the other.
Let me preface this entry with the reminder that I am the only member of my Italian family who lives in the US - or who speaks English, for that matter. And since my mom hasn't had to use Italian since my father died when I was 1, none of us speak Italian either:
After my Nonna found out the Virginia Tech incident, she started calling my mom twice a day to make sure I was okay. My mom told her that I went to a college that was nowhere near there and that I was fine, but I was not at home.
So then my cousin started e-mailing my mom asking her how to contact me [I guess they didn't believe that I was really alive], so my mom gave her my e-mail address.
And I got my first e-mail from my 27-year old cousin, Mariarosa, two days ago. Here is the best translation I could find:
beloved Cassandra, is your Mariarosa cousins…
they are indeed happy for having your address mail. I hope you you succeed to understand something of cio that I write to you.
I do not speak and I do not write in your language.
it would appeal to to me to succeed to put to me in contact with you, is I that my family we are also yours…
it would appeal to to me, indeed, a day to succeed to meet, to speak a little to you with you, of yours your life your dreams, and yours the rest…
I speak a little to you about me: I have nearly 27 years, I celebrate the birthday the 5 May, study and alive to the university of Messina, they are enrolled in the faculty of infermieristica Medicine but study. if all he goes well I graduate to December and then who knows it! for the future task only to my realization in the job in order now. I have had important disappointments in love, but now alive a history with a wonderful man, even if to house nobody still knows it, but we are with from two years.
it appeals to to make a little to me all, appeals to to the sea the mountain to me… all that that is life… dance sauce and bachata, I adore to pattinare, but the time and indeed little x me… now you know something of me, I hope you make it appeal to to this my initiative you to try to contact to you, for me is important.
soon you answer to me, always six in our heart… I want a world well to you, even if unfortunately I do not know you x nothing… smackkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
So I wrote her back:
Hi, Mariarosa!
I am glad to hear from you! Unfortunately, I do not know how to write to you in Italian. I will write to you in English, and use a translator. I hope you can understand it!
Right now, I am finishing my second year in university. I go to school at Appalachian State University, about two hours away from home. I am studying art, and I hope to be an art teacher when I finish school. I still have 2 or 3 years before graduating. My school is in the mountains, and it is beautiful here. Spring has just come and the flowers are beginning to bloom. In the Winter, we get lots of snow and it is very cold. I am happy to have warm weather again!
I just turned 20 in February. I, too, have a boyfriend, but we do not live together. I have a pet snail. I love to travel, and I can't wait to come back to Italy! I will come soon! I must learn to speak Italian first!
I would like for you to write back to me - it will help me learn. I love you very much! Give hugs and kisses to my family!
Love, Cassandra
I wrote it so that, hopefully, the Italian translation would be more correct. Who knows?!
Today she sent me some photos and one of them is very special.
This is a photo of Mariarosa's mom and dad on the left, our grandfather [Nonno] and my father. I wish I knew those people.
So maybe it is time for me to suck it up and go back. They want me and I want them. The only thing stopping me is a language barrier and a family propensity for "dying of heartbreak" [which is what I fear will happen to my grandmother if I go and then leave].
I should just go.
For real.
PS - I realize that by prefacing this entry, I am actually writing for someone else because I already know that stuff [and I am not liable to forget]. So, this is for you Sommer and Brooke [the only people who I know ready my journal.] :) Hoorah!
After my Nonna found out the Virginia Tech incident, she started calling my mom twice a day to make sure I was okay. My mom told her that I went to a college that was nowhere near there and that I was fine, but I was not at home.
So then my cousin started e-mailing my mom asking her how to contact me [I guess they didn't believe that I was really alive], so my mom gave her my e-mail address.
And I got my first e-mail from my 27-year old cousin, Mariarosa, two days ago. Here is the best translation I could find:
beloved Cassandra, is your Mariarosa cousins…
they are indeed happy for having your address mail. I hope you you succeed to understand something of cio that I write to you.
I do not speak and I do not write in your language.
it would appeal to to me to succeed to put to me in contact with you, is I that my family we are also yours…
it would appeal to to me, indeed, a day to succeed to meet, to speak a little to you with you, of yours your life your dreams, and yours the rest…
I speak a little to you about me: I have nearly 27 years, I celebrate the birthday the 5 May, study and alive to the university of Messina, they are enrolled in the faculty of infermieristica Medicine but study. if all he goes well I graduate to December and then who knows it! for the future task only to my realization in the job in order now. I have had important disappointments in love, but now alive a history with a wonderful man, even if to house nobody still knows it, but we are with from two years.
it appeals to to make a little to me all, appeals to to the sea the mountain to me… all that that is life… dance sauce and bachata, I adore to pattinare, but the time and indeed little x me… now you know something of me, I hope you make it appeal to to this my initiative you to try to contact to you, for me is important.
soon you answer to me, always six in our heart… I want a world well to you, even if unfortunately I do not know you x nothing… smackkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
So I wrote her back:
Hi, Mariarosa!
I am glad to hear from you! Unfortunately, I do not know how to write to you in Italian. I will write to you in English, and use a translator. I hope you can understand it!
Right now, I am finishing my second year in university. I go to school at Appalachian State University, about two hours away from home. I am studying art, and I hope to be an art teacher when I finish school. I still have 2 or 3 years before graduating. My school is in the mountains, and it is beautiful here. Spring has just come and the flowers are beginning to bloom. In the Winter, we get lots of snow and it is very cold. I am happy to have warm weather again!
I just turned 20 in February. I, too, have a boyfriend, but we do not live together. I have a pet snail. I love to travel, and I can't wait to come back to Italy! I will come soon! I must learn to speak Italian first!
I would like for you to write back to me - it will help me learn. I love you very much! Give hugs and kisses to my family!
Love, Cassandra
I wrote it so that, hopefully, the Italian translation would be more correct. Who knows?!
Today she sent me some photos and one of them is very special.
This is a photo of Mariarosa's mom and dad on the left, our grandfather [Nonno] and my father. I wish I knew those people.
So maybe it is time for me to suck it up and go back. They want me and I want them. The only thing stopping me is a language barrier and a family propensity for "dying of heartbreak" [which is what I fear will happen to my grandmother if I go and then leave].
I should just go.
For real.
PS - I realize that by prefacing this entry, I am actually writing for someone else because I already know that stuff [and I am not liable to forget]. So, this is for you Sommer and Brooke [the only people who I know ready my journal.] :) Hoorah!