Today I will talk about one of the people I respect most of all: my friend Marco Li Fonti.
I met him while I was working in France last year, was one of the many boys who have moved up in Lille to work in the Customer Service Department of a large multinational corporation looking for competent and multilingual people.
When I met mark had 19 years, spoke fluent English, and came from an experience of stewards on board aircraft.
When, in one of his flights, he met an Italian man that brought a job in customer service at one of the largest companies of hotelsin the northernmost town of France, Marco accepted the challenge without hesitation and he transferred over there to start this new adventure.
You have to imagine a company that is on the outskirts of Lille, 10 km from the city center, composed mostly from people who arrive in France directly from their home country, after spending interview via skype. So mostly of them they don't speak any French.
As all big international companies, this one where we worked me and Marco makes no difference.
It is an enclosed in himself that doesn't allow you to experience the life and culture of the country you are in.
Imagine then a boy who arrives in a new country like France, but forced to take home far away from the city (10 km away), along with his colleagues, speaking English all the time. It then becomes difficult to live events that offers the city, learning the local language and socialize with its inhabitants.
Also the working hours are typically in the evening, and in addition the company tries to organize events to create exclusive social links within the same.
All that makes the people who worked there inable to integrate with the local culture and language, except in some rare cases, and from my point of view this is a shame.
Marco was believed much in that job, he was one of the guys with more talent, one facing the maximum and never missed a single minute to win all contests related to productivity and quality in the company.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, I would say) as always happens in these huge corporations, where the person is regarded as a mere number, the company did not renew the contract in Marco and the other colleagues who had started working at the same time. Without any valid justification and without notice. So he has found after 6 months of hopes and prospects, without any work.
Unlike all his colleagues and friends (they took it very badly and they spent a really bad time), Marco doesn't let it destroy his spirit, and he saw in this "bad" moment many opportunities for improve himself.
He immediately informed to start training to learn French and was immediately given to do to feed the local culture and to integrate with its inhabitants.
He also bought a professional camera and started taking pictures and interested in photography.
Today, after only 6 months, Marco is one of the most passionate photographers that I ever know.
In Lille has managed to create a network of fans like him, to create exchanges of knowledge, skills, jobs, energies, for all those who love photography, at any level.
Instead of the shy kid who I met last year, there is a man twenty years full of initiativee and desire to do, which overwhelms people with his energy and his passion.
If my photos are starting to be decent, it's thanks to him, which she explained simply and clearly some tips to use my mirrorless.
I highly recommend you to give a look at his Facebookpage, full of creativity and of interesting ideas.
If you are passionate you also don't hesitate to contact me for any information or initiative, is one of the most generous and humble guys I know.
Facebook Page: Marco Li Fonti – Photography
Clickasnap Account: Marcolifontiph
Email adress: marco.li.fonti@gmail.com
