“One must love one’s work like one loves a woman,” says Dr. Armando Di Carlo. After 20 years at UC Berkeley’s Department of Italian studies, spring semester 2011 will be Armando’s last; he’s retiring.
Armando Di Carlo ended up in the US because of love – not for work but for a woman – as we’d expect of a passionate Italian man. After meeting his future wife, Armando moved to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he received his doctorate in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1983. A position as Chief of the Department of Italian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey brought the Di Carlos westward in 1989. Armando moved to UC Berkeley in 1991, but he still commutes to his beloved Pacific Grove in the Monterey Peninsula while keeping a small apartment in Berkeley. He calls himself a dual resident – so very true in multiple interpretations of the term.
Armando Di Carlo feels nostalgic about leaving UC Berkeley, but at the same time, he is ready for retirement. The past twenty years as a coordinator/ lecturer have been fulfilling but also challenging. Armando is justifiably proud of his accomplishments at Berkeley, including developing lower division language courses and teaching both lower and upper division classes while also helping GSI’s grow into skilled and confident language instructors. In addition, he has pursued his own scholarly interests. Armando states that what has made his position so rewarding are the wonderful people: young, enthusiastic, and motivated students as well as supportive colleagues. –All aspects of human nature have come to play in my work, he adds.
Armando is truly satisfied with his accomplishments. He is especially honored to have won two distinguished literary prizes in Italy in 2006 and 2008. In addition, he has published extensively, and presented workshops in varying topics of language pedagogy. It’s no wonder Armando Di Carlo feels proud and happy about his career.
DOLCE FAR NIENTE
What does retirement look like after such an active career? Armando has multiple projects planned. He’s going to be working on an English translation of an Italian movie script and his own creative writing projects, while leaving time for his dear outdoor hobby, gardening. He says his life will be “dolce far niente“ – the sweetness of doing nothing, meaning puttering around the garden, or enjoying an espresso or a glass of Italian wine with friends. This sounds truly fitting to Armando!
I wish Armando Di Carlo a rewarding last year at UCB – and wonderful, creative and productive years in retirement. Having been ‘neighbors’ in Dwinelle, I know I will personally miss Armando’s smiling face poking into my office with a friendly ‘Ciao’. – Mille Grazie, Buona Fortuna & Arrivederci Armando!