“There is great interest in Italy here in Istanbul; more and more students are going to Italian secondary schools and there are many young people who want to learn Italian. Anything about Italy immediately draws attention”, says Massimo D’Angelo, born in Ascoli Piceno 23 years ago and living in Turkey since 2013. He teaches English in a Turkish elementary school (“my students are from 2 to 11 years old”) Massimo speaks to “Postcard from the other Italy”, a web series created by 9colonne with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s Directorate General for Italians in the World and Migration Policies.
Italian secondary schools promote cultural activities
“For me Istanbul is a second home, a very lively city that never sleeps”, the young teacher explains, underscoring that in the city on the Bosphorus “there are lots of Italian secondary schools that promote cultural activities and Casa Italia”. Finally, he says his hopes are for a future in which bureaucracy is less invasive: “I hope to be able to come and go with no more need of a visa”.
“Postcard from the other Italy” (Cartolina dell’altra Italia) goes around the world in search of the new emigrants, contacting young Italian nationals who have decided to live abroad, whether for need or desire, keeping that unbreakable bond that links them with Italy strong. Each week a new video interview, viewable on the 9colonne.it website or Youtube channel Nove Colonne.