Looking but not 'being' Italian

It is a strange sensation to look Italian, to by blood 'be' Italian, but to not be Italian at the same time.... Confused - well that it what it is like for me! Since moving to Italy last year I have met many people confused by my situation. I have an Italian passport you see, as I am Italian but I am Australian too. So if I don't speak people are fooled, but once my mouth opens the game it over. It has its pros and cons:

 PROS:

1: I get complimented on my English all the time by the Italians and foreigners. I thank the foreigners and tell them I learnt to speak English in Australia thus my accent. I cannot lie like this to the Italians as sadly my Italian accent is heavily Australianised and far, oh so far from fluent.

2: I can push to the front of the bar when getting coffee as the foreigners all move aside for the 'locals'

3: When people in the street ask me if I speak English, and can I help them with directions, depending on my mood I can shake my head and pretend I do not understand and keep walking.

4: I can also eavesdrop on people who are talking in English. I often notice this at bars, out with friends and talking Italian, the table next to us will point and say something, not realising we understand every word.

5: When the bus comes and the bus stop is full of tourists, I again can push to the front and be allowed on by the driver who a) thinks I am Italian and favours me over the tourists b) the tourists give way to the locals.

6: When I am out with obvious looking foreigners, no one hassles me at bars etc...as I do not have that 'I am easy and a foreigner on holidays looking for a good time' look.

7: I have an Italian passport so can live here without any problems.

8: When the Italians do something silly I can dissociate saying, I'm Australian, not Italian.

9: When the Australians do something silly I can say the opposite 

CONS: 

1: When someone sees my Italian passport, they want to know why I cannot speak Italian. 

2: When someone sees my Italian passport they want to know why my parents never taught me Italian 

3: When they know I am Australian they want to know why I left my beautiful country to come and live in theirs, which mostly they don't like

 

4: Due to my poor Italian language skills, people often look at me like I am mentally challenged due to my speaking like a baby. 

I guess the pros far out way the cons...and because of that it is time to become official! On Monday I am off to the Municipale with Luisa to once and for all find out how I can gain residency.