I think this time is different.
I'm busier than ever with various work and personal projects, but I'm also more focused on Italy than ever before.
Andiamo!
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Look Familiar?
Those who have known me for a long time might think this blog looks familiar. It is the blog that I introduced years ago, but I didn't keep up with it.
I am at a different point in my life now.
Welcome!
Welcome to this blog, a tale of my relationship with Italy. It's been a long-term love affair, a sometimes rocky and confusing one but always with love at its core.
Why Italy?
My family is a mix of multiple ethnic and cultural backgrounds, but the one that was most prominent in our household came from my maternal grandmother. Her parents made the trek from Italy to America for a better life for their children, and while my great-grandfather Antonio embraced everything about America, my great-grandmother Teresa did not. She went so far as to refuse to speak English most of the time. She missed Italy deeply. But despite her heartfelt ties to their hometown of Alanno in the Pescara province of Abruzzo, their five daughters married American men and carried on few of their parents' Italian traditions. Even my grandmother cooked few Italian dishes and remembered virtually none of the Italian language as she grew older.
Nevertheless, my grandmother, Rose, was Italian at her core. She and her sisters displayed the typical dark Italian facial features and curved noses, loud laughs and sly humor. And they did sometimes talk about their parents, Antonio and Teresa Sciarrelli.
My trips to Italy in the past have provided the time to experience a country that always felt close to my heart. And while there, I felt comfortable, as if I belonged there. As soon as I left, I wanted to return.
The connection to Alanno was undeniable. After visiting numerous places in Italy through the past few decades, I finally visited Pescara in the spring of 2025. And the day that I spent in Alanno itself gave rise to feelings of wonder and understanding, leaving me with an even stronger desire to learn more about my Italian roots.
For now, I am learning about Italian culture and slowly learning the language. And as a part of my efforts to become more familiar with the country, I will share some of what I learn through news, study, and experience.
Thanks for joining me in this journey!
Why Italy?
Nevertheless, my grandmother, Rose, was Italian at her core. She and her sisters displayed the typical dark Italian facial features and curved noses, loud laughs and sly humor. And they did sometimes talk about their parents, Antonio and Teresa Sciarrelli.
My trips to Italy in the past have provided the time to experience a country that always felt close to my heart. And while there, I felt comfortable, as if I belonged there. As soon as I left, I wanted to return.
The connection to Alanno was undeniable. After visiting numerous places in Italy through the past few decades, I finally visited Pescara in the spring of 2025. And the day that I spent in Alanno itself gave rise to feelings of wonder and understanding, leaving me with an even stronger desire to learn more about my Italian roots.
For now, I am learning about Italian culture and slowly learning the language. And as a part of my efforts to become more familiar with the country, I will share some of what I learn through news, study, and experience.
Thanks for joining me in this journey!
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