation all day.
They are here to understand the differences which exist today between the American and Italian cultures, not only those that were represented by the memories of their families.
We asked them how many times they had been to Italy and surprisingly we learned that for many of them it was the first visit. "My parents did not bring me to Italy because they thought at the time that I would not have enjoyed (appreciated?) it."
And now what do you think of it?
"It's very beautiful. I would like to see more than Rome and Florence and visit the rest of Italy."
In two weeks, besides visiting the city, the girls had a series of conferences and meetings with Italian women representing the worlds of politics, cinema and art. One presentation focused on Franca Rame and Franca Valeri, two icons of the culture.
"Yes", they said. "We have a definite sense that they are two important women for Italians. As Katherine Hepburn is to Americans."
What do you consider the greatest difference between the Italian and American women?
"Substantially, none. But if I were an Italian politician, I would be a little angry and I would do more. Italian men do not seem to appreciate women in politics."
On the weekend, they were guests of Italian families with the idea of experiencing daily Italian life. And also, in this case, they found that a Sunday in Rome is not much different from a Sunday in Hartford, Connecticut, the focus on food, family relationships are practically the same. Here the origins speak the same language.
In the photo, the group of Italian American students engaged in a recent NOIAW program in Rome, together with their chaperones Maria Tamburri and Claudia Massimo Berns and the Silvia Andolina, Director of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.