After a touristy day filled with a visit to the Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco and seeing the amazing Leonardo DaVinci masterpiece of The Last Supper, my mother and I met up with her Japanese friend who has been living in Milan for about 8 years. To my advantage, she works in the entertainment industry in Italy, so I thought I’d take this chance to do some professional networking.

Even though I’m on vacation, every opportunity that may somewhat contribute to my career should be taken seriously. I decided on a summertime, sleeveless, dress  by BCBG Max Azria. I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard, after all, it is only dinner, so I went easy on the eye makeup and created a semi-updo.

The restaurant we went to was a truly authentic restaurant, far away from the tourists. My mother’s friend took us to a local fish restaurant; a really  hole-in-the-wall kind of place. Then again, I think those are the restaurants that always taste the best! Even in Los Angeles, the best places to eat are always at the smallest restaurants. You really have to dig to find good food.

I learned that Italians have three large courses for dinner. First, they eat an appetizer like calamari or something of a similar portion. Then, Italians start their second appetizer, which is pasta, but this time, the portions gradually become larger. Once all the plates are clean, that’s when the real dinner arrives, which is usually a fish meal.

I was not told that pasta is considered an appetizer here in Italy, so I filled myself up with the yummy seafood pasta that was our second course. Little did I know that I would still have to eat the salmon and vegetables that were to follow… I felt like a stuffed piece of potato stuffed, with fish, meat AND pasta! Thank God, I wore a dress, otherwise I might have popped some buttons. Somehow, I was able to make new connections for my career.

Meeting her was definitely worth it; she was very inspirational. She told me some of the similarities and differences between the entertainment industries in Italy and Japan, and explained to me how she got her foot through the door many years ago. I learned a lot from her, and at the end of my dinner I no longer regretted putting dressing more professional.

I think she appreciated me asking her so many questions about her career and taking such an interest in her. The best way to learn is to ask questions about anything you don’t know. It’s unbelievable how much people are willing to help and enlighten you when you really show enthusiasm to learn. We ended up exchanging business cards.

It was definitely a dinner with two thumbs up!

Love always,
Mia