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Today [September 1st] is my Nonna’s (grandmother’s) 84th Birthday. We are celebrating at Burger King! Yes, Burger King, where the Whopper was born! Sounds a bit odd, in all actuality, I personally find it oddly disturbing that Burger King exists in Palermo, Sicily and throughout Italy.   It was busy too—I guess, the slogan-Have it your Way- entices Italians as it does Americans in the States and abroad. My Nonna got her Whopper with just Ketchup—her way. We tell her why not just get a burger with just Ketchup and she responds that she likes the size of the Whopper patty—it’s filling and the meat and hamburger bun are soft. It’s easier to eat than other burgers my Nonna says—everything is softer on the teeth. I was happy watching my 84 years old grandmother eat her Whopper with such pleasure and contentment. I opted for a salad at another local eatery. I just couldn’t allow myself to eat Burger King while in Italy—it seems so wrong. Why Burger King? My grandmother lived and worked in the States for over 20 years before returning to Italy and Burger King was always a once in awhile indulgence. Buon Compleanno Nonna—Happy Birthday Grandma!

I also listened to some interviews I had previously recorded of my grandmother telling her story of being a child during WWII. I wanted to interview her again. We discussed possibly doing the interview next week. Instead I re-interviewed her 86 years old sister, my great-aunt, instead. I had interviewed Zia Maria, as we all call her, 3 years ago about the date July 7th 1943.

September 3rd 2015

Maria. 86 years old.   Born Bagheria, Sicily. Currently lives in Bagheria.

Zia Maria, told her story about losing her grandmother, aunt, and youngest sister as a bomb exploded that lay dormant in an abandoned house. My grandmother too had told me this tragic story in much more detail than my great-aunt but still it moves me. It always puts me in a place of awe in regards to the strength and overall life endurance of these women!   Zia Maria’s story was a bit shorter than the first time I had interviewed her and not due to her memory. She was tired. She had been dealing with a toothache the night before that persisted on into the day.   I could see she was in some pain so I had cut the interview short. I believe she had already made an appointment to see her dentist. She had mentioned it 3 times that she was going-twice before the interview and then again after—it made me smile, especially because she then said soon after the 3rd mention; ‘mi chi’ sugnu stulusa!’ In the Sicilian dialect, loosely translated, means, ‘wow, I am so OCD!’

Returned to Sicily shortly after the interview. Stephanie was now visiting my family and I proudly took on the role of tour guide for Palermo and its neighboring cities. We discussed her grandmother’s interview and Stephanie was moved by her grandmother’s story as she listened and discovered more about the woman she calls grandmother. Stephanie returned to Chicago and I currently continue to be with family and work on my project in Sicily. I emailed Professor Alessandro Portelli, whom I plan to interview, with a more detailed interview date for my project. Portelli has written several books about and on the topic of Oral History and teaches several classes on the subject and on American culture at the University of Rome Sapienza. We discussed narrowing down a more definite date for our interview in Rome. He responded shortly after with ‘best around October 15th or sometime after October 25th.” I thought, how Italian—I asked for a specific date and he responded in a very Italian, more accurately a Roman way—‘around October 15th’ or ‘sometime after October 25th.’ It’s a cultural nuance—I then had to forget my American mentality of schedule and time and as it is said—When in Rome…so, I wrote back—‘perfetto, will see you around the 15th of October’. So as of now, I will be interviewing Professor Portelli on October 15th in Rome and hope to complete the adage…do as the Romans do.

Before returning to Sicily, I interviewed Monique.

Monique 82 years old, born Paris, France, currently lives in Valbonne, France

Monique was graceful and soft-spoken. She too was a bit anxious and believed she wouldn’t have much to tell yet as the interview went on she remembered snip-its of experiences with clarity and humor. She spoke in French and my friend Stephanie directed the interview—Stephanie will also be translating the interview. I watched her speak to her grandmother and could see her eyes brighten or her voice change in accordance to her grandmother’s story. I watch Monique and I too see her eyes widen with a memory the tone of her voice change as she remembered. Monique would laugh at times and her laughter was refined and graceful as her speech. I was lost in her words not solely for the reason I do not speak French but in some way I understood her—I learned just by listening to her body language and tone of voice. I learned by watching her granddaughter, Stephanie’s reaction to her grandmother’s words. As I sat in this interview, I wished I had known French. It motivates me to learn it. I look forward to hearing Monique’s story in translation.

August 3--August 10, 2015

august 3rd---Departed for Palermo, Sicily—a connecting flight from Rome. Arrived August 4th. Upon arrival, my luggage was damaged. Went to declare the forms as my family waited unknowingly. Finally, met my family and explained my tardiness—I am now at my 2nd home. My family in Italy lived in the States for over 20 years before returning back to Italy--my aunts, my grandmother (who was more like a mother), and my grandfather (now passed) raised me —I’m home, at least for a brief while. Yet, I’m tired from the flight. Before taking a nap, we eat and eat well!

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August 10th---Departed for Nice, France. Stephanie, my comrade from the States is visiting her family and has invited me to interview her grandmother, Monique. I stay in a small town outside of Nice called Valbonne—breathtaking and very characteristic—a medieval-looking town. A place with hills, mountains and green—a 30min car ride to the beach…we visit Antibes and see the Picasso museum. Picasso lived and painted in Antibes for a year. We then visit a stunning little city in the mountains called Eze.

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Anna C.

Instructor of Italian language and culture at OPRFHS

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