United Nations Counselor from Italy Participated In Lighting Ceremony At The Empire State Building in New York City.

United Nations Counselor, Stefano Caciaguerra from Italy participated in a lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 in honor of the 64th General Assembly session.

The Empire State Building will light its world-famous tower lights that night in U.N. Blue to recognize the important work the United Nations does for the international community.

Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the “World’s Most Famous Office Building.” With new investments in infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper’s robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. The Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved attractions and is the region’s #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.esbnyc.com. Tweet

Rick Steves: Amalfi Coast, Italy: A Cliff Top Drive

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New Jersey Soon To Increase Exports With Italy.

Due to an executive order passed a year ago by Governor Jon Corzine, trade was increased within the state, which led to successful ties in exporting between New Jersey and Italy. Due to the increased trade,the N.J./Italy Trade Council was formed. The council is currently working to create an online directory and information hub for businesses to increase their trade and export to Italy. Trade council members are hoping for further success in export trading with Italy. The results could provide culturally funded programs, which would be available to the Italian American community. Well, this sounds good, I look forward to seeing the increased relationship and results. Reminds me of that old commercial from when Gov. Thomas Kean was in office, he would always say, "NJ & You Perfect Together." Now, we can add, NJ, Italy & You..Perfect Together.

For more on this story:
http://www.njbiz.com/weekly_article.asp?aID=81731727.6945743.1026038.9664901.8298808.639&aID2=78917 Tweet

Reggio Calabria, Italy Is My Second Home.

Its always around this time of year when I get antsy and want to just bail out of what I'm doing, just so I can go to Italy and live. (literally) Growing up Italian American is a wonderful thing as we talk of but sometimes the duality of the two cultures is a challenge. Losing your culture and having it melt into the pot of American society is sometimes a very easy thing. Everyday, even though I write and keep up this site, I challenge myself to keep my Italian traditions alive. Now, summer is approaching and I'm craving being in my second home in Reggio Calabria. My parents and my entire family are from there, so the feeling of being alone by means of family is very real for me and my siblings. As I get older, I realize that it becomes harder to break away from the American life and just hop on a plane and be in Italy for a month, two weeks, or whatever. Our lifestyle chains us to our obligations, work and sometimes guilt. Yes, I'm proud to be American but as Americans we don't value our quality of life and tend to let it get sucked into the vortex of our fast paced culture. I guess, I get more emotional around this time of year, because I know my second home awaits me. Glistening beaches, turquoise water, crisp air, life, and love. Yes, Italy is my second home. Tweet

Travel Channel's Samantha Brown in Florence, Italy.

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Want To Move To Italy? Learn the Basics On Making The Switch.

Living in Italy could be one of the greatest things you ever decide to do in your life. I've lived in Italy for months at a time since a very young age, so I know the exhilarating feelings that come with a new take on a different country. Everything from language to shopping to silly everyday chores are very different than how we accomplish them here in the USA. Some people move to Italy with the intention of not coming back, while others dabble with living abroad and devote a full year to living Under the Tuscan Sun. (just saying.)

I will say, that having an experience overseas can open your eyes to a lot of differences, benefits and obviously wonderful culture. The only down side to moving to Italy, is the job market. If you move to Italy thinking you'll get a job, think again. Its not that easy to land a job unless someone knows someone who knows someone who is the cousin of someone. (really-) But now that we are in a slumping economy on this side of the pond, its really the same job market here in the states, so we're in the same boat at the moment.

To live in Italy requires an open mind, heart and thought process. Here in the US, we rely so much on technology, government, mainstream media and instant gratification, whereas in Italy these things are present but using your human nature comes first and appreciating simplicity still has a place in the world. It sounds nice, but if you have no patience, then Italy isn't for you. Italians take their sweet ass time when it comes to everyday life.

So, to help you understand what moving to Italy is like and living the Italian lifestyle, I want to share these blogs with you. I've become "virtual" friends with many intriguing expats in Italy, who are always so friendly and share their personal stories and topics with such passion. I read these blogs as often as possible. So if you're thinking about moving to Italy, start reading a bit about what life is like and how the transition works. Take a look around!

http://www.bleedingespresso.com/

http://my-bellavita.com/

http://nikkitaly.blogspot.com/

http://burntbythetuscansun.blogspot.com/

http://www.msadventuresinitaly.com/blog/

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Travel Guide and Founder Of My Far and Away Itineraries, Julie Gilley, Shares Expert Advice On"How To Be More Italian On Your Next Trip To Italy."

Have you always wanted to take a trip to Italy, but wanted help in planning and finding the best locations, hotels, etc. for your trip? Well, Meet Julie Gilley, Founder and Travel Guide of, My Far and Away Itineraries.

Julie is well versed in Italian travels and culture, she goes above and beyond to find the most interesting locations and details to ensure her clients experience the Italian trip of a lifetime, "As your host, I commit to planning every detail for you so that you may have the most worry-free vacation experience while focusing on the things that really matter, la dolce vita...the sweet life!”

Julie shares her tips and knowledge on "How To" be a little bit more Italian on your next trip to Italy. Its a great list!

HOW TO BE A LITTLE MORE ITALIAN ON YOUR NEXT VISIT TO ITALY:

When I journey into someone else’s country, I want to fit in. I want to experience life as it is for the locals of that region of the world. One of the ways this can be achieved is by adopting some of the characteristics, traits, and habits of the Italian culture every time I visit Italy. Here are a few you can try:

 Dress the part. Ditch the Nike’s, Bermuda shorts and fanny packs. Italians are fashion conscience. Yes, you will need to be comfortable touring the sites, but do it in style.

Guys: wear jeans or slacks, button-down shirts and a jacket
Girls: black is smack! And, so are pointed-toe, stiletto-healed shoes (OK, not so great for walking on cobblestone roads, but you get the idea!)

 Relax. Slow down and enjoy la dolce vita—the sweet life. Americans are all about instant gratification. We want quick service, fast food, and prompt response. Try it the Italian way: enjoy a 2-hour lunch; stroll through a piazza; sip wine in a local café. Relaxing will allow you to see and experience more of the local flavor—truly making life a little sweeter!

 Learn the language. A few simple key words or phrases spoken in the native tongue will go a long way in communicating with an Italian. Buon giorno (good morning), grazie (thank you) and per favore (please) are a good start. Don’t be afraid to try it—Italians are very gracious and forgiving if you botch it up!

 Plan for later meals. Americans tend to be programmed when it comes to eating: lunch at noon; dinner at six. Italians eat later. If you show up for dinner between 6:00 and 7:00, you may find the restaurant closed, or you’ll be eating by yourself (which screams “tourist”). If you can wait to eat later, 8:30-9:00 PM, your dining experience will be more exciting. The locals are out, there is a buzz in the dining room, and you will have more fun.

 Eat the local cuisine. Avoid the urge to order pepperoni pizza, stop in a nearby McDonalds (if there even is one nearby), or order your favorite addiction, Diet Coke. There are so many fabulously delicious Italian dishes that it makes my mouth water just writing about it!

Order an antipasti (appetizer) along with a glass of Prosecco (Italian champagne); order a primi (first course); order a secondi (entrée) together with a nice bottle of red wine (or carafe of vino della casa, house wine); order dolce (dessert). Then, top it all off with a glass of Vin Santo (sweet wine) or café (espresso).

Buon appetito!

 Follow the rules of the road. Driving in Italy is stressful, even for the best of us. On the freeways, drive in the right lane, using the left lane for passing only. When passing, turn your blinker on to indicate you want back in the right lane—this lets the drivers approaching from behind know that you intend to get out of their way. Have your money or credit cards ready when approaching a tollbooth. Following a few simple rules will bring about fewer honks, headlight flashes and nasty hand gestures.

Julie Gilley
Italy Travel Planner and Tour Guide

Website: http://www.myfarandaway.com/

Travel blog: http://www.juliegilley.typepad.com/

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Reggio Calabria, Italy-- The Top Vacation Destination in Italy.

Reggio Calabria, Italy is definitely one of the most unbelievable panoramic destinations in Italy. Its also incredibly untraveled by the vacation masses and receives a low turnout on popularity as opposed to other Italian hot spots such as Capri, Elba or any other coastal resort towns. Now, from experience, I can tell you there is a huge difference between northern and southern Italy. Northern, the landscape and overall social setting is more organized and probably resembles a more western (American) feel. As you travel to Southern Italy, you are surrounded by a more authentic, simplistic way of life. Now, this doesn't mean you have no modern day amenities but its definitely not Northern Italy.

I strongly suggest if you're looking for a less traveled and uncharted vacation this summer then Reggio Calabria is for you. In Calabria, you're surrounded by agriculture, open seas, emerald waters, fresh food, sea and mountain air. Its so indescribable. The area has endured many historical events and the people of Calabria are unique in the sense of pride and authenticity of their land. History and actual archeology have a great place in Calabria as well. Current excavations are underway, truly amazing. Calabria is also located in an area where taking day trips to Sicily are possible and visiting other resort areas on the water in Sicily are a ferry boat ride away. There are also volcanic islands like Stromboli and Lipari, which are also accessible by ferry. To vacation in Calabria is to vacation in paradise, villas are readily available in all areas of Calabria including near the beaches. Calabria is slowly evolving into a major destination for American and European jetsetters. Get a head of the game and plan your trip now! Visit these sites for further info on stays, villas, and overall Calabria.

http://www.calabrialiving.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187777-Reggio_di_Calabria_Calabria-Vacations.html

PS- If you have other great sites that you would like to share, please post on this article!

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Will the AP Italian Classes Ever Make It Back Into Schools?

Learning Italian and being able to speak it-- is an amazing asset to have. When cultural opportunities are cut out of school programs, what happens? The idea that cultural education gets a back seat once again is a reality, especially Italian education. I can't express how annoyed and just disappointed I am that the Italian language programs have been cut from many schools because of non funding from government agencies on the Italian and American sides.

The majority of money provided to the program was funded by Italian American organizations here in the USA, but the remainder was a no show on the Italian side. Now, I would like to down play any negative comments toward the Italian government because in these economic times we know that money doesn't grow on trees. So, really I ask with all the fund raisers, donations and yada, yada we do here in the Italian community, why can't we come up with the full amount without Italian assistance?

I'm not a financial expert nor do I claim to be one, but really do we need the actual Italian government financial backing or are we just fishing for a backup? Why is this the last straw and now the AP program is swept under the carpet? I say where there is a will there is a way. Again, this just my opinion and I know there is a lot of red tape involved but once again prominent Italian Americans donate away and where is the money going? Who is it benefiting?... if we can't even a get a language program off the ground? Now, I worry..will the language classes ever make it back into schools?

Read more here:
http://tinyurl.com/9nxryc Tweet

PERONI -- The Italian Beer That's Making A Come Back--Trendy & Italian.

Peroni beer, the Italian beer that you never really got to indulge in because it was never that common here in the United States. Well, guess what..with every new year comes change and now more than ever Peroni has rolled out the red carpet to reintroduce the best traditional Italian beer out there. When you think Italian, you don't really think beer, but I will say say when I think beer and Italian, the only thing that comes to mind is PERONI. I can remember as a small child being in Italy and sitting with my nonno at the table and he and my father drinking Peroni beer out of brown bottles. As I got older, and my trips to Italy got more frequent, the Peroni was still there..its like a national icon. I will say, its a great beer and just tastes so natural.

To help bring the Italian beer back to its greatness, Peroni is launching a wonderful campaign to appeal to the younger demographics, of course of legal drinking age. More recently they were the sponsors for a massive fashion show in Canada. They're becoming a brand that wants to appeal to the generations and getting back to the mainstream is just what they need. So, support our Italian brands, like Peroni and look for it next time you want to try a different type of beer. Its all about Peroni.

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Italian Government Hopes To Act As Facilitator For Cease Fire in Gaza.

If you've been watching the news, then you know about the situation in Gaza. The bombing on Gaza has taken a large toll on civilian lives and now the world, especially Italy, is acting to help to restore a cease fire between Israel and Hamas. Italian government officials have declared that they would participate and work with both sides to restore dialogue. I hope for the sake of every innocent person who is negatively impacted that there is a cease fire and peace.

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Booking Your Ticket to Italy- When and How.

Around this time of year and in the early Spring I always book tickets for my parents to go back to Italy. There is an actual science to booking your tickets and finding the right deals. If you're traveling to Italy or planning a trip to Italy for the summer, you really have to start looking for a ticket in the Spring time, the earlier you book the better. The secret to booking the ticket is calling your carrier on a Tuesday, for some reason the pricing is lower on this day. Then when you book, you should always book your actual travel dates from Tuesdays to Tuesdays. Leaving on weekends will jack up your costs significantly.

If you're looking to travel during the holiday season, its really quite impossible not to get hammered on airline prices but the best thing to do is book as far in advance as possible as in September or October. Right now you can still get away with finding something at a reasonable price. For me, booking tickets to Italy is really second nature and I've become the travel expert in doing this for so many years. From NJ, our airline preferences are usually Continental and Alitalia. We always take Continental to Italy, then connect with Alitalia to get to Calabria. Now, if you're going to rent a car in a location like Reggio Calabria, lucky for you there are a few choices.

Last time I was in Italy, I had a travel agent actually confirm the car rental, now I could have done this myself but to ensure the car I requested (automatic, because I'm not too savvy with the manual) was there and with no problems. So, when I landed in Reggio Calabria, like I always do..I was also pleasantly surprised to see the many positive changes in the airport. (for those of you who know what I'm talking about.) Anyhow, renting a car is fairly easy, its not cheap to say the least but you have to do your homework on pricing. I would consult with an travel agent, they basically get paid from their own end of booking, so you can ask them to arrange and confirm your rental. But if you don't do that you can just land in the airport of your choice in Italy and just walk over to the rental car windows. Oh and now when you book your tickets with your carrier they do ask if you need a rental car, so you can also book it this way. Be sure to remember that most cars in Italy are manual (stick shift) so you have to ask for an automatic and it does cost more.

The great thing about Italy, is that most Italians are very fluent in English so they are truly helpful. So, if you're looking to get to Italy for Christmas, you better book it this week. Seats are almost sold out, I know this because I just priced it..:( If you have any travel or booking questions, you can email me. There is so much information to share on this topic and I really could be writing for days. Good Luck!

http://www.alitaliausa.com/
http://www.continental.com/

or go to yahoo travel and get comparison prices first . Tweet

The Pope Supports and Pledges To Pray For & Help President Elect Obama.

Rome-- Pope Benedict XVI, said today in a congratulatory telegram to Obama that he would help support and pray for President Obama's great responsibilities ahead for America and the international scene. He called, the presidential win a 'historic occasion,' and continued to pledge his support.

www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0805616.htm

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Happy Election Eve, Let's Discuss How the Italians Are Gearing Up For the American Election.

Well, after writing and talking about the candidates, the election, the issues and the scandals..here we are on the eve of the 2008 Presidential election. I am truly anxious to see how this turns out, whether its a Democrat or Republican. With the intense economical and military situations occurring within the American government, this election has become and will be one of the most important elections of our time. Not only, are the issues great, but for the first time in history, whether it be Democratic or Republicans, there will either be an African-American President or a woman as the Vice-President. We should be proud that we are in this current moment of history.

In preparing for the elections here in the US, we've already seen high voter surge turnouts in early voting states. This is a clear indication that the American people are ready to make changes. Tomorrow, we will go to our designated voting locations and cast our votes. What will be, will be. I was really quite anxious to know the turnouts in the last two elections, but this time around I will be feverishly checking the statistics online and on CNN. I am truly excited for this final outcome.

In sharing our excitement are the Italians. The Italians know and understand that the outcome of the next elected President is also very relevant to their lives. With foreign policy, military issues, war and the current economic crisis, the outcome of the next elected President will definitely have a huge effect on the European markets and especially in Italy.

With so much excitement brewing here in the states with after parties scheduled for victory on both sides, the Italians have also begun to party plan for their candidate's victory party. For example, the Democrats Abroad have organized a very large result party in Rome. The Americans living abroad have taken a large role in organizing and involving others to participate in this year's election. In an overwhelming show of support, it seems many Italians and many other European citizens have decided that Senator Obama is their candidate of choice. I think its safe to say, whoever becomes President should receive and will receive the support of their fellow Americans. We must remember to keep the cause united and not divided by party. Happy Voting! Tweet

Can Stress Silently Kill You?

Well, according to a recent documentary and long time study and research done by Dr. Robert Sapolsky from Stanford University, he finds that stress can negatively affect you. His studies include focusing on the behaviors of animals in the wild, which include baboons.

Now, in adding to this post, I will say once again repeat, I'm not a scientist nor do I claim to be one. Anyhow, I'm a big follower of health, personal development type programming or information. So, the other night I happened to grab a glimpse of a great documentary from a National Geographic Special about Stress based on this incredible research from Dr. Sapolsky.

Now, you ask what does this have to do with the Italian-American angle, well I've blogged before on how Americans need to take a few lessons on living stress free from our native Italian ancestors. The rate of happiness, stress-less, and great health is way higher in countries like Italy, because its all about well being, stress-free, and super positive personal development. Yes, Yes, I know its hard to strive to be stress free..I understand-I live here too. But its the effort and even the mere thought that can help you achieve a better lifestyle. Just check out some of his finding and comments on this clip below. You'll be fascinated.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtjU0-dOTLM Tweet

Economic Crisis, No Jobs, Panic, Is This the Modern Day Depression?

Well, according to my father, who left his war torn, economic hardship hit homeland, yes-this a depression. You know I always start these blogs off with statements such as -I am not an economist, nor do I claim to be one. So, today's blog will focus on the number one hot topic and issue sickening our nation this week and most likely for months to come. We are faced with a large scale economic crisis that could unfold even worse in the days to come.

Never in my wildest dreams, did I ever think this would be an issue or something we would have to worry about in our modern life. We learned about the Great Depression in our history books, but now we are really living it a modern tone. I pray things don't spiral even further out of control but again my generation is faced with yet another negative factor to our future. Can I retire when its time? Will there be money to fall on from my savings? Will I be able to make enough money to buy a house and maintain the mortgage payments? Is my college degree going to get me a secure job? How will I be able to pay everything?Is there any security on any level for the future? These are the scary questions facing our grim economic future today.

You know in a previous article, I mentioned how my father came to the United States to escape poverty and economic hardship but now seeing how things are unfolding in America, he's begun to show a bit of anger, because he can't believe that the government would let the country take such a negative turn, when its the greatest, most sought after prosperous economy and government in the world. Coming from the perspective of a man who left all that behind in his early 30s has now been forced to face it yet again with his children in their 30s.

It doesnt help we are saturated with the media brainwash- morning,noon and night. What is real and what isn't? Who's reporting the real deal and whos just filling segment times with panic strickened headlines. Look, I'm a member of the media and know it takes one person's decision to fill your tv screen with garbage, so I am super critical of all these news shows and their over-information reporting. As a viewer, you need to be critical too of what your watching, don't get played by the media. Stick to simple, easy to understand and credible news reporting. Never go for the hooplah because it can cause panic.

Its easy to get panicked because there is a lot at stake and the situation is undeniably bad. I'm happy the govt stepped in today with their emergency plans but its just a realistic reminder of history repeating itself during the Great Depression. Lets pray that our country gets back on its feet and we can begin to feel assured that our financial futures are stable and durable again.

To learn more about the history of the Great Depression and actions of the government then read about it here or just Google Search it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression Tweet

"O Sole Mio," Takes on a Whole New Meaning: Italy is Expected To Take Solar Power to the Next Level.

In today's turbulent times of gaining access to renewable energy resources, Italy is expected to become the number location in the world to take on the task of becoming the next solar hot spot for solar energy. Undeniably, we are under the gun to find renewable resources and if Italy can be a major contributor to developing more solar energy, I say cut the red tape and lets get it rolling.

If you tuned into the Democratic and Republic conventions, talking about renewable energy resources was the number topic for both presidential and vice presidential candidates. If you think about it, we are committed to two wars based on natural resources, some might say its not about energy or oil but let's get real...and just call it what it is.

I'm not a scientist, nor do I claim to be one, but I would almost bet that in the United States we could pursue more avenues of using or developing renewable energy. I don't see a lot of incentive to use other available natural resources. We need to start educating the American population on renewable energy and resources. While we're at it, implement education on recycling. We've lost our Green education somewhere along the way and this is why Europe is moving full speed ahead on green technology.

I'm excited to see how the solar energy project in Italy develops in the next year. Let's stay posted on this topic because it really benefits everyone.

For more information on this topic, visit: http://www.enn.com/energy/article/38068

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Speaking an Ancient Language, there's proper Italian, then there's Dialect straight out of Reggio Calabria.

Not many people know this about me, but I do speak Italian fluently. This is definitely one of the greatest gifts I was given growing up with Italian parents. In my house, we grew up learning English, Italian and dialect.

Dialect is the specific language used from the particular area you are from in Italy. Of course, being from Reggio Calabria you just can't get any more slang and dialect than that..ok that might be a lie..because Sicilians really have a whole language of their own when it comes to dialect. I always said my parents came to America in a time capsule. They left thinking, speaking and acting the same as they do today. My mother has evolved with the times but my father, who is 78 years old, still thinks and believes certain things are the same there.

With all the transitions and change we had to learn growing up in our house, speaking Italian became secondary because the focus was on making sure we did well in school learning our English. Make no mistake, my mother was the enforcer at home and always made sure we kept our Italian alive...especially if we were in front of someone and she wanted to tell us something privately or just yell at us..it would be in a different language. Our secret code.

Other important moments to learn Italian was when we visited our relatives in Reggio Calabria. Now, I have a million cousins...and if you wanted to hang out or socialize with other kids..it was sink or swim. So, myself and my siblings learned quickly to retain the language or be faced as an outcast all summer.

As I got older, I realized our Italian dialect was not the language of choice in Italy, especially when I would visit my cousins in Rome and Venice. They spoke a whole different way..that left me thinking, "holy crap, I better learn proper Italian."

So, when I finally went to college I took Italian classes to learn the language all over again. I did it to expand what I knew of the language but also to preserve it. To know a second language is an amazing thing and I thank my mother and father everyday for giving me this part of their time capsule.

Today in Reggio Calabria, there's rarely an instance where people actually speak dialect. Only the older generations like my father and mother speak it. The younger kids have no clue how to speak it or what some words even mean. So, last time I was there I went out socially with my cousins and literally everyone was just astonished when my cousins revealed that myself and my sister spoke dialect too.

Mind you, when we're out we only speak proper Italian. I kinda felt like we were performing a little because everyone kept asking for requests on saying certain things. It was funny, but then I realized not only do we have the extreme privilege of living as Italian Americans but we also walked away with a cultural tradition that many Italians have lost. I'm a lucky person and thank God for my blessings everyday!

To see more on this topic, check out this interesting article written by the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF ITALIAN.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/479173 Tweet

Where do I start....???

So, like many other people..I've decided to start blogging. I've always had this strong need to connect with other Italian Americans because I always felt there was much to be shared in our values and lifestyles.

Its hard growing up with parents who are really when they say "Off the boat," and your other friends and parents just don't get why you do certain things or live a certain way. I was lucky enough to grow up in a town outside of NYC, where everyone was pretty much of Italian descent.

My siblings and myself were first generation Italian-Americans. This meant that everything we did was experimental for my parents in the sense that even though they worked and tried to fit into the American way, they still stuck out like sore thumbs..because we were just unversed in the lifestyle and actions of American kids and teens.

So, yes..school was hard but it was even harder for my older siblings..I am the youngest of four. My sister, Maria who is the oldest basically went to school speaking Italian in kindergarten because my parents really didn't speak perfect English, so at home we spoke dialect. Dialect is not exactly proper Italian and we all ended speaking dialect-English. This meant some words were in dialect and others were in English. For example.. "Si mangia ...venite a mangiare...stammo mangiando pasta...go get the cheese out of the frigo." I mean a real mish-mash.

Needless to say, I wouldn't give up a second of my life growing up because as I got older I realized what we tried to always hide about our heritage and our lacking Americana was the very thing I hold onto tightly today. Its who I am...and probably a larger of who I am.

Growing up in the 70s-80s was an interesting time..but growing up with immigrant parents I think made it all the more interesting. My father was a blue-collar worker his whole life in America. He worked two and three jobs at a time sometimes. We had the basics, a modest house, simple clothes nothing extra. I mean nothing extra..including cable television. Cable television when it first came out was a big deal but my parents were like...you don't need that and besides it costs more money, of which we aren't spending. So, you can imagine some days at school people would talk about shows..did you see that? I would be like..no. They would say, why not? Cause I have no cable...? This was an utter shock to my American friends but now I look back and say you know what..it really didnt matter. I had culture, which was more than the other kids.

So, getting back to my parents..which I still think is pretty interesting. My father came to America in 1956 on Columbus Day. My father was the oldest of his siblings and was basically forced to come to America to make money because his father, my grandfather was killed in action in WWII. This led to his family fending for themselves, poor and with no money. He came here by ocean liner and travelled on that ship for almost two weeks to get to America. He like many other Italian Americans landed in New York.

As you can imagine, my father was put through a lot at a young age. So, when he came to America he came with all his energy and hope for a better life. He busted his ass working but in the end payed off.

My parents were married when my father invited my mother to come to America years later. He always knew my mother and had a romantic crush on her...so he asked her to marry him. My mom, who has balls of steel by the way, accepted his marriage proposal and jetted over to a land that she knew nothing about. She came here on a plane..no boat..but the story is similar.

My parents have been married a long time close to 40 years, it hasn't been peaches and cream thats for sure. They struggled, argued, at more than one time..hated each other..but always remained together. I know now in my adult life that they are bonded by their journey here in America. They do love each other..and understand each other only as they do. Only Italians know how passionate we can be which can include heated arguments especially from two Calabrians.

In a not so small nut shell that is the beginning of my life here in America. Stay tuned for my daily blogs on life as an Italian American girl.

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