In the spirit of our mission to promote Italian Language education, ILF is offering two scholarships to our Student Members for the Lago del Bosco Virtual Italian Program.
A Living Link to Childhood Bari and the Countryside
Written by Margo Sorenson, author of over thirty traditionally-published books for young readers. Margo Sorenson spent the first seven years of her life in Spain and Italy, devouring books and Italian food and still speaks (or tries!) her childhood languages. Her most recent Adult/YA novel, SECRETS IN TRANSLATION (Fitzroy Books, October 2018), takes place in Positano, with plenty of Italian countryside highlights. www.margosorenson.com
Bari? Who goes to Bari? It’s not on the usual tourist’s agenda—so “boring”! But, as a five-to-seven-year-old, living there, my senses were always on high alert with the wonderful sounds and sights and tastes.
Hearing the warm sounds of Italian swirling around me and seeing castles, like Castello Svevo and Castel del Monte, were a part of everyday life. Picnicking on rocky beaches (I had no idea there were sandy beaches!) next to the Adriatic, with my favorite mortadella sandwiches (no peanut butter in Italy!) was a weekend outing. If my parents, who grew up on peanut butter in the U.S., wanted peanut butter sandwiches, we’d get a gallon can of it from the U.S. Navy ships in the port, but mortadella was perfect for me.
It was fun going to the Port of Bari, because my parents rented me a little car that I could “drive” around the port. Once a year, the Festa di San Nicola would light up the entire port of Bari.
For this celebration for the patron saint of sailors, (his relics were brought by sailors back to Bari in the 11th century), many decorated boats sailed into the harbor, and one boat transported the relics around the port. The fact that holy “manna” appeared upon the relics, I took for granted.
On Saturdays, instead of going to the movies, (a typical activity in the U.S.), we would go to the opera, which was, in Bari, a pastime of ordinary people, not “high-society people.” Seeing a real elephant lumber across the stage in “Aida” made me gasp in amazement. Opera singers were rock stars, and when we went to the Albanese luggage store in Bari, I was in awe, hoping we might catch a glimpse of Bari-born, famed opera star, Licia Albanese. We were told it was owned by her brother—but, I never had a sighting. The hit song drifting through the air in Bari was Nilla Pizzi’s “Papaveri e papere,” and it became my favorite childhood song. Our grandchildren now sing it, with their amiable grandfather contributing the quacking sounds like the duck, at their request.
Sometimes, we would take a day trip to Alberobello. On our drive through the countryside, we would pass houses with strings of garlic and red peppers hanging from doorways and window ledges, and tomatoes drying on the roofs. The scent of fresh tomatoes on the vine brings all that vividly back to me. I loved the looks of the trulli; they looked as if elves could have lived in them.
One of our favorite vacations was to drive to Messina, take the ferry to Palermo, and stay in Taormina. I will always remember visiting the royal palace in Palermo and seeing the King of Sicily’s red-velvet-covered toilet seat! We’d picnic at the ancient ruins of the Greek theater in Taormina, with a view of snowy Mt. Etna, and, in town, I would get a ride on a brightly painted Sicilian carreta, a model of which sits on my desk today. In our hotel’s restaurant, we would dine late, as is Italian custom. Once, some American tourists came over to our table and gushed to my parents about how well-mannered a child I was, even at the “extremely late” hour. I was completely puzzled. Late? It wasn’t even ten o’clock, yet!
So many of my vivid memories are linked to the melodic sounds of Italian, and the sights and sounds and tastes of my special childhood in Bari come flooding back, when I’m lucky enough to hear it spoken.
Una Scelta Profonda
Written by Dominic Amara, for the Italian Language Foundation
As I strolled down the hall I continued to recite my course selections for freshman year:. “Geometry, Foods, Info Processing, World History… Geometry, Foods, Info Processing, World History.” As I repeat them for what seems like the hundredth time, one question plagues me the entire length of the hallway. “What language are you going to take?” Often students reply, “Spanish”, as it is practically required in middle school across the country, but as I kept thinking I was drawn to a different path. When I first had thoughts of enrolling in Italian, I was a bit hesitant to say the least. After taking nearly four years of the Italian language at my high school, much to my surprise, I’ve gained more as a student and as a person than I could have ever thought possible.
Italian was extremely difficult and frustrating in the beginning; I had barely any base knowledge of the language, the rules were confusing, and I was a poor reader. It took me a while to learn the true beauty of the course; it wasn’t just in the words and sentences but in the lifestyle, in the culture and the essence of Italia. We ventured into music, history, art and so much more. With every activity I gained lessons that transformed my character. I learned patience and hard-work from the career of Leonardo Da Vinci, we learned about patronage and the importance of art with the reign of the Medici, and most recently we connected classical literature to the Covid-19 pandemic. We delved into the importance of family, and the meaning of true happiness.
I may not be able to listen, read or write like the perfectionist in me would like, but I realize that isn’t at all what taking Italian is about. I have learned to communicate my thoughts, ideas and opinions in an authentic way. We’ve read about ten or more stories, watched at least five films, and done so many hands on activities I can’t even count. Through every activity we’ve gained more lessons and more knowledge regarding not only Italian lives but our lives as well, from stereotypes in all cultures, to the mysteries of our families’ immigration. The amount of substance behind each lesson stretches farther than I could have ever imagined when I first told my eighth grade teacher, “um I think I’ll go with… Italian.”
How Italian Shaped the Past and Future Me
Written by: Matthew Marcantonio, an Italian student at Bristol Central High School
I may look like every other high school student, but there is much more to me than a typical American teen. Ciao, mi chiamo Matthew Marcantonio I am a first generation Italian American born and raised in Bristol, Connecticut. The Marcantonio family comes from a small farming village in Italy called Limosano in Campobasso. My grandfather traveled Europe to support his family and then decided to chase the American dream. My father, his twin sister Clelia and his siblings Nick and Gino all moved to New Britain, Connecticut to start “una vita nuova”. This “new life” that they were searching for took root in Bristol, CT with me and my 3 brothers. We grew up on pasta dinners, soccer games and family reunions; never forgetting our past.
I chose to take Italian so I could build a stronger connection with my family. I am the kind of student who gives 110% every day, all day. Because of my commitment to education I’ve been a recipient of the All Academic soccer award and the Coccia Foundation Italian Achievement awards. I’ve maintained a 4.0+ GPA and I am a proud member of the National Honor Society, the Business NHS and the Italian NHS.
My Italian teacher has truly been a great influence throughout my high school experience and her lessons in Italian have opened a door onto future career goals. I hope to pursue a degree in business, and with the guidance of my Italian teacher I am drawn to the idea of international business with a focus in Italian. Throughout this tough year we’ve studied multiple themes. The theme that resonated with me the most was immigration. As a first generation Italian American, I am directly affected by immigration. Through self reflection and discussions in class, I am reminded of the struggles my father and my grandparents faced. Another theme that stuck with me is the topic of identity. Since I am moving on to college I can mold my identity to my liking and my teacher, Mrs. Gallo has certainly molded parts of my identity that will stay with me forever.
In the future, I plan to go to college and use the numerous amounts of advice that was taught to me in italiano. I plan to pass this knowledge on to my future children to be sure to preserve a strong sense of family, history and tradition from Limosano.
Learn How to Make Italian Breakfast Risotto
Recipe from Lidia Bastianich, an Emmy award-winning public television host, a best‐selling cookbook author, restaurateur, and owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business.
Ingredients
- 1/4 CUP EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
- 4 OUNCES SLAB BACON, CUT INTO LARDONS
- 1 SMALL ONION, CHOPPED
- 1 RED BEL PEPPER, CHOPPED
- 1 1/2 CUPS ARBORIO OR OTHER ITALIAN SHORT GRAIN RICE
- KOSHER SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER
- 3/4 CUP DRY WHITE WINE
- 6 TO 7 CUPS HOT CHICKEN STOCK OR WATER
- 2 LARGE EGGS
- 3 SCALLIONS, CHOPPED
- 1 1/2 CUP FRESHLY GRATED GRANA PADANO
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then add the bacon and cook until the fat is rendered and the bacon begins to crisp, about 3 minutes.
Add the onions and bell pepper and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat in the oil. Cook until the rice grains are somewhat translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the white wine and cook until absorbed. Ladle in enough hot stock to cover the rice. Simmer until the liquid is absorbed. Continue adding stock to cover as it is absorbed until the risotto is barely al dente, about 16 minutes from the first addition of liquid.
Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a small bowl with a pinch of salt. Whisk in 1 cup of hot stock. Stir into the risotto make wisps of scrambled eggs. Stir in the scallions to wilt, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat, stir in the grated cheese and serve immediately.
Serves 4 to 6 people.