Wall Against Hunger - The perfect gift in 3 steps

Maybe some of you know maybe not. WFP has a great project called "Wall Against Hunger", you click, you donate and you put your note on the wall!
You feed a child in honour of your loved ones and put a photo with your message, and send it to them

It's really cool, check it out!
http://wall.wfp.org/

Life in Italy

As you may know, Italy has very good opportunities for many outdoor activities. There are many mountains, lots of natural parks, lakes and etc. But the important thing is to reserve all these natural resources as they are. And this is something that Italy does well.

To cut it short, these days I am enjoying Italy's lovely trekking paths :) On the first of November I went to 'Parco Nazionale d'Abruzza' and had a long trek around d'Abruzzo and Molise. And this Saturday again joined the group SentieroVerde and went to 'Monte Lepini' and the path was unbelievably great. We walked nearly 7 hours and enjoyed the colours of autumn with lovely people.

Besides having walked on colourful paths, the style of Italians how they do these tours, is really admirable. There are some kind of organizations, but they are not commercial, and when you join their tours, you just share the cost of journey.
You pack your lunch, they supply you the guidance and kindest hearts :)
Just to give you an example, last Saturday, the cost of trekking on Monte Lepini, having great time, enjoying the colours, and building new friendships, was only 6 euros.

As these were just starting, will be contuined. I am also invited to their cross-country trips. I have never done it before, but why not to try here :)
Last but not least, another good thing about these people are, they also welcome the disabled people. The first week there was a guy with crutches and he completed all the path. I've admired him and the trek leaders of course.

to be continued...

My sister is coming

My sister is coming on this Thursday :) I have many plans to do with her. I am already very excited and looking for the moment she will arrive.

What am I doing these days

It has been long time I didn't write anything to my blog(you see, I was very busy, :)
For nearly a month I was working on Technical Support ToRs document, which has never written before. As we are trying make our processes align with ITIL, this was one of the study we should be completed shortly. With this ToR doc, we are aiming to clarify the process dealing with OMIS and ICC. During the whole month I met with very different people around, and collected as much info as I could, and finally understood the workflow between SD, OMIS and ICC (I know these acronyms are crazy) and drew work flows and wrote the basic and alternative flows. It is not finished yet, but most of the work is done. At the end of this study now I am much clearer about the work processes here, and I think they have also much clearer idea, compared to past.

And it is not all, before that I started working on runbooks, especially service runbook, but of course service runbook could not exist without server runbook, so I also involved server runbook template study. At fist I searched internet hoping to find a well-prepared template but it was not possible. I also asked all my friends around, but they never did before so they couldn't help. At the end, I sat down and prepared one, and after some negotiations, I think next week I will finalize it and add to the ToR doc.

Last, but not least, I am also working on 'applications takeover project', which means that, there are many applications around, they are running live but unfortunately not under ICT control. So whenever an incidents happens with the applications they are not able to request help from ICT, unless it is not under ICT portfolio. So we have started an initiative, are contacting with the application owners and explaining the project and starting a takeover project, which leads everyone to a happy end.

Language lessons

When I first arrived Italy I understood that I have to learn Italian while living here, to make the life easier and enjoyable. During the the office hours it is all ok. But when I leave the office and and in the heart of Rome, especially when I am in the market for shopping, I realize that language is really a communication barrier in front of me.
Till today I was studying on my own. It was ok, but not efficient as I need.
Here in Italy everything is on hold during summer, even language schools. It was same at WFP. When I asked about the lessons, I am told that, they are on holiday now, and will be starting in the September. And finally today, Italian course for beginners is started. I think I was the first person registered :)
But actually this was obvious that I would attend Italian lessons, it is not the news. The news is I also started French lessons. Yes I am studying both Italian and French.
In my team two widely spoken languages, apart from English of course, are Italian and French.
A few weeks ago when we were chatting with some colleagues, one told that, I could study both. That time I didn't think that it is a good idea. But now, I see that, it was a good idea.
Last week I made my mind up and decided to take both lessons and started French lessons on Friday.
So now on Monday and Friday, I am attending French lessons, on Tuesday and Thursday attending Italian lesson.
Will see how it goes :)

WFP open session and global warming

A few days ago internal communication sent the below email. That day I put a notification to my calender, to not to miss this opportunity. These meetings are important to understand the WFP, its mission and future plans well.
"Rome Colleagues:
With August holidays behind us, we resume our every-other-Thursday forum at HQ this Thursday, 3 Sept., promptly at 8:30 in the Gazebo behind the cafeteria.
We kick off the fall with an informal "open session" with two deputy executive directors. Please join Chief Operating Officer and DED for Operations... and DED for Resource Management and Accountability... for a conversation about issues of the day.
Come with questions about any pressing issues; remember, this is your forum. Chances are, if there's something you don't understand, others don't understand it either. If you would like a certain topic to be addressed but are uncomfortable speaking in public, feel free to email me your question in advance.
To increase communication between HQ and the field, this Thursday, for the first time, we are patching in field staff by audio , so staff in country offices will be able to benefit from the conversation taking place. Please arrive on time so we do not keep country staff waiting.
There will be an opportunity for general announcements at the end. "

Today we also had field offices connected to the meeting. I hoped my other Vodafone colleagues were there.

My main understanding, from this meeting was, WFP is taking care of global warming as much as food aid. Because as we all know, global warming effects to the food productivity and then same story. Less food, and less nutrition...

To stop global warming, do something today. For example change your bulbs with the energy saving ones. Today EU banned the wasteful energybulbs on 1st of September, just 2 days ago. To read about it check this link out.

PS: I was not sure to put the director's name, so put ... instead.

Trieste and It's lovely people-1

I had an unbelievable 3 days in Trieste. The first day we arrived there with Serena and had our lunch at Scarpon. If you go Trieste go there and have pasta with sea food. It was the best I've ever had. It is not the only thing we had but I will not write all :)
After lunch we walked around, had some coffee, did some shopping and said bye to each other.

Then I headed up to the Castello di St. Guisto.
This is Trieste from the Castello di St. Guisto's window.


After the castel I went to the Napoleonica for walking. It was already 7:30 so I couldnt spend much time, just did 1,5h walking in there. But I like the idea, in the city there is a lovely path. You can do walking, jogging... By the time I left there, it was already dark.

The next day, early in the morning I met with the group, we splitted into groups and got on cars. Serena arranged this tour for me, thanks her again.
We stopped at a Rifugi(hut). Then started for 4h trekking to Mount Matajur. After 2,5h we reached to the summit.
Matajur is on border of Italy and Slovenia and Austria.

Below you see my picture, my left side is in Slovenia, right side is in Italy :)
After we left M.Matajur we we went to river to swim :) I didn't know this plan so didn't have my swimming suit with me. But Anna had two pairs and gave one to me :)
After good swimming we went to a pizzeria and of course had a pizza. We had a nice chat during the dinner, we talked and laughed a lot. Yana, she is Ukranian and a ballet teacher, asked me, if I wanted to spend Sunday with her? We promied to meet at 9am. She would come to my hotel at 9. Then they drived me to my hotel.
The next, at 9 she was there waiting for me....
tbc..

FerraGosto, Trieste, couch and trekking

Next Monday the 17th is holiday at WFP, in lieu of 15th. It is FerraGosto. And I am not missing this opportunity to do some excurtions and going to Trieste (then Venice). Trieste is a city on the north-east part of Italy, has good trekking possibilities, the activity which I like most.
But I made my mind very late and till now couldn't find a guided trekking and a couch yet.
I forgot my GPS in Istanbul, my friend (actually my boss in Turkey) will come to Rome and bring it but on 17th Monday. But it is late for this trip, of course. It is good to have a GPS, espacially when you are trekking on the mountains which you don't know well. Anyway, If I can't find anything I will do my best and will try to do some on my own :) Lets see.

If you ask what FerraGosto is, it is Assumption Day, Assumption of Mary. And here in İtaly it is kind of festival.
From wikipedia "The Assumption of Mary is the traditional belief held by Christians of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglo-Catholic, and some Protestant churches that the Virgin Mary at the end of her life was physically taken up into heaven. ..."
If you want to read more click the above link.

Accomodation mission accomplished, what is next?

This weekend, I've moved to my lovely apartment at Monteverde. It is very well connectedten minutes to center and fifteen minutes to WFP office. The area is very peaceful, quiet and lovely. You have your breakfast with singing birds, take a deep breath of fresh air.
Where am I? In Rome, at Monteverde area, on Via Pietro d'Assisi street.
If you come to Rome, don't go without saying hello.

Here is my garden, and unfinished breakfast :)










And this is my living room with garden view.

thanks to Google Translator :)

These days I am struggling with the language here. I have just received a mail from the local bank here, but it was all in Italian.
And what I did is pasted all the letter to Google Translator and cliked 'translate' button, then a magic happened and all the letter was translated in English. This is really a great service.
Try and use it, and it is very stabil and reliable.

Here is an example part of the letter to show how powerful it is:

ITALIAN PART
Luglio 2009

Autenticazione forte per l'accesso a SCRIGNOInternet Banking

Gentile Cliente,

La informiamo che a partire dal 23 luglio 2009 sarà possibile personalizzare il livello di sicurezza dell'accesso a SCRIGNOInternet Banking.

L'autenticazione forte, già obbligatoria per le operazioni dispositive, potrà infatti da Lei essere resa necessaria anche per il normale accesso alle funzionalità informative del servizio.
...............

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
July 2009

Strong authentication for access to SCRIGNOInternet Banking

Dear Customer,

We inform you that from 23 July 2009 you can customize the security level of access to SCRIGNOInternet Banking.

The strong authentication, which is already mandatory for running the operations, you may indeed be needed even for normal access to informative features of the service.
............


You see, it is great :)

thanks to Google...

sitting at Caffe Good at Trastevere, one of the best of Rome

Yes today is Sunday and there is lovely weather here, and I just had a great "pizza quatro formaggio" at Carlo Mente and now having a cup of coffe at Caffe Good.
Yesterday I walked for nearly 5 hours around Testaccio, Monteverde, Quatro Venti and ended up at Trastevere. There was an occasion here at Trastevere, this is a very lively place, lots to see. Even you can spend hours just sitting and watching the people. I took lots of pictures by my mobile, yesterday and today and will upload soon. You should see them :)

back from sweet home and still looking for an apartment :)

After a lovely weekend, lets get back to work :) I saw nearly all my family. I especially wanted to see my little nephews, becuase the last time I saw them was 4-5 years ago. And they are not little anymore. But they both are so sweet. Play, jump, sing we did every kind of funny things.
Now I am back to my work. As time goes by I am getting used to here. I am learning projects and understanding my role, getting used to Italy, Italians, Rome, Romans :)
And I am still looking for an apartment. The one in Parco Leonardo was really very far from city, just a stop far from FCO airport. So I wanted to take my time to check some other close to center. Today I checked one in Testaccio, tomorrow will check one in the same area, wrote lots of mails to landlords/landladies. By Monday I wish I would sort out this.

heyoo I got my Carta D'itentita :)

After you arrived Italy, you have to apply for Carta D'itentita within 30 days if you will stay long than 30 days. I applied for it in the first week And yesterday I received a mail from Protocal Unit, which is saying that my Carta D'itentita is ready. This morning I went there and collected my card.
This card is important because, it means that you have the residential permit to stay in Italy. If you will stay more than 30 days in a foreign country, you have to have residential permit.
This is my first time of course, I am learning :)

This time everything is going well. I had my Codice Fiscale, created an account in a local bank, activated internet banking, sent SAI to HR.
Today in the evening I have two appointments to see some apartments at Parco Leonardo. This is a newly constructed place, and all apartments are brand new, very modern, with good and safe environment. Hope one would suit to my needs and we could agree on details. Will see.

Eeeeend, I am going to Istanbul tomorrow and will be back on Monday morning:)

looking for an apartment

Today I have talked to my landlady that I want to move. I was waiting her to ask lots of questions, but no she didn't. That's fine for me, because it was easier than I think. Actually I am prepared to answer why I want to move. Because I also questioned myself about this.
Anyway I will look for somewhere closer to WFP, and well connected to the center.
So the next coming days I will be searching for a new accomodation.

Ostia Antica - Harbour City of Ancient Rome

There was very strange weather here in Rome. It is lovely sunny in the morning, begins clouding in the afternoon, and raining in the evening. Thunderstorms, lightning... Even you cannot imagine how scary it was. It has been like this for two weeks. And today was the only day it didn't rain.

Of course I didn't miss this opportunity to do some excursions. Today’s target was Ostia Antica. Seeing these unbelievable ruins makes you feel as if you are not in the 21^st century. If you want to read in detail about it, just click here.

I put just one photo, but there are lots of lovely mosaics.

Especially the one with dolphins was so nice. But because of the Sun direction, I couldnt take a good picture of it.

This is the theater, next Saturday Goran Bregovic will be singing here. They are preparing the theatre for this show.

After 3 hours walking under the afternoon sun, I was thirsty and hungry. There is a cafe inside, just near the museum, and I had a sandwich, caprese salad (mozzarella and sliced tomato) and Italian beer. Then I headed up to the museum.

When I came back to home there was a lovely scenery from my window. Look at it, isn’t it look like a bunch of wool. Sorry for the antennas they are always a part of sky.

WFP Journey

This journey has started in 27^th January 09 with a mail from IC. The mail was telling ‘four Vodafone IT specialists could have chance to work for WFP’. I was soo exited. It took me two weeks to be prepared and fill in the application form.

To a quick history about the process, how this journey started;

In February I submitted the application form, in March had phone interviews at Dubai Airport (on my way back from New Zealand holiday), in May had face to face interviews in Rome. And on 19^th of May I got the mail, telling that I have been selected for the System Integration Specialist position in Rome. Program would be starting on 14^th of June. There was less than a month time. Within this time, visa is granted, projects are handed over, and luggage is prepared, and so on.

On 14^th of June, everything was ready and I was on my way to Rome, to a lifetime experience.