Benvenuto International Club of Monza

MONZA NEWS
March 2015

March 2015 monza news 1

We are a Real Estate Agency with the specific intent to provide the most comprehensive service to
its clients, be they buyers or sellers, companies or individuals. The customer for us is a person who
has a need, a desire to please, a problem to be solved, an obstacle to be overcome. Our commitment
is sincere and competent, our strength you can count on: the difference is made by our team who
believes in the importance of customer focus.
For more information contact: Tel 320-3143665, Tel 393-4246594 or Email lamiacasa.az@gmail.com

Monza News
Editor
Melissa Saucedo
338 938 6783
editor@benvenutomonza.com

The Benvenuto International

Club of Monza
c/o Sporting Club Monza
Viale Brianza 39
20900 Monza (MI)

Assistant Editor

www.benvenutomonza.com

Gayna Clark

Webmaster
Irmi Sieber

Advertising in Monza News

Contact the editor

webmaster@benvenutomonza.com
Members can also join the facebook group by
searching Benvenuto International Club of Monza.

Cover photo: Mimosas

All other photos provided by Elda Elvedese,
Shae Harrison and Jeannie Chisman, unless
otherwise stated.

The Monza News is sponsored by Bolliger

International Movers
www.bolligerspa.com
1 February 2015 monza news

Bank details
Monza News contributions are paid either at the coffee mornings
to Zizeth
Maroun,
or through
bank account.
you pay
Deutsche
Bank,
Vedano
Al Lambro
branchIfIBAN
:
through
bank account,
editor or the treasurer
IT79 I03104
34000please
0000 notify
0000the
8042
by email.
Deutsche Bank, Vedano al Lambro Branch
Via Battisti 42/B, 20854 Vedano al Lambro
IBAN : IT79 I03104 34000 0000 0000 8042

The deadline for the April Monza News is

April 1, 2015

April theme will be

Inspiration

Editor
e
h
t
m
o
r
f
Letter
Being a woman.

Im not quite sure why I chose that theme.

Perhaps its due to the fact that I feel as
though I play so many different roles and
at times I wonder if thats just part of
being a woman. That feeling of going
back and forth like a pendulum. I use to
think it was just part of being an adult, but
the older I get, the more I observe that not
only do women play a more active role in
a day-to-day life, but they also really need
each other.
I dare say that women need their female
friends more than their partners. Strength
in unity. Mindfulness. High tea. Day trips
together.
Is that what being a woman is? Is that
what feminism is? Lets see what our
readers think.

Monza

NEWS
March
ADVERTISEMENTS....................................................3
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.4
ANNOUNCEMENTS .5
FILM LIST....... .......................5
NEWCOMERS............................................................6
PREVIOUS EVENTS ..........6-8
WOMB................................9
UPCOMING EVENTS.........................9-10
ADVERTISEMENTS...............................11-15
RECIPES ..................................................................16
UPCOMING EVENTS....................17
CALENDAR .......................18
MEMBERS ARTICLES........19-20
BIRTHDAYS..............................................................21
GROUP ACTIVITIES..................................................22
THE BOARD & CLUB RULES...............................23

Melissa Saucedo

BABYSITTERS & IMPORTANT INFO.........................29

Quote of the month

We are deeply grateful to Bolliger

International Movers for the
continuous support for
our magazine production.

Feminism is the radical

notion that women are
human beings.
Cheris Kramarae
March 2015 monza news 2

3 February 2015 monza news

letter from the president

Hello Ladies,
March is now here and I
am so looking forward
to the end of winter.
Although I love my
coats and hats, I hate
the endless time it takes to get 3 children out
the house with coats, gloves, hats and boots
and long for flip flops and a quick exit.....
This is the exciting time to start planning
summer holidays and thinking of beaches
and mountains and escaping...
The park is incredible in the sunshine and we
keep getting glimpses of what is to come and
you can instantly feel your mood lift.
Talking of good weather , the Venice ladies
were very lucky with a trip with beautiful
weather. The photos I have seen are incredible
with all the colours and the flamboyant
costumes. Well done to Ester and Ursula for
organising a fantastic trip.
Well March is definitely a month for
celebrating women. It's Women's Day first
which is on March 8th. This was started in the
early 1900's as a global day to celebrate the
economic, political and social achievements of
women past, present and future.
Mothers Day (UK) this year is on Sunday
15th, but in Italy it is on May 10th, to honour
your mother and all that stands for
motherhood.
This month ladies we have an amazing party
organised for you and all your families.
March 22nd is the International Spring
festival at La Camilla in Vimercate organised
by Cecilia Atzori and Anna Vincentini. We
will have 12 tables of different nationalities
and their food from French to Asian to Italian.
The food will be typical of the country and if
you want to get involved please call Cecilia or
Anna. Tickets are only 15 euros an adult and
10 per child (5-12) and all under 5's are free.
All food is donated by our members and as it
is a real family event please bring guests too.
There will be entertainment for the children too

and flowing wine for the adults all included

in the ticket price. Tickets are available at the
coffee morning today.
At the moment the nominating committee run
by Anna Vincentini is putting together the
new board members for next year. We are still
looking for a new Editor and a President. Next
month we will be able to include a short
biography from each new board member so you
can get a little insight into their lives and
passions. If you are interested in joining the
new board please contact Anna. It is an
invaluable experience to have and the chance to
work alongside other women you may never
had met before which is exciting.
I hope you all received your copy of the new
directory that was handed out at last months
coffee morning and if not, please contact
Eleonora.
Thank you to everyone for buying all the
Valentine cookies, cakes and books at last
months coffee morning. We raised over 500
euros and that is a great reflection on the
ladies who spent their free time making these
goodies for us.
Don't forget the small money, big money pot
at the sign in table. All money raised will be
spent at the end of the year on something for
the members so please put all your loose
change in.
Well have a lovely Women's month and enjoy
watching the weather improve as Spring
arrives......
Janine Davies

COFFEE
MORNING
DATES
16 APRIL

14 MAY

11 JUNE

March 2015 monza news 4

Announcements
Every Monday at 15.00, 18.00 and 21.00
(Except where * 17.00
and 20.30).
www.monzacinema.it
For info: stubley@iol.it

Phone 039 671 359

M LIST
L
I
F
H
NGLIS

DATE

FILM

16 MAR

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

23 MAR

BIRDMAN

30 MAR

SELMA

7 APRIL

INHERENT VICE

13 APRIL

STILL ALICE

For the rest of this Benvenuto year

BABYSITTING during coffee mornings is
FREE OF CHARGE.

Booking in advance is required.

Ivana Menegardo Develter
vicepresident@benvenutomonza.com

I am an Italian lady who lives

The International
Church of Milan

near Vedano. I speak English

well. I am 53 years old and am

Bible

Study

at

Monza

Friday Mornings at 9:45. Would you like to learn

more about Gods word? Join us for womens Bible
study as we grow in our knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. We meet in members homes in Monza.
For more information, please call Claire Wroe at 039
327 775.

COME STUDY WITH US!

The International Church of Milan is a Bible
believing, non-denominational, English speaking
church for the whole family.
We are now meeting at Viale Toscana 46/8, 20089 Rozzano (MI)
each Sunday at 17:30. Weekly Bible studies for men/women/
students are available.
For more info please contact
Jim at 349 766 9678 or refer to our website
www.icm-milan.org

5 February 2015 monza news

looking for a job in the following

roles: taking care of children,
helping with homework, picking
up children from school, etc. I
am also a good cook.
My hours are very flexible.
Please contact me at 3386904133.

Mara Riboldi

Newcomers

Mary Manning
(US)

Nikolett McKie
(HR)

If you are a newcomer and have not seen your picture here, please contact Shae to have
your picture taken

Previous events

ing
n
r
o
M
e
e
f
Cof

March 2015 monza news 6

Previous events
VENICE in February by participants Anne Stubley
and Barbara de Savorgnani
The Carnevale trip to Venice, 23 participants, was
another Ester and Ursula success. It was an early
start so some of us breakfasted on the train coffee and brioche. On arrival we split into 2
groups - one walked to San Marco while the other
took the ferry to our Salesiani accommodation. It
was a lovely sunny day so Venice was truly beautiful, whether walking or ferrying. After bag/
document-check-in, the ferry group joined the
athletes (who had dumped their bags on us ferry
people!!) to gawk, open mouthed with cameras
clicking (the costumes were really spectacular), at
the masques in San Marco. I think we were all
surprised at how reasonable the prices were, so a
few of the ladies invested in eye masks, thus
participating in the atmosphere. We, and our 3
gentlemen, wandered around San Marco taking it
all in until 6pm by which time a chilly breeze
had started up and we were all glad to get to our
rooms to put on another layer of clothing! Dinner
was at a trattoria and we had a room just for us
(you can imagine the noise level with all those
squawking females, and 2 lone males the teenage boy and girls hastening off to a far corner!)
where we were served bucatini with a Venetian
onion and anchovy sauce, approved by all,
followed by a fritto misto calamari, prawns etc.
Our teenage members opted for pizza. It was
another of the E & U teams good price deals!
After our meal some went to Arsenale (medieval
shipyards), others wandered around the back
streets taking in the atmosphere (& chilly night air!)
while another lady and I (Barbara) headed towards
our books and blanket-land!
On Wednesday we went our different ways: some
to see the sights, like the Torre dellOrologio,
Basilca di San Marco, the Pala dOro, Teatro La
Fenice (opera house), some to the island of
Murano, one or two to the Correr Museum & others to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. On the
way to this last on foot of course we went into
a deconsecrated church and saw a wonderful violin collection and the story of Verdi of which, till
then, I (Barb) knew virtually nothing despite loving
Verdi!!! Ill be googling him to get the full story!
And on such a wonderful day it was practically
obligatory to take a gondola which 8 ladies (incl
Anne) did, risking the cold, life and
limb to get good photos for the Monza News!! The
7 February 2015 monza news

only
disappointment was that the gondoliers wouldn't
sing
to
us!!!
(Note from Barbara: Anna V told us that you can
cross the canals at different points standing (!!) on
a gondola (2 for non-residents) that should be
quite an experience! However Ill wait till the water
warms up just in case!!) On the way back to San
Marco to meet the rest of the group, I (Anne) fell in
love with a handbag in a window; but when the
price of 12,000.00 (yes, twelve thousand) was
pointed out to me I refrained from my purchase. Of
course it was Anne Barbara hates shopping.
Then, late in the afternoon we boarded the train
for Milan & Monza and the E & U team dazzled
us yet again!!: prosecco & local speciality cakes
on the train!! Bless them, we really appreciated
that bubbly!
A short wait at Centrale and we were home by
8pm just in time for me (B) to cook dinner for my
starving husband!!
In conclusion: One never tires of Venice there is
just so much to see but if you want to do something a bit different while in the area I can highly
recommend a trip on the Burchiello a barge
day trip that runs from May to October up/down
the River Brenta between Padua and Venice. It
stops off a few times and you can see inside some
of the Villas of the good old days of Venetian
high living, and see how the nobles lived in the
1700s. Google it and take a look. Wonderful for a
late spring day.
Venice was a trip to Remember! By Anna
Vincenti
Every step was planned in detail ,lots of things to
do with always a choice between 2 activities.
Sometimes enthusiasm makes miracles:our
second day in Venice was warm and the sunshine
inspired us for a Gondola experience....and even
if the gondolier did not sing (sorry Anne) it was
breath taking.
Two days out and you get to know people better
and enjoy diversities that make out club so
special.
Thank you Ursula and Ester for being our fantastic
hosts!

Previous events

Venic

e 2015

Annas High Tea - Tuesday morning, 3 March by

Barbara de Savorgnani
How many of us were there? I
really dont remember (15?)
but we took up the entire
table, which was set with
lovely china cups, saucers
and plates and food! Food!
Food!
Anna had been busy for I
cannot imagine how long baking, spreading bread, and
all the other things hostesses do. Elegant little
sandwiches cucumber (classic Brit), egg, ham &
tomato, cheese etc.; small salmon
buns, scones, cakes carrot cake
with
marzipan
carrots,
cheesecake and a classic sponge
filled with jam and cream! Then
she had also prepared clotted (yes
clotted) cream and whipped cream and put different
jams on the table including Tanberry which Id never
heard of raspberry and blackberry if I remember well
and the classic Roses Marmalade.
And Annas marzipan specialities! She really could go
into competition with the Sicilians and we were all

curious about some

small blocks covered in
marzipan & with cute
hats what she had
hidden inside? it was
fruitcake!
And of course at a High
Tea you drink tea so
there were elegant pots of Earl Grey and Breakfast tea
being constantly refilled. And I did drink a lot of tea!!
When we were all seated I looked round the table and
had to smile only one Brit among
us Janine so the playing of God
Save the Queen was just for her!
It was a beautiful sunny morning, and
the sun streamed in through the
huge glass windows you would
never have thought it was winter. For
those who have never seen Annas
home I must tell you that it is a wonderful example of
FengShui.
Thank you Anna for all the work you did and for a most
enjoyable morning.

March 2015 monza news 8

Upcoming events

WOMB
Helma Reina
When did you joing the Benvenuto Club and what changes have you observed?
Ive been in the club from the very beginning. Id say for about twenty-five years now. Back
when we use to have it from house to house and then at the Villa Reale.
The changes Ive observed is that now there are very young people now joining. Also, back
then we had more helpers. We did not have a club computer. We had to use our own. To
organize a trip we did not have so much help. We were very much on our own. Now the
club and the orgnaization is very modern.
I dont remember when, but our coffee morning were moved from Villa Reale to the Sporting Club. However, we
could only use the entrance area and the bar for our meetings. We were not allowed to go in the big room. It was
strange, but not bad.
Helma, what does it mean to you when you hear the prhrase Being a Woman?
Well, life is easier now. Its more comfortable now then back then. I can certainly say that I dont want to be a
man! [laughs]
However, its easier when I was younger, even though there were more restrictions.
The only thing for me is that I have to cook a meal for a man! [laughs]

Please note that if you are unable to attend a Special Activity for which you have paid, a
minimum
of 48 hours notice is required for
cancellation but a refund cannot always be guaranteed.
9 February 2015 monza news

Upcoming events

Sunday, 22
March 2015
Don't miss out!
A
Ag
grriittu
urriissm
mo
o LLa
a
C
Ca
am
miillla
a
V
Viia
aD
Da
an
ntte
e,, 226677
C
Co
on
nc
co
orre
ezzzzo
o

Tickets now on sale!

A
Ad
du
ulltt 1155
C
Ch
hiilld
drre
en
n ((55--1122)) 1100
U
Un
nd
de
err 55 FFrre
ee
e!!

From 12 am to 4 pm

BENVENUTO SPRING FESTIVAL 2015

A Family charity event, a carousel of foods
representing the nations of the world.
V
Vo
ollu
un
ntte
ee
errss &
& FFo
oo
od
dd
do
on
na
attiio
on
nss n
ne
ee
ed
de
ed
d
C
Co
on
ntta
ac
ctt
C
Ce
ec
ciilliia
aA
Attzzo
orrii
c
ce
ec
ciilliia
asso
offiia
a..a
attzzo
orrii@
@g
gm
ma
aiill..c
co
om
m
333388 996699 22992288
March 2015 monza news 10

Upcoming Events
HEALTH IN YOUR HANDS

SWING-MOVE-SMILE

GET FIT

The SMOVEY VibroSwing Advantages:

1.

Activation of 97% muscle structure = fat burning

2.
3.

Vitalizes more than 100 million body cells

Strengthens connective tissue

4.
5.

Stimulates immune and digestive systems as well as metabolism

Improves lymphatic system functioning = detoxification

SMOVEY TRAINING WITH MAURO:

once/twice a week in the Monza Park Bar Cavriga
Tuesday from 11 to 12 am - Wednesday from 17 to 18 pm

Womens day in GREEN, 8th March at 12 am come

for a special lesson with Mauro to Bar Cavriga
Info: info.smovey@gmail.com; martinorenate@fastwebnet.it FB: Smovey Team Monza
Cell 339 8030880 - Renate Barzaghi Schwarz SMOVEY COACH
8030880

11 February 2015 monza news

PER UN MONDO SENZA FRONTIERE

March 2015 monza news 12

ITS GOOD TO FEEL HOME AGAIN!

Whatever your circumstances are, you want to
make the best choice in your life.
Finding a new way through the maze of rules and
bureaucracy on your own can be an exhausting
process. Save money, time and avoid unnecessary
stress and choose RELOCATION MONZA to handle
all the details of relocation.
Because we know that relocation doesnt mean
only moving, we want to ensure you a successful
successful integration into your new destination.
When RELOCATION MONZA looks after you, you
can rest assured that your new start will be a good
beginning!
At Relocation Monza we pay attention to every step of the process to facilitate as much as
possible the adjustment to the new country and the new culture. Because we believe that
relocation is more than just moving we offer comprehensive services that ensures you to feel
home from day one.
HOUSE SEARCH

AREA ORIENTATION TOURS

Selection of housing according to budget, preferences

and requirements. Advice, negotiation of the leasing
contract, coordination of initial payment, property
inspection, check in of the inventory and key handover

We organize personalized tours to get to know what

your neighbourhood will be, show supermarkets,
pharmacies, shopping centres, restaurants, bars, parks,
gyms, clubs, hospitals and more.

SCHOOL SEARCH

LANGUAGE
COURSE
INTERGRATION

We are aware of the importance of the education of the

children therefore we provide information about public,
private, bilingual and international schools

MOVING SERVICES
We handle quotes from national to international moving
companies and make sure your belongings arrive safe to
your new destination

SETTLING IN ADVICE
We give you support and personal assistance in different
areas: utilities and service connection, opening a bank
account, medical care, insurances, furniture purchase,
domestic help, registration to municipality, passport/ID/
driving licence and more

CULTURAL

Because we know that relocation doesn't mean only

moving we want to ensure a successful integration
into your new destination through cultural integration
workshops and language courses according to your
needs.

We are here to help you

to feel home again!
For any information:

Diana Testa
mobile: +39 338 9788281
email: info@relocationmonza.com

w w w. re l o c a t i o n m o n z a . c o m
13 February 2015 monza news

AND

March 2015 monza news 14

15 February 2015 monza news

Fratelli Meroni
Furniture
V. le VALASSINA, 42, Lissone
Via COPERNICO, 39, Lissone

Fratelli Meroni is a Family

business, established since
1960. Come to view
furniture for every room in
your house in our two
showrooms. Many leading
brands sold including
Scavolini, Dibiesse, Arflex,
Minacciolo, Jesse, Elica
and Bosch .

For further
information call
Giovanni
Meroni on
347 145 9748
(English spoken)

Discount for
Benvenuto
Members

Recipes
Fresh fig, caramelized onion and goat cheese pizza.

Spread a thin coat of olive oil on dough.

Ingredients

Arrange goat cheese, figs cut side up, cooled onions around on
crust.

1 lb prepared pizza dough, room temperature

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small sweet onion, sliced
4 -6 fresh figs, cut in half
5 ounces goat cheese
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
12 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Top with mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with rosemary.

Place in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes.
ALTERNATE method:.
If grilling preheat grill to medium high.
Oil one side and place on a clean oiled grill and grill for 4-5 minutes.
Flip and then lightly spread olive oil on dough.

olive oil

Arrange goat cheese, figs cut side up, cooled onions around on
crust.

cornmeal

Top with mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with rosemary.

Directions

Cook a couple more minutes.

In a pan saute onions in oil till a caramel color, set aside to cool
completely.

Note: No, figs are not in

Preheat oven to 450F/ 230C.

season yet, but my craving

them are!

Roll out dough on a floured surface to 1 inch thick. You can make it
round or square all a matter of taste.
Place on a pan that is dusted with corn meal.

March 2015 monza news 16

Upcoming events

17 February 2015 monza news

Calendar

March 2015
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

10

11

12 Coffee Morning

13 Villa Reale
Lunch

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22 Intl Spring
Festival at La Camilla

23

24

25

26 Roses talk
Mindfulness

27

28

29 Gather clothes
for Irmis catwalk

30

31

April 2015
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

10 Milanese
Crafts

11

12

13 Collect canned
foods for charity
box

14

15

16 Coffee Morning

17

18 Leonardo da
Vinci. The Atlantic
Code

19

20

21 Newcomers
Coffee at Stefania
Aliprandis

22

23 Lombard Art
from Visconti to
Sforza

24

25

28

29

30

26 Gather clothes 27
for Irmis catwalk

NOTES: _________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
March 2015 monza news 18

Members Articles
Being a Woman by Rachael Martin
I was pre-menstrual when I first read this month's theme
"being a woman." Of course you can say this amongst
women. Say it to a man, and chances are he'll roll his eyes
and look hard done by. Being a woman? Try living on a
highly emotional roller-coaster, only with no safety belt
where you're trying to hold on for dear life and also for the
sake and general welfare of those living around you.
Emotional, tearful, certainly up and down, followed by the
arrival of the said period. This is then followed by the days of
post-period, again emotional, tearful, up and down. And the
best bit? You get to do it all again. Whoopee doo and bring
on the menopause, only they say that can be worse.
Possibly for my husband as he'll get two adolescent boys
thrown in with the menopausal wife.
In the meantime it's the "in-between decade" as I read the
other day, which roughly translates for most of us as no
more babies thank you very much yet my body is not quite
ready for menopause. Welcome to your forties, when
women bloom and have amazing sex,
although not
necessarily with their husbands. Awareness of mortality
rears its head - anyone up for paragliding? - and you keep
catching that smile of self-knowledge in your rear mirror. Of
course, reading about being in your forties (at arms length,
that way you can see it) and actually being in your forties
can be a bit bizarre. Me, in my forties? Sorry, I think you
must have the wrong person. So I can't just go off and dance
with the fairies again? No, you can't. That era is long gone
and your life paints a different picture - kids and husband for
a start, a love for spoken radio, early nights in and
Converse, the new comfortable footwear. Should you plan a
night out, you end up riddled with guilt as your husband
announces to your kids over breakfast that mummy's going
out dancing on Saturday so we'd better organise something
for ourselves on Sunday. Not that you let that put you off. It's
all a love of life and a lust for life, and queueing up with
women half your age in club toilets is excellent social
research to be stored and pulled out at a later date. Let the
thunder of hormones roll amidst that most variable climate of
domesticity, but just turn the music down outside the school
gates, okay mum?
Switch off your phone and your schedules and behold the
eternal tale. Childbirth, family life and death, and what you
make of it in between is up to you. The cycle repeats,
repeats and repeats (and if you're really lucky it repeats
again), and the fact that it does is why me and you are here
today. In what sometimes feels to have been a mere
question of days, the girl watching her mother worrying
about her grandparents becames the mother worrying about
her parents. "I have become my mother" your internal voice
tells you as one day you find yourself taking the place where
she once would have been and doing as she would have
done, and you know this to be true. All those years you
paced around the kitchen table, talking to your mother and
telling her about your day. And all the while she silently
formed you, made you into a woman. One day, when she's
gone, you find yourself marvelling at how much she taught
you, showed and gave you, and yet you never really saw it
at the time. Fast forward to the future and it's your daughter
throwing the car keys onto the table as she runs into the
kitchen with a head full of work, elderly parents and a
difficult teenager, a youngest with problems at school, not to
mention a husband who's in full mid-life. Ultimately we're all
singing to the same tune, it's only the parts that vary.
You are the one who knows instinctively, you feel it deep in
your stomach. You're the one who stands watching your
child, marvels at the present, is nostalgic about the past and
simultaneously fears for and is excited about the future. It's

19 February 2015 monza news

you who stands at the school gates wanting to sweep him

up in your arms as you see him standing awkardly amongst
the big boys yet are proud and happy for him because his
life adventure has begun. It's you who watches him on his
bike as he races round corners pretending he's at Monza
racetrack, and you just know that one day he'll be one of a
group of boys who've just ridden past on mopeds and no
matter how much you'll want to stop him you'll have to let
him go. And let him go you will, as you know he's only being
lent to you for a short time, to be loved into becoming the
man he will be. Of course, this is my experience and present
songsheet and you will equally supply your own, yet as I
swim through maternal waters I do not know if I shall ever
meet such waters quite as sweet, quite as stunning in their
sheer beauty though you may tell me different.
You are the one who weeps inwardly at yet another story of
tragedy on the news, and you are the one who feels
another's pain, who stands stoic some days and bends on
others. And yes, you're the one trying to hold the ship afloat
when all around there is the storm. On a more practical
level, you're the one who generally organises / muddles
through. (Delete as appropriate.) You find the socks and the
school aprons. You may also lose the socks and the school
aprons in the first place for none of us are perfect and
perfection is merely an illusion. Multi-tasking is no easy
thing, especially when you're trying to hold down a job
amongst all this. Whatever your own personal scenario,
you're the one that makes a house a home and yours is the
soul that warms it. For men and women are not the same
and no matter how hard you may try to convince me, I know
and have seen different. And it is the women that hold you in
difficult times, those who are here and those who are gone,
for there is no strength more potent than that of knowing that
you are merely a link in the great paperchain of life
stretching out across time and that all those women that
came before you are part of who you are today.
It strikes me how infinitely lucky I am to be able to actually
sit down and write all this on a beautiful sunny morning in
February. My mother and grandmothers would have eyed
me disapprovingly, commented on the fact that the beds
aren't made and I have a mountain of washing in the
bathroom, yet been secretly proud. The domestic can wait.
I've had my years of the pram in the hall, trying to carve out
a space of my own. Now it's Lego scattered all over the
floor, and it can quite happily stay there. Besides, one day I'll
miss it when it's gone. The guilt of our mothers and
grandmothers can be theirs alone. Everyone has their thing,
what's important is that you keep on doing it. And girls or
boys this is the one thing I'll be telling my children. It's not
about sitting in a classroom listening to another's version of
the world. It's about finding and creating your own personal
world, that which expresses who you truly are. No more no
less, and there is no rehearsal, so start doing it now.
As for the hormones, well, this is the part where Mother
Moon looks down and smiles. "Oh daughter mine," she
says. "When will you learn. Life will never be linear and to
expect that this may be so is to go against the very essence
of your whole being. For you are a woman, and are ruled by
the moon, the tides, the seasons and the cycles of nature.
Where you walk, the air ripples in circles around you; where
you rest, you breathe to the ebb and flow of the waves on
the shore; where you dream, stars splendour and shooting
stars fall. Cherish your tears as you cherish your joys, and
feel the flow of nature through you."
Just watch out for full moons, for we are all wolves at heart.

Members Articles
What does it mean to be a woman?
When this question first popped into my head, I
Googled it like a good Generation Y-er. The results were
less than disappointing: a few intermittent blogs from
singular perspectives and online articles discussing
stereotypes, hormones, psychology or biology. How is it
that such a powerful, intricate and varied group of
people were condensed into such sterile categories with
little to no mention of what lies beneath these things? I
had stumbled across a question that had no definitive
answer; a question that I realized is nearly absent from
our current world conversations.
But why did it matter? Over the past several years of
operating a women's fashion label, I have been blessed
to meet and speak with a diverse group of women
around the world. Hearing the stories of these women
has allowed me to connect with a greater purpose and,
in turn, encouraged me to help each of them connect
with theirs. This means looking outside of the
stereotypes, moving past the biology and breaking out of
the boxes we are comfortable residing in to change what
it means to be a woman in the world.
Some may ask, "Women have been making great
strides in the world, so what if we were doing it without
recognizing our complexity and uniqueness?" This
wasn't good enough for me. It's impossible to be fully
present in life while compartmentalizing or turning off
part of one self. My search continued on.
Maybe there would be some insight in the dictionary. I
opened a new browsing window and researched the
definition of "woman":
1. The female human being (distinguished from man)
2. An adult female person
3. A female attendant to a lady of rank
4. A wife
5. Refers to an adult human being who is biologically
female; that is, capable of bearing offspring
6. The nature, characteristics, or feelings often
attributed to women
Now I felt as if I was getting somewhere, but still was not
satisfied. First, what does it mean for a woman to be
distinguished from a man? Was I supposed to be
constantly defining myself against men? And what about
the fact that I don't fit into four of these categories? Does
that only make me a third of a woman?
My childhood was heavily influenced by two hugely
powerful women. My life was split between the loving,
supportive, encouraging homes that were made by my
mother and my grandmother. I have only just begun to
fully grasp the magnitude of their lives. But what I do
know is that neither of them allowed the societal
definition of "woman" to define their place in life. Both of
my female role models defied stereotypes, psychology,
biology and the dictionary!
Grandma Seeley taught me that I can have it all in life,
that whatever I seek or desire can be mine if I truly want
it. This was a common topic of conversation around their
household, and a belief that she felt compelled to instill
in the next generation of Seeley's. Grandma also

dedicated her time to gift me with my knowledge and

passion for sewing, unknowingly shaping my future
career and life passion. I recently interviewed her about
her perspective on the definition of woman. "Well,
Brianna," (this is how she begins all of her thoughts
when speaking to me), "We're all females when we are
born. But not all of us turn into women. Being a woman
is defined by your accomplishments, whatever those
look like to you."
Mama Seeley instilled in me the belief that I cannot
depend on anyone else to make my dreams come true. I
watched my single mom tirelessly work three jobs in
order to provide a healthy and stable environment in
which I could flourish. All amidst a custody battle in the
1980's at a time when nearly all parents were awarded
joint custody, even if one (or in some cases, both) of
them were not qualified to provide the best care. My
mom sacrificed so much of her life to fight for mine to
ensure my successful future. Interestingly enough, while
I view her actions as sacrifice, she views them as her
greatest accomplishment. "My favorite thing about being
a woman?" she pauses to gather her thoughts.
"Watching my children grow and flourish while providing
them all the unconditional love they need to do it
gracefully. No problem is too small or too big for my girls
to call for help."
I sat down to write a blog on the subject. Nothing came
out. How could I articulate what made me a woman
without making it sound like my definition was THE
definition of woman? Clearly, after talking to Mom and
Grandma, we all place importance on different aspects
of being a woman.
Pushing past my self-criticism, I tapped into my intuition.
I can often forget the deep passion and intuition that I
was born with (that all women are born with!). That's
when it came to me; my interviews with Mom and
Grandma were just the beginning. In order to dive headfirst into this conversation, I needed the perspective of
many women.
My list of amazing, inspiring, compassionate, powerful
women began with 10, then grew to 20, and then 30.
Each woman that I interview refers me to a connection
of hers that is able to bring a unique voice to the
conversation. I have spoken with high school students,
college students, new moms, world travelers,
transgendered, authors, artists, business women and
more! Every woman I have spoken to about this
question has raised even more questions within myself
and the process.
This new quest to define what it means to be a woman
has only just begun. As a result, I will be interviewing
100 women over the next several months to expand the
idea of what it means to be a woman. Please share your
thoughts on being a woman and help open up this
dialogue that is missing from our world!
Follow Bri Seeley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BriSeeley

Seeley, Bri, (2014, June 9)

Www.huffingtonpost.com/brseeleyi

The

BLOG.

March 2015 monza news 20

Date

Name

MAR 12

RACHEL HAWES

MAR 19

Name

APR 6

GABRIELLA GHILARDI

APR 8

GABRIELLA TILI

APR 9

GAYNA CLARK

APR 11

JANU SONER

APR 11

ALIYA SALAHUDDIN

APR 12

STEPHANIE MURPHY

BIRTHD

AY

FRANCES GIRONI

MAR 21

DANIELA DI GIOIA

MAR 22

SILMARA MORAIS

MAR 22

GECA GINNARI

MAR 26

ELENA GATTI

MAR 31

Date

HAPPY

ELIZABETH AROSIO

MEMBERS CLASSES
Contact Details

Information

Class and Times

Venue

Janu Soner
Cell: 3482610278
Home: 0392305215
janusoner@hotmail.com

Get strong, flexible, focused, balanced and in

shape with YOGA, a more
holistic
approach to
your physical fitness.

Yoga 1 (Gentle Yoga)

Wednesday 9.30am

Sporting Club

Call/email for more info or

to book for a free trial
class!
Isabella Ranieri
Info: 333 6921877
Isabella.ranieri@alice.it

Rachael Martin
Cell: 338 5213 716

Yoga 2 (Dynamic Yoga)

Wednesday 11am
Friday Yoga (Free Spirit)
Friday 10am

Academy Dance and Fitness,

Via F Cavallotti, 18, Lissone
As above

PLACES AVAILABLE!!!
Dancer and Zumba
instructor.

Zumba classes every TuesFri mornings 10:00 11:00

Come and join us for a

fun fitness party that will
get you moving and
healthy! Zumba! Let it
move you!!!

@NG DANCE school

Via Schiaparelli 6
Villasanta

Mother-tongue English
teacher with experience
in all levels and ages.

To be arranged

To be arranged

ONE TO ONE and

GROUP ENGLISH/
ITALIAN CLASSES
adults, children and
teenagers

to be confirmed

Monza area

rachael_martin@yahoo.co
m
Diana Testa
338 9788281
diana_testa@hotmail.it

If you are a Benvenuto member and you wish to advertise your private classes, please contact the editor.
The monthly contribution is Euro %.00

21 February 2015 monza news

GROUP ACTIVITIES
Activity

Contacts

Tel & email

Meets

Venue

Cost

BOOK CLUB
ONE

Barbara de
Savorgnani

039 200 6664

333 4931 018
barbianne@fastwebnet.it

3rd Thursday every

month,
10:00 to 12:00

Cindy Brizzis home

Annual book
cost 15

BOOK CLUB
TWO

Anne Stubley

039 671 359

stubley@iol.it

Usually 1st Tuesday

every month, 10:00 to Anne Stubleys home
12:00

Annual book
cost 20

READING
GROUP

Anne Stubley

039 671 359

Stubley@iol.it

Once a month
14:00 to 16:00

Members home or at a
bar

free

WRITING
GROUP

Anna Bodini

Twice a month

Usually at the Sporting

Club

Free

Every Tuesday
From 16:30

Cold/rainy weather: Crivi

Free
Bar, Vedano al Lambro.
Sunny days: SantAndrea
Park (exact location tbc)

PARENTS &
TODDLERS

Anna: 039 608 2896

annamurabitobodini@yahoo.com

Rachel Hawes racheljhawes@yahoo.co.uk

MOMS NIGHT
Gayna Clark
OUT

gaynaclark@hotmail.com

Once a month

Different restaurants

MONZA
WALKERS

Cindy Brizzi

039 321 284

cindy@brizzifamily.com

Every Monday,
9:15

Bar Cavriga, Monza Park

No charge

FRENCH
SPEAKING
GROUP

Ivana Menegar- 039 647 962

do-Develter
Ivanamenegardo @yahoo.fr

La renconte avec les

francophones est
mensuelle.

n/a

n/a

ENGLISH
SPEAKING
GROUP

Laura Panzeri

039 6064 698

Free

casatigiov@tiscali.it

Thur of Coffee
morning immediately
Sporting Club please
after meeting, and
contact Giovanna Casati
Thur 2 weeks later at
14:30

Laura_rol_818@hotmail.com
Giovanna
Casati

039 382 048

MONDAY
ENGLISH
MOVIE

Anne Stubley

039 671 359

Stubley@iol.it

Every Monday
afternoon

n/a

n/a

GERMAN
SPEAKING
GROUP

Ute Pastorelli
Wiechern
Ursula
Accordino

Ute: 039 367 397

ute.wiechern@teletu.it
Ursula: 039 920 5461
cicciono.uschi@alice.it

Every 1st and 3rd

Thursday
15:00 to 17:00

Sporting Club Lounge

Free

LANGUAGE
EXCHANGE

Marisa
Cerizzi

039 249 6967

Every Wednesday,
10:00 to 12:00

Sporting Club

Free

NEIGHBORHOOD
NETWORK
Vimercate

Anna Bodini & Anna: 039 608 2896

Gabriella
Gabriella: 039 685 0808
Mapelli
gabriella.mapelli@live.com

First Thursday of the

month - please
contact before

La Camilla, Vimercate

Free

March 2015 monza news 22

BOARD
benvenuto monza

President
Janine Davies

RS

BE
MEM

Ivana Menegardo-Develter

331 54 24 443
president@benvenutomonza.com

338 53 54 240
vicepresident@benvenutomonza.com

Sushil Penuti
039324083 / 3409168552

Zizeth Maroun

secretary@benvenutomonza.com

320 31 43 665
treasurer@benvenutomonza.com

Secretary

Treasurer

Eleonora Litta Durban

347 22 44 927

Julia Waters-DeZordi

Membership @benvenutomonza.com

338 23 97 850

Membership

specialactivities@
benvenutomonza.com

Special Activities

Anna Vicentini

Newcomers

348 87 12 329
publicrelations@

newcomers@
benvenutomonza.com

Public Relations
Melissa Saucedo

Susan Edick-Gianferrara
392 16 05 714

benvenutomonza.com

Editor

Vice President

Charity Co-Chair:

3389386783

Marina Lambrechts

editor@benvenutomonza.com

Honorary Members:
Barbara De Savorgnani

CLUB RULES
The Benvenuto International Club of Monza
welcomes English-speaking women from all over the world and
fosters international fellowship through its various
activities.
A monthly Coffee Morning is the Clubs principal social function.
The Club is non-profit, non-denominational and a-political.
English shall be the official language of the Club. All work performed by the Board and its committees is done on a voluntary
basis.

Membership:
The membership year runs from September through June of
the following year. The Membership Fee for current members is
due and payable no later than the October Coffee Morning of
each year. A full years Membership Fee is payable by new
members until February at which time new members pay one
-half of the Membership Fee. For any questions about membership contact the Membership Director.

Name Badges:
Name badges are supplied to each member to be worn at each
Coffee Morning. If Members forget their name badge they will
be required to pay a fine.

23 February 2015 monza news

Guests:
Members are welcome to bring a guest to one Coffee Morning
to introduce potential members to the Club. The same guest is
only allowed to attend two Coffee Mornings and the Christmas
meeting per year. The Guest Fee is 4. All guests will be given a
nametag to wear during the meeting.

Commercial Sales, Logo, Directory, Members Services:

No commercial sales are permitted at Club functions and neither the Benvenuto Club logo nor the membership
directory
is to be used for any commercial purposes. For a contribution,
members providing goods and services are
invited to post
advertisements in the Monza News.

Babysitting during coffee mornings:

Children are not allowed in the big hall in the Sporting Club
where the monthly meetings are held. This is due to the Insurance and the requirements of the Sporting club itself.
Babysitting is offered during coffee mornings, please contact
Ivana (vicepresident@benvenutomonza.com) to book Baby
Sitting. For the
moment this service is free of charge if you
book in advance.

Telephone

Service
Emergency Service Ambulance
(Pronto Soccorso) - www.118milano.it

118

National Police (Carabineri)

112

Local Police

113

Fire Brigade (Vigili del fuoco)

115

Forest Fire (Incendio boschivo)

1515

Car Breakdown Assistance

(Soccorso stradale)

116

Emergency Doctors (Medici Volanti)

7733

In Case of a night-time health

problem that is not serious
enough for the Hospital Emergency room service, but needs
to be attended to quickly, call:
Emergency Public Health Services
Guardia Medica Natl Call Number: 840 500 092
Recommendation*:
Listen to the recording (in Italian) and wait for an operator on the line.
If you dont speak Italian, ask for someone who speaks
English.
Provide all of your personal information: name, address,
telephone number and the description of your illness.
Ask if there is a doctor who speaks English or your language.
They will have a doctor call you back in the next hour
(usually faster). The doctor will tell you, if they need to
make a house visit or if you should to go to the nearest
GUARDIA MEDICA. They will give you the address of
the closest one to your location.
Visits usually free of charge. House visits may be different.
This service usually works very well for a quick diagnosis or to resolve a problem, and to obtain a prescription
to go to the pharmacy.

BABYSITTERS
From

Name

Language

Telephone

Transport

Carate Brianza

Camilla Riva

EN

036 299 3953 or 338 459 8262

Own

Cosetta Riva

IT, GER, EN

362 993 953 or 335 620 2887

Own

Albiate

Erica Callisaya Vela

IT, EN, ES

320 481 3559

Own

Lissone

Sujanika Elvitigalage Dona

IT, EN, ES

338 4735 895

Own

Macherio

Sara Valtorta

IT

338 247 5082

Own

Monza

Giorgette Savy

IT, FR, EN

039 380 816

Own

Daphne D'Amato

IT, EN, Dutch

346 628 1605

Own

Mileth Hernandez

IT, ES

327 291 5270

Own

Stefania Candurra

IT

347 645 0884

Wendy Hodgson

IT, EN

3407969829

Own

Giulia Milan

IT, EN, FR

3392071971

Claudia Ghilardi

IT, EN

3803458183

Francesca Barzaghi

IT, GER, EN

333 678 1489

Josy Arcaya

IT, ES, EN

329 073 3910

Sylvia Malnati

IT, FR

348 244 2570

Own

Genevieve Sumiller

EN

3884426131

Elizabeth Sabado

IT, EN

3450121809

Own

Maria Castro

IT, EN

3896488867

Own

Arianna D'Onofrio

IT, EN,Greek

0392496666, or 3468336219

No

Vedano al Lambro

Disclamer: This list of babysitters have been produced for information purposes only and the club takes no responsibility for the qualifications of
these babysitters. However, all these names have been provided by members who have used their services.

25 February 2015 monza news

During the week, come and try our exclusive dinner:

a delicious Chefs plate, one side, a slice of cake,
soft drink (or beer) and coffee,

ONLY AT 15 .

via Monti e Tognetti, 15 - 20900 Monza (MB)

Tel. 039 896 2184

Follow us
March 2015 monza news 26

27 February 2015 monza news