Interview to Dr.ssa Valentina Casula, Hospitality Manager for the wine comapny Zonin

Good evening Dr.ssa Valentina. I'm Eleonora Rabino and I'm attending the last year of high school at Liceo Scientifico A. Einstein in Cervignano del Friuli. My dad, Marco Rabino, is a wine expert. Since I was a child I've always been fascinated by his co-workers, especially by hospitality managers like you. So I would like to ask you some questions about your job and all the steps you had to make in order to get to your position.

I know that you studied languages at university. What kind of high school did you attend and what are the reasons that led you to the university choice?

I atteneded the Liceo Linguistico in Trieste. During the last year of high school, maybe because of uncosciousness, I decided to go on and study foreign language and literature and I specialized in German and English.

You have just said "maybe because of uncosciousness". Does it mean that if could go back you would not choose to study languages at university?

I think languages are very important especially nowaday, but they are not enough, not alone at least. When I went to university the language course was mostly based on literature and most of my friends wanted to become teachers. I do not really know how university has changed in the past years but if I could go back I would definitely choose a scientific field like engegneering.

What is the most important and relevant difference that you have noticed in the passage from a school method of studying to a university one?

I think  the most important difference, the one that students immediately notice, is that they have to be indipendent in their method of studying. The difficulty emerges because a professor does not follow his students as a teacher does in high school. It follows that  the student has to do every single work by himself: the research of materials and organization, of both essays and time, become autonomous.
Another difference and probably the most difficult for me is in the way of writng. I wasn't used to write essays in high school but they were required at university. Yes, that was the biggest problem for me.

How did you get over your difficulties?

A lot of work, exercizes and good will. Universities are schools thus another chance to learn and get better. Am I wrong?

During your study path have you got the chance to study abroad?

Yes, I went to Germany for a year ( 10 month to be precise)

Was this experience positive for you as a person as well as a student?

Absolutely! I think it was the most important year in my entire university carreer. I got the chance to know and live in a different culture and to study in a foreign school/university with a different system which is definetely better than the Italian one. When I attended the university you only had one chance to give your exams during the year. On the other hand, in Germany, they had semester and so you could give exams by diving your studying material. Moreover I attended some courses like translation or writing that were not available in my Italian university.

Today you are a hospitality manager. Did you work somewhere else before?

Dr.ssa Valentina smiles

Where do I start from? After I got my laurea, I worked as an employeer for a camping during the Summer season. In January I got to offers for a job and I accepted the one in Padova (where my boyfriend lived): I worked as a director assistent for what we call "industria metalmeccanica". Later I worked as an area manager and finally as a selling coordinator for a make up distributor. Before I've started working here, for Zonin, I also worked as an accountant for another wine company.

What does a hospitality manager exactly do?

I mostly take care of directional visits of foreign importers (sometimes, unfortunately, they are Italian). I also organize some events and visits for private clients. Organization is a very important quality in this job but it is not the only one and not the most important. You need to be at ease with people and communication is the most important tool.

Do you get to travel a lot?

Not now. I used to though.

What are the pros and cons of your job?

Well, as I previously said socialization is the most important tool and I love to be with people. I am very satisfied of my job and it also allowds me to spend time with my family. Last but not least the working environment is wonderful: a solid company and faboulus co-workers.
I cannot think about cons. Maybe I would have choosen a job related a little more with economy but it would not have allowed me to spend enough time with my family.

Last question. What would you suggest to a student like me who would like to study Eastern languages?

Well, I may be common and a lot of people probably have already told you but the Eastern World is the future: China, India, Russia, Japan are the most important countries speaking in terms of market. The only piece of advice that I have is: do what you like and it would seem easy. And if what you like may open you the doors of a new world in which you'll find a job  ( which is not so easy today) well, even better.

The interview is cocluded. Thank you very much Dr.ssa Valentina for letting me steal some of your time