Sofia was born is Melbourne to an Italian mum (me, Barbaraexpat) and Australian dad. As part of her university course, a Bachelor of Youth Work, she had to write and assignment titled “Where do I belong?”. I think it captures well the emotions of children grown up between two cultures and, with her permission, I share some of her thoughts.
Grazie Sofia!
Luvaira is a block of land that belongs to my nonni, in the countryside of Liguria, Italy.
There is a small house my nonno built and lots of drywall terraces where olive and mimosa’s trees are grown.
This land has been in my family for many generations.
My nonno cooking
My memories of coming here go back to when I was a child, of running around with my cousin and my uncle’s dog and of the smell of the fresh air.
More recently I see myself helping my nonno work on the land and listening to his stories, watering plants and picking fruits and vegetables with my nonna and cooking meat in the wood fire oven to be eaten with friends and family.
I have spent many hours in this place, sitting in the sun overlooking the sea and the mountains, daydreaming, enjoying the beautiful surrounding.
Growing up between Italy and Australia has made it difficult to feel I completely belong in either place.
When I am in Australia, I feel like I belong more in Italy and when I am in Italy, I feel I belong more in Australia.
However, Luvaira is special to me because when I’m here I do not focus on these differences, but purely on the land, the surroundings, and the stories of my nonni.
I strongly associate my attachment and sense of belonging to Luvaira with my nonni and the relationship I have developed with them over my lifetime.
My nonna and I in Luvaira
I believe that my attachment to this place relates to these relationships, to the time spent there and what the place means to me and my family.
My connection to Luvaira has been growing over the years, as I have been spending more time with my nonno, helping him.
He grew up in a small village in the valley, and has spent his whole life here, working as a farmer.
As we worked, he told me stories of his life as a boy and the time spent together has strengthened our relationship and my connection to Luvaira.
Experiencing what my nonno does here and has done for his whole life meant I was able to better understand the importance of this place.
Working together
Although I have always been extremely close to my nonna, the time spent here with her, preparing meals from the fresh produce we harvested, gossiping about people we know and yelling at my nonno for overworking, has deepened our bond.
I cannot visit Luvaira often, however every time I return, it feels as I have never left.
La raccolta
Despite being unfamiliar with the small details, for example where my nonno may have planted the onions that particular year, I can wander everywhere here and feel completely at ease.
This land is very meaningful to me, also because is where my parents got married.
When I am in Luvaira, I love to imagine them, young and in love, saying their vows under the grape vines, overlooking the sea and the mountains, at their small but perfect wedding.
I feel a very strong emotional connection to my Italian side of the family, more so than my Australian side.
To me, Luvaira is everything that I love about Italy, and it always reminds me how lucky I am to have such a strong emotional connection to this side of my family, in spite of living far away.
Everything I do here, whether it is playing cards with my nonna or burning shrubs to clear space for new plants with my nonno, adds special moments and memories that make me who I am today.
I associate Luvaira with feeling warm.
Physically warm from the sun, because we are always here on nice days, and emotionally warm from all the special memories.
Sofia Rose
Collected and adapted by Barbara Amalberti (Barbaraexpat)
Melbourne, Australia
February 2023
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