The Joy of growing up Italian

I was well into adulthood before I realized that I was an American. Of course, I had been born in America and had lived here all of my life, but, somehow it never occurred to me that just being a citizen of the United States meant I was an American. Americans were people who ate peanut butter and jelly on mushy white bread that came out of plastic packages. Me? I was Italian.
For me … as I am sure for most second-generation Italian American children who grew up in the 40’s or 50’s there was a definite distinction drawn between US and THEM. We were Italians. Everybody else - the Irish, German, Polish, Jewish --- they were the "Med-I-cans". There was no animosity involved in that distinction, no prejudice, no hard feelings, just - well - we were sure ours was the better way. For instance, we had a bread man; a coal and iceman, a fruit and vegetable man, a fish man and we even had a man who sharpened knives and scissors. He came right to our homes or at least right outside our homes. They were the many peddlers who plied the Italian neighborhoods. We would wait for their call, their yell, and their individual distinctive sound. We knew them all and they knew us. Americans went to the stores for most of their foods, What a waste.
Truly, I pitied their loss. They never knew the pleasure of waking up every morning to find a hot, crisp loaf of Italian bread waiting behind the screen door. And instead of being able to climb up on the back of a peddler’s truck a couple of times a week just to hitch a ride, most of my "Med-i-can" friends had to be satisfied going to the A&P. When it came to food, it always amazed me that my American friends or classmates only ate turkey on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or rather, that they ONLY ate turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Now we Italians – we also had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, but – only after we had finished the antipasto, soup, lasagna, meatballs, salad and whatever else Mama thought might be appropriate for that particular holiday. This turkey was usually accompanied by a roast of some kind (just in case somebody walked in who didn’t like turkey) and was followed by an assortment of fruits, nuts, pastries, cakes and of course, homemade cookies. No holiday was complete without some home baking; none of that store bought stuff for us. This is where you learned to eat a seven-course meal between noon and 4 p.m., how to handle hot chestnuts and put tangerine wedges in red wine. I truly believe Italians live a romance with food.
Speaking of food – Sunday was truly the big day of the week! That was the day you’d wake up to the smell of garlic and onions frying in olive oil. As you lay in bed, you could hear the hiss as tomatoes were dropped into a pan. Sunday we always had gravy (the Med-i-cans called it SAUCE) and macaroni (they called it PASTA). Sunday would not be Sunday without going to Mass. Of course, you couldn’t eat before mass because you had to fast before receiving communion. But the good part was we knew when we got home we’d find hot meatballs frying and nothing tastes better than newly fried meatballs and crisp bread dipped into a pot of SAUCE.
There was another difference between US and THEM. We had gardens, not just flower gardens, but huge gardens where we grew tomatoes, tomatoes and more tomatoes. We ate them, cooked them, and canned them. Of course, we also grew peppers, basil, parsley, lettuce and zucchini. Everybody had a grapevine and a fig tree and in the fall everyone made homemade wine, lots of it. Of course, those gardens thrived so because we also had something else it seemed our American friends didn’t seem to have. We had a Grandfather!! It’s not that they didn’t have grandfathers, it’s just that they didn’t live in the same house, or on the same block. They visited their grandfathers. We ate with ours and God forbid we didn’t see him at least once a day. I can still remember my grandfather telling me about how he came to America as a young man, "on the boat". How the family lived in a rented tenement and took in boarders in order to help make ends meet. How he decided he didn’t want his children, five sons and two daughters, to grow up in that environment. All of this, of course, in his own version of Italian/English which I learned to understand quite well.
So, when he saved enough, and I could never figure out how, he bought a house. That house served as the family headquarters for the next 40 years. I remember how he hated to leave, would rather sit on the back porch and watch his garden grow and when he did leave for some special occasion, had to return as quickly as possible. After all, "nobody’s watching the house". I also remember the holidays when all the relatives would gather at my grandfather’s house and there would be tables full of food and homemade wine and music. Women in the kitchen, men in the living room, and kids, kids everywhere. I must have a half million cousins, first and second and some who aren’t even related, but, what did it matter. And my grandfather, his pipe in his mouth and his fine moustache trimmed, would sit in the middle of it all grinning his mischievous smile, his eyes twinkling, surveying his domain, proud of his family and how well his children had done. One was a cop, one a fireman, one had his trade and of course there was always the rogue. And the girls, they had all married well and had fine husbands and healthy children and everyone knew respect.
He had achieved his goal in coming to America and to New York and now his children and their children were achieving the same goals that were available to them in this great country because they were Americans. When my grandfather died years ago at the age of 76, things began to change. Slowly at first, but then uncles and aunts eventually began to cut down on their visits. Family gatherings were fewer and something seemed to be missing, although when we did get together, usually at my mother’s house now, I always had the feeling he was there somehow. It was understandable of course. Everyone now had families of their own and grandchildren of their own. Today they visit once or twice a year. Today we meet at weddings and wakes.
Lots of other things have changed too. The old house my grandfather bought is now covered with aluminum siding, although my uncle still lives there and of course my grandfather’s garden is gone. The last of the homemade wine has long since been drunk and nobody covers the fig tree in the fall anymore. For a while we would make the rounds on the holidays, visiting family. Now, we occasionally visit the cemetery. A lot of them are there, grandparents, uncles, aunts, even my own father.
The holidays have changed too. The great quantity of food we once consumed without any ill effects is no good for us anymore. Too much starch, too much cholesterol, too many calories. And nobody bothers to bake anymore - too busy - And it’s easier to buy it now and too much is no good for you. We meet at my house now, at least my family does, but, it’s not the same.
The differences between US and THEM aren’t so easily defined anymore, and I guess that’s good. My grandparents were Italian Italians, my parents were Italian Americans, I’m an American Italian and my children are American Americans. Oh I’m an American alright and proud of it, just as my grandfather would want me to be. We are all Americans now - the Irish, Germans, Poles and Jews. U.S. citizens all - but somehow I still feel a little bit Italian. Call it culture, call it tradition, call it roots, I’m really not sure what it is. All I do know is that my children have been cheated out of a wonderful piece of their heritage. They never knew my grandfather.

Ciao Professore on-line

During our last session I handed out several copies of the movie in Divx format. If you didn't receive your CD, you can download a copy or watch the movie online by clicking the following link: Ciao Professore I also created a channel: http://www.veoh.com/channels/ConversazioneCinema on Veoh, where I planned to upload the movie that we are going to watch.
Ciao e buon divertimento

Attivita` per l'incontro del 11 di Giugno

Salve a tutti queste sono le attivita` programmate per il nostro prossimo incontro

1. Cinema Paradiso Homework Settima Sequenza - quickly.

2. Domande per stimolare la conversazione

• Qual'e` stata la tua grande passione, interesse giovanile?

• Chi ti ha aiutato a realizzare questa tua passione, a raggiunge i tuoi   obbiettivi? In che modo?

• Adesso che sei piu` maturo, quale e` la tua passione o uno dei tuoi interessi principali. Quale obbiettivo o quale passione ti piacerebbe soddisfare?

3. Library video

4. Scrapbook exercise - show picture and ask people to describe them


A domani Marco

Dizionario dei termini di cucina

A calore alto/basso/medio	At high/low/medium heat
A fiamma alta/bassa/media	At high/low/medium flame
Ad alta velocità	At high speed
Adagiare	To lay down with care
Affumicare	To smoke
Aggiungere mescolando	To stir in
Ai ferri	Barbecued
Al forno	Baked
Al vapore	Steamed
Allo spiedo	Broiled on a spit
Ammorbidire	To soften
Arrostire	To roast
Battere	To whip, to beat, to whisk
Bollire	To boil
Bollito	Boiled
Burro fuso (m.)	Melted butter
Casseruola (f.)	Casserole
Ciotola (f.)	Bowl
Composto (m.)	Mixture
Cospargere	To spread
Croccante	Crisp
Cucchiaino (m.)	Teaspoon
Cucchiaio (m.)	Tablespoon
Cucchiaio di legno (m.)	Wooden spoon
Cuocere in bianco	To poach
Dimezzare	To cut in half
Estratto di vaniglia	Vanilla extract
Farcire	To stuff, to fill
Farcito	Stuffed
Farina di granoturco (f.)	Cornstarch
Fondere	To melt
Friggere	To fry
Frullare	To whip, to beat, to whisk
Frullatore (m.)	Mixer
Granturco, granoturco (m.)	Corn, maize
Grattugiare	To grate (e.g., bread, cheese)
Grumo (m.)	Lump, clump
Imburrare	To butter (e.g., a baking tray)
Immergere	To immerse
Impastare	To knead
In umido	Steamed
Infornare	To bake in the oven
Ingredienti (m.pl.)	Ingredients
Irrorare	To sprinkle, to drizzle
Latte intero (m.)	Whole milk
Mescolare	To stir, mix
Mestolo (m.)	Ladle
Mettere a riposare	To let rest
Mettere da parte	To set aside
Microonde (m.)	Microwave
Mischiare	To fold in
Padella (f.)	Pan
Pasta (f.)	Dough
Pastella (f.)	Batter
Pentola (f.)	Pot
Portare al bollore	To bring to a boil
Portare al punto d’ebollizione	To bring to a boil
Preriscaldare (il forno)	To preheat (the oven)
Punzecchiare	To prick
Ricetta (f.)	Recipe
Ripieno (m.)	filling
Rosolare	To sauté
Sale (m.)	Salt
Saltare	To sauté
Sbattere le uova	Beat eggs
Sbucciare	To peel
Sciroppo (m.)	Syrup
Scodella (f.)	Bowl
Scorza (f.)	Zest (of lemon, orange, etc)
Semolino (m.)	Semolina
Sfoglia (f.)	Pastry sheet
Snocciolare	To pit, to remove the stone
Soffriggere	To brown
Spellare	To skin
Spennelare	To brush (with oil, egg wash, etc.)
Spezzatino (m.)	stew
Spremere	To squeeze (e.g., juice)
Strapazzare	To scramble (eggs)
Tagliare di traverso	To cut crosswise
Tagliare nella lunghezza	To cut lengthwise
Tagliuzzare	To dice
Teglia (f.)	Baking dish
Terrina (f.)	Bowl
Tritare	To mince (e.g., meat)
Versare	To pour
Zucchero a velo (m.)	Powdered sugar, icing sugar (BE)
Zucchero semolato (m.)	Refined/granulated sugar, caster sugar

Giro d'Italia 2008

Sabato e` iniziato il Giro d'Italia. Se siete interessati potete seguire le tappe giornaliere on-line su questo siti:

http://www.giroditalia.rai.it
http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/it/

Conversazione e Caffe` sessione del 4/8/08

Alcuni giorni fa` ci siamo trovati all'High School di Rockaway per la consueta sessione bi-settimanle di Conversazione e Caffe. Questa volta il Caffe` e i biscottini c'erano davvero. Grazie tante a chi ha organizzato questa parte della sessione.
Durante questa sessione abbiamo lavorato su alcuni degl'esercizi di comprensione suggeriti dalla guida. Nella seconda parte della sessione abbiamo visto alcune scene del film "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso". Queste scene verranno analizzate nella prossima "lezione". Alla fine della sessione abbiamo anche letto alcuni spunti culturali, che ci aiutano ad ad inquadrare il periodo storico durante e il quadro socio-culturale nel quale il film si svolge. Per la prossima volta pensavo di parlare un po' piu` in dettaglio del periodo del dopo guerra, del periodo durante il quale questo film e` ambientato. Pero` non mi fate parlare troppo, perche` io l'italiano lo so gia` e siete voi che dovreste parlare. Quindi bisognera` trovare delle attivita` che vi mettano in condizione di esercitare il vostro italiano. Fatemi sapere quali attivita` vi sono piaciute. Mi e` sembrato di capire che avete trovato molto utile sentirmi parlare e leggere in italiano. Penso che questo sia importante per per sentire la corretta pronuncia delle parole e per abituarvi al ritmo della frase.

Questo blog e` per adesso un esperimento. Lo possiamo usare per continuare ad esercitare il nostro italiano, per scrivere i nostri compiti o per scrivere commenti di attivita` che possano essere interessanti per il resto del gruppo. Quindi commenti sono benvenuti e richiesti.

Ciao a presto Marco