Check out the blog from our trip to Europe in 2014, specifically the entry for Monteferrante, the “roots” of my mother’s family. While there, we met several members of la mia famiglia all of whom are descendants of my grandfather’s sister. Overwhelmed by the warm welcome, we promised to return some day. This is the genesis of our travels to Italy this summer.
Connie (2nd left), me between Maria and Adolfo, and other family members, 2014
We chose to spend August in Monteferrante in part because most Europeans take their annual vacation in August and many of our relatives will return to their “home” then, a common practice for Italians as many from the hillside towns spend most of the year living and working elsewhere in Italy and Europe. The relatives we met in October 2014 told us this would provide the best opportunity to meet the largest number of our family members. Plus, there are several festivals celebrated during August. This combination of events prompted us to encourage a family reunion – American and Italian relatives. Hence, European Reunion 2016.
As of today, there are six family members from the U.S. going plus our friend Simon Jenner. Jim and I fly to Scotland on 18 June for a week with my nephew Brett Graf and his wife Shelley before we fly to Italy. In August, Chad, Juli, Michele and Simon fly over from Atlanta while my sister Connie flies in from Newark. Chad and Juli will stay five weeks; the others two weeks.
Now, our Italian language training. We decided after the last trip to learn Italian. We therefore enrolled in La Scuola Leonardo da Vinci for six weeks of intensive Italian training. We arrive Florence on 25 June; school begins on the 27th. We will move to Monteferrante on 5 August. But even before that, we had been studying Italian using books and language apps. And then, by chance, we met Walter and Gabriele. And Gabriele teaches Italian! So, beginning 21 May, we’ve been meeting with her two hours plus a day, including weekends, learning Italian. Plus, Walter is from Sicily and a wonderful chef. So while we are being taught Italian on the weekends, he cooks! Some results below. On top of all this good fortune, the four of us have become wonderful, close friends.
Walter and Gabriele Venturino, our Italian teachers and our chef for the weekends!
Another of Walter’s presentations, this with eggplant – meraviglioso!
We worried a bit about this trip but now, with help from Gabriele and Walter, we are confident we’ll do much better in the six week school in Florence and be well prepared to talk with our relatives in Monteferrante and other Italians we meet along the way.
Oh, did I mention that even after two and a half months in Italy, Jim and I will stay on through the end of October? Our itinerary in brief: Florence six weeks, Monteferrante four weeks, Naples a few days, Rome a few days and Palermo, Sicily until the end of September. We have not decided just where we’ll go during October but we still have time to decide that. Total travel time: 18 June – 28 October.