How a city can fit a whole country (Episode in Spanish)

She@Work

*This episode is in Spanish* In this episode I speak with my friend Agostina Verdini, co-founder of CIS - Centro Italiano di Siviglia, an innovative language school and cultural centre in Seville. We are still in complete lock-down in Spain, still without proper equipment, but if you can glance over the limited audio quality and my nasal voice, there is a lot to learn from Agostina's story! This episode has been recorded in both Spanish and Italian. The first unexpected lesson for me, is that whilst I am fluent in Spanish, it was very weird to speak to Agostina in a language that was not our usual one. It shacked the familiarity of the conversation, I was super conscious of my accent and I felt it took me a while to find my rhythm… Besides that, if you hit play, you will hear how CIS was born following a time of personal crisis, in which plans had to be unmade and new decisions taken. Moving in an unchartered territory, Agostina found a compass in a personal project that had been incubating in her mind and hearth for a long time. This project brought together two of her favourite "things": Italy and social relationships. As a business partner Riccardo came forward at the right time, CIS went from being an idea to being a real thing! CIS is mobilising anyone who loves Italy and Italian to create a community that works and learns together. It keeps costs down and morale high, by being “itinerant” and “people-based”. Italian-flavoured events are organised regularly across-town, in partnership with other local businesses, with a focus on cultural quality. What comes clear from after a year of activity, is that there is a strong demand for beautiful cultural experience and for the social interaction they bring. It is also clear that relationships do not only make our personal life meaningful, they are at the base of any creative initiative. Whilst the lock-down is making CIS life a bit harder these days, with its attitude and flexibility, the future looks full of opportunities. Good luck CIS!