CLICK BELOW TO REDISCOVER HUMANITY
A DECADE+ OF STORYTELLING POWERED BY THE BEST WRITERS ON THE PLANET

My Experience in Italy During COVID-19

Homeownership – for $500,000 Canadian dollars you are buying a villa on the sea. Rent (1 block walking distance from center) $600 give or take you get a 1- bedroom apartment, all utilities included.

  • The laws and justice system are much different, easier to access and don’t take years to get into. At least in Italy.
  • Safety Precautions here in Italy that maybe useful elsewhere in the world:

Transit allows no more than 20 people on the bus, so people can safely distance themselves.  Masks are mandatory. Grocery stores only allow so many people inside and provide gloves and sanitizer at the entrance.  Masks are mandatory. Taxis have a plexiglass partition separating the front seat from the back.   Masks are mandatory.

Being in Italy has been an eye-opener in many ways.

I love Italian people and those I have met.  I love this country, more than I ever thought I could or would. If I could stay, I would in a heartbeat.  This is work in progress and I won’t be giving up anytime soon.

I have a better understanding of why my parents chose to escape to this country 60+ years ago and why they chose to give me Italian godparents.

I have learned so much more about these people and this country just by being here.  They accepted me as one of their own just like what they did with my parents.

I love the language, the food and the culture.   Hands down, Italians, especially those here in the South, in my view and experience these last 5 months, have much to teach others about life and social democracies.

Dal profondo del mio cuore, GRAZIE!

____________________

While many people around the world had their own share of experiences both good and bad, I wanted to mention and thank some of those organizations who made a difference.  Simple acts speak volumes and I am grateful.

  • BCAA (British Columbia Automobile Association) for extending my health coverage throughout, when many others stopped covering people abroad. https://www.bcaa.com
  • Lufthansa (German Airline) for honoring return flights that were cancelled and allowing them to be changed for a later date when airlines begin flying again. https://www.lufthansa.com
  • Doma Travel & Cruise Ltd. (Burnaby) Kristina for keeping me up to date.
  • Palace Suites Heritage Hotel Splithttp://palacesuites-split.com “Mate” for all his help, for keeping me up to date with the maritime situation and for taking the burden off of me when I reenter Croatia by providing me with a reservation at the hotel while they prepare to reopen for the summer. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Split Croatia who may be looking for a great place to stay and extremely helpful “go out of their way” staff/service.

Thank you all!

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

~Maya Angelou

____________________

Entitlement?

Entitlement in many parts of the world is more visible today than it ever was.  Some are entitled to help while others are not.  In my view, this is as clear as day in many different aspects of North American society today. I think that North America as a whole has the potential to build a more inclusive society while fighting the “isms” and discrimination that exist, but that’s going to take leadership that comes from not only the people, but a common consensus of the forces forming the government.

Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality. 

~Erich Fromm

____________________

Around the world seniors in care facilities have taken the brunt of this virus and it is truly heartbreaking to hear. With all the outbreaks around the world, I was astonished to learn that Canada was amongst the worst of them at 81% contagion rate in senior facilities. One could only hope that when things return to some normalcy that government officials both from a Provincial and Federal standpoint start to listen to family members, be open to really hearing what is being said and implement changes that will improve conditions for our most vulnerable population.

Advocacy is about bringing positive changes to the health of your population and in my view, every single person in and out of the system has a role to play in bringing about positive changes. When residents, family members, and staff complain and management doesn’t listen, it shows where managements priorities are and the multitude of flaws that exist in system that was flawed before COVID19 hit us.

We were all humans until race disconnected us, religion separated us, politics divided us, and wealth classified us.

~The untouchable Spirit

Didato soundtrack – Make Noise with pictures taken by me:

Suzana Matkovic
Suzana Matkovic
SUZANA has a PhD from the School of Hard Knocks. With the guidance of a loving family, she aspired to the best job of Life: Motherhood. People that know her journey will understand how this beautiful and tragic chapter forged her resilience and tenacity to bring her passions to life by being part of the change. Upon graduation in 84, she moved into an extremely successful 30-year career. Nonetheless, she walked away from it in 2014, in order to pursue something more personally meaningful. A School of Life that enabled her to meet people of different nationalities, cultures, races, languages and outlooks, is what she sought. She is an avid advocate and volunteer motivated to help others reach their full potential by raising awareness of numerous social issues affecting many and establishing a legacy for change. Suzana’s training and experience have provided her with a unique foundation from which to produce communication that is Significant, Relevant and Actionable. Her knowledge in sales/business development and marketing started in the early 90’s where she received numerous awards for innovation, customer satisfaction and quality management. She has worked in all business categories: Local Government, Manufacturing and Distribution, Logistics and Lumber Export. Some of the more notable products and services were sold into the Environmental Energy Sector and building products that represented Structural, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Architectural Engineering. In addition to Marketing initiatives for various NGOs and causes near and dear to her heart. All this was accomplished by a high school graduate with determination, vision and passion. She attributes her success to many wonderful mentors throughout her personal and professional life and the inner strength God blessed her with.

DO YOU HAVE THE "WRITE" STUFF? If you’re ready to share your wisdom of experience, we’re ready to share it with our massive global audience – by giving you the opportunity to become a published Contributor on our award-winning Site with (your own byline). And who knows? – it may be your first step in discovering your “hidden Hemmingway”. LEARN MORE HERE


2 CONVERSATIONS

  1. Aldo, Thank you, Thank you very much, I was really touched by your comments. My partner has always told me that to truly know a country you have to live there and he was right. The truth is that the people here are one of the 1st things I noticed and loved about this City/Country. It was a profound awareness of how different people here are compared to that in North America. That’s not to say that everyone is the same in North America but the difference here is profound in a good way. I have found Italy to be a very vibrant and tolerant community in which you can breathe and be yourself. I believe that the real cultural backbone of Italy is in the 1,000’s of villages and small towns and not the metropolis cities. Its something that comes from the past and is reflected in the relationships between people today and the way of living. It really is a beautiful country with much to offer and teach others. Thanks again Aldo. If the opportunity presents itself it would be great to meet you in the not too distant future.

  2. Suzana, thanks for this article that I would like many to read, especially those who judge based on prejudices, without ever having seen or lived.
    I thank you above all because you have spoken little of the food and natural beauty, of which those who have been in Italy speak and which too often are the only things appreciated in my country, but you have spoken of PEOPLE!!
    And I thank you for the concrete contribution you made in a time of difficulty in which solidarity was the real strength that was needed.
    I thank you because you have wanted to understand, enter our social fabric, deepen our sensitivities, positive and negative.
    I have traveled a lot, I have known many countries, I am an admirer of some in particular but also a severe self-critic of the defects of the Italians. But i can’t deny that in what you have told there is the essence of the Italian people, which that I would like to always emerge, at any level, in any context, to convince those who have a superficial vision of Italians.
    Thanks again. I hope we will have the opportunity to interact with you.

TAKE STROLL INSIDE 360° NATION

TIME FOR A "JUST BE." MOMENT?

ENJOY OUR FREE EVENTS

BECAUSE WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER