Culture and Migration Web Portfolio -
Matt Anderson
Crossing the Valley Migrant Interview
I had the pleasure of interviewing Antonella, a classmate who I learned had immigrated from Italy in 1981. She’s a busy student, wife, and mother so we met between her classes in one of the group study rooms.
Italy was a source of many new Americans in the early part of the 20th century. I was intrigued by how changes in her country of origin, and the world, may have influenced her experience. The narrative below was paraphrased from our interview and written in the first person to convey the fact that it is her story.
Click on the file below to listen to a welcome from Antonella.
I was born in Sardinia, an island off of the coast of Italy. While I grew up in Rome, I still have strong ties to the island and family all over the country. I still speak Sardinian and when I return home, I have to travel quite a bit to see everyone. I have a place to stay wherever I travel.
I didn’t know I’d eventually move to the United States but have been interested in the country since I was a child. When I was twelve, U.S. astronauts landed on the moon. I remember being impressed with the know-how behind that accomplishment and started reading more about the U.S. I also developed a fondness for American movies.
I knew I would come to America, if only to visit. As luck would have it though, I would meet my future husband, a U.S. citizen, in northern Italy. He was serving as a missionary in Genoa. We dated and I moved to the United States in 1981 and was married here.
Compared to the journey of many immigrants, like those from my country who had to cross the ocean in terrible conditions, mine was relatively easy. I was simply able to get on a plane and travel. I was a little anxious only because it was my first time flying and I was traveling alone.
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