My Italy

Italy.  A favorite destination for so many Americans. I remember my visits as a child, staying in a pensione on the island of Capri, trying goat at the house of one of my father's colleagues in Naples, or staying in an apartment in Genoa where I would go to the local grocer to get these beautiful big lemons that tasted so good that I would just eat them like an orange.

I have a deep connection with the country. In many ways it is my second home. I have been there more times than I can count, but not often as a tourist. Although I do not have one drop of Italian blood in me, I am part of a family there.

I was fortunate that my parents allowed me to do a high school exchange program for a year and I was, coincidentally, sent to Italy. I went to a small town in the north called Turate, located just outside of Saronno. You've probably heard of Saronno because of Amaretto di Saronno. It's located halfway between Milan and Como. I lived in Turate and went to high school, the Liceo Scientifico Giovanbattista Grassi in Saronno, for a year.

My host family - la mamma, Nicoletta and Corrado - was the best family I could have asked for. They helped me learn the language, included me in everything, helped me adjust to the culture, and just loved me as I loved them. La mamma taught me how to make risotto and minestra, Nicoletta helped me with my language skills and let me hang out with her and her friends, and Corrado made fun of me and teased me as any good younger brother does.

image by Ann Halpin

Even more, I was welcomed into their extended family, so all of a sudden I had so many cousins, aunts and uncles that all lived close by. While I have many cousins, aunts and uncles here in the US, we didn't live near them and didn't see them as much. I remember my cousins, Marco, Sergio and Luca taught me numbers, shapes, and colors while playing cards.

Then there were my classmates. I was put in the science high school, which totally terrified me. Although my father is a brilliant scientist and engineer, I did not inherit any of that talent. But, my classmates made that year so wonderful. And thanks to Facebook, I have reconnected with them and see them when I go back to visit.  

So, you can see that when I go to Italy, I rarely go as a tourist. I go to visit family and friends. I know most people go to Italy to see Rome, Florence, and Venice.  While those cities are beautiful and are a definite must-do when you go, there are many more places to visit that are beautiful.  It's getting time for me to return for another visit.  Hopefully next year!

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