Sofia was born is Melbourne to an Italian mum (me, Barbaraexpat) and Australian dad. As a part of her college course, a Bachelor of Youth Work, she needed to write and project titled “The place do I belong?”. I feel it captures nicely the feelings of kids grown up between two cultures and, together with her permission, I share a few of her ideas.
Grazie Sofia!
Luvaira is a block of land that belongs to my nonni, within the countryside of Liguria, Italy.
There’s a small home my nonno constructed and many drywall terraces the place olive and mimosa’s timber are grown.
This land has been in my household for a lot of generations.
My nonno cooking
My reminiscences of coming right here return to after I was a toddler, of operating round with my cousin and my uncle’s canine and of the odor of the recent air.
Extra not too long ago I see myself serving to my nonno work on the land and listening to his tales, watering crops and choosing vegatables and fruits with my nonna and cooking meat within the wooden fireplace oven to be eaten with family and friends.
I’ve spent many hours on this place, sitting within the solar overlooking the ocean and the mountains, daydreaming, having fun with the attractive surrounding.
Rising up between Italy and Australia has made it tough to really feel I fully belong in both place.
When I’m in Australia, I really feel like I belong extra in Italy and when I’m in Italy, I really feel I belong extra in Australia.
Nonetheless, Luvaira is particular to me as a result of after I’m right here I don’t give attention to these variations, however purely on the land, the environment, and the tales of my nonni.
I strongly affiliate my attachment and sense of belonging to Luvaira with my nonni and the connection I’ve developed with them over my lifetime.
My nonna and I in Luvaira
I consider that my attachment to this place pertains to these relationships, to the time spent there and what the place means to me and my household.
My connection to Luvaira has been rising over time, as I’ve been spending extra time with my nonno, serving to him.
He grew up in a small village within the valley, and has spent his complete life right here, working as a farmer.
As we labored, he informed me tales of his life as a boy and the time spent collectively has strengthened our relationship and my connection to Luvaira.
Experiencing what my nonno does right here and has executed for his complete life meant I used to be capable of higher perceive the significance of this place.
Working collectively
Though I’ve at all times been extraordinarily near my nonna, the time spent right here together with her, making ready meals from the recent produce we harvested, gossiping about individuals we all know and yelling at my nonno for overworking, has deepened our bond.
I can’t go to Luvaira typically, nonetheless each time I return, it feels as I’ve by no means left.
La raccolta
Regardless of being unfamiliar with the small particulars, for instance the place my nonno might have planted the onions that individual yr, I can wander all over the place right here and really feel fully comfortable.
This land is very significant to me, additionally as a result of is the place my mother and father bought married.
When I’m in Luvaira, I like to think about them, younger and in love, saying their vows underneath the grape vines, overlooking the ocean and the mountains, at their small however excellent wedding ceremony.
I really feel a really sturdy emotional connection to my Italian facet of the household, extra so than my Australian facet.
To me, Luvaira is all the things that I really like about Italy, and it at all times jogs my memory how fortunate I’m to have such a powerful emotional connection to this facet of my household, despite residing distant.
All the pieces I do right here, whether or not it’s taking part in playing cards with my nonna or burning shrubs to clear area for brand spanking new crops with my nonno, provides particular moments and reminiscences that make me who I’m right now.
I affiliate Luvaira with feeling heat.
Bodily heat from the solar, as a result of we’re at all times right here on good days, and emotionally heat from all of the particular reminiscences.
Sofia Rose
Collected and tailored by Barbara Amalberti (Barbaraexpat)
Melbourne, Australia
February 2023
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