tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post4058991102482697996..comments2023-09-15T15:22:54.167+02:00Comments on From Australia to Italy - and back: Never look backLeanne was in Italy now in Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03240105726417037664noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-37321171737984566742008-06-15T15:12:00.000+02:002008-06-15T15:12:00.000+02:00Hi Kataroma,You were 14 too when you 'immigarated'...Hi Kataroma,<BR/>You were 14 too when you 'immigarated' to OZ. It must have been strange and hard for you while at the same time being exciting and fun. I wonder which country you call 'home'?Leanne was in Italy now in Australiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03240105726417037664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-36542141499066643922008-06-15T10:13:00.000+02:002008-06-15T10:13:00.000+02:00This is completely different as I wasn't fleeing p...This is completely different as I wasn't fleeing poverty but I moved from New York City where I'd grown up with my Australian mum and Swedish dad for Sydney when I was 14 years old. It's a funny age to "migrate" as you're kind of grown up kind of not. Anyway I held onto part of my American accent so I'll always be the "American girl" in Australia (and the Australian girl in the US) but I become very Australian. I guess high school, uni etc really form you and also having an Aussie mum and huge, very close Australian family formed me also.<BR/><BR/>Anyway I had a real longing to return to New York which I did at age 29 and lived there for 3 years. I love,love, love New York!!! However, I also know that in some ways it's not a very livable place. The whole of Manhattan where I grew up is full of rich people now - normal people have all been pushed out by high rents. It still has that amazing energy but now I have more of a feeling of 'been there done that.' I had to get it out of my system though.Kataromahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14978496810226430712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-19696406622437374762008-06-04T17:09:00.000+02:002008-06-04T17:09:00.000+02:00Hi Romamerican,I am glad you can understand as it ...Hi Romamerican,<BR/>I am glad you can understand as it does sound like your parents experienced the same as my dad. And look at us both now, the children of immigrants living back in the country they left behind!Leanne was in Italy now in Australiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03240105726417037664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2945600374886655820.post-66103061955450712772008-06-04T06:26:00.000+02:002008-06-04T06:26:00.000+02:00Fantastic post! My southern Italian parent emigrat...Fantastic post! My southern Italian parent emigrated to the US in the 60s and never once considered coming back to the homeland. They were both from small, rural towns where most of the houses had no indoor plumbing or electricity in the 60s, so their memories are of another Italy.<BR/>I remember going to visit my mother's side of the family in the 80s and being blown away by how strange it was: toilet paper was a commodity and it had the texture of birthday streamers, water would get shut off for 4-5 hours during the day so we would fill up jugs to use during those hours, even milk was "different".<BR/>My parents have come back to visit Italy but only to see family, not because they "enjoy" being back in Italy. In fact my mother has a hard time understanding why I'd live in "such a backwards place". She's so used to American convenience that the thought of being in a place like Italy is inconceivable. They love America immensely and are grateful for the opportunities it gave them- two penniless Italians who spoke no English... It's funny that after 10+ years in Italy I don't feel that same passion or attachment to this land that they feel toward America..Romericanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721721345728895213noreply@blogger.com