My Journey to Riviera Walk and Talk: Unlock Language, Culture and Hiking Adventures in Liguria
Growing up in a small town near Chiavari in the beautiful Tigullio area, in the province of Genoa (Italy), I mostly went along with the quiet rhythm of small-town life. So, what’s the story behind Riviera Walk and Talk?
The truth is, I never quite felt in sync with the world around me. I was drawn to different things – especially languages. They felt like a way out, or maybe a way into something else. A way to explore.
During my university years, my interest for other cultures took on new depth. I studied at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, on a course with a confusing name but an unforgettable mix: anthropology, sociolinguistics, development economics and more. It was the early 2000s, and coming across concepts like ethnocentrism, globalisation and imagined identities gave shape to things I’d always felt but hadn’t yet put into words.
The turning point came during my final year when I studied abroad in Denmark as an exchange student. I suddenly found myself surrounded by people from all over the world – and that’s when my language skills really took off. More than that, I experienced first-hand how much we learn through everyday interactions, not textbooks.
That year opened the door to many more. I went on to spend years living and working abroad, constantly learning from the cultures and people around me. And along the way, I realised something essential: language learning thrives in motion, in connection, in the real world – not necessarily in a classroom.
Eventually, all those threads – my love for languages, my years abroad, and my experience as a language acquisition teacher – began to weave into something new. A few years after returning to Liguria, while still teaching, I started training as a hiking guide simply because I loved being outdoors. Around the same time, I found myself going on hikes with a colleague who was learning Italian – she’d ask grammar questions as we walked, and I realised how naturally the learning flowed.
That’s when something clicked. What if language learning could happen outdoors, on the move, through real conversations? What if a walk could be more than just a walk – and a lesson more than just study?
That’s how Riviera Walk and Talk started to take shape.
My Journey – A Timeline for Riviera Walk and Talk
📚 2001 – 2006: University Years – Intercultural Communication Course
- Studied a course blending anthropology, sociolinguistics, and development.
- Explored how language shapes and connects us.
- Sparked a passion for cultures and understanding the world through language.
🌍 2003 – 2020: Living Abroad & Immersing in Cultures
- Experienced firsthand how language learning thrives outside the classroom.
- Saw how confidence grows through practice and real interactions.
- The places I’ve called home: Aarhus (Denmark), Paris, Bordeaux (France), Rosario (Argentina), Melbourne (Australia), Seville (Spain), Nottingham (UK), Genoa (Italy).
👩🏻🏫 2006 – 2023: Teaching Language Acquisition
- Spent quite a few of those years teaching languages and studying how people learn best.
- Noticed that traditional classroom settings often limit real-world fluency.
🥾 2023 – Becoming a Hiking Guide in Liguria
- Obtained my Hiking Guide Certification in Genova.
- Led tours for foreign visitors, using language as a key vehicle for connection and understanding.
- As a language teacher, I was aware of how important clear communication was in shaping a good experience for non-native speakers.
💡 2023 – The Idea for Riviera Walk & Talk
- Saw an opportunity to combine language learning, cultural immersion and hiking into one seamless experience.
- Began experimenting with this approach on a one-to-one level in the Tigullio area, testing how language practice could flow naturally during walks.
- Realised how real-world conversations made language learning feel engaging and effective.
🌱 Today – Turning the Vision Into Reality
- Developing Riviera Walk and Talk as a way for language learners to build confidence and connect with culture while exploring Liguria beyond the usual tourist path.
- Currently refining the experience and looking forward to welcoming more participants!