eurogeneration

Eurogeneration in Israel

Adriano — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:33:00 +0100

Follow my trip in Israel on http://twitter.com/farano

Holocaust or low cost?

Adriano — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:17:00 +0100

A funny conversation showed generational divide on Germany - and Europe - history.

Two German babelian girls last week were chatting in a café in Le Marais, a cosy area
in the heart of Paris.

Of course they were chatting

in German. Suddenly an old lady, a co-owner of the café, just asked:

- Excuse me... What is the language you are speaking?
- German, Madame
- Oh, I didn't think it could be so sweet... May I ask you something?
- You are welcome
- How do young Germans live Holocaust today?

Then another babelian, a Spanish one, who was eating on the same table but without following the German conversation said:

- The low cost? They are great! You can go to Budapest with a small budget!

Then my babelmates from Germany did reply to the question. But I think this anecdote can really explain a ot about the generational clivage existing today in the Old Continent.

I mean, Holocaust is one of the worst pages of European - more than just German - history. But I do not agree with those who identify German language, people and culture with this tragedy. Today's Germans - and I am speaking about new generations - have made the necessary understanding with their story. This is not the case of other people, the French in particular. Their stories are different of course. But please let's try to turn the page, Madame!

Shoe-shiner? It's just a job like another. Sounds from NYC

Adriano — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:58:00 +0100

Conversation with a shoe-shiner, sounds from the Empire State Building and much more from my second time in a jazzy New York City. Audio-video report.

Shoe-shiner explaining his job is just a job like another and why French don't think so (and so they get dirty shoes)

hear his comments in New York City's 42th Street

View from the Empire State Building...and sounds from that amazing view

World Trade Center is the name of a subway station yet.

But in NYC's underground you can also find how hard the heart of the city is still beating funky rhytms and playing jazz

Columbia University debate on the changing media landscape

Adriano — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:20:00 +0100

I am just back from New York City and I must tell you about this wonderful experience I had at the Hearst Media Dialogues.

On November 11, I had the great chance to participate to the Hearst Media Dialogues, a panel on the future of online journalism, organised by Sree Sreenivasan at the Columbia University Journalism school in NYC. I know, I should have told you about this before, but I hope this report will let you feel a bit of the energy emerging from this conversation.

From left to right: Sewell Chan (City Room), David Cohn (Spot.us), Adriano Farano (Cafebabel.com), Erica Smith (Paper cuts), Jacob Weisberg (Slate).

Of course, I tried to explain what a pan-European online media is, how the Erasmus Program is dramatically changing the life of many of us and why the 2009 European elections will be a great chance to start a true transnational conversation among people in the Old Continent. I hope the message was clear and honoured enough the amazing work the entire cafebabel.com community and staff do every day in order to offer a true babelian experience to our readers.

It was astonishing to check that at least 1/4 of people attending raised their hands when I asked who was European there.

Jacob Weisberg, chairman of Slate group, was very interested in cafebabel.com translators network. "How can you find translators for free?", he asked. "In our community everyone share a common value: to create a European public opinion". I was thrilled by the fact that he was wondering whether this would work in America among the different communities. Why not exporting cafebabel.com recipe to the New World!

I also liked a lot what David Cohn said about his project, Spot.us. Thanks to the Knight Foundation support, he started a non-profit website where readers can fund journalistic investigations on San Francisco issues. This can be, on return, a good laboratory for an idea to be imported in Europe later on. Good luck, David!

Sewell Chan, a New York Times blogger, emphazised the importance of local communities, on the basis of his amazing experience with City Room blog.

And Erica Smith illustrated her Paper Cuts initiative monitoring all the journalists job cuts in the US media industry.

One of the most interesting moments: Q&A with participants... someone was telling me about the idea of "importing" in Asia cafebabel.com idea.

Sree was great in animating the debate with a great use of the screen showing the websites panelists were mentioning and other stuff.

If you want to see the debate and enjoy my terrible English accent just click here

In the meanwhile I hope not to fall again into my post-America syndrome like one year before.

All the pictures by Rebecca Castillo/Columbia Journalism School

I multiplied myself into France 24 cathode-ray tube

Adriano — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:38:00 +0100

On Wednesday I was a guest speaker in two separate talk-shows.

One in English (Face Off), the other in French (Face à face). On the same TV, France 24. Who is running Europe in time of crisis?

It was a truly Babelian and Eurogeneration experience to express myself first in English and then in France with my colleague Alain Dauvergne from Notre Europe.

France 24 have many shows both in English and in French but they do not translate as ARTE does.

At the end of the day, you have two different conversations influenced both by the language and by the style of the anchorman. In French this was much more intellectual. In English a bit more pragmatic and "busy busy" (like Sarkozy?).

Just click on the pictures if you want to make fun of my English...

...or my French

How is to be Erasmus in Edinburgh?

Adriano — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:06:00 +0200

We continue our series of Erasmus city-guide with Alicia Benito-Martinez, an Erasmus pioneer who will run you through the wonderful city of Edinburgh. Discover Scotland, its traditions and the unforgettable experience of being Erasmus there!

It was back in 1997 and for the first time I was ready to leave Spain and embark on an adventure in an English-speaking country. It was the fourth year of my English Studies degree at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid and I realised that it was time to leave my grammar books aside and learn the language properly – I’d soon be out there in the real world!.

Accomodation: a flat in the campus... already booked!
I was lucky enough to visit my first destination of choice: Edinburgh, reputedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with a world-renowned University. Everything seemed extraordinarily well organised – I was sent a package well in advance with all information, and was offered a full-board flat within the campus so I didn’t even have to worry about accommodation (or cooking – a great relief !). Some of my friends shared a room, which was cheaper, or lived in flats outside the campus. I ended up living with a Korean, an American and a Japanese – a truly international experience from the start. I got some extra money working at the cafeteria, where the real hard work was understanding the dinner ladies’ strong Scottish accent...

University: learn Scottish dance!
Lessons were in English, of course, which I had to attend about three times a week and didn’t have to sit any exams, just write essays, so I had a lot of free time and endless possibilities, and I made the most of it: I took German lessons, attended workshops, plays, joined the university gym, learnt how to dance ceilich (Scottish traditional dance) and of course I socialised a lot! All one needed was an open mind and a willingness to meet new people – everyone had something interesting to say about their own countries of origin.

Don’t miss the Highlands and Loch Ness
I hired a small van with a few friends and spent five days visiting the Highlands – an absolute must. In the Isle of Sky we hired bikes and rode around, we visited Loch Ness (I saw the shadow of Nessie but no one believed me!) and enjoyed the surprisingly nice weather. Every single corner of the city is astonishingly beautiful, the castle, the parks, only a few minutes away from the King building’s campus – even Princes Street, the commercial area, looks out of a fairy tale.

Going out: my favourite spots
It is an old but young city, full of life – my favourite venues were Teviot and the The Liquid Room, which still exist. In fact, it is difficult to live in Edinburgh and not know where to have fun - there are plenty of pubs and clubs. The worst bit, as expected, was the weather. It was wet most of the time and at 4 pm it was dark already - if you plan to visit Edinburgh, you can’t let it rain in your parade…

My advice: Erasmus in Edinburgh is an unforgettable experience
I had not thought about my Erasmus year for a while, and looking back now I realise how important this experience has been in my life. It opened my mind, it made me more culturally and linguistic aware – I doubt I would be the translator I am today if I had not spent one year learning the language first hand - and well, I loved the rain so much that I am now back in the island…

As one of the oldest members of the « Erasmus Generation » I can only say: if you have a chance to study at Edinburgh for one year, don’t think it twice. It is an unforgettable experience.

Tips for Erasmus in Bratislava: low cost and dirty dancing

Adriano — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:14:00 +0200

Here we are with a lot of info on another Erasmus city: Bratislava, capital of Slovakia.

Francisco Chica García will show you all the tips you must know to spend a wonderful Erasmus year!

Finding a place to stay in Bratislava for 75 euros

Dorms:

Dormitory Družba: double and triple rooms. Small fridge, bath, toilet and “kitchen” shared with 5 or 3 people. Price for a double room 75€ per month (daily cleaning service and internet connection included).
Website: www.hotel-druzba.sk
Phone number: 02/60299261
Mlynská Dolina: very cheap but worse buildings.
Bernolak: double rooms, internet connection optional. Price 50€ per month. Swimming-pool and common places, laundry services and buffet.
Website: www.bernolak.sk

Renting a flat: rents are high (7 000 Skk, 215 €, for a shared room).
Where: Petržalka, Dubravka and some other quarters far from the center. It’s better if you have a local friend who help you find roomies and better offers. Individual rooms are very expensive.

Studying in Bratislava: Slovak course for free
They have special programs for foreigner students in english (Management and Medicine Faculties for example). For language degrees they have well prepared teachers who use those languages in the lessons.
Univerzita Komenského offers a good course of slovak language in different levels for foreigner students (for free).
University System is a little messy. No problems with specific programs but it takes lot of time to find lessons by yourself. They don’t have a fixed study program, it changes every semester.
Usually lessons are once a week. For every exam, you can choose different dates.

Places you can’t miss in Bratislava

The Blue Church: Weird but impressive Art Nouveau building.
Petržalka: Huge group of communist identic blocks. You feel like living in an beehive.
AU PARK: It’s a shopping centre, new, modern, original and full of people. Slovak life!

Partying in Bratislava: absynth & ‘particular’ dancing (but careful with naziskin!)
Beer, Zlatý Bažan for example, is the best option, cheap and tasty.
Vodka, Slivovice, Borovička and Absinth (legal in this country) as shots are the usual liquor drinks here. Any other kind of alcohol is very expensive.
Discos & Pubs:

Havana: Salsa pub in the old centre, full of foreigners.
Unique: Disco in Mlynská Dolina (Wednesday night), always crowded. Just for students. Nice music and low prices.
Dopler: Big disco, not very expensive and with very good music. Far from the center, you may need a cab.
Trafo: Fashion disco. Expensive and select. Placed in the old town.

What you should know:
There are some skinheads around, so be careful if you go to a ‘just slovak people’ place (as 49, in Mlynská Dolina).
Slovak girls have a ‘particular’ way of dancing. Don’t misunderstand it!

My feeling: I love Bratislava – small if beautiful
As far as I can tell, I love this city. It’s small and nice, very well located (near Vienna, Prague and Budapest). Once you get used to Slovak behaviour you can really enjoy being here. And they have very good meals as ‘fried cheese’, ‘pirohy’ (filled pasties), ‘bryndzové halušky’ (Potato dumplings with sheep cheese) and ‘goulash’!
What to say, for me one of the best options for your Erasmus.

Being Erasmus in Seville: flamenco, a 250 euros bed and Carboneria

Adriano — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:28:00 +0200

How's to be an Erasmus in Sevilla?

Gabriela Azevedo (first from the right in this photo taken in La Carboneria), from Seville cafebabel.com, will tell you all that you must know before coming in Andalusian capital for a student exchange program.

Finding a place to stay in Seville

There are several information sources. One is the journal called “Cambalache”, the most popular one among the students who are looking for an apartment to live. Another is the “SACU” (SERVICIO DE ASISTENCIA A LA COMUNIDAD UNIVERSITARIA - Pabellón de Uruguay, Avenida de Chile), a University of Seville service that helps students with all kind of issues. Another good option is looking around the walls in the campi of the university, there are always a lot of papers hanging on them asking for people to share apartments. The universities also offer the official universitary residences for those who want more commodities. It is true that they are also much more expensive than an apartment, but they worth it. In the SACU webpage it’s possible to see all the available residences. For sharing apartments the prices goes around 250 euros (in the city centre this price is to share a room with other person, but outside the midtown you can have an entire room for this same price). The best regions to live are the Centre (El Arenal, Alameda de Hércules, Plaza de Duque, Alfafa, Menéndez Pelayo), Nervión, Los Remedios, Triana and Macarena (close do the Hospital).

University in Seville: speak Spanish (or sevillano), please

There are not courses in English (well, if you study English Philology of course you have). The courses are all in Spanish (well, most of them in “sevillano” hehe) and the universities offer free Spanish courses to every foreigner student who doesn’t have Spanish as mother tongue. To do the course you have to go to the “Rectorado” (Calle San Fernando) on International Relations section. They give you a paper that you have to fill up and give in the Institute of Idioms (in Avenida Reína Mercedez) to do the enrollment in the Spanish Course. After that, you take a level test and then it’s up to you to just enjoy your studies. The only thing you pay is the material (books and an exercise notebook). About the universitary atmosphere, it depends on what you study. As I study Journalism, people are more open and also communicative. They were not as open as I thought though; at the beginning it was a little bit difficult to interactive with them. After you get to know some people, things become easier and your experience becomes much better. In some courses the foreigner students are always together and they don’t usually hang around with Spanish people. As I said, it depends on what you study and how open and talk-active you are. The tip is find people who are more interesting in others cultures, in learning new languages, in experiencing new things. You can easily recognize them because these people surely will talk to you.

Going out in Seville: don't miss la Carboneria

Well, nobody can leave Seville without going to “La Carboneria”. It’s a touristic place, but it’s free! You can watch a lot of Flamenco and music shows without paying anything. Plus, this place is perfect to know people (specially ERASMUS and other students from overseas). It’s in Barrio Santa Cruz, in the city centre (right in the photo). Very easy to find and everybody knows it. Another very nice place to know is “Sala OBBIO” (it’s in Calle Trastamana, in front of Plaza de Armas Center). It’s a pub, disco and cinema a little bit alternative. You don’t pay anything to watch the movies (the cinema sessions run from Monday to Wednesday and each day of the week it’s a different kind of movies. They change the themes every month. Plus, the movies are always in original language with subtitles in Spanish. Great to learn Spanish!!!) and you know a lot of nice people. From Thursday to Saturday it’s a pub and disco and the drinks are very cheap (from 2 to 4 euros). The third place is the Guadalquivír River. During the Spring and the Summer is a really enjoyable place to walk, have some beer, ice cream, to hang out with your dog, with your partner, to sit in front of the river and have a sunbath. This place is recommendable to people who enjoy the simple things of life, as a hot and sunny day on Seville. This place is also good to do exercises, there are always people running, walking and skating around. Following this same kind of place, all the parks in Seville are amazing, specially the “Parque María Luísa”.

Partying in Seville: Caramelo y Calle Betis

The most famous place to party with other Erasmus is the disco called “Caramelo”. They do a special party every Wednesday (like “Mexican party”, “Italian party”, “German party” and so on…) when a lot of Erasmus goes to know other cultures and meet people from all over the world. Other great option to party is “Calle Betis” where you can find a lot of bars, pubs and discos, one beside the other. You have just to cross “el Puente de Los Remedios” or “el Puente de Triana” and you’re already there. Advice: don’t hang around in this street lonely or in two. It’s always better being in a group at night! As “Calle Betis”, “Alameda de Hércules” has got a wonderful atmosphere. It’s a street with a lot of cafés, pubs and discos can’t miss it! Spanish people use to party in a lot of places in the same night. They go from bar to bar to take some “tapas”, then they drink a little bit more in the streets and then they go to a disco. This is nice because you know a lot of places and always meet a lot of different people. Other discos well known by the students are Orange, Aduana, Boss, Sidharta, GOA/Babilonia (my favorite!), Funkclub and Elefunk.

My verdict: Seville is neither too big or too small.

I do recommend Seville to other people to have an experience here. It’s perfect because Seville is not too big (you can meet your friends, hang around, get to the places very easily and fast) nor too small (there are a lot of things to do here and places to visit. In Seville it’s impossible to get bored specially because of this university atmosphere, there’s always something going on!). Plus, Seville is close to very nice beaches and also to the mountains. You can have a sunbath and also go skiing very easily. If you’re not coming to Seville to live, you have to visit at least for a week. I’m sure you won’t regret!!!

... and if you wanna join cafebabel.com in Seville, just email sevilla@cafebabel.com !

Young Irish voted NO to Lisbon Treaty

Adriano — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:20:00 +0200

65% of young people voted NO to Lisbon Treaty.
Is it a generational or a social divide?

According to the last Eurobarometer, only 35% of under 24 people in Ireland voted NO to the referendum.

Moreover, 31% of people still in education (students) voted yes and 69 voted NO.

Old people seem then more pro-Lisbon than their young counterparts as the only class of age who voted YES are the 55+ with 58%.

Is then Europe a project for old people? For this blog, focused on Eurogeneration, this is a clear dilemma. We've been building the media you are reading also with enthousiastic Irish people. OK, those people were Erasmus, so they beneficiated from exchange programs.

We can then conclude that the generational gap exist but that maybe the social divide is more important in this field. Indeed, 74% of manual workers voted NO while 60% of self-employed preferred YES.

The conclusion for an open-minded EU leadership: wake up guys! Invest into Erasmus and other mobility exchange programs 10, 100 times what you put today instead of wasting money in agriculture.

Otherwise European project will keep being an élite stuff.

EU Treaty, may Barroso resign

Adriano — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:01:00 +0200

Open letter to the President of the European Commission. After Ireland said “No” to the Lisbon Treaty with more than 53% of the poll, a gesture, a move is much needed. Straight away.

Dear President Barroso,

We believe in the principle of accountability. Political leaders must be responsible before people and resign when their work or their reputation have been stained. Under Your presidency, the institutional Europe has gone through two painful defeats. The first one: France and the Netherlands said “No” to the Constitution in 2005. The second one: the Irish “No” to the Lisbon treaty, which is nothing but that very same Constitution just clumsily disguised as the author of that document, Giscard d’Estaing has acknowledged .
In a normal democratic system, no matter where in the world, two referenda in a row terminated with two refusals by the people would have caused the Executive to quit. As a matter of fact, such a move would be logical and wishful by now.

Logical, because there must be a reason if people have said “No”. Either the project was not any good, and in that case You are the natural emblem being the President of the European Commission; or the project has not been properly explained. And in this last case, our thinking goes straight to the millions of euros wasted on pointless propaganda; the long-standing lack of European media; the distance of the European institutions, hidden in their glass and steel fortress (the Berlaymont). Either way You must resign.
Such resignation would turn out to be really useful and highly appreciated. By such a gesture you would show that in Brussels people’s complaints are listened to; that Brussels’ institutions have finally realised that it is just about time to stop throwing referenda based on hundreds of pages that NOBODY reads, based on obscure treaties, on worn out debates. Image of countries that use the same currency but hardly communicate with one another. One year ahead before the last day of your mandate comes, your walking out would bring about a crisis in Europe for the sake of accountability. That would be likely to represent the end of your European career. But it would also be a farewell with class in name of democracy. It would be a decisive electroshock that would oblige the EU to turn page…to elect a real Constituent Assembly able to give birth to a real Constitution. Fifteen pages would be fair enough…

Regards from (café)Babel,

Eurogeneration Blog

In the picture (Photo European Commission), the personal page of President Barroso: when are you going to launch a blog, Mr President?

Translated by Alessandro Mancosu

Interview Barroso!

Adriano — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:53:00 +0200

Please send me your question for José Durao Barroso in the aftermath of Irish "No" to Lisbon Treaty and European continuous crisis to deal with its rules definition.

In 5 years time, the President of the European Commission will have dealt with strong refusals from national public opinions to European Constitution and Lisbon Treaty, getting No in three different languages from French, Dutch and Irish.

How do you judge his action? Chairing European Commission, what should he do in a different way?

Write your short question among comments below and speak your mind!

'Racist' German commercials and catenaccio politics: when Italy feels under siege

Adriano — Sat, 31 May 2008 16:27:00 +0200

You are or you are not part of the Eurogeneration? To find that out, check out this commercial!

Have you seen that? Right, you do not speak German. In that case, my colleague Katharina, will explain to you what all the fuss is about:

“We are in Germany. A client of Media Markt, of blatant Italian origins, called Toni, asks a shop assistant in a strong Italian accent:

- A man, finally a man! Well, if you want to buy a TV set, to watch the football match for instance, you always need a man! Why? Because only a man knows about the technique and football. Women instead do not know anything about it!

Then a gorgeous female sales assistant passes by and our man changes his mind:

- I am sorry, "un attimo"

And talking to the beautiful girl he says:

- "Scusi", can you please tell me how that appliance works?”

So, how would you define this commercial?

1. Racist and offensive. I approve the official complaint letter sent by the Italian ambassador in Berlin, Antonio Puri Purini, I will support the boycott of the Media Markt products as Laura Garavini, Pd deputy elected in Germany, invites us to do. I am glad that Media Markt has decided to stop broadcasting the aforementioned commercial.

2. Simply amusing. I have travelled and lived abroad, I have got plenty of friends from all over Europe, and all these stereotyped jokes should not be taken personally. According to my experience, as an Italian, I was always greeted and welcomed with warmth.

Obviously this blog goes for the second answer and firmly condemns this curfew atmosphere everybody has been able to experience in Italy lately. Ours, from the outside, looks like a country under siege. And not only on commercials. A minister (Maroni) who would like to renegotiate the Schengen agreement on the free circulation of people to tackle the problem of Roma immigrants. The anger of many after the world’s surprise on the management of the rubbish in Naples. The deafening silence by the Democratic Party (centre-left) on the xenophobia accusations after the publication of the Security bill approved by the Government. Anti-Roma populist billboards belonging to the Democratic Party. Bottom line, Donadoni, might as well make as many efforts as it takes to deploy an aggressive Italy at the European Cup due to start soon… but the Italy of politics and the Italian society is freaking out on a more and more defensive position. It is the curfew politics!

Traduzione Alessandro Mancosu

Erasmus in Portsmouth, tips and tricks

Adriano — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:21:00 +0100

Let's continue our tour of European cities with all the tips provided by people who spent their Erasmus year there. After Budapest, here you have a unique report of Portsmouth, the little seaside village in the UK. Our host this week is Antoine aka Antuan, co-author of Babelyon blog.

Finding a place to stay: the uni helps you but life is expensive
I arrived in Portsmouth one week before the term start, with my backpack as only friend. I was helped from the very beginning by the university: free minibus transfer from the train station to the temporary accommodation in a seaside campus, private room at a fair price (about
£15 a night), house-hunting day with free phone and buses to the city centre, advice on housing contracts, etc. Everything was organised and planned by the foreign students department. The only thing I had to take care of was making friends, which was easy since most EU students opted for the Uni temporary accommodation offer.
Nevertheless, even helped by the Uni, finding a nice place to stay in Portsmouth isn't hassle-free. It depends where you want to live.
Portsmouth being an island city, it is densely populated. The City Centre where the main campus is located isn't very attractive.
Portsmouth is the home of the Royal Navy (see original marines in the above picture) and, hence, suffered heavy bombings during WWII. Although some historic buildings remain, much of the centre is "a product of myopic and uninspired postwar development" as the Lonely Planet puts it.
Therefore many students choose to live in the nearby chill-out seaside resort of Southsea. I myself ended up in a gorgeous three-storey Victorian house a short walk from the seafront. Nonetheless I was probably the luckiest of my friends. Virtually all of them lived in terraced houses in and around Albert Road, Southsea.
Continental Europeans must know that living in the UK is costly. As a means of comparison, I paid more or less the same for my shared room in Portsmouth (a middle-sized city) as for my flat in Lyon (France second-biggest city).

Portsmouth University: beware of the Chinese box
I studied two years at Portsmouth University (BSc and MSc). I'm overall happy with the education provided. A great variety of subjects was available. In France I struggled (and failed) to find a Internet degree which wasn't IT only whereas in Portsmouth I could choose between e-learning, creative technologies, e-commerce, etc. But beware of the all-powerful finance department! They seem to have forgotten that their "clients" are students and not senior executive managers.
Make sure that the degree you're interested in is attended by British students. This may sound awkward but some degrees are marketed for the foreign market (tuition fees for non-EU students are three times higher) and directly sold abroad by Portsmouth Uni overseas offices.
Unfortunately for many of these degrees, derogatively nicknamed 'Chinese box', the teaching is not up to the standard it should be.

Places: jogging, beers & the Isle of Wight
1. As Portsmouth is so compact, one often wants to escape. My fave destination is the Isle of Wight, a 10min hovercraft ride from Southsea.
Once on the island, head to the village of Seaview, follow a seaside footpath southwards into the woods and you'll find yourself in one of the most beautiful beaches I know.
2. If you like jogging, the seafront is the perfect spot. Unlike Brighton's, Portsmouth beaches are separated from the city by a vast green space, Southsea Common. So while running you'll enjoy the view on the Isle of Wight without being annoyed by the traffic.
3. On a sunny day, get yourself a beer and watch the ships going in and out the harbour from Old Portsmouth walls.

Partying: don't tell people too early!
There are many places where to go out in Portsmouth. Forget Gunwharfs quays, a former Navy site turned commercial precinct, it is way too chainy. Give Guildhall walk in the City Centre a try. You'll find out that the best pub around is the Registry.
In Southsea, the seafront is lined with clubs. My favourite is the raucous Chaos on South Parade pier. About 10min from there, Albert Road is good fun: great pubs (Festings), bars (One-eyed dog, Wine vaults), curries and music for gig-goers (Wedgewood rooms).
However EU students prefer the cheaper and more international house parties. When organising one, remember this: don't tell people too early. Word of mouth is very efficient amongst foreign students. For the first party we threw, we told about 20 people a week in advance. Hundred came!

My feeling: a brilliant Erasmus village
Portsmouth might not be pretty but it is a brilliant Erasmus city.
You'll learn to love Southsea: the seafront, the pubs and above all the student life. In Portsmouth no need to take the tube to meet your new friends. A student village within the town!

Pictures by Antoine

I want a EU referendum in Britain

Adriano — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:02:00 +0100

The 5th March has been something of a special day. I was in London, during Gordon Brown(the first)’s era. That same Brown that denied, in a heated debate in the House of Commons last week, the referendum about the European Constitution promised by Blair...under the pretext the name of that agreement is now Lisbon’s Treaty. The core of the Treaty is still the same, everybody knows that, and the New Labour – and with it the political elites of the Old Continent – is fuelling the Euro scepticism. That was I wrote in an article here.

Apart from that my 5th March in London has been a lovely sunny day. Let’s stroll around then from St. Pancras Station to Old Street. Here on the left graffiti in Trafalgar Square, on the background is the Big Ben.

The difference between the English, not used to the light and the Italian tourists armed with the compulsory sunglasses is blatant!
I meet later on an old friend from University, a true babelian, Alberto that runs a community for social entrepreneurs, those people who do business without forgetting the general interest. Chapeau! I want to introduce a bit of Cafebabel to him but, for a change, the plugs in England are different from the rest of the Continent. Might God curse these antediluvian barriers to communication!

I meet then Annette, responsible for the local branch of Cafebabel and co-organiser of the debate I will take part in, at the London School of Economics about “New Media and European Democracy”. Stop at a supermarket. I found that London prices are now much lower compared to when I used to live here, in the Lira era, in 1998, for two months after leaving high school. Maybe it’s our prices that have soared in the meantime!

And I still have an unforgettable memory dating back to that period...memory of an evening spent with Luca’s guitar (my adventures mate), a Scottish hippy and many pleased passers by. We were in Covent Garden in front of this shop. The weird thing is that that shop is now called “French connection”.

And it is just in Covent Garden, in a place where time seems to have frozen Neal's Yard, that I came across Zsofia – an Hungarian girl former College of Europe, now in charge of the press releases of the European Council on Foreign Relations, a new centre of studies sponsored by the tycoon George Soros, that is defined as the “first pan European think-tank”.
In the lane that leads to the Neal’s Yard one could read this nice sentence that has added a bit of magic to my trip: “Live the life you have imagined”.

After the debate, debate in which Andreas, author of Kosmopolit euroblog, stood out, off we went to the pub and later to Annette’s where I took this picture, caught on the bedside table: four books in four different languages. We really are babelians!

The following day, I am nearby the brand new St. Pancras Station, (my Eurostar train to Paris sets off from here) you could have come across this funny character. A way, from the swinging London to wish me adieu...or maybe...bye bye!

Translated by Alessandro Mancosu

Erasmus in Budapest: tips and tricks

Adriano — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:33:00 +0100

Today, as announced, Eurogeneration is proud to launch 'Erasmus guide': a unique cityguide compilation taking you in the best European cities to let you discover them with the eyes of someone who lived it at 100% – say an Erasmus student. Very personal, these portrays do not pretend to be exhaustive. Take them as a chat with someone who is here to share with you his thoughts. So do not hesitate to comment this information!

This week, our guest is Roberto Yanguas who spent his Erasmus period in the Hungarian capital two years ago.

Finding a place to stay: real estate agency
Well, this is probably the most difficult matter for a foreigner because of the language. In Budapest there are few residences for students. So the best solution is to use a real estate agency.
Budapest is divided in two big parts (Buda and Pest) and in many districts. I've been living in the Distict VI which is, with Districts V and VII, the best to live in. It's recommended to avoid District VIII, wich can be dangerous. And don't forget: Pest is better than Buda if you are an Erasmus student.

University: the right place if you don't like to study
I was in Peter Pazmany University, Faculty of Law. All the classes were in English even if Shakespeare's language is not always well spoken. Anyway if you are interested in spending your Erasmus year without studying, then this is your university: most of the teachers would ask you to give them a short and easy essay. Usually few exams (I had only one and really easy).
As for equipment, neither the library or the computer room are well equipped, but you have a sort of computer centre (called HIK) just 5 minutes from there. More, the sporthall is uniquely a closed field where you can play sports (but I would strongly recommend you playing sports in "Margherite Island" if it's sunny). Last but not least: in my case, the Erasmus office worked really well...

Paprika, decadence and baths: 3 places you cannot miss

Beers with friends: "Szimpla" (my favourite place). You cannot imagine it... it's decadent, old and dirty... but it really really worths it.
Relaxing times: "Szechenyi termal baths". 8 € for a whole day of sauna, jacuzzi and natural-earthed medicinal water. After that you'll be a different person!
Paprika Restaurant (near to Szechenyi) or Stex Haza Restaurant. My suggestion: Goulash soup and chicken breast with three cheeses and home-made croquets in the first. Pork cutlet Carpatian style in the second one (I am salivating just remembering it...).

Partying: football table and police
Erasmus students used to go to Morrison's pub near to Opera (karaoke party on wedesdays – don't ask me why but Hungarians love karaoke...), Old Man's pub (near to Erszebet körut street and Szimpla bar), and we used to go to Sulss Fel Nap, Szoda, Sark... Be carefull with your clothes: they can "misteriously" disappear (look out even with the bouncer).
Most of the Erasmus parties are in flats, and here is a good tip (we dindn't know it until the end): you can previously phone the police to tell them that you're organizing a party and if some neighbor phone them in the middle of the party, they will be informed that is sort of an "official party".
The quantity of the spirits rarely is as in Spain or Italy (it's less). Even during the nights, if you like football table, they play a lot: you'd have to put a coin in the table and wait your turn, the winner remains. Don't use drugs: if the police catch you, then you have big troubles. For them coke and cannabis is the same. More things: drinking in the streets is allowed unless in Spain!

Verdict
No words, I'd recommend it to everyone!

What do you think of this testimony? Have you been in Budapest? Do you have some questions for Roberto? Otherwise, have a look to Budapest babelblog! And don't miss "A foreigner's diary".

See you next week in... Portsmouth, a small city in the UK near the Isle of Wight!

Tell me about your Erasmus experience: participate to the survey!

Adriano — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:24:00 +0100

What's to be Erasmus in...Warsaw? ...Budapest? ...Paris? ...Istanbul?

Eurogeneration wants to start a practical series of articles 100% fed by people spending or having spent their Erasmus period in any European city.

This person would be credited and would be asked to send a picture of him/her illustrating his/her experience (not mandatory).

Information I need:

Finding a place to stay: where to find the best offers both online and offline; what you should knwo to rent a place; universitary campus; prices etc.
University: are there classes in English? is local language teaching well provided? how does the university system work? what are the tips to live in the university
Places: tell me 3 places you absolutely recommend to see/visit in your city that are really special and not touristic
Partying: where to party with other Erasmus, best tips, cultural thinigs to take into account in clubs, pubs or whenever (about alcohol, things to do/not to do)
Your feeling about your experience in that city: would you recommend it to someone else?

Your picture if you agree

Send your contribution to farano[at]cafebabel.com

The pizza maker and his passport : the mission of the E-migrant

Adriano — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:07:00 +0100

Massimo has been pizza maker in Paris since 1970. At that time passport was still compulsory to travel between Italy and France. Travel or rather, immigrate! As all moving was, back then, far more definitive compared to the one we are used to nowadays. For Massimo, the conditions of the past do not seem to have changed a big deal: « Naples? I go back every two or three years. But every time I cannot stay there for more than one week. Last time I was not able to find anyone, the streets of the Spanish Borough (Quartieri Spagnoli) in Naples were deserted. Later I was told that everybody had been arrested!».

Massimo’s case might look too extreme, but for most of the immigrants, words such as «free circulation of people», «Schengen area», «Euro», «low-cost flights», «modern mass media» or «skype» - in short, twenty years of Euro-revolution and globalisation – do not mean much. Nothing like all those people who, by choice or by need, pack up their stuff and leave, to travel or to immigrate. E-migrants , with an «e» very fashion that rhymes with email, but that proceeds from afar...the Latin «ex».

Now back to our pizza maker. Massimo tunes up Naples songs from the fifties, songs that he knows by heart or a sparkling Laura Pausini in her best performance ("Marco se n'è andato..."), and even an Eros Ramazzotti with his distinctive flu-like voice ("Ed ho imparaaaaatooo che nella vitàààà...), while kneading the pizza paste with a Neapolitan know-how (unfortunately the mozzarella is from France!). But this does not prevent him from mixing up Italian and French, as much as he does with this tasteless over salted tomato that he mixes with artichokes dipping in vinegar, tasteless stuff that he pulls out an anonymous pot made in - God knows where !

This past Christmas my father offered me a Garzanti dictionary, just to take the piss, because he claims that, having spent a few years in France, I forgot my Italian. But next time, I will take you, dad, to Massimo’s and you will have to admit that his mistakes are far more blatant than those of the E-migrants, as big as a wooden oven !

So, dear readers, next time you come across an immigrant, a real one, do this : tempt him, tell him what the world is like nowadays: beautiful because of its melting pot. Babelize-him !!

Translated by Alessandro Mancosu

Foto di Veronica ArtMusic

Let's say goodbye to typewriters. In 2008.

ely1984 — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:30:00 +0100

Information sometimes gets out of reality. When Monica, a brilliant babelian that worked in this editorial office, told me that during the summer, I couldn’t believe it. During the exam that gives you a journalist license – yes, in Italy, the fascist-origin-law on journalism still exists – the candidates have to use a typewriter. Yes, it’s true: that noisy and almost unobtainable thing.

Now the culture commission of the lower chamber approved a proposal of law by Pino Pisicchio (president of the justice commission) that states the abolishment of typewriters during the exam and introduces the use of PCs. Welcome to the digital era, oh my dear journalists!

But beyond this funny news, why don’t we think about removing the order of journalists? During the tv programme on France Inter, Transeuropéennes, to which I participated few weeks ago, we were talking about journalists passes and notice that Italy, together with Portugal, was the only country that still has an Order. And now that the symbol of that ancient and démodé kind of journalism is gone, what do we need the Order for?

Post-America syndrome

ely1984 — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:34:00 +0100

Here I am, back in Paris: still paying the consequnces of the jet-lag, with loads of ideas running through my mind, happy about being able to hug my wife and go back to cafebabel.com. But still...

Still I have to admit that this stars-and-stripes experience was so omni-comprehensive as to leave a mark. For the people around me it must be so wearying. Yesterday my collegue from EUrotik (now available in English as well) told me (in French): "Enough with these USA, Adrià".

Well, I have to say that, dear babelians that followed me faithfully during my "On the road 2.0", I feel like many of you after Erasmus. I guess I should be psychoanalysed by doctor Allanic, whom Prune talked about, o maybe by Fiorella. Joking...meanwhile, here is the latest version of my journey map with the New York stop that I didn't tell you much about...

View Larger Map

You can read here about the illuminating meeting with Jay Rosen, "crowd-sourcing journalism" guru, in the Big Apple.

A European behind Meru, Second Life's alternative

ely1984 — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:49:00 +0100

When you’re 27, in Italy, if you're still doing a bachelor, all you can do is make a vow to the Virgin Mary. Vladlen Koltun, instead, got a PhD when he was 21 and has been teaching Computer Science for 3 years now. At Stanford, Silicon Valley’s backstage, where all the future founders of Google and You Tube studied.

Now Vladlen – that we meet in his own study in the Californian athenaeum in a beautiful autumn day – is working on a project that is expected to be revolutionary: he’s trying to create what I would define the Second Life-killer, the alternative to Second Life, the virtual community praised by the media and around which a real business is gradually growing. “Second Life has a problem of scalability [see Vladlen's comment below]. Moreover there’s a security deficit: anyone can easily listen to conversations and enter spaces he is not authorised in. With our project, these problems will just become memories”. The name itself is meant to underline this idea of stability: in the Buddhist religion Meru means spine of the world, something that keeps everything together.

All the work, guided by professor Koltun (in the picture on the left as he appears on the Stanford web site) and sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, began in January 2007 and involves a multicultural team – the Virtual World Group – of 9 people altogether among whom Indians, Chinese and Americans.

And Vladlen? Where is he from? "I was born in what was then Soviet Union and is now Ukraine, in an country and a culture that are disappeared nowadays. It's for this reason that sometimes I say I feel more Soviet that Ukrainian...(he laughs). No, well, if I had to feel I’m something”, says Vladlen, Russian mother tongue and fluent in English and Hebrew, “I would say I feel European. I feel more at home in the Old Continent than here in the States where there’s no tradition of beauty production” [see Vladlen's comment below].

Yet, maybe also to fill this gap, Vladlen is modelling this “alternative space” that, for him, is virtual reality. The first version of Meru is due to arrive at the end of 2008. “But be careful. The things that mostly resemble Neal Stephenson’s novel Snow Crash are some computer games with which you can modify the world”. Meanwhile, real world is not interesting for Vladlen who says he hasn’t yet thought about starting a business: “At the beginning Internet itself wasn’t meant to be a business and it was started here in Stanford with the Arpanet project”. The rest of the story is renowned. Not bad for a Soviet.