Part 5: My Wonderful Italian Family

A. My Italian Family

As you all know, I have a close group of family friends here in Italy. Alessandro had been an exchange student in Florida with me during my junior year of high school. Since I was 16 years old I have spent almost every summer here in Italy for some time. The family is based in Rome, but Umberto (my “Italian father”), is from Terrarosa, Toscana. His brother and sister in law live in his mother’s house, where he grew up. During the summers Umberto spends preparing for Classes back in Rome, as he is an Economics Professor at a University outside of Rome. Fulvia (my “Italian Mother”) is a very intelligent and loving woman who is very successful in the banking world in Rome. On the weekends she joins us in Tuscany and the couple enjoy the simple life of food, family, and bike riding around the country side. Alessandro (My “Italian Brother”) is currently studying for a Physics Masters exam in the middle of September. He and his classmates from his University enjoy studying in Terrarosa because it gives them a place to enjoy the calmness and silence of the countryside to focus.

This home is full of conversation, strong debates, laughter, and family. I can’t truly imagine a more safe and happy place on earth. When I am here with my family, I am in a timeless moment. When I think what a home should be, this is what I imagine. When someone asks me where my home is, this is the place I think of immediately. I don’t feel like I belong many places in life, but I belong here. I learn from my family here, I grow from them, and I am surrounded by real love. It’s funny to be even attempting to explain what these people mean to me, because words do not even touch the significance of these people. They think of what you may need or want before you yourself even think of it. They have patience with your cultural differences, they listen to you, and they worry about you. At the same time this family challenges you to grow, they teach you how to set goals, and they are proof that you can have it all: Family, a job you love, the city and the country, passion and routine.

They are my hope for what I want for myself one day. I get to see that happiness in reach with them. There are no words to thank this family enough for the impact they have had on my heart, soul, and mind. One day I hope to give back the same way, but I don’t know if anything I could ever do would show them how much I appreciate them.