Italian Sayings: Tengo Famiglia

Imagine this scene: Police station. Interrogation room. Two detectives of the Italian Police force interrogated Mr. Rossi, an important civil servant, accused of taking bribes. After hours and hours of questions, he finally breaks down and confesses everything: he took bribes from shady people to close an eye on certain affairs. Thanks to his shameful behaviour, a lot of people suffered.  One of the detectives doesn’t understand why he took the bribes: he didn’t need money, he was respected by everyone thanks to his job and could have become an example to everyone if he exposed this corruption. “Why did you take the money?” asks the detective “Why did you ruin yourself like that?”.
A crying Mr. Rossi replies “Tengo famiglia“.

What does it mean? Continue reading “Italian Sayings: Tengo Famiglia”

Ten Tanka by Fujiwara no Teika (part II)

It’s spring again.
This is the period of the hanami, that will last ’till May, where Japanese people organize picnic under the blossoming cherry trees.
For some, Spring is the season of love, for me it’s just a rainy season.
Along with love and nature, season were a common theme of waka poetry.  Today’s poems are related to spring and I hope you’ll enjoy them.

Continue reading “Ten Tanka by Fujiwara no Teika (part II)”