Sono bilinguale: parlo Italiano e Inglese.

Growing up with an Italian mother and her Italian family, my life was full of noise, dancing, and food. From my Italian grandparents’ garage, I learned how to make homemade pasta, tomato sauce, sausage, wine, meatballs, biscotti, and pizzelle.

One thing I didn’t learn, however, was the language. Sure, I heard them speak it every day and they taught me some useful commands mangia, mangia! (eat, eat!) or sweet nicknames like faccia brutta! (ugly face). But, I never understood them and it became my dream. My college, Washington University in St. Louis, offered intensive 5-day a week classes. I fully expected to be the top of my class – after a lifetime of exposure, surely I had picked something up. The first day of class was a rude awakening. I didn’t recognize anything – the language I had grown up hearing was actually a very strong Molisano dialect. It hardly even resembled the Italian spoken in most of Italy.

In hopes of truly speaking the “proper” language, I continued studying Italian for my four years in college and was also fortunate enough to pass a semester in Rome. While in the motherland, I lived with an Italian family and integrated myself into the culture as much as possible. I tutored young girls living in a safe house helping them with their English homework and as a general mentor. I also met my Roman partner Christian and his wonderful family.

Now, 9 years later, and after 4 lovely years in London (did you know I am a dual-citizen?) we are back living in California. Christian and I regularly travel to Rome to be with his family and friends and we speak up an Italian storm!

I consider my command of Italian to be my greatest personal achievement.

P.S. I also speak English fluently…in case that wasn’t clear. And I’m trying to learn Spanish…slowly, but surely.