Digging up Roots in the Boot. Behind the Scenes – Meeting Italian Relatives

Have you ever considered taking a heritage tour and meeting Italian relatives?  Meeting your Italian family for the first time is an indescribable experience.  I see that most second and third generation Italian descendants want to stay as connected with their heritage as possible.  So, more and more of you are doing the research and making plans to walk in your ancestor’s footsteps.

One of the things that I love most about what I do is bridging the gap between generations.  Our ancestors immigrated many years ago to create a better life for themselves and their children.  They often sacrificed a lot and left behind their parents, siblings, and cousins.  So, there is a good possibility that you have Italian relatives in Italy waiting to meet you.

Meeting Italian Relatives in Belgium and Sicily

Personally, it was very emotional meeting my cousin Vinny for the first time.  My great grandfather crossed the Atlantic in the early 1900s with the hopes of realizing the American dream.  On the other hand,  his cousins found themselves in Belgium in the mid-1900s.  Fortunately, I stumbled on my cousin Vinny through social media while doing research to have my Italian citizenship recognized.  At first, we developed a virtual relationship.  After we had got to know each other, we met in Belgium.  I spent a few days meeting and developing a relationship with an entire branch of Italian relatives.

Vinny and I clicked right away, maybe because we share common DNA, and planned a road trip to Sicily the following year.  More than ever, I was looking forward to meeting our Italian relatives that kept their roots in the motherland.  We ended up spending a fantastic evening together.  Of course, there was an endless spread of food, homemade Italian wine, tarantella, and lots of singing and dancing.

Taking My Experience Meeting Italian Relatives and Helping Others.

After meeting my Italian relatives, I knew that I wanted to help others do the same.  It goes without saying that the experience is beyond rewarding and emotional.  However, some things may prohibit you from making a successful connection.  The most important tip of all is to get a grasp of the Italian language. It will help you make the most of your interactions when meeting your Italian relatives.  Learning at least a little bit of conversational Italian can help you develop an even closer bond than you thought possible.  Also, it is essential for developing an ongoing relationship with your new found family.

Lucia Opens Up About Meeting Italian Relatives

Below is a behind the scenes video interview in Sicily with a second generation Italian-American talking about meeting her Italian relatives for the very first time. Also, watch the other five episodes in the interview series and find the helpful links that we talk about in the videos.