(Read in Italian) This summer I am going to Puglia to help lead an Italian Language Immersion Tour with my friend Yle of YLTOUR (here are more details). We have spots for 4-15 people. I would love to see you all in Puglia so that we could get to know each other better, drink a lovely glass of wine together, prepare taralli with Yle’s grandmother in her kitchen and obviously, to speak in Italian all day long!
To celebrate this lovely occasion of going to Puglia, I am putting on a new blog contest! It was just one year ago today that I had my first blog
contest. How time flies! You know also that I am a graphic designer and I like putting my original designs on bags, aprons and cups. (You can see my designs on the page “Matta Designs” here on the blog.) Recently the vendor that makes the bags – Zazzle, sent me an extra one. Seeing as I already have one for my own personal use, I would like to give my blog readers the chance to win it. I checked with the post office and the cost to send the bag abroad is more or less $15, so I would like to open the blog contest up to whoever wants to participate, in all parts of the world. I will pay the price of postage. To read more details about this bag that is currently for sale on the Zazzle website follow this link
Alright! To have the chance to win the bag you only need to:
1) Subscribe to the blog Studentssa Matta and leave me a comment on this blog post. It doesn’t have to be a long comment. For example tell me something about yourself:
a) why you are learning Italian? or….
b) if you were to go to Puglia this summer, what would you like most to do or to see. or…
c) if you are Italian, where do you live or give me some advice on where in Italy I should go or visit next
2) Come visit me on the Facebook Page for Studentessa Matta Become a “fan” and say ciao to me there (if you are already a facebook friend, say hi anyway!)
3) Optional (but to double your chance of winning) follow me on Twitter! : italiamelissa – say hi to me there and retweet news of this blog contest
I will choose the winner in a simple, non complicated way, as I did last year. I will put all the names of participants in a ceramic bowl and my son will choose the name of the winner on
Monday May 14th (12 days from now) at 3pm California Time (Midnight In Italy)
Good luck! In bocca al lupo! (fyi: puppy not included!) 
One way to learn a new language is to read,read,and read. I always make sure that I read in Italiano. That means, a book every month, and your blog every day. It is not surprising that people with the same interest get together either virtually or in person. So, that is why I find Italian clubs where we can share everything. As for your bag, unique and beautiful, would be a plus for me since my birthday is tomorrow. I thought by sharing names of people of Italian origin might bring me luck: Taurus sign: Niccolò Macchiavelli (florentine poet), Maria Gaetana Agnesi (mathematician), Gugliemo Marconi (inventor), Rudolph Valentino and Ferruccio Lamborghini. Do you know any of them?
Ciao Anna, Buon compleanno!! Hai ragione! sembra che le persone con gli stessi interessi si trovino facilmente! Sono contenta di conoscerti e mi piace il tuo consiglio per imparare italiano. Leggere! Un modo migliore per imparare la lingua!
Penso che tu sia in buona compagnia sotto il segno di Taurus! Auguri! Vorrei sapere che cosa hai fatto speciale per il tuo compleanno? Spero che qualcuno ti abbia preparato una bella torta!!
I am learning Italian because I would like to communicate with relatives who currently live in theGenova and Milano areas I started learning Italian because I wanted to understand the Italian genealogy for my mother’s side of our family. I would enjoy visiting any location in Puglia–it would be a joy to breathe Italian air and enjoy the food and hospitality of the gregarious people. Because my relatives are from the Veneto area, I would suggest that you visit the Dolomite area of Italy–it is beautiful and the people are fantastic!
Ciao Jean! Piacere conoscerti! Those are wonderful reasons to learn Italian. It is also lovely that you have relatives who live in Italy with who you can connect with. I would so like for you to come along with me in Puglia! You sound like the perfect traveling companion…someone who would relish spending a week drinking up the atmosphere while perfecting and learning more Italian! Stop by anytime and leave me a message. Would love to know how your your Italian is progressing…stop by for a chat anytime! a presto!
Ciao Melissa,
I must love the bag because I rarely post anything anywhere. I am learning Italian for the joy of it. I have been reading your blog for due anni. I am getting better at reading! I tried to fan your facebbok page but I think I ended up trying to friend you. I am much better at Excel:-)
Buona sera
Ciao Melissa,
I must love the bag. I rarely post anything anywhere! I want to learn Italian for the joy of it. I am Italian by heritage and also by citizenship. I need to learn Italian to be a good Italian citizen:) I have been studying for two years. As long as I have been reading your blog.
Grazie
Sheree
Ciao Sheree! How great to see your messages here on the blog AND on TWITTER! Complimenti!!!! Penso che tu sia la prima persona di spedirmi un messaggio su Twitter! Grazie!
Brava! leaning Italian to uphold la tua cittadinanza Italiana! Beata te! Where are you studying and what things are you doing (besides reading the blog
) Come by and leave me a message anytime…great way to practice your Italian! (and thanks for “loving” the bag! in bocca al lupo!)
Sheree! hai vinto la borsa! Dimmi l’indirizza posta e te la manderò! Grazie per aver partecipato nel concorso! puoi scrivermi direttamente a melissa@melissadesign.com
I am learning Italian for a few reasons: I have been traveling to Italy every October since 2006. (That first visit to Montefollonico in Tuscany hooked me!) I think the language is so beautiful; it sounds like singing. My grandmother immigrated from Lacedonia, in Campagna, and it gives me a connection to my roots. Since I visit annually (hopefully someday, more often!) I would love to be able to communicate better.
I would sign up for the trip to Puglia in a heartbeat if it was at a different time of year! Looks so beautiful. Cooking the local cuisine is very appealing.
Ciao Melissa,
Mi piace molto la lingua Italia, ma imparare lentamente.!
Jenny