La mia vita materana: the epilogue 

It has already been quite some time since I came back from my 6-month staying in Matera, Italy, and still I feel that I could go back any day now and pick it up from where I left it. 

Matera is not like any city you’ve seen before, and this is something also the Italians recognize, despite this division of north = best and south = forgotten that I knew existed and also saw with my own eyes. It is true, the south of Italy is somehow “left on its own”, from the limited train existence and the poor public transport to the lack of concerts happening below Napoli, BUT it is also the gem of Italian heart. It’s the place where all the stereotypes of loud, always smiling and inviting people, gathering for Sunday lunches strictly at “nonna’s”, eating finger-liking good food, enjoying life in the simple things. And I am so glad I was able to be part of that.  

Being a Greek myself, I cannot say that loudness and hospitality were new to me, but Materani people had their own unique way to make you feel like you had always been part of the town. I was so surprised to see how people really care about their city and how they truly try to engage in discussions, city festivals, community events that strengthen their bonds among one another but also make their everyday life a small feast. I loved how people prioritized enjoying a good meal, having a nice coffee, talking to each other, share a pistachio cornetto with you.  

I am not going to lie, not speaking Italian when I moved there was definitely a challenge, that very soon came to change. People were really trying to communicate with me in a unique mix of English, Italian and materan dialect, and I was trying my best to learn the language as fast as I can to show my gratitude for their efforts. And suddenly, it happened. I came back having acquainted a level of B1 in Italian, just by being surrounded by people that were happy to keep talking to me even when I did not understand. I am still not always in a position to explain myself, but at least I am able to comprehend what is happening around me and I consider that a big win! And along the way I also learnt how to make my own pasta, how to buy the “good mozzarella”, how to make parmigiana, how to eat pranzo at 13:00, how beautiful aperitivo is. 

Coming to my project, I can say that I consider myself very lucky to have had such a beautiful team welcoming me. Materahub is one of the most important organizations dealing with European projects with a strong focus on cultural and creative industries, not only in the region but in whole Italy, and still manages to be one of the most accessible organizations in terms of people as well. I only have good things to say about everyone with whom I worked, but I also have to mention that I will always be grateful to Sara, Angela and Elisa for “taking me by the hand” and showing me how it’s done. Not only in the office but also in Italy. They opened their homes and hearts for me and this is something I will forever cherish. 

Together we worked on multiple projects about civil engagement, cultural industries, entrepreneurship, urban regeneration, while we also organized various workshops on a local and international level in cooperation with our partners. My tasks spread in various aspects of project management, such as capacity building, dissemination, workshop-building and partner relations, where even though I mainly supported the project managers of the office, I was also given a lot of trust and creative freedom to do it in my own way and timeline. Apart from spending the biggest time of our days together working,  we shared endless bowls of pasta, taralli and panini, introduced dancing breaks to the office, discovered the Murgia of Matera and Altamura, dived into the local community and became part of it.  

If I could sum up what I loved the most about Matera, I think I would focus on how authentic it feels. Located in Basilicata, a region of Italy that is often overlooked and definitely not as popular as others, has managed to remain authentic to its traditions and communities. I took part in to some of the weirdest (in the best way) festivals: La foresta che camina (lit. the forest that walks, incarnated by people dressed like trees and wandering around the village), Maggio di Accetura (where we had to help carry a trunk of 12 meters down a hill and up another for a distance of 16 kilometers) and of course Festa della Bruna (the most important religious feast of the year, dedicated to Mary). Seeing people from all different age groups, becoming one, singing, dancing, sharing their drinks and food, warmed up my heart, even when it caught me off guard.  

My staying there definitely did not come without its challenges; challenges to adapt in a new place, learn a new language, start from scratch, and it definitely wasn’t always easy. However, it was 6 months full of life. And this is how I want to remember it.  

Grazie Matera! Arrivederci!