Greetings from Milan!
I am Silvana, an Italian friend of “YorkEuropean.uk”, a former York
resident and a current Milanese.
photos by Barbara Lodge
I spent almost 7 years in York, as a PhD Student and a Researcher at
the University.
I loved living in York and, apart for a
very formative and significant experience at the University, I had
several different experiences in the city: I rallied and campaigned
for Amnesty International, I took part to sailing races on the river
Ouse, had meditation sessions with the Buddhist monks in
Pocklington, danced salsa with the University Latin American Society
at “La Tasca”, danced Argentinian Tango at “Guppy’s” (a local
association, an institution in York) and went clubbing at the
“Willow”, a Chinese Restaurant the used to become a club after
dinner (that was another institution….).
In a nutshell, I had a very good time in York.
Milan Cathedral, dedicated to the Nativity of St Mary (Santa Maria
Nascente), it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently
Archbishop Mario Delpini.
I still remember the morning I got to know the Brexit have been
approved through a referendum.
It was a lovely sunny
morning in late spring, I had just woken up… I just couldn’t believe
it. It was 2016 and I had come back to Italy in 2012. I thought that
the country which has voted “leave” was not the same country where I
have spent some many years and where I have always felt very
welcomed as a foreigner.
Or maybe the country had not changed, it has always been the same,
and I had just realised what was the true reality around me? I don’t
know… following the spirit of “YorkEuropean.Uk”, I don’t want to
argue if the Brexit was right or wrong (but I would lean toward the
second option…..).
I still have several friends in the
UK, people that I love and highly esteem… And I know that they
haven’t changed, their attitude towards foreigners hasn’t changed,
and they represent the “open-minded” UK I have known….
Milan Cathedral
In the meantime, I take advantage of the time I have to stay at home
and I cook beautiful food (I enclose the recipe of “Pasta alla
Norma”). The fans of Montalbano, the famous detective from Sicily,
will love this recipe 😉.
