Marina's Page

“Interpreters were really important for Italians who, of course, did not know English. Actually most of them didn’t even know Italian perfectly! I mean, having lived all their lives in small villages they were used to speaking in dialect, so they didn’t even know the equivalent in Italian of some of the words which were part of their personal vocabulary! That’s why it was so important that interpreters knew several dialects! Their task was to accompany the immigrants when they were called for th… Continue

So, they arrived at Ellis Island. And as soon as the ship docked in Manhattan, steerage passengers could see cabin passengers - who had already enjoyed a nicer journey than the one they had had -leaving the ship, having been released to the freedom of New York. Those people’s new life was beginning, but their own… adventure (?), it was not over yet. While the upper classes were enjoying that very happy moment, they were told something like “Now, form a line and wait for your turn to be visited!”… Continue

So, Grandpa, where did they finally have their visit? How long did they have to wait?
“Well, the steerage passengers usually had to wait ‘till the ship left for the Upper New York Bay, which was almost always the day after their arriving in America. They slept on the ship and when they woke up they could see the tip of Manhattan! Oh boy! That really meant the journey was over…
And then… they met the most beautiful woman they had ever seen… she was waiting for them in the middle of the sea… she w… Continue

As an italian-american family we try our best to follow both our traditions especially when it comes to important holidays as Easter is!
And what is the most important thing Italians and Americans have in common?? the answer is obvious...THEY JUST LOVE GOOD FOOD!!!
So... that's the same for my family:)
Here there are some delicious foods we prepared/baked today!
First of all, king of the kitchen...here it comes THE CASATIELLO!

… Continue

There was no way you could touch US soil for the first time if you didn’t pass the inspection.
Fearful and stressed, from the deck of the ship the immigrants saw the land that incarnated their greatest dream but quite possibly might never become “their own” nation.
I remember that my father used to talk about those moments as the scariest of the whole trip.
Yes, doubts concerning your future can even be worse than the ugliest present moment you might be living. You know the present because you’r… Continue