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About Us
Alan and Kathy Clist
 Company Directors Alan and Kathy have had a shared passion for Italy for a long time. Kathy spent her formative years in Southern Italy as a child and since she and Alan met over 30 years ago they have shared a love for Italy. Kathy is fluent in Italian and Alan has invested time in learning the Italian language. They are privileged to have some wonderful friends and strong connections throughout Italy.About KathyKathy's connection with Italy is through an Italian born father and a grandfather who was a professor in English at the Bocconi University in Milan in the late 1800s. Her father never lost his passion for Italy and moved his family there for six years when Kathy was a little girl. During that time she attended an Italian primary and intermediate school and made some friendships which are still strong several decades later.
Kathy’s adult life in New Zealand has included mothering (a lifelong commitment!), legal and secretarial work, university study, community and volunteer work and ten years as a professional counsellor. As well as having a heart for people and the community, she is passionate about family, languages, reading and travel (ok, and shopping in Italian markets).
About Alan
Alan is a Kiwi, born in Auckland. His working life has been spent mostly in Telecommunications and Information Technology. While in Italy recently on an extended holiday, he was able to indulge in another one of his passions – road cycling. In New Zealand, he has completed a number of events including twice solo around Lake Taupo and other races around the Auckland region. He is also a keen gardener and has enjoyed completing a formal Italian themed garden at their property in Auckland. Another passion is photography and he is completing on line study in this field to develop this further. He has spent time learning Italian and has really enjoyed visiting Italy over the years, growing to love it as so many do. Alan has written travel blogs on visits to Italy in 2007 and 2009.
The Family
Kathy and Alan have three supportive adult children and a lovely daughter-in-law (who designed the Dream of Italy logo). Their children also share a love for Italy, with their daughter-in-law receiving her proposal of marriage on a bridge over the river Arno in Florence and a son who spent nearly two years in various parts of Italy and is fluent in both Italian and Neapolitan, having inherited a flair for languages.
Italian ConnectionsAlan and Kathy visit Italy regularly and have developed strong relationships with friends and people they do business with in Milan, Venice, Florence and Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast. They also love catching up with lifelong family friends in other parts of Italy. Sourcing ProductsThey would love to hear from you if you have any ideas of Italian products you would like to see available from Dream of Italy. Tell them your ideas. What we are reading..Please check out our Recommended Reading to see what titles and authors we have read on life in Italy and what we can recommend... What others have written about us..
Check out the article written about us in the winter 2010 edition of "The Guide, Auckland" and a short clip in the June 2010 NZ House and Garden.
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The Dream of Italy DifferenceOur products have been sourced through the connections and friendships we have made throughout Italy spanning many years. They are chosen for their authenticity and quality. We have chosen items we love in the belief that you will love them too.
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