Efficient Italy?!

This weekend I had the opportunity to go to Cinque Terre and almost had a heart attack. I will explain.

Cinque Terre is definitely a beautiful place and can take your breath away but that's not why I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. 

Cinque Terre is definitely a challenge to get up and down the steep hills but that's not why I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. I'm fit and can maneuver those hills with ease. 

I almost had a heart attack at the cluster that is the Italian train system. Never have I experienced such chaos in a public transportation system! There are self service machines that are so cumbersome they practically want a sample of your blood type! It takes at least 6 minutes to purchase your ticket assuming the machine is cooperative! On Saturday, I was trying to go from Monterosso- the first stop in the Cinque Terre - back towards Genova. The only self service machine was broken. This is a very touristy area and the fact that they only have one machine is mind-boggling! I waited in line ( with my music blaring on my iPhone so as not to want to kill someone) while the customers in front of me debated " should I go to Milan or maybe Rome" - in the meanwhile the rest of us stood there like idiots! It's true, I love so much about this country but the one thing I can do without is the inefficiencies! 

Stereotypes set straight!

The other day we were having a lively conversation about stereotypes when my teacher and classmates all said "We love Americans". Now, mind you, my classmates are a French couple and of course, my teacher is Italian. I wasn't all that surprised by my teacher's response but I was shocked at the French couple. The couple flat out said "your country saved us." Wow, it was so good to hear that. So often we hear "the French don't appreciate what we did for them". This couple couldn't have been more convincing to the contrary. The French couple confirmed that Parisians are "special" and even the French people aren't crazy about them :-)

I also thought it interesting that the Italian teacher said "My name is Maria but when my mother named me she fully intended that I would be called "Mary" because of her love of the Americans". By the way, these three people were all in their late 60s so they were born right after WWII ended. 

It's about trust...

Here I am in Italy, again! It still amazes me that someone like me who gets bored so easily could still be infatuated with this country given how many times I've been here. I was thinking earlier today- what will I post about given that I've been here so many times that it almost doesn't seem "foreign" to me. And then, as it usually does, something happened. 

I sit here typing this post in a room, an office really, that is completely empty and has been for at least an hour. This would not be news except that the hour is currently 2:45 pm. Immediately, what comes to mind is "it must be nice, all the Italians living la vita bella done with a day's work by 1:30". Trust me, that thought did cross my mind. And then, another thought came right after that and it was "wow! I don't know how many U.S. businesses would allow a complete stranger to stay as long as they like in an office". 

Now, it's true. There aren't any trade secrets laying around but there are a few computers and a lot of audio/visual equipment. I suppose, if something were to happen then it would be a different story and I would no longer feel the hospitality of the Italian culture but the opposite! For now, I'm very grateful that these people are generous enough to allow me the luxury of working from their offices for a few hours. It literally means the world to me! 

Italy here I come....

This morning when I was running, the song "I'm proud to be an American" came on my iPhone. It was interesting timing as I've just completed my two week stint in Scandinavia and I am preparing for my vacation in Italy. I thought about just how appropriate this song was at the moment. I do love traveling especially in Italy. I love the history, the people, the beautiful langauge and of course, the delicious food. However,  as the song goes "I'm proud to be an American" and there really isn't anywhere else I'd rather be. So...here's to some beautiful experiences in Italy for this very American gal!

Free lunch!

Who said there is no such thing as a free lunch? We had a terrific one today courtesy of IKEA. That's right, we ate lunch at the IKEA headquarters in Sweden and it was good! A few interesting observations- they would pay for our main meal and beverage but if we wanted any sweets, we were on our own. The other surprising item- there was beer or at least a "near beer" as a beverage selection?! Difference in culture. 

Branding fashion

It's no secret, there are certain topics that really light me up. Travel is definitely one but even more than travel, it's clothes! Today we went to the Danish Design Institute where we had a discussion on what the  Scandinavian Design Industry, especially clothes, is doing to improve sustainaiblity. 

It's an interesting concept- branding Scandinavian design as the most sustainable. It is definitely a niche that they can claim, no one else has it. When we think of haute couture we think of French and Italian designers like Chanel, Hermes, Prada and Versace. When we think of American designers we think of high quality designers such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger. However, when we think of Scandinavian designers not too many come to mind. It was exciting to see that not only did this industry recognize that they had a branding problem but that they correctly identified an area that they can definitely claim as their niche!

Flag Day in Denmark!

I found out late in the day that I, in fact, didn't miss Flag Day. Yes, it's true that the U.S. celebrates flag day on June 14th and I did miss that. June 15th happens to be Flag Day in Denmark and lo and behold, I was here to see it. Of course, I had no idea that today was Flag Day until my aunt, who is a crack librarian, sent me an email to remind me :-) There is a nice story about the significance of the Danish flag. Here it is: The Danish flag "Dannebrog" is the oldest flag in the World. It came out of the sky in the year 1219 at June 15, during King Valdemar´s fight in Estonia

Too close for comfort

We arrived in Copenhagen to find our accomodations a bit "cozy" and not in a good way! Now, I realize that European standards and U.S. standards are quite different but when you are asked to share a full bed with someone you just met at the beginning of the week, that's pushing it. 

I try not to be an "ugly American" but there are some things that are just not acceptable. This was one of them. 

Now I know....

My first week in Scandinavia has been very interesting. This part of the world has never been someplace that I've thought much about since I have no family connection here. What I've discovered about the Swedes is that they are very hospitable. They like to talk- I think that they could rival the Irish in spinning a story. It's also been interesting to see where "Minnesota Nice" comes from. Anyone who's ever spent much time in Minnesota knows, the people are very pleasant and really don't like to make a scene too much. The same could be said about Sweden. I think I heard a car beep for the first time after being here four days! As a Chicagoan, that seems incredible to me!

A little fun with words.....

I love photos, it's true! I especially love taking photos of oddities. One such photo was something I saw on the bus the other day. I was sitting towards the front and saw the sign "Brandslackare". The marketer in me immediately kicked into over drive. I figured that "brandslackare" didn't mean what I read it for literally - a brand that is sub par. I walked around for the next two days wondering "what in the world could a brandslackare be?". Today, I saw a sign and immediately knew- a brandslackare is a fire extinguisher. I like my story better about a subpar brand. Knowing what a brandslackare is, won't deter me from having a little fun with it in my business classes. I may create a gag award of "brandslackare" for the student who is best at putting out fires in their respective groups ! 

Sweden shares their bread

As I headed into Stockholm on the high speed train, I read how the average person in Stockholm pays 59% of their income to taxes. When I read this figure, I let out a gasp! How could anyone function in an environment where more than have of what you make, the government takes?! Then I read further that although it is a conservative country, they are very progressive in social welfare. To me, that is almost schizophrenic. How could a country be both?! Sweden is both and seems to be doing it well. 

I was taken aback when I went to McDonald's and saw row after row of tables with 8 seats each at them. I was there at a slow time so I didn't have to be " forced" to sit with seven other people I didn't know. However, I did imagine what it would be like to share a meal with a bunch of people I didn't know. I didn't like the feeling that came over me when I thought about it. I don't want to share my meal with a stranger under just about any circumstances and yet, we can say that in Sweden they are not opposed to literally or figuratively share their meal with others whether it's giving 59% of their income for taxes or breaking bread in the company of seven unknown people. 

Prof. C is going green?!

I'm about to embark on yet another trip. This time it's a combination of work/pleasure trip. First stop- Scandinavia for a faculty development trip on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. Now, before anyone who knows me starts to laugh about this, let me tell you about what I've been up to in my classes. Ever since I've started teaching I've had some sort of sustainability project whether it was supporting a budding entrepreneur in a developing part of the world or having students create projects to feed the hungry. My deeper interest in sustainability came this past school year as I had a "green entrepreneur" as part of my Advisory board. I started to see things from a much different perspective. I've started to do things differently in my daily life- less plastic, even more recycling. In fact, this morning when I went to dump my garbage in a public trash can (shh, don't tell anyone :-) I only dumped the garbage and took the plastic bag home and put it in my recycle bin. I know, I shouldn't have dumped my garbage in a public can but at least I recycled. It has been said that every trip changes a person in some way. I fully expect this trip to be one that opens my eyes to innovative possibilities on how we as a society, businesses and governments can do well by doing good. Stay tuned….