LEONARDO Baroncelli has been the Italian Consul-General in Shanghai since October 1999, but, sadly, he had to return to Italy after his country's National Day (or La Festa della Repubblica) celebrations June 2.

　　Consular work is a demanding occupation, but Baroncelli is keen to stress that his work has been "facilitated by the dynamic and motivational environment" here in Shanghai.

　　"My job, as with any diplomat, is to promote friendship and co-operation and to create a good environment for business and cultural relationships," he explained.

　　This line of work also involves moving frequently to different posts around the world with only occasional periods in your home country.

　　To do this requires great adaptability and Baroncelli has found the lifestyle suits him and he finds the prospect of travel exciting.

　　"Suddenly I have to open a new book and initiate a new story," he said. So far, he has worked in no fewer than six different countries, including Germany, the United States and Iraq.

　　"Of my career so far, my time in China has been the most challenging, absolutely, and it has also been educational," he said.

　　Baroncelli clearly enjoys the challenges his position provides, which explains why he has continued to work for the Italian Foreign Service for more than 30 years.

　　Busy schedule

　　To say Baroncelli is a busy man is an understatement. Work as a diplomat has all sorts of pressures that people rarely realize. It involves attending many high-level delegations, which often occur outside of standard working hours, resulting in a busy social schedule.

　　"We have so many projects in operation all the time, it doesn't leave much time spare for other things," he said. One such project was the recent exhibition on Italian car design at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre.

　　Italian National Day on June 2 was also meant to mark the opening of an Italian art exhibition entitled, "The World of the Etruscans" at the Shanghai Museum of History. Unfortunately, this, along with other events, had to be postponed to prevent the risk of spreading SARS.

　　This was an understandable and necessary move, which has resulted in even more work for the Consulate, as they had to arrange for safe storage of all the artifacts as well as re-scheduling the event for a later date.

　　Baroncelli pointed out, however, that the Etruscan art exhibition has already speant hundreds of years being hidden from view, waiting to be seen, so a few months more shouldn't make any difference.

　　First visit

　　Prior to taking up his Shanghai post, Baroncelli visited the city briefly in 1986 while on an official mission and "even then, was impressed with its modernity."

　　He has been lucky enough to be in Shanghai for almost four years and in that time has been thoroughly impressed by all the developments he has witnessed. According to Baroncelli, visitors to Shanghai are always stunned and he has heard so many of them say, "I was told about the rate of change here, but I could not believe it was of this magnitude!"

　　And he had that very same reaction when he saw the city in October 1999, 13 years after his previous visit. He seemed sad as he spoke of all the changes, possibly worried that he won't be able to recognize the place if he returns in a few years time.

　　Baroncelli would love to travel all over China but has not had much of a chance apart from touring Shanghai itself and a few neighbouring provinces. It's not possible for him to go away for long periods or travel around a lot in this line of work due to all the responsibilities he has here in the city.

　　However, he does try to use the little spare time he has to get out into the countryside or engage in the occasional game of tennis.

　　Although his wife is a keen pianist, Baroncelli is not a musician himself. "I love listening to music and of course we Italians share China's love of opera."

　　Roman cafes

　　Anyone living in a foreign country is bound to have a few things they miss from home and it's no different for Leonardo Baroncelli. Finding good Italian food in Shanghai has been no problem but he does confess a longing for the cafeteria bars of Rome.

　　This is not so much for the food and drink, but because of their social function. "Italian cafeterias are social places. People just meet all day, from early morning to late at night," he said.

　　Baroncelli is sad to leave Shanghai after such a lengthy posting, but he is still eager to return home where he'll be closer to his family and be able to once again enjoy Italy's rich natural environment.

　　Italy has "the privilege of a high concentration of art and culture received from our ancestors. And of course I miss the landscape and countryside of Tuscany, my home province," he explained.

　　He most looks forward to those relaxing days when he can simply tour the countryside, and then find a nice place to "eat, chat and enjoy some good wine".

　　Baroncelli is looking forward toshavingsthe time to properly reflect on this period of his life.

　　"My time in China seems to have gone by so quickly. I need a chance to just sit back and digest it all."