Thursday, July 30, 2009

The calm before the storm (?)

Despite the “big” event, the past months have been relatively quiet. With a bit of luck, I have managed not to travel since March, and the reduced numbers of days “out on mission” have allowed us to enter in a sort of ‘pleasant’ routine.

Despite all the uncertainties and questions regarding the future that our profession brings along, I have to say that we have started to see each other getting settled, at least for the next three-four years, here in DC. And we liked this feeling.

However, as a bolt from the blue, the possibility of moving again broke this (alas seeming) quietness.

On the one hand, the excitement for the perspective of a new experience - always an opportunity of growth for us, and (in a way) always the leitmotif of our past choices. On the other hand, the fear of breaking this hardly conquered peace and routine…

Whatever the choice will be eventually, the next days (or weeks) promise to bring a storm in our hearts and in our minds…

India or not India...

... that is the question...

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Les M&M's (temporarily) part from each other

Mathilde left today to DRC ("Democratic" Republic of Congo) in search of the lost gorillas.

Matteo remains in DC (District of Columbia) to guard the property.

Les M&M's will reunite again in a couple of weeks.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Chers Mathilde et Matteo... (now in Italian)


Chers Mathilde et Matteo, Carissimi Mathilde et Matteo, Dear Mathilde and Matteo:

La première question, la prima questione, the first issue,

che mi sono posto pensando al tradizionale discorso del ‘padre della sposa’ che dovevo pronunciare questa sera, é stata : dans quelle langue ? wich language ? quella lingua ?

L’ospitalitá vorrebbe che, essendo la famiglia di Matteo venuta da Milano, io mi rivolgessi a loro in italiano. Purtroppo la mia conoscenza della ‘bella lingua’ é estremamente limitata... mi sono infatti fermato 25 anni fa al capitolo 8 del manuale di conversazione ‘Assimil’, e non saprei bene come mettere in un unico discorso la frase:

“Buon giorno , sono venuto con la macchina” (Bonjour, je suis venu en voiture) con

“si è sposato con una straniera” (il s'est marié avec une étrangère)

per la quale, tra l’altro, bisogna arrivare alla lezione 28.

Il rimpianto Pierre Daninos notava tra l’altro che i manuali di conversazione turisitca parlano di viaggi che diventano ben presto incubi: il viaggiatore perde il suo treno, si fa rubare i bagagli, e penando si mette alla ricerca di una farmacia, di un meccanico, o di un medico... quando non di un posto di polizia...

Di fatto, il miglior modo per imparare le lingue é innamorarsi di una ragazza straniera, e Matteo ce ne ha dato la magnifica dimostrazione.

Avrei potuto o dovuto rivolgermi a voi in inglese, perché é in questa lingua che i nostri piccioncini si parlano, e perché qualcuno di voi ha attraversato l’Atlantico.

“Welcome to all of you, friends of Matteo and Mathilde, coming fom United States of America, we are so happy to receive you in our old family house…”

(“Benvenuti a tutti voi, amici di Matteo e Mathilde che venite dagli Stati Uniti; siamo felici di accogliervi nella nostra casa di famiglia…”)

Ma oltre al fatto che avete giá avuto un matrimonio in inglese a Washington, un tale discorso avrebbe bisogno di sfumature che, come potete constatare, non padroneggio nella lingua di Shakespeare, e mi rivolgo quindi a voi in francese, confidando all’assistenza di benevoli traduttori per trasmettere l’essenziale del mio discorso a quelli che non riescono ad afferarlo.

Allora, siate i benvenuti a questa cena che celebra un’unione internazionale.

Mathilde, come sua sorella maggiore, é andata a cercare al di fuori delle nostre frontiere la sua anima gemella. Il nostro orgoglio nazionale non ne soffrirá, tanto siamo contenti di queste scelte, di questa scelta.

Benvenuto, caro Matteo, nella nostra famiglia. Ci conosciamo bene adesso, e voi vi conoscete ancora meglio.

Mathilde, sedotta dall’ ‘Indiana Jones’ incontrato sulle piste etiopi ha poi visto che come tutti gli uomini alla fine non detesti il comfort. Dal tuo lato, hai visto come l’ ‘avventuriera’ decisa e volontaria coltiva sin dall’infanzia il perfezionismo, una forma d’angoscia con cui non é sempre facile covivere.

“Out of Africa, there is home, sweet home…”

Questa ‘cavaliera’ emerita, che ha fatto le piú spettacolari cadute da cavallo della famiglia, dopo averci stupito per la sua disinvoltura delle sue acrobazie, ha poi sempre cercato di essere la migliore: prima della classe, lavoratrice instancabile, giudiziosa, apparentemente senza paura.

Ma, tu lo sai, ella nasconde la sua paura per l’aereo, dissimula la sua angoscia quando deve parlare in pubblico, si dispera quando ció che ottiene non corrisponde esattamente alle sue attese !

É questa la sfida che rappresenta il vostro matrimonio: Mathilde che puó camminare per delle mezze giornate intere alla ricerca di un paio di scarpe, potrá provarne a dozzine senza decidersi.

Adesso ti ha scelto, vi siete scelti, e noi non possiamo dunque essere consapevoli che tu sei l’uomo con tutte le qualitá, quello che non ti resterá che provare, senza timori, nei 70 anni di vita in comune che vi attendono, stando alle statistiche di longevitá della vostra generazione.

Ovviamente Sophie ed io non saremo che i testimoni della prima parte di questo lungo e, ne sono sicuro, felice cammino.

Ho fiducia che Mathilde ti ricorderá i tuoi doveri, come ha saputo, sempre con umorismo e amore, ricordare i suoi a suo padre, allorquando riteneva ch'egli facesse venir meno la propria disponibilitá alla famiglia, che mettesse in pericolo la sua salute e quella delle persone che lo circondavano fumando piú di quanto non fosse ragionevole, o semplicemente quando riteneva egli si desse troppe arie durante la sua presidenza del collegio forense…

Per contro, ho fiducia in te che saprai risponderle, con umorismo e amore, e con quella flemma italiana che ci hai fatto scoprire...

Permettetemi un minuto d’emozione per richiamare in questo memento di gioia i tuoi nonni, Yves et Poupette, che non hanno piú l’etá per i grandi viaggi e se ne dispiacciono, ma che sono qui con noi nello spirito dai bordi del Bacino d’Arcachon, e Grand-père et Mamou che dall’alto, ne sono sicuro, benedicono la vostra unione.

Un ultimo desiderio infine: c’é un luogo in Francia che assomiglia alle montagne dell’Etiopia che vi ha fatto incontrare: l’Auvergne.

E allora, Mathilde e Matteo, quando avrete finito il vostro giro del mondo, sappiate che vi attendiamo nella casa dei Grands Moulins, perché diventi una vera casa di famiglia!

Levo il calice al vostro amore, alla nostra famiglia che da oggi si allarga, a tutte le coppie italo-francesi (e ce ne sono di famose!), e alla gioia che ci avete donato e a quella che ci donerete.

A l’amour, amore, love !

Chers Mathilde et Matteo...


Upon great request, the integral version of the Monsieur Iweins' "speech to the newlyweds" (*) (soon the transaltion in Italian and English).


Chers Mathilde et Matteo, Carissimi Mathilde et Matteo, Dear Mathilde and Matteo:

La première question, la prima questione, the first issue,

que je me suis posée en pensant au traditionnel discours du père de la mariée que je devais prononcer ce soir, a été : dans quelle langue ? wich language ? quella lingua ?

La famille de Matteo nous a fait l’amitié de venir de Milan et la courtoisie voudrait que je m’adresse à elle en italien… Hélas ma connaissance de la “bella lingua” est très réduite…je me suis arrèté il y a 25 ans au 8ème chapitre du manuel de conversation ASSIMIL, et je ne vois pas comment placer dans un tel discours :

“Buon giorno , sono venuto con la macchina” (Bonjour, je suis venu en voiture)

et il faut arriver à la leçon 28 pour trouver :

“si è sposato con una stranier” (il s'est marié avec une étrangère)

Le regretté Pierre DANINOS notait d’ailleurs que les manuels de conversation touristiques relataient des voyages qui tournaient très vite au cauchemar: le voyageur ratait son train, se faisait voler ses bagages, et à peine arrivé se mettait en quête d’une pharmacie, d’un garagiste ou d’un médecin…quand ce n’était pas du poste de police.

De fait, la meilleure façon d’apprendre les langues est de tomber amoureux d’une jeune fille étrangère, Mattéo nous en a fait la magnifique démonstration.

J’aurais aussi pu ou dû m’adresser à vous en anglais puisque c’est dans cette langue que nos tourtereaux se parlent et que quelques uns d’entre vous ont traversé l’atlantique,

“Welcome to all of you, friends of Matteo and Mathilde, coming fom United States of America, we are so happy to receive you in our old family house…”

Mais, outre le fait que vous avez déjà eu un mariage en anglais à Washington, un tel discours nécessite des nuances que, comme vous pouvez le constater, je ne maîtrise pas dans la langue de Shakespeare et je m’adresserai donc à vous en français, faisant confiance aux traducteurs bénévoles de l’assistance pour transmettre l’essentiel de mon propos à ceux qui ne peuvent le saisir.

Alors, soyez tous les bienvenus à ce dîner qui célèbre une union internationale.

Mathilde, comme sa sœur aînée, est allée chercher hors de nos frontières ce supplément d’âme. Notre orgueil national ne saurait en souffrir, tant nous sommes heureux de ces choix, de ce choix.

Bienvenue, cher Matteo, dans notre famille.

Nous nous connaissons bien maintenant et vous vous connaissez mieux encore.

Mathilde séduite par le baroudeur rencontré sur les pistes éthiopiennes sait que comme tous les hommes tu ne détestes finalement pas le confort. De ton coté tu as appris combien l’aventurière décidée et volontaire cultive depuis la petite enfance le perfectionnisme, forme d’angoisse qui n’est pas toujours facile à vivre.

“Out of Africa, there is home, sweet home…”

Cette cavalière émérite, qui a fait les chutes de cheval les plus spectaculaires de la famille, après nous avoir épaté par son aisance en voltige cherche d’abord à être la meilleure : 1ère en classe, travailleuse, appliquée, sage, apparemment sans peur.

Mais, tu le sais, elle cache sa peur en avion, elle dissimule son angoisse quand elle doit s’exprimer en public, elle est désespérée quand quoi que ce soit ne correspond pas à son exacte attente !

C’est dire le challenge que représente votre mariage : Mathilde qui peut marcher des après-midi entières à la recherche de la paire de chaussure pourra en essayer des dizaines de paires sans se décider.

Or elle t’a choisi, vous vous êtes choisis et nous ne pouvions donc que savoir que tu étais l’homme de toutes les qualités, ce qu’il ne te restera qu’à prouver, sans faiblir, pendant les 70 ans de vie commune qui vous attendent si l’on en croit les statistiques des assureurs quant à la longévité de votre génération.
Logiquement Sophie et moi ne serons les témoins que de la première partie de cette existence longue et, j’en suis sûr, heureuse.

Je fais confiance à Mathilde pour te rappeler tes devoirs, comme elle a su, toujours avec humour et amour, les rappeler à son père lorsqu’elle estimait qu’il manquait de disponibilité pour sa famille, qu’il mettait en péril sa santé et celle de son entourage en fumant plus que de raison, ou tout simplement qu’il avait pris la "grosse tête" pendant son Bâtonnat…

Je te fais tout à fait confiance pour lui répondre avec humour et amour, et ce flegme italien que tu m’as fait découvrir…

Permettez-moi une minute d’émotion pour associer à ce moment de bonheur tes grands parents, Yves et Poupette qui n’ont plus l’âge des grands déplacements et qui le regrettent mais qui sont en communion avec nous depuis les bords du Bassin d’Arcachon, Grand-père et Mamou aussi qui de la haut j’en suis sûr bénissent votre union.

Un dernier souhait enfin : Il y a un endroit en France qui ressemble aux montagnes d’Ethiopie qui vous ont fait vous rencontrer, c’est l’Auvergne.

Alors Mathilde et Matteo quand vous aurez achevé votre tour du monde, ainsi que votre famille et tous vos amis, sachez que nous vous attendons dans la maison des grands moulins, pour qu’elle devienne une vraie maison de famille !

Je lève mon verre à votre amour, à notre famille qui s’élargit aujourd’hui, à tous les couples franco-italiens (et il y en a de célèbres) à la joie que vous nous faites et à celle que vous vous donnerez :

A l’amour, amore, love !

(*) Merci à papà Iweins pour ces beaux mots...

Sunday, July 19, 2009

More videos available: M&M's civil wedding and the post-wedding interview on Channel 9

More videos available on line!

For those who have missed our civil wedding in DC or our post-wedding TV interview, please check:

- Interview on Channel 9: http://www.wusa9.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=immersiveplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=408ab858ca54418acad4cbe79ea6f2ee57c1dcf7&maven_referralObject=1101954445&maven_referrer=staf (pls, be patient, it may take a bit to download), and

- Civil Ceremony: http://gallery.me.com/debrinhah#100021 (super-obrigado a Deborah).

More pictures and videos will be posted soon. Please, send us the ones you wish to share!

Friday, July 17, 2009

In an Octopus' Garden...

We like to be,
under the sea,
in an Octopus' Garden
in the shade...

(Many thanks to Enrico for having sent us the pictures of our scuba-dive in Salina).

Thursday, July 16, 2009

10 reasons why we loved the Aeolian Islands

(1) Because the smells of these islands brought me back to my childhood (Matteo)

(2) Because I ate the best pizza in my life (Mathilde)

(3) Because although I wanted to go to Antarctica for our honey-moon, in truth I missed the Mediterranean in summer (Matteo)

(4) Because the water was like in the Caribbean (Mathilde)

(5) Because I could finally taste the meals described in Camilleri’s books (Matteo)

(6) Because I enjoyed very very much my first dive in the Mediterranean Sea (Mathilde)

(7) Because although I travelled all around the world, it was my first time to Sicily (Matteo)

(8) Because I got excited when we reached the top of the volcano at the sunset (Mathilde)

(9) Because I enjoyed the feeling of being "on the last island before the end of the world" I felt in Alicudi (Matteo)

(10)Because it was our honeymoon (M&M’s)

(Pictures available at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mmmarchisio)

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The top hit of the wedding "Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte-Ooo" soon on-line!

The top-hit of the wedding "Oh-o-oh, Mathild'Matte-Ooo" will soon be released. Thank-you very much to Laura, Mathilde, Muriel, Constance, Jean-Marc, Hortense et Victoire for this beautiful present.

In the meantime, below the lyrics of the song:

Vous vous êtes connus en Ethiopie,
Les fauves, les missions, les safaris,
Et, soudain vous, bravo…

Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte-Ooo...

La différence c’est l’harmonie :
Elle c’est la France, lui c’est l’Italie,
Un beau mélange, chapeau…

Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte-Ooo...

Elle c’est un vrai rayon de soleil,
Lui en permanence sur elle il veille,
Et il l’a dans la peau…

Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte-Ooo...

Puis ils sont passés outre Atlantique :
Une nouvelle vie, direction l’Amérique,
Et un p’tit nid tout chaud…

Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte-Ooo...

Avec elle on ne peut pas s’ennuyer…
Mathilde… Mathilde… Mathilde… Mathilde…
Elle a toujours un truc à raconter,
Et lui toujours là pour l’écouter, voyez comme ils sont beaux….

Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte-Ooo...

Sept ans de rire, sept ans d’amour fou,
Ca y est elle lui a mis la corde au cou pour que ce jour soit trop beau…

Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte-Ooo...

Paris-Milan-Washington et après ?
Nous on aimerait que vous soyez tout près,
Ce serait un beau cadeau…

Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte… Mathild’Matte-Ooo,
Ce serait un beau cadeau,
Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte… Mathild’Matte-Ooo...

Famille, amis nous sommes là ce soir,
Heureux mariés, on voulait vous voir,
Ici on vous aime trop…
Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte… Mathild’Matte-Ooo...
Ici on vous aime trop…
Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte-Ooo...
Ici on vous aime trop…
Oh-o-oh, Mathild’Matte-Ooo...

Les M&M's on YouTube: a couple of videos available (and pls, send us yours!)

Thanks to Emanuele for capturing Mathilde’s entrance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY_q7An4q0I&feature=channel_page,

and to Chiara for recording the Opening Waltz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_ySvnQmfhY.

Please, send us your videos, and we will post them on YouTube.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

The results of the quiz “How well you know Matteo & Mathilde”. And the winner is…


Upon great request, here below the results of the quiz “How well do you know Matteo & Mathilde?”(*):

(1) The sum of the ages of M&M is:
64 (44 Matteo and 17 Mathilde, but I got the authorization of Mathilde’s parents for the marriage…)

(2) The sum of the weights of M&M is : 111 (To avoid the divorce, I won’t declare my weight)

(3) If you went for dinner chez M&M, they would cook: Pasta pomodoro e melanzane + tarte a l’oignon (If you don’t, it’s probably because we ordered take away food pretending we cooked it)

(4) Matteo’s preferred comics is: Calvin & Hobbes (Fabio, the answer "Asterix" was considered valid as well by the Jury)

(5) Mathilde’s favorite movie is: La Cite de la peur (I admit, this was difficult for the Italians…)

(6) Which place has neither been visited by Matteo nor by Mathilde? Poland (but it’s never too late)

(7) M&M's first kiss was in: Well, you all know the answer...

(8) If they had to move tomorrow to another place, they would certainly take with them? Necklaces and CDs (sorry mum, not the little Chinese elephant, even though – I swear – I love it)

(9) How old would be Mathilde’s nephew if he was born on Mathilde’s graduation day? 5 years (well, I trust the Jury’s maths…)

(10)In his lifetime Matteo has eaten at least 100 kg of ice cream of this flavour: Strawberry (well, you all know now, after the wedding cake...)

(11)Mathilde almost died of a heart attack when: She met face to face with a hungry bear (though, to be honest, it was never proved it was a bear, nor it was hungry...)

(12)If M&M got married at 3 years of age, their best man/maid of honor would have been: Bubone & Sylvestre (in fact I initially asked Bubone, but he couldn’t come…)

And the winners are:

- Winner, with 10/12: Tavolo Eliche (Constance, Pauline, Veronique, Pierre-Antoine, Jean-Marc, Victor, Geoffrey)

- 2nd (ex-equo), with 8/12: Tavolo Tagliatelle (Mamma, Max, Enrico, Elisabetta, Roy, and Regi); and Tavolo Orecchiette (Chiara, Elena, Elisa, Edoardo, Mauro, Emanuele, Gianni, Rex, Hoai)

(*) A special thanks to Silvia for organizing it.

Where on earth did les M&M's go on their "secret" honey-moon???

Eolie (Îles Éolienne, Aeolian Islands)*.

Pictures available on line at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mmmarchisio

Participate to our photo contest by indicating your favorite picture in the following categories:

- “Best Mathilde”
- “Best Matteo”
- “Best M&M’s”
- “Funniest picture”


(*) A special thanks to Enrico.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Wedding pictures available: look at them at http://picasaweb.google.com/mmmarchisio (and pls, send us your pictures!)

We have created a common space to collect and share our wedding pictures. Please, visit our Picasaweb at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mmmarchisio

Please, help us in enriching and keeping this space updated by sending (via Picasaweb, Flickr, email, CD, DVD, etc.) your "best shots" of the wedding. We will upload them in this common space.

Also, please, help us in selecting the 50 pictures to print by voting:

- the “Best Mathilde”
- the “Best Matteo”
- the “Best M&M’s”

- the “Funniest Picture”

Friday, July 10, 2009

Thank-you!

Dear family and friends,

While awaiting the “official” thanks to be sent (please, be patient!), we would like to “unofficially” thank-you for having shared our special day with us. You really made it very very special.

- Thank-you for coming from far and near (and for those who didn’t manage to come, thanks for having been so close from far away);
- Thank-you for your logistical and emotional support, at any time before and during our wedding;
- Thank-you for your gifts, emails, cards, postcards, sms, messages on facebook, telephone calls, words of sharing and encouragement… we keep all of them!
- In sum, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!!!

I know many of you are waiting to see the pictures and videos of the wedding, know where the hell the “secret” honeymoon was, get to know the results (and the winner) of the quiz that was organized during the dinner, finally get to know what Monsieur Iweins’ said during his speech, etc., etc.

Please, give us a few days and be assured we’ll share all this.

Meanwhile, please, feel free to periodically check our two blogs:
http://www.matteoandmathilde.org/ and www.zankyou.com/en/blog/matteoemathilde

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Les M&M's (finally) got married

On a sunny afternoon, on June 27, in Montgeroult, Paris...