The ‘idea’ of Italy
First hand encounters with the world, that is something most travelers live for.
There is nothing else like being thrown into a new culture with it’s own language, customs and unique people. Even setting off to live in Italy bought unexpected challenges.
What we knew of “Italian” life in Australia was totally different to the reality.
Although Salvatore speaks fluent Italian much is based on dialect. We arrive in Piemonte and it’s like he knows nothing. Everything he expected Italy to be was thrown in the air the moment we walked out of Torino airport and onto the hustle and bustle of the street.
It is so much more than just a language change, or a cultural change, it’s deeper than that.
It’s in the very being of the people, we instantly stood out even before the accents were heard.
The “idea” of Italy had been handed down to my husband all his life. He grew up on stories of hardship, poverty, hard work, and a lack of childhood as we know it.
Stories of small village life, his Dad riding the donkey through the mountains as a child to support the family. Then being sent to work in Torino many miles away from the family when he was only fifteen. His Dad as a little boy grew up tough.
It’s as if the Italians that went to Australia took traditions with them and never realised that the Italy they left moved on.
Our romantic idea of Italy was nothing like the reality.
Just catching up with the blog, on one of many sleepless nights in our new city. Funny, I can relate on a profound level that our “romantic” and fantastic dream of our new endeavors are certainly not the reality. We are sprung forward! FAST FORWARD. I have asked myself so many times over the last 30days, did we do the right thing.
Moving from a seemingly more “simple” life in pursuit of this fantastic dream of ours? From a rural county that averaged only 5 people per square mile, making jam, sharing fresh garden veggies and local fish, to a city of millions, too many shops it seems is leaving me whirling! I though I was the most adaptable, worrying that the children would be overwhelmed, where in fact it is me. Great friends keeping us almost too busy, and we are so grateful of their generosity and friendship, and a project development of a community kitchen is leaving me feeling very overwhelmed.
I am trying to find a balance, understand the “language” here….yet it is still finding me unsettled. In the back of my mind, I long for things simpler, all the while knowing my children are above the moon, I am feeling lost, even with friends, a bit lonely. Your posts are motivating, and each day I am reminding myself that the “big picture” is most important than the little one. I know things will come around, they always do, just wish the worries would pass.
You are a true inspiration my dear, so many times we never fully understand the impact we are making on the lives we touch, or the lives that touch us.
Life IS an adventure, today, even with worry, I find myself thinking “I took a step, I have no regrets.” There is success in every day, sometimes it is just a little more difficult to see.
Happy, travels, keep on blogging, and we will both keep moving forward, the forward momentum takes its time to speed up, giving us strength little by little everyday.
Wendy
Hi Wendy, I remember how hard it is to settle in a new place, and your move has been mammoth! What a huge change of lifestyle, no wonder you are in shock. We did the reverse when we moved to Italy, I went from being a suburban chick to living in the mountains of Piemonte and unable to speak the language (or cook, preserve, or clean which seemed what most women were doing).
Don’t keep it to yourself make sure you let your family know how you are feeling. There is no need to struggle along on your own. My husband was in happy land in Italy and I was totally miserable for the first six months at least. It is almost impossible to get any sympathy when complaining of adjusting to life in the Italian alps!! Take a step back and a deep breath. Overwhelm can be given up just like that, create something new that inspires you. Each new place has it’s own unique “language and rhythm” as you say slowly you absorb it.
It is so true, overwhelm, upset and regrets can overwhelm sometimes. I keep seeing our goals getting so close and then whisking away just as we reach them. Giving up would be easy but you and I know that’s not possible. There is nothing that says this choice is forever, enjoy the moments you are there, go slowly, and share your feelings…you’ll be surprised that many other women feel this way. How beautiful is the impact you are making, and the open way you share what you are dealing with is going to make a difference to people you may never know.
Let us travel along together you and I… sending love
Lisa xxx
Lisa, Italians took their traditions with them wherever they went. Being Italian-American, to me, doesn’t mean that we have lost touch with an bygone time in Italy, as much as the Italian-American culture created was a natural progression of leaving one’s homeland. It is quite a unique culture and often derided in the “mother country”, but I really don’t know why. It is very much a separate culture. As well, it really helped immigrants acclimate themselves to their new homes, wherever they found themselves in the world. I have a foot in both worlds, and I love them both!
So glad to be receiving your posts again!
Hi Michelle, I see something similar here in Australia. It’s like the traditions that came with those that landed on our shores just evolved into something unique yet familiar. LIving in Italy away from my own culture without being able to speak the language was an eye opener. It was the subtle things that were hardest, not being able to understand the jokes or join in the conversations. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for those coming so many years ago from Italy, and to know that returning was an unlikely option. We knew we could leave at any moment, we had intenet and cheap phone calls home, all a big adventure but one we were totally in control of, not like my in laws who knew there was no return. OUr children are half Aussie half Italiano and I think they are blessed!
ciao lisa
Great post Lisa, I am at last catching up with blogging again now the olive harvest is finished.
Thanks so much Linda, I’m sure you have had plenty on your hands with the olives. I’ve been taking part in the 30 days of indie project run by Bootsnall and have certainly found it a challenge to post each day. I am hoping I am not driving my readers mad with all the sudden activity from me in their inboxes! Look forward to hearing what you’ve been up to.
ciao for now
Lisa x