Torno a Genova
Hello everyone again.This is my first update since I popped back to OZ for a visit. To say that it was a jammed packed and eventful trip is a slight understatement. In the space of two weeks we managed to;
- Get engaged
- Get my working visa sorted. (Again a HUGE thank you to all those that worked behind the scenes to defeat the infamous Italian bureaucracy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
- Get Vilija’s British citizenship which removes the need to obtain an Italian visa for Vilija
- Get away to the Yarra Valley for a small holiday
- And many smaller bits and pieces.
Being “home” was a little strange as the weekend before I left was the first weekend where Genova felt like home and as such I am currently split between Australia where Vilija is for a while and Genova where our apartment is.
I have now been back in Genova for a week now and am enjoying the second of 3 long weekends in a row here. Like Australia the 25th is a public holiday in Italy for their National Day. Techint has officially closed on the Monday making this weekend a 4 day weekend. The next weekend is also a public holiday for Labour Day (1st of May). Unfortunately my work load has not recognized this excellent opportunity to get out and see more of Italia. I have two projects that have deadlines of the end of this week. As a result I had to decline an offer from Ottavio and Chaira to go with them to their holiday house in Tuscany this weekend and stay in Genova to work. This was a very difficult decision for me to make but hope to get there at some stage in the future. Perhaps when Vilija is here.
Whilst I mentioned above that I obtained my working visa in Australia, this isn’t entirely true. There is a strange requirement in Italy that any foreigner who stays in Italy longer than 8 days needs to report to the Questura (equivalent of our Federal Police) to obtain a “permesso di soggiorno” (Permit to stay). It is also stated quite explicitly that you must report to them within 8 days of your arrival. There is no mention of the consequences of failing to report within this time frame but I didn’t feel confident enough to find out. Given the long weekend this weekend I had to report to the Questura last week. After quite a bit of research on the Internet I found what documents etc. I needed. After a bit of stuffing around I got everything together.
On Thursday morning I told my colleagues that I would be in late and headed off to the Genova Questura office. I planned to get there as early as possible hoping there wouldn’t be many other people there at 8:30. Unfortunately when I got there was already a queue of 20+ people. I sighed as I was afraid that this was going to take longer than I had anticipated. When I had finally progressed through the queue to the security check I presented my passport to the officer who looked at it and then asked if I had a ticket. I quickly responded “I need a ticket?!??!?!?” (I found no mention of this on the Internet!!) He pointed me towards a small booth and shouted out “Australian” to his colleague in the booth.
I headed over to the booth and said that I was trying to get my Permesso di Soggiorno. The officer here took my passport, copied down details and then handed it back with a ticket. Argghhhh the ticket I thought. He then said “return on the 11th of May at 8:30, this is your booking”. I looked shocked and was speechless. Amongst all the threats of “you MUST report with 8 days” I was being given a ticket to come back in 3 weeks! So in three weeks I will return to hopefully finish the long process that is my visa.
Last Christmas mum and dad gave a book on the rise of Google. When I came over last time I didn’t have room in my bags to bring it but when I returned this time I packed it. I started reading it yesterday and am about half way through already. It is a very interesting story and comforting to know that it is possible for a company to grow from nothing and compete against the established large companies with significant clout and funding. Perhaps we aren’t destined to be ruled by a handful of massive major conglomerates more powerful than the government as another book I have recently read postulates. (“Jenifer Government” for those interested, I highly recommend it)
One of keys to Google’s success is that it provided a service that simply worked, with no bells and whistles and not only worked, worked very well. With only a well designed product and no marketing or “free stuff” they grew from nothing into one of the most recognised and highly respected companies in the world. I think this can be applied to nearly everything, just do it simply, smartly and above most, do it well. The book cites an interesting quote from Nikola Tesla “Of all the frictional resistance, the one that most retards human movement is ignorance”.
I am looking forward to the week after next as I will be getting my first visitor. Amie, a friend from uni who is in Europe with her NEW fiancée (I think something must be in the water) dropping in to Genova for a visit. She has the honour of being my first visitor. In preparation I am off to Ikea tomorrow to get a futon couch so that people who do come to visit have somewhere to stay.That’s all for this week folks.
I hope your all well.
James