Blog – Page 3

La Cucina Della Nonna

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / May 8, 2026 / Blog, Italian Translation /

Di Joe DiMaggio

Mia nonna (Santa DiMaggio) è una donna straordinaria che ha lasciato il lavoro per crescere me e i miei cugini. Ha fatto tanti sacrifici per noi e ci ha permesso di crescere in famiglia, invece che con estranei in un asilo nido. Ancora oggi ci prepara i nostri piatti preferiti durante la settimana. Ci porta di tutto, dalla pasta ai salumi, fino al pollo alla parmigiana. Non so davvero cosa avrebbe fatto la nostra famiglia senza di lei. Ancora oggi si prende cura di noi come se fossimo bambini. La mia cugina più grande ha avuto una bambina l’anno scorso e, mentre tutti sono al lavoro, mia nonna rimane a casa volentieri ed entusiasta per badare alla piccola. Ha cresciuto due figli (mio padre e mio zio), quattro nipoti (i miei due cugini più grandi, mio fratello minore e me) e ora si sta dedicando al suo primo pronipote. È davvero una donna straordinaria che ha dato tantissimo affinché la sua famiglia potesse prosperare.

Joe DiMaggio è un apprendista in Information Technology presso Consulvation e si è laureato al New York Institute of Technology nel 2025 con un Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.

Nonna’s Kitchen

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / May 8, 2026 / Blog /

By Joe DiMaggio

My nonna (Santa DiMaggio) is a great lady who gave up her job to watch me and my cousins growing up. She sacrificed so much for us and allowed us to grow up with family rather than strangers in a day care. To this day she still makes us our favorite foods throughout the week. She brings us anything from pasta to cold cuts to chicken parm. I really don’t know what our family would have done without her. Even to this day she still takes care of us as if we were children. My oldest cousin had a baby girl last year and while everyone is at work my nonna willingly and excitedly stays home to watch the baby. She has raised two boys of her own ( my father and uncle), four grandkids ( my two older cousins, my younger brother, and myself), and now she is onto her first great grandchild. She truly is an amazing woman who has given a lot for her family to thrive.

Joe DiMaggio is an Information Technology Apprentice at Consulvation and graduated from New York Institute of Technology in 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology.

What the Woman in My Life Mean to Me

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / May 8, 2026 / Blog /

By Matthew Koopman

My mother, Ann, is one of the most amazing women I have known. She taught me everything I know about hard work and success. Since my mother started her own business at age 19, I learned firsthand from her what it takes to be successful. I am grateful to have a strong woman like this in my life to show me that hard work truly does pay off.

I owe a lot of my character and morals to my grandmother, Toni, since she practically raised me. Because my parents worked long days, my grandmother would come over and babysit me and my siblings five days a week, it was practically a full time job. Because of this, all the kids in my family call her Nanny. I will never forget the selflessness she showed in raising us. She taught me the importance of kindness and gratitude in life. I will forever be grateful for my Grandmother and her help in raising me.

My grandmother Vera passed away about 7 years ago but her affect on me has not faded at all. She was one of the nicest people I have ever met. She has shaped the way I treat others and shown me that kindness is truly one of the most important things in life. I also owe my love of food to her. She was one of the greatest cooks I have known, and has passed down this love of food to my whole family. My love of food and the importance of it in my life is due to her. I will always remember the holidays celebrated at her house and the amazing meals she made during them.

Matthew Koopman is a Help Desk Specialist at Consulvation and graduated from Marist College in 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity.

Cosa Significa per Me la Donna Della mia Vita

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / May 8, 2026 / Blog, Italian Translation /

Di Matthew Koopman

Mia madre, Ann, è una delle donne più straordinarie che abbia mai conosciuto. Mi ha insegnato tutto ciò che so sul duro lavoro e sul successo. Da quando mia madre ha avviato la sua attività all’età di 19 anni, ho imparato direttamente da lei cosa serve per avere successo. Sono grata di avere una donna forte come lei nella mia vita, che mi ha dimostrato che il duro lavoro ripaga davvero.

Devo gran parte del mio carattere e dei miei valori morali a mia nonna, Toni, poiché è stata lei a crescermi praticamente da sola. Dato che i miei genitori lavoravano tutto il giorno, mia nonna veniva a casa nostra cinque giorni alla settimana per badare a me e ai miei fratelli: era praticamente un lavoro a tempo pieno. Per questo motivo, tutti i bambini della mia famiglia la chiamano Nanny. Non dimenticherò mai l’altruismo che ha dimostrato nel crescerci. Mi ha insegnato l’importanza della gentilezza e della gratitudine nella vita. Le sarò per sempre grata per avermi aiutato a crescere.

Mia nonna Vera è morta circa 7 anni fa, ma il suo influsso su di me non è affatto svanito. Era una delle persone più gentili che abbia mai conosciuto. Ha plasmato il modo in cui tratto gli altri e mi ha mostrato che la gentilezza è davvero una delle cose più importanti nella vita. A lei devo anche il mio amore per il cibo. Era una delle cuoche più brave che abbia mai conosciuto e ha trasmesso questo amore per il cibo a tutta la mia famiglia. Il mio amore per il cibo e l’importanza che ha nella mia vita sono merito suo. Ricorderò per sempre le feste celebrate a casa sua e i pasti fantastici che preparava in quelle occasioni.

Matthew Koopman è uno specialista dell’Help Desk presso Consulvation e si è laureato al Marist College nel 2024 con una laurea in Cybersecurity.

Embracing the Italian Lifestyle for Holistic Health and Happiness

THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE FOUNDATION / April 24, 2026 / Blog /

My name is Marianna Cuomo Maier, and I am a founding member of the Emerging Leaders Council of the Italian Language Foundation. Professionally, I’m a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Sound Meditation Practitioner, and founder of Grata Wellness, a wellness practice with a mission to empower individuals to take daily actions that improve their lifestyle, boost confidence, and achieve their goals sustainably.

I partner with individuals and organizations to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and cultivate meaningful, sustainable well-being. Through personalized coaching, mindfulness practices, and immersive sound experiences, my work is about helping people reconnect with what matters most so they can thrive with more energy, alignment, and joy. I chose the name Grata inspired by the Italian root for gratitude, a powerful tool to shift our mindset and view life from a perspective of abundance. As a wellness expert, I’m inspired by the traditional Italian lifestyle that naturally embraces holistic health. Italians live vibrant, active lives with a focus on wholesome cuisine, consistent physical activity, leisure, regular social interaction, and joy.

In Italy, mealtime is about more than the cuisine. Food is generally locally sourced, prepared at home, and shared as a group. Research supports the health of the Mediterranean way of eating, embracing plant-based whole foods and healthy fats, proven to lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Many Italians live an active lifestyle and walk throughout their day. The Italian custom of una passeggiata, a leisurely walk, has numerous health benefits for mind and body. Rest and leisure are widely prioritized in Italian culture and are crucial to productivity and happiness. Perhaps nothing is more important in Italian culture than the people. Expressing love and affection and making time to nurture relationships are key.

Spring is a beautiful season to revisit these rhythms. As the days grow warmer and we find ourselves naturally drawn outside again, there is something in the season that echoes the Italian way of life: more walking, more gathering, more pausing to actually taste life. Rather than a full lifestyle overhaul, it is the small and consistent shifts that tend to create the most lasting change. Noticing how you move between work and rest, building in moments of stillness, and choosing one grounding practice each day, whether that is a walk, a few deep breaths, or a few quiet minutes with sound, can meaningfully support how you feel over time.

Sound meditation is one of the practices I have come to see as a natural complement to this philosophy. As a Sound Meditation Practitioner, I lead sound baths in New York City and virtually for individuals, private groups, and organizations. Sound has a unique ability to create space for stillness in a way that feels effortless, supportive of stress relief, focus, emotional balance, and rest. It is another way of honoring the body, the kind of care that Italians have long woven into everyday life without calling it wellness at all.

Each of us can strive to take time each day to focus on our mental and physical well-being. We can all gain inspiration from the Italian lifestyle to laugh a little more, keep things in perspective, and fully enjoy life’s pleasures.

For more personalized guidance, coaching, or to learn about sound bath offerings, please reach out at [email protected] or book a consultation to begin your wellness journey today.