MarkRD

Cool!
I believe a class-mate is doing 'Rock Music' for his tesina .. it might be interesting to see how he'll get philosophy / history / sociology / etc. into that

Isakat

I took DS to a party after school in an exclusive part of Rome, in an amazing house with gardens and a large pool. None of the mothers talked to me apart from the nice mum who was having the party. In the end I saw another mum standing alone, so I started conversation with her. She felt the same as me.
I do not think I will be going to these parties anymore, or at least I should just drop off and disappear.
Not being able to socialize, I stuffed myself with good Middle eastern food.

Juvefan

why didn't the other mothers talk to you?

Garbatellamike

Name names! Which part of Rome?

Isakat

I presume that they do not know me as we live faraway from school and I hardly go there, or maybe out of snobishness? One mum did say hello to me, when she came to pick her kid up, but the others showed no interest.

Isakat

Have PM-ed you.
Hint-Berlusconi was looking for a house for his daughter there...

Garbatellamike

got PM and understand

gelato

I'm thinking it was a part of Rome which starts with a P?

The other parents at my daughter's school are great. Just got back from hanging out with a bunch of them at one of their houses.

Garbatellamike

nope but that was my first thought too bit further out

Patty

Am intrigued Isakat - as we are up North I dont have any idea of 'snobby' areas in Rome, is it really that bad?

Maybe cos I'm a bit older now - but I've just decided that I really couldnt care less about all these superficial type of people. I've given up trying and just stick with the few friends I have - they may be few but I know they are genuine and so I'm happy enough

Mind you there are alot of snobby people here too - and in my mind, to be judged on what you are wearing or what car you have is just so totally wrong that I can't (in my best Lauren Cooper) Cant be Bovvered

Garbatellamike

Here is a clue:

The Province of Rome (Italian: Provincia di Roma), is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. The province can be viewed as the extended metropolitan area of the city of Rome, although in its more peripheral portions, especially to the north, it comprises towns surrounded by rural landscape.

MarkRD

Phew .. well that's the maturità over with anyway .. scorching hot temperatures only added to the fun and feeling of general hysteria.

..and just when I thought it was safe to 'praise' (steady on..) something in the Ital school system ...
The commissione di esame seemed like a good idea - a mixture of internal and external teachers who mark the written papers so you get the results quickly and then do the oral all together so that students don't feel too under pressure with familiar teachers, and the externals can be more subjective as they don't know them and keep an eye on the internal ones to make sure there is no favouritism or cheating ....

But no, it can't be as easy as that with Italians can it? Asking them to be subjective and fair is like asking a group of 3 year olds to play 'nicely' ..they'll do it for a bit but then...

Unfortuantely there was clear evidence of favouritism both in the written exams and the oral ... not naming anu names of course, suffice it to say we weren't among the 'chosen ones' cos we don't "know" anyone...

if I had the time I'd have an enquiry made or something, but you all know how it is...

Shame really.

HADENOUGHPIZZA

Took my daughter's list of books into Ipercoop to order them . The process was so efficient I could hardly believe it and then they asked me if I would be interessted in having the books covered ? oh yes ! It's something I hate doing and am no good at all . All I need do now is wait until they txt me and go collect them in late august

Patty

sorry to hear that Mark - its really unfair and in this day and age it just shouldn't be like this should it. Unfortunately thats life in Italy - it permeates every single area of life - I dont see how it will ever improve. Shame - because if Italy became more meritocratic it would be great. A friends daughter was told she would be accepted for the maturita - then the day before she was told she was the only one who would not go through. Her mum has tried every single avenue available and has got no proper answer or explanation for this about turn and I feel really really sorry for her.

MarkRD

Equally as bad ...

It's always been obvious that certian students have been "helped" more than others.. of course the others have to learn to live with it.

I'll never forget the time when I did a stint as a madrelingua in a scuola media..they asked (told) me to give one girl a good mark (even though she was rubbish) because she was the direttrice's niece or something...
Naturally I refused.