Articles written by Giovanni Di Lago

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About me - Giovanni Di Lago

Giovanni Di Lago is a former international travel professional and Japanese marketing specialist. He spent more than 15 years in the tourism industry, 7 years of which focused on travel to and from Japan. He has written and edited publications covering foreign

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Food & Drink > Dining Etiquette Beginner's guide to eating sushi: 1 of 5
The Many Faces and Facets of Sushi (Bonus Section: Sushi-Bar Lingo AKA "Table Top Japanese 101")1. Sushi: What It ISN'T.Sushi is NOT Japanese food. (What?!?) Well, at least not in its original form. The term "sushi" refers to any dish containing "sumeshi", or rice mixed with vinegar. Furthermore, sushi (or "sumeshi") did not ... More..
Food & Drink > Ethnic & International Foods Tips for making sushi: 2 of 9
"Rolling Your Own" - Tips For Making Sushi-Maki Rolls @ Home (Part 1)Various directions for making sushi rice exist online, with slight variations. However, there is one pointer that is CRITICAL to making great-tasting sushi rice, and it has nothing to do with "how expensive" your rice is, or how fancy your rice cooker is.It'... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Asian Culture Differences between Asian and Western cultures: 4 of 16
We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Subarashii New Year...?Japan's Winter Holidays ExplainedSuppose you're tired of the traditional American merchandising onslaught that occurs each Christmas (or more appropriately, just after each Thanksgiving). You think, "Maybe I should grab one of those discount round-trip airfares to Tok... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Asian Culture A guide to modern Japanese culture: 5 of 11
Japan: From Ancient Isolation to Modern IntegrationA Summary of Japanese HistoryDuring the time in which our world was being constantly explored by fabled men and their sailing crews, Japan remained for the most part an unseen gem. The society of this period was a closed one, and few "gaijin" (foreigners) dared to venture ont... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Learning a foreign language: 6 of 11
Fun With Language! * Italiano * Part One(Divertimento Con la Lingua! Italiano)Italian Phrases You Hope You'll Never Need On That Trip to Italy AKA "Italian Humor at the Expense of the Stereotypical American Tourist"(Chiamato anche: umorismo italiano per gli stereotipati turisti americani.)Cari amici americani, (Dear American ... More..
Relationships & Family > Successful Dating Dating tips for a successful relationship: 27 of 46
Get Cookin', Stud! Romantic Dining and How To Pull It Off @ Home (For Men)For centuries man (and woman) have scavenged in search of that "secret ingredient" that would assist in liberating the person of their affection from their inhibitions. Chocolate, oysters, strawberries - ask a million people, get a million answers. But ... More..
Food & Drink > Diet, Health & Organic Foods How food enhances our lives: 20 of 25
Let's use that amazing imagination of yours for just a moment.You are invited to a celebration of your senses - a fanatic, frantic festival, if you will - each and every day for the rest of your life. Surrounded by taste and textures, scents and shapes; seduced by aromas that beckon your senses to "come, come, just a little c... More..
Personal Finance > Banking Basics The history of banking: 5 of 5
Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena - The Original "Old School" BankLow-interest consumer lending. A customer-friendly application process. Fully ensured deposit accounts. Localized decisions. Innovative services. What more do you need in a bank?Try almost 2000 branches and over 500 years of history. And it helps if you speak a b... More..
Arts & Humanities > Origins & Firsts in History History of the bank: 3 of 3
Banking From The Beginning: The Original "Old School" Bank -Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (Tuscany, Italy)Think carefully - what attributes would the "bank of your dreams" possess? Low-interest consumer lending? A customer-friendly application process? Fully ensured deposit accounts? Perhaps localized decision-making? Innov... More..