JUST like their counterparts in virtually all parts of the world, elementary, high school and college students here in Italy also have their allocated one-week spring break here. For students coming in from the United States and Spain, you can spend one quality vacation here in Italy. Do witness the different native flowers here blossom in various colors throughout the season. Being a Mediterranean country, there are nice flowers, trees and plants thriving here in Italy. Among others, there are dwarf palms, myrtles, laurels, junipers, corks, holm oaks and evergreens existing here.

Spring in 2008 also coincides with the Lenten season for the Christians. And for the many people here in Italy who are predominantly Catholic (Rome is its headquarters); this is also a time for many pilgrims all over the world who will deluge on this country. And that translates to many euros flooding the Italian economy via air fare, hotel stays, food, shopping sales and other secondary earnings caused by the religious tourists.

As spring ushers in this year, one piece of good news that has developed is the recovery all over Europe of stolen Italian artifacts such as goblets and Pompeiian vases. These artifacts were found in Brussels, Geneva and Milan due to a painstaking investigation conducted by the Italian police. With the recovery of the artifacts, many archaeological buffs are expected to go to Italy to view these artifacts once more in their rightful display place – the museum. Another artifact – in the field of architectural sculpture – will rise in Florence thanks largely to Michigan native Jason Arkles who designs the statue of St. Mark in a church in that city.

The government of caretaker Prime Minister Romano Prodi has not collapsed despite his decision to resign pending someone to relieve him. His Cabinet has remained intact and the tourism ministry of Spain has worked hand in hand with its central bank to monitor the economy given the assumption of an impending recession in the United States. With close guidance from the European Union central bank, the central bank of Italy is giving the go-ahead for the merger of small banks in the country so that they can together forge a stronger banking system to counter possible repercussions of an impending recession across the Atlantic in the United States. Banks expected to merge are Sanpaolo and Intessa as well as Capitalia and UniCredit. Meanwhile, Milan’s very own Banca Popolare di Milano is scouting for partners.

ITALY’s state economists remain bullish in 2008 as it has maintained a GDP growth forecast of 1.0 percent. Italy’s economic growth is not due to the fact that the Italians have done nothing. As usual, tourism is one primary source of Italian economic growth. After all, Italy hosts the Vatican, the smallest nation in the world and the only nation in the world located within a city, Rome. The talk of the town right now is about an Italian honeymoon for French President Nicholas Sarkozy and his fiancée Carla Bruni. Of course, everybody knows that Carla is an Italian and Sarkozy has already made reservations to a country house near Verona. Although splendid, the country house is actually very Spartan and the environment there is an aura of natural serenity. There are even reports that Sarkozy and Carla were already married sometime last week and the witness of the marriage is none other than the prime minister of Spain.

Now let us understand the views of the people in Italy in 2008. In past years and even as recently as 2007, Italians have always been conservative and thoroughly following the tenets of Roman Catholicism where most of the country belongs to. (After all, Roman Catholicism has its headquarters in the Vatican.) But just this year, Italians have tended to become more liberal in their views of just about anything. For example, they have now embraced more favorably on the idea of stem cell research. In fact, aside from being the fashion capital on earth, Milan has now agreed to host one of the facilities of Seattle-based Cell Therapeutics, a leading DNA research company in the United States. In fact, Italian investors have agreed to pour in capital for the research facility in Milan.

But not all Italians are liberal by nature. They still pose heads which can turn sideways if needed. For example, the Italian government of Romano Prodi has tied up with the United Nations in providing humanitarian efforts in areas in southern Lebanon that were destroyed during the 2007 war against Israel. Along with the consent of the Lebanese, the Italians have also agreed to stay in the northern part of the country to help in peacekeeping efforts following the deadlock of their government.

In Rome, meet Graziano Cecchini – a stunt artist. Graziano was the artist who released half a million plastic colored balls from Piazza di Spagna to La Barcaccia fountain making the whole thing look as if multicolored paint was spilled over the plaza. The whole thing was caught on video by a helicopter chartered by Cecchini so if you want to buy, download or rent the video, proceeds will go to Cecchini of course who has tendered part of his money to buy for the 500,000 plastic balls. It can be recalled that Cecchini was also the one responsible for dyeing the water in Trevi Fountain also in Rome as red last October 2007.

For the more traditional art, you should head to the spectacular Venice which has some of the most beautiful architecture in the world. Despute being so extravagant in it’s surroudnings, a weekend exploring Venice need not be expensive. Hotels in Venice cater for every budget and as far as flights go, looking for budget airline offers can get you to this beautiful Italian city sooner than you think. Be sure to see the famous St Mark’s Square, go on a gondola and dine on the waterfront. However, don’t forget that Venice has much more than the known toursit activities - traditional food, nightlife and shows are always worth seeing an will give a unique touch to your holiday.

Italy is so unique, and the life here of such a good quality, it is no wonder tat after the holiday, visitors choose to come back - sometimes even to live (it is well known George Clooney has a holiday home here)! If you choose an area wit little industry (or perhaps with only business during the summer months), you must be creative with regards to earning money. Giving one to one English class is always an option - Italian people are famously open to new culture and ways of life and thus there are many potential students! Other options include domestic work and childcare. Of course, the better your Italian, the better your chances of integrating and finding work. It really is a beautiful language and given the country has so much to offer, one very much worth while learning!

THE Christmas Eve midnight mass has already been officiated by Pope Benedict XVI and what Rome residents and visitors are looking forward right now are the New Year midnight mass to usher in 2008. That and varieties of other enjoyable events mark the revelry in various sites in Italy so stay with me as we begin to unravel on what has transpired in Italy in 2007 and what to expect in the country in 2008.

Of course, the most that Italians are looking forward to this Valentines of 2008 is the movie Jumper, the only Hollywood production which has been allowed to shoot at the Colloseum. The movie stars Hayden Christensen of Star Wars fame opposite Samuel L. Jackson. The movie is directed by Doug Liman who is famous for megging The Bourne Identity, the very first in the series which made Matt Damon a household name.

Another piece of news dominating the headlines as Italy waits for 2008 to unfold is the proposed buyout of flag carrier Alitalia to…dig this…foreign investors! It’s not as if Italy is waiving its patriotism altogether, it’s actually for the good of the country. This is one hefty piece of news as it means that foreigners are still bullish on the Italian economy in 2008 even though there are really serious concerns that the credit crunch currently befalling in the United States will have a repercussion on the global economy as a whole, including that of Italy and the rest of mainland Europe.

Even with the proposed buyout of Alitalia, we cannot doubt the patriotism of Italians. After all, Italy is a relatively new republic at the turn of the century but its traces as a majestic Roman empire has long been there way before Jesus Christ was born. It’s just that for practical reasons, Italians need to connect to other peoples in the world and one of those things is opening up even its Italian-born businesses to foreign investors. Besides, Italians have been used to foreigners visiting their shores. They have not only been enchanted with Venice, the only city on earth sitting on a lagoon and the only remaining car-free city in the world, as well as Milan, the fashion capital of the world, Rome is also host to the Vatican City, visited by foreigners 365 days a year because of its being the center of Roman Catholicism.

In the world of sport where football is a passion here as it is all over Europe, AC Milan got the Champions League title last May and then the Club World Cup just recently in December. The streak is expected to continue by next year. That’s when Milan is not only dominating the fashion industry in Europe but is also dominating the football world by storm. See? The patriotism in Italians still prevails after all despite the purported buyout of its flag carrier, the Alitalia. After all, who can forget the movie Jumper?

With low cost travel at its best ever rates, you really do have a choice for New Year - your plans could take you throughout Europe, not just limited to Italy for NYE celebrations or the sport watching as discussed above. For those who do love sports, they often take interest in the gambling side involved too, guessing winners, goal scorers…Well, all this can be applied to a casino experience (which, when talking about New Year’s Eve, can be a fun and glamorous adventure!). Big European cities such as Madrid are rivalling Las Vegas for their attractions - after your Italian experience, why not stay in the Med but see how Spain’s “juegos de casino” appeal? You could even make it your new year’s resolution to practise online throughout the year to really “wow” your friends when you go to a real casino at the end of the year!