Too Young, too good

It’s test preparation time on many of the Master English courses at the moment. This means I have all the students prepare a short oral presentation in answer to the common job interview question ‘Tell me about yourself’.

The test preparation is always interesting for me as I get to see many students’ CVs, and I often discover interesting things about many students.

This year one young lady, who in Italian terms is very young at 23, caught my attention. Why? Well, because this impressive individual has managed to complete both a 3 year and a 2 year degree by the time she was 23. Believe me when I say that this is incredible in a country where many do not manage to finish their degrees much before the age of 27, or older.

How did this youngster manage such a feat? Quite simple really. She started her second 2 year specialist degree before finishing her first 3 year degree course. Talk about enterprising, and her marks were impressive too.

You’d expect this person to be as happy as Larry, but she isn’t. In Italy’s topsy turvy world, she feels that she is too young. And she’s feeling quite disillusioned. It’s sad for me to see her this way. She’s done damn well and deserves praise for her efforts. Back in the UK she would have been snapped up as a high potential employee in no time at all, I’m pretty sure.

I’ve tried to give her a little encouragement, as I do with many of my students (I love to see people do well), but it’s not really my place, not being Italian.

Hopefully someone will recognise her potential and give her the opportunities she merits.

Milan Clinches the 2015 Expo

In an odd show of political unity, right wing Letizia Morrati, and left wingers Massimo D’Alema and Romano Prodi got together in Paris, along with Al Gore to promote Milan’s bid for the 2015 Universal Exhibition (Expo).

The green-theme, hence Gore’s presence, plus supporting music by Andrea Bocelli and Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour, meant that Milan’s bid won against the city of Izmir in Turkey. Even the appearance of an Italian football star did not manage to put the judges off. Shame there was no pizza cook though.

Anyway, lots of mutual back slapping has taken place, and noises are being made in Milan about improved infrastructure; read new metro line; increases in the prices of housing, and various other goodies that will ensure the already well-heeled Milanese remain so.

I’m looking forward to the rich experience that I expect from one these Expo events, if I’m still here in 2015, that is. Seven years is quite a long time.

I have to admit to being curious, as I’ve never seen an Expo first hand. Sounds like good photographic material, not to mention the surge in demand for English language courses and translations that will inevitably take place. Might even collar a few more readers for this here blog too.

The downside? None really, aside from the fact that I’ll be 50 in 2015. Now, that is frightening. I mean 50, that certainly ain’t young any more. Still, at least the Expo is something to look forward to in my old age.

For more information, go here: Milan Expo 2015