Vickie, Tomoko, Abdullah, Al Hakam, then Nicole, Fuat, Fahad, Abdulrahman—these are the names of my adventure companions whom I still carry in my heart, even months after that wonderful experience in Oxfordshire, and with whom I continue to stay in touch almost every week. Because, in the end, as The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry reminds us, human relationships offer a value that goes beyond the tangible. They are the greatest source of fulfillment. They are what allow us to keep our eyes bright even in the darkness, to never stop seeking the light amid the shadows we so often carry in our hearts and see around us. To lift our gaze from the ground, upward—not to escape, but to resist the temptation to remain lying on the floors of our fears. Because today, this is the real danger: being held back by our own fears. Trusting others, getting to know them, listening to them, staying in touch despite the distance—this is the best way not to remain trapped in our own thoughts. To open ourselves to the world.
It is not always easy, of course. Especially because so much has happened in these past months. And yet, beyond strengthening human connections and deepening my understanding of different countries, that month in Wheatley helped me in many other ways. First and foremost, of course, it improved my English level. I realized this over the summer when, after returning to Italy, I began writing my master’s thesis on Rethinking Industrial and Trade Policy in English. Here it is an abstract of my thesis:
As the world evolves, the ways in which states think and act are also undergoing transformation. In response to the multiple geopolitical and economic crises, states have reintroduced elements traditionally associated with industrial and trade policy. The objective of our research project is, therefore, to understand how this resurgence of industrial and trade policy is unfolding, particularly in light of the relationship between public authorities and private actors. In the first chapter, we defined the tools and objectives of industrial and trade policy through a systematic review of the literature. Subsequently, to assess whether and how public intervention in the economy is functioning, the second chapter focuses on the decline of the European automotive sector, analyzing the mistakes made by both the European Union and the companies directly involved. Finally, we placed ourselves in the perspective of those impacted by this shift. Hence, the third chapter is dedicated to a series of interviews conducted with figures from institutional, academic, and entrepreneurial backgrounds. Far from advocating either complete state interventionism or unrestrained neoliberalism, these perspectives help us grasp the dual necessity of capable and conscientious private actors in a market economy and the importance of forward-looking and proactive public support in times of crisis, such as the present.
These are topics I am now exploring on a professional level as well, ever since—on January 7—I started working for the Vatican media, particularly in the international editorial office of the Holy See’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano. Here, once again, the experience with the Monte San Martino Trust proved invaluable. Firstly, because in our building we have people from all over the world as L’Osservatore Romano is published in seven different languages and Vatican News in more than fifties! Japan, Korea, Russia, Ukraine, France, Romania, Moldova, Armenia, China, Vietnam, Congo and so on: yes, English is necessary at “Palazzo Pio” in Rome!
Moreover, my British experience helped me approach geopolitical phenomena from a human perspective. This is not something to take for granted, as one often gets caught up in analysis and observation from above, without actually getting close to others, stepping into the shoes of ordinary people, listening to their breath, wearing out the soles of one’s shoes in search of stories—not just facts. This is even more crucial today when merely reporting what happens in the world is no longer enough—social media already does that in real time. What truly matters is explaining how and why certain changes are happening, empathizing not only with those making decisions but also with those who are affected by them.
Being in places like school or house with people so different yet so open to meeting others was, therefore, even more valuable. It allowed me to find not only human beings eager for dialogue but true friends with whom I could chat, joke, exchange ideas, and, who knows, perhaps meet again one day in their distant yet fascinating countries. On one condition: that you are not afraid, but instead let go, be calm and serene, knowing that we are there to make mistakes and to learn, that we will not be judged but will be listened to with curiosity because we have a story to tell—and we must do the same for others. When you decide to set off on a journey, it is natural to leave behind some of the comforts of your own life. It’s part of the experience. But we must not let ourselves be trapped by the pursuit of comfort. Otherwise, we would lose the true meaning of the journey. And that must never happen—especially in a special place like Wheatley.