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Woman of the Month

Woman Of The Month - Angela Surico

Angela Surico was born in Imperia, Italy 55 years ago. She recalls a beautiful family upbringing, full of love and care. Angela learnt a great deal from her parents who are still devoted to each other today. Their sensitive nature, always looking for an honest and simple life, and trying to help people less fortunate than they were, made a great impact on her.

Angela studied to be a teacher but for some reason she didn't continue on this path and chose to work for a union (sindacato) from the age of 18 to 24, until she married. Her husband worked for a national bank and travelled a great deal. So she left her job to follow her husband travelling around Italy for almost ten years. Angela visited and lived in many beautiful places, from Trieste to Rome to Venice, Treviso, Milan, Verona, Alessandria, Varese, to name but a few... This was a wonderful experience and time, where she met so many different people and was able to learn things about her country that she didn't know before. Meeting new people was exciting but also proved to be tiring. Angela spent most of her time alone with her husband and her dog Susi, a beautiful cocker spaniel who for a long time was her only friend. Even though Angela missed her family and the sea which she loved very much, she would always try and make the most of her situation.

At the age of 29 Angela fell pregnant and gave birth to her son Renato. This was a changing point in her life and together with her husband and new born, they returned to Imperia. Angela's family was delighted to have them back so close, but suddenly destiny put her life in a difficult place. Her husband became ill and he was not able to work for a long time... Angela was also not working and knowing that she had a little boy to raise, she decided to return back to her roots and continue her studies to qualify as a teacher. After two difficult years of studying and taking care of the family, Angela was employed to teach in a primary school. She felt so proud knowing that at the age of 38 finding a post was not going to be easy as there were so many younger people looking for this kind of position but she did it. Just as things began to take a turn for the better... her husband had recovered from his illness, she had embarked on a new career, her son was healthy, her vision of good times ahead were shattered...

The 2 years of stress and worry took its toll on Angela and resulting in her becoming seriously ill herself. Prior to starting her job at the school, in September 2001 Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was to be a terrible and frightening time where she felt so desperate...and just as she reached her lowest point she was able to find a new inner strength and was determined to fight her enemy (her cancer). Angela had to undergo surgery followed by an aggressive course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for months. Angela lost her hair, gained weight and looked very ill but throughout all this she never lost hope. Meeting other people fighting with cancer, sharing fears, hopes and...losses...was once again became the catalyst that helped Angela change her mind set.

"Suddenly I understood the real meaning of life and I decided not to lose a single moment of my time again." She recalls.

After one year, Angela was able to finally start her job as a teacher. Working with children was so motivating and gave Angela a reason to constantly smile and to love people and life... she believed this was the beginning of a new and positive chapter in her life...and it was...until her husband, after 25 years of life together, decided to file for divorce and leave the family home, their son and new dog.

Angela was aware that things had not easy between them lately, but she always hoped to work through the problems. Yet again Angela was devastated. Although it felt that life had treated her cruelly again, she quickly remembered how after cancer, she learnt to look at situations with different eyes... and once again she embraced life and continued to move forward with her son and pet dog.

Since then Angela has dedicated her life to her family, her son, her parents and relatives and to being a good teacher. Angela has followed her instincts, and is now in a serene and positive place. She is proud of what she has achieved and the life she has built following her divorce. She recalls how alone she felt and how difficult the times were but being responsible for her own happiness and lifestyle has taught her to live every day like a true gift. Even though not religious Angela believes in kindness and goodness and stands by a simple Italian philosophy of life: "Male non fare, paura non avere." which means if you do no evil, there is nothing to be afraid of.

Angela continues to dream of finding a new love in her life and if this is not to be her destiny, she is happy to embrace every opportunity, to live in the moment and enjoy all that she has with all the special people in her life.

We asked Angela our famous 5 questions and this is what she told us:

1) What makes you smile?

To see my son makes me smile. And a big plate of lasagne, of course....

2) What or who inspires you?

I'm inspired by people who dedicate their lives to helping human beings and to fighting for their rights.

3) Do you believe in gut instincts?

Yes I believe in gut instincts. I survived by following my gut instincts. They saved my life so many times.

4) Your three essential things if you were stuck on a desert island would be what?

Three things to have with me...I'm going on basic instincts so I will say a dog, food and a kind of Romeo....

5) If you are planning a day/night out, what do you enjoy doing the most?

I love music so I enjoy going out to a concert. I love every kind of music, but rock is my favourite.

Wednesday, 1 July 2015    Section: Woman of the Month
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