JUST
IN CASE you wanted to know who I am...JUST
IN CASE you wanted to know who I am...
My name is Gianluca Callini, but I go by Luca, since that is the name that most people can pronoune without too much trouble. Truth is I like it better than my full name anyway so...
I am a native of Rome, Italy and as the son of a navy officer I traveled quite a bit during my childhood. Because of the locations that my dad was assigned to, I grew up in several naval bases and the Naval Academy, where the pungent essence of the ocean breeze merges with the strong odor of machinery from the war ships. The sea was always within reach and I developed a profound love and respect for the ocean. I am an only child, probably because with all the movings there wasn't any room in our car for more than one child when all the boxes and suitcases were packed....but I am not complaining. While it got lonely at times, being the only child, and only grandson and newphew on my mother's side, definately has its advantages.
Aside from Italy, my dad's job took us to places like Argentina and, eventually, the United States. After graduating from high school in Bethesda, MD in 1993, I attended the Catholic University of America in DC and graduated in 1997 with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering. When I started college, I knew I wanted to be an engineer for several reasons, including a profound admiration for my gradfather, who was an engineer. While I had always been interested in space, I had never actually considered a career in aerospace engineering, but by the time I graduated, I knew that was what I wanted to do. And MIT was obviously the place to do it.
While MIT proved to be a quite different
experience from CUA, it's given me experiences and memories that
will last me a lifetime: I worked on an experiment that flew on
two space shuttle missions, and I got to meet several astronauts
(including the American Legend, John Glenn) and I had the fortune
of working with amazing people...and now I can only hope to make
it back to Houston as an astronaut in training someday.
Fortunately, my life does not revolve around engineering
and I have other interests: I love traveling, and I have probably
seen more National Parks in the US than the average person: hiking
on the Grand Canyon was probably one of the most awesome and exhausting
(and painful, the follwing night) experiences of my life. I went
cross country twice, and I visited several countries in Europe,
such as Austria, the Czech Republic, the UK, Germany and France.
I have been to Mexico and Argentina, and I definately plan to
travel more some day. Growing up in a country surrounded by ruins
of ancient cultures made me develop an interest in art history,
and I enjoy walking through hilltowns and other historical places
whenever I'm home.
As most Italians like to do, I like to watch soccer
(you know, the sport where the ball is ROUND and not funky-shaped),
and I like to swim, play volleyball, and I used to be able to
do some gymnastics.
