Let's meet Veronica Carullo, the winner of the first Photo Contest organized on the Forum of community We at italiani.it titled "Your photos of Italy" and dedicated to shots of panoramas, glimpses, corners of our beautiful country. Veronica is the author and manager of itOrte and collaborates with itConflenti, she lives in Orte but is of Calabrian origins.
Hi Veronica, congratulations on winning the first italiani.it photo contest. Tell us a little about your story
Hello to all the readers of the network, I begin by thanking italiani.it for the space dedicated to me… it is truly an honor to have the opportunity to tell the public about the largest network of Italians in the world. What about me!? I've always had a hard time identifying myself. I don't like putting up labels. Each of us is what he wants to be, but above all he must feel free to express himself as he sees fit without fear of the judgment of others. I have chosen to do it through the world of communication. I attend the University of Digital Communication, Technologies and Cultures in Viterbo (I miss a few exams for the degree).
I was born as a blogger around the age of 22 thanks to the job opportunity, but above all to the growth given to me by italiani.it. At the age of 24, I launch into a new adventure: supporting and managing a company that operates in the construction sector together with my father. Today I am an entrepreneur, even if I still have many things to learn.
The winning photo was taken in Conflenti. Country of origin of your parents. Can you tell us your emotions while visiting the characteristic Calabrian village?
This question makes me smile. Anyone who knows me knows how attached I am to Conflenti and how much you love to go there. Whenever I can (even if only for a few days) I go back to the small Calabrian village. I believe that each of us should have a place to feel good, to find refuge when he feels the need, to simply be himself. Here, for me Conflenti is that place. It's a difficult link to explain in words and that's why I decided to tell it, to describe it with what I think I do best: photographing!
The winning photo of the contest does not represent just a space of Conflenti! It represents a state of mind, a moment of my search for simplicity. Sometimes you don't need to go very far to feel good, sometimes it doesn't take much. I am happy that he won.
It is said that those who visit Conflenti then suffer from a sort of "saudade". A sense of nostalgia that envelops even those who are not conflentese. Do you feel this feeling too?
If I feel homesick? All time! Conflenti is in my heart and as with all the things I believe in and care about, I wish him to shine and improve more and more. Everything that is beautiful has the right to be valued and told. Which is what we try to do with the italiani.it team.
You have been collaborating with italiani.it for some time. Tell us your experience within this large network
I have been part of the network for almost 4 years now italiani.it. I am grateful to the founders Gerardo and Paola for the opportunity, but above all for the trust placed in me. In recent years I have had the opportunity to get involved, I have grown professionally and humanly. I met a great working group. It is truly inspiring! italiani.it plays a great role in the development and enhancement of Italy and the success it is enjoying all over the world is the demonstration of how much we want to know, to preserve what is beautiful we have. I am author and manager of itOrte and collaborator of itConflenti.
I will never stop thanking all the people who, with photos, stories, decide to make Orte and Conflenti known to the whole world. Without them my work would make no sense.
Have you ever lived as an "Italian abroad"?
I traveled abroad, but I didn't have the experience of living there. It would be nice! Who knows, maybe in the future never say never.
Thanks and congratulations to Veronica!
