On "Being" Italian

 

So, as far as genealogy and heredity go, I am of pretty much 100% Italian descent.  All my great-grandparents were born in Italy and my DNA backs this up.  Of course my nationality is 100% American, but genetically I am as "Italian" as anyone living in Italy today.

When I went to Italy for the first time, I had it in my head that the land of my ancestors would automatically "recognize" me as one of their own.  Even if my grandparents, parents, and myself were born in the U.S., our genes hadn't changed only our location.  

My "credentials"

Here is me in Italy. I guess I "scream" American so loudly that my Italian blood doesn't show through. 

I soon found out that "being" Italian is something you must lose rather quickly.  Even with the bloodline intact, three generations of us born in America has completely rubbed out our "Italian-ness."  We are wanna-be's and imposters and the Italians call us out on it every time.

My Family Tree - yes EVERY name ends with a vowel! 

One afternoon while we were in Rome, I headed over to a little neighborhood grocery store for a few things.  I walked in quietly - I was by myself and wasn't speaking to anyone.  I was dressed neutrally, nothing that would stand out.  I put a few things in my basket and headed for the cashier - still not having uttered one single word - and the man greeted me in English, "Hello, Signora, how are you today, are you paying with cash or card?"  HOW DID HE KNOW?  

On another visit, I was in a limo going to Massa Lubrense with a driver a few years old than me who told me he had been born and raised there.  Now, one of my great-great-grandfathers was also born in Massa Lubrense and as coincidence would have it this driver had the same name as my ancestor.  Exact same name, born in the exact same small village in Italy (we're talking about a little town of about 10,000 people here, okay?) 

So I mention this to the driver - "you have the same name as my great-great grandfather and he was also born in Massa Lubrense.  Wow, we might be second or third cousins!"  To which the driver shrugged like, "yeah, so what?  No big deal." 

Okay, then, I give up!