By Sophia Maurizi (7d)
I started school as a nervous shy girl who didn’t speak a word of English and rolled her Rs in French. My kindergarten teacher always said that I had Italian Rs, probably because I’d lived in Italy most of my life.
The thing is… I didn’t! I’ve lived in Switzerland my whole life. I wasn’t even born in Italy. And that’s what confused so many people, that’s how I would always start my story.
I always thought it was so embarrassing and complicated when I launched off in the explanations. I would dread meeting new people entirely because of this reason. When someone would ask the famous question, I would sigh, and start explaining.
– So I’m Italian, but I never lived there, and I wasn’t born there!
I would start hoping people wouldn’t ask any other questions. But they always did.
– So how are you Italian? They would ask.
– My passport says so.
I would answer by blaming my passport.
– Why does it say so?
Now they looked confused.
– Probably because my whole family is Italian. I explained.
– Oh nice! Where does your family come from?
At that point they were forcing a smile. That would normally be my cue to stop talking or change the subject, but I’m too much of a perfectionist to do that.
– You don’t know the place! I would reply.
Sometimes they would say, “try me”, and when I told them their shoulders would droop and they would let out a defeated “oh”- which was still better than being embarrassed by someone who actually knew the place.
After that conversation I would open my mouth to ask the same question, but at that point, if we were in class the teacher would announce a break, if they were cooking, the meal would be served, if I was on a trip we would have arrived at our destination etc.
And I have learned to just say “Italy” and “Rome” to simplify everything, even if my parents weren’t from Rome and they’d only lived there for a long time. And if the strangers believed that I lived there or was born there… Too bad, their problem! I’ll just let them believe!
The Update 