'Za' Fest at Tony's + An Italian Language & Culture Exchange

All hail the ‘Za’!’Za’ Fest
Why not enjoy some conversational Italian with a mouthful of delicious pizza!
Here’s what’s included:
-Eat and drink as much (or as little) as you’d like at a local institution.
-On a budget? Why not share a pizza pie with someone in the group? Smart, yet savory.
-Conversational Italian: immerse yourself in not only great food, drink, and people, but conversational Italian.
-Bring a new friend, and you’ll get two hot beverages courtesy of our friends at Italian Center Shop.
And while you’re reading…a small presentation about this new initiative will be made:
An Invite to An Italian Exchange Experience
Explore an opportunity that not only gives participants an immersive language and cultural experience, but also creates connection & friendship.
Here’s what’s included:
Participate in language and cultural exchange between Italians and Edmontonian Canadians. As a group, we have a tremendous friends and family network, both here and abroad, and by using it, new opportunities for exchange will be created.
Such opportunities may include:
-Penpal Experience – A series of written letters exchanged between individuals or families. Building connection and friendship through letters, which might include sharing postcards or more.
-Penpal Experience (Video) – A series of video calls exchanged between individuals or families. Practicing the spoken word, this is an opportunity to share more of yourself and life together. Why not have a virtual espresso or meal with one another.
-Host a Newcomer or Student – An opportunity to welcome a newcomer or student for a specific experience, which could be an event, an activity (e.g. meal, walk, festival, concert, airport greeting & pickup, and more). These are styled to be a sort of ‘greeting’ or ‘welcoming’ exchange.
-Travel Exchange – Ideally preceded by one of the other exchanges, this is a longer term opportunity to either be a ‘friend’ to someone visiting or actually host them at your home. Nobody knows a place better than locals, so by being a ‘friend’ you’re agreeing to be a tour guide, to share more of your community and region. As a host, you’re agreeing to a home away from home, providing at a minimum language and cultural exchange at your home.
Project Exchange – Volunteering in a project can be a very rewarding experience, one that also helps you build skills beyond language and culture. The project is the main focus of this travel exchange, which could be a community cause or initiative (e.g. agro, building/repairing, artistic, teaching).
These exchange opportunities will offer the following benefits for participants, who will be identified from our group and network, both here and in Italy:
-Italian or English language exchange
-Italian or Canadian cultural exchange
-Meaningful real life experiences
-Connection & friendship building
-Opportunity to help a newcomer
-Meeting people from different regions of Italy (which is great for those who already have family in Italy in a specific region)
-Have fun learning, sharing, experiencing
And as for the cost, that’s up to you. Spend more (or less), depending on how much you desire to participate in language and cultural exchange. All arrangements are private between participants, although Edmonton Italian Speakers Meetup aims to facilitate and showcase such connections through periodic meetings.
Are you ready for a language and cultural exchange adventure?
Please send an email to [jorjsayde@hotmail.com](mailto:jorjsayde@hotmail.com) with the subject line noting ‘EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE’. A gathering will be organized to kick off this unique initiative shortly thereafter. Grazie.