Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Italy


You may remember the winter Olympics held in Turin, Italy. Nearly a hundred years ago, my great-grandparents came from this area, got on a ship in Le Havre, France, and came to America. They left the village of Volpiano behind and started a new life on the prairie of western Nebraska.
Pietro (Pete) and Domenica (known as Minnie) Amateis didn't have it easy. They spoke no English and farming was a tough life to live. But they went on to have eight children - three girls and five boys - owned their own farm, and built their own house.
I've always been fascinated by my Italian heritage. My grandfather and my great uncles used to sit around the table after a cattle branding at my house while I was growing up (the homestead where my great-grandparents settled) and tell stories about their childhood. I listened, fascinated by the antics of my great-grandfather in chasing a thief from the chicken coop or how he used to eat eggs and bacon every morning for breakfast, but never worried about his cholesterol.
I have pictures of my great-grandmother, but she never looks very happy. I think she had a hard life here in America. When she was a girl in Italy, she worked in a silk factory, tying thread. My great-grandfather used to take marble across the border into France and have to watch out for attacks from the gypsies. They wanted a better life, so they left everything they knew behind and came here where they knew nothing - not the language, the customs, or even how vast this country was. But they especially didn't realize how tough life would be.
When my father was in the air force, he had an officer tell him that our last name - Amateis - was an old French name. We were puzzled by this for awhile since we are an Italian family. But it turns out that we come from the Piedmont area in northern Italy, an area that used to be under the French House of Savoy.
I still have plenty of relatives in Italy - especially in Volpiano. And I can't wait to meet them, which is why I'm tentatively planning a trip to the "mother country" with my two brothers and my father for next year or the year after. We've all wanted to visit for a long time - and I think now the time has come. Not only will I be able to research my roots, meet my family, and bask in the Italian sunshine, but I'll also be able to soak in the culture of my ancestors and hopefully be able to transfer that experience into my novel. It's the perfect combination!

10 comments:

  1. Wow, a trip to Italy! Think how much you'll have to write about! Can you hide me in your suitcase, please?

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  2. Thanks for letting me know about the cougar pics. Now I feel like an idiot! I'm not posting anymore email pics again, lol. At least it was right about the thing watching kids. Have a good one girl

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  3. Anonymous10:43 AM

    My Italian great-grandfather was a tanner who lived a hard life in the US, too. I interviewed both of my grandparents on tape a year or so before my grandmother died; I'm so glad now to have those stories recorded!

    I'm also writing about Italy--Rome--and I'd love, love to visit someday.

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  4. I've visited Italy. It was a very whirlwind trip in wintertime. I'd love to go back in warmer weather.

    You'll have a grand time, I'm sure!

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  5. what a wonderful story! my family came over from Wales, England and Scotland. Tough time here. I'm always grateful they chose to come to place with great plumbing. (grin)
    Pauline

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  6. My bestest friend is Italian - her parents just left for Italy yesterday. They go every year, lucky lucky. ;)

    That would be wonderful to go to Italy! Talk about inspired...

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  7. That would be so perfect :) I've always wanted to go :)

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  8. That's me and Ireland - but about 160 years ago. Someday.

    My father talked about eating these humongo breakfasts (eggs, butter, bacon, pork chops, hash browns, bisquits, gravy) - I don't really think it's the food we eat now, it's the sedentary lifestyle. These people ate these foods and then went out in the fields and sweated their asses off.

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  9. Oh, Melissa, how exciting! Talk about the trip of a lifetime! I hope you get to stay for a couple of weeks, at least -- so much to do and so many places to see. One of these days, I'm going to Europe, but as someone above said, my must-visit place is Ireland. I'm supposed to be mostly Irish and Scandanavian, though since both my parents were adopted, it's really anyone's guess. :D

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  10. Wow Melissa, that's so wonderful and exciting!

    Wishing you well with the planning.

    Sue :-)

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