Last week I announced that I’d be teaching in Italy this August, and that you are invited. Since I lived and worked in Italy for seven years, it’s like a second home to me and I can’t tell you how excited I am to go back. I miss speaking Italian and even stupid things like taking trains. I miss the food. Who knew I could eat pasta everyday for seven years and not tire of it? Then there are things like a €5 bottle of Chianti that’s so good it’s almost infuriating, and the architecture, the old bridges, the museums, the beaches. I miss marveling at how stylish the old men are, at how families of three crowd together on vespas and brave the cobblestones. I miss the simplest things, just sitting on a curb in my favorite piazza, watching people, catching up with the cute guy that works at my gelateria.
When I talk about my time in Italy, I sometimes marvel at myself. I was twenty-one when I moved there. I just followed my gut and I landed there and I stayed. I went to school in Italian, I made friends and ended up opening up a little boutique (pictured above). When I say it out loud (or type it, as the case may be…) I realize that it sounds really, really gutsy, maybe even a little bit nutsy, but I believe that the time I spent living abroad totally shaped who I am today. Being pushed outside my comfort zone, learning to speak a new language, and becoming a creative entrepreneur in a totally foreign culture made me who I am today. I strongly believe that I owe much of my success as a creative professional to my Italy, to my guts, friends I made there and to my ability to follow my heart–often in spite of what others may say.
So about the class. We’re calling it a ‘Creative Playcation’ because it’s going to be part creative workshop, part laboratory for creative entrepreneurs. It’s about defining your style and discovering your voice. It’s about listening to your gut and learning to stand out from the crowd. We will be digging in and working on your ideas and dreams, and I will be sharing tangible tactics and tools of how I’ve accomplished some of my mine. And we will be doing this on the beach in the Italian Riviera. I mean, come on!!
So, you probably have a million questions, right? Well, that’s why Bianca has set up a little Q&A — a virtual tea party of sorts where you can ask Bianca and me any questions you may have. It’s totally free and it’s happening tomorrow (Wednesday 5/27) at 1PM PST. You can register to Q+A party here.
I look forward to chatting with you all very soon. Smooches and ciao for now! ~J
UPDATE: Get more info on the trip HERE
Watch the Q+A HERE
Hi Justina,
I cannot attend the Q&A later today. Is there another way to get more details about the class or do I have to wait for the newsletter?
Thanks!
Anuschka
Hi Anusschka! There is more info up on the site now and you can also watch the Q+A session on video. I will add the links to the post as for some reason I can paste them here in the comments… Thanks!
Hi! Thanks for the update. I look forward to seeing the links you add to the post. If you have any questions or need to discuss the Q+A further, please feel free to share!
This is a great place to visit. Thanks for sharing its information