A Perpetual Plate of Faith, Hope and Tenacity
Writing to you as a newly confirmed, recognized citizen of the Italian Republic
Just skidding back into the States on the heels of a fantastic, adventure-filled summer in Italy, but all of those glorious stories will have to wait… because as I was flying over the Atlantic on the way back to New York, the Consulate General of New York sent me an important email. The crown jewel of the project I began officially in December of 2018 has finally been granted - Italian citizenship for myself, my two children, and all future generations in our direct line. We now hold both US and Italian citizenship, and are therefore citizens of the European Union, and can enjoy all the freedoms and benefits of all of its member states. I am profoundly grateful to my ancestors for their bravery and fortitude, like so many millions of others possessed, in leaving their beloved homeland to forge a new life in the USA, a life that has given their great granddaughter and many others the means with which to return to that motherland. Eternal gratitude to my dear friend Silvia who was so instrumental with so much knowledge of the Italian language and the antique records, for her passion for genealogy, her help, and her tireless moral support. To my friend Anthony, who came out of nowhere to assist me and who never failed to propose a new possible work-around to every brick wall I came up against. To the open-minded mayor of my comune in Italy who listened intently over a caffè in his office as I tried to explain why I was visiting (I am the first person to claim ancestral citizenship from this small town) and who is now, after many of my visits, thrilled to bestow the citizenship on me and my two children. To the priest at my ancestral church who, like no one else in the town, spoke English and allowed me to peruse the church records from the mid-1800s, which led to finding the treasure of the baptismal records of both of my great grandparents. To the staggeringly rich, beautiful land itself (the whole country, the culture, and my specific area) and its community of wonderful people who have welcomed me back (after 120 years) with loving, open arms as a long lost daughter. And to all of the brilliant, generous souls on the Facebook Group, “Dual US-Italian Citizenship” who provide a wealth of invaluable information and advice regarding this process, not only for me but for countless others. If you are thinking about acquiring dual citizenship, I highly recommend joining this group and reading all the foundational information before getting started.
The concept of Jure Sanguinis in Italy (and some other countries) states that you have always had citizenship through the bloodline if you can prove that the chain of citizenship has not been legally broken through, in my case, over 120 years of 4 generations in diaspora. So in essence, you are officially claiming what you have always had as a descendant of at least one Italian national (in my family there are many, on both sides). A few key pieces of information must be documented and proven, and thankfully for us, all of these facts lined up correctly in my father’s paternal line. If you are curious if you are eligible for Italian citizenship through ancestry, please write to me at wildestdreamstraveldesign@gmail.com. There are so many benefits which I have written about in a previous post.
Like the character, Strega Nonna, whose magical pasta pot never emptied, from the iconic children’s book Strega Nonna (Grandma Witch) by Tomie DePaola, what was required of me throughout this five-year process was a bottomless, seemingly endless amount of faith in a favorable outcome. There was so much uncertainty and a real fear of possible rejection, especially because my case was lacking one / almost two critical documents, so I had to substitute secondary / supplemental proof and pray for a merciful, understanding soul at the Italian consulate of NY. This particular consulate has the reputation of having the strictest, most black and white interpretations of applications, probably due to the sheer number of candidates in its jurisdiction, with not much willingness to be particularly accommodating. However, I forged ahead. I had to get every piece of evidence I could: ship manifests, Ellis Island records, births, marriages, deaths, divorces, annulments, authentications, naturalizations, exemplifications, translations, apostilles… and I performed many searches that came up dry. All this of course was after I had to determine what town(s?) in Italy my father’s Italian grandparents had even emigrated from! Besides some anecdotes and random memories, basically the only thing I knew when I first began this project were their names. I put together a family tree with hundreds of ancestors, none of whom I had ever heard of 5 years ago. Add to the convoluted process the Covid-19 years, with travel bans and the consulate shutting down for a year and a half, which delayed our application appointment, and needless to say sometimes it was difficult to stay the course and keep my torch lit. But all the little miracles along the way, the miraculous discoveries and nearly impossible coincidences without which my claim would not have been recognized, kept me afloat. They directed me to keep trying, despite the unknowns. I truly appreciate all the helpers with their good ideas, trouble shooting, problem-solving, and visualizing not only my future goal, but all of the possible scenarios in the lives of my ancestors that could point us in the right direction to find answers to some important mysteries.
To me, to be able to share this success story came largely from my efforts to feel worthy of Italian citizenship. It has become more about authentically preparing myself in terms of building a community of relatives and dear friends, immersing myself in the language that we had forgotten after three generations in America, and understanding and processing the Italian sensibilities and cultural norms that are profoundly different than what has come to us as part of the Italian-American legacy, not only in terms of history but also in experiencing contemporary life. I am proud, honored, and humbled that I can continue exploring all these pathways now as a full-fledged Italian citizen. I recognize the magnitude of this citizenship (it is a birthright, but also a privilege and a huge blessing) especially because it is perpetual to all future generations in our direct line of descendants.
Even the dramatic timing of the recognition (and of several other elements on this journey), which dropped in like a glorious parting gift (and also like a birthday present) exactly as I re-entered New York after savoring two months in Italy, and about to begin a new school year, speaks to that little wave hello from the universal forces co-conspiring in our favor. Maybe it’s my own ancestral collection of Streghe Nonne, who are celebrating the significance that our journey of immigration, which began in 1899, has come full circle, and our connection to our Motherland has been officially restored.
The long road to repatriate in the land of my ancestors and acquire dual US-Italian citizenship has concluded, but now that we have it, all the unwritten chapters are still forthcoming for me, my American relatives, and all future generations of our family. I hope you will continue to read, subscribe, be inspired by all the aspects of my adventures, and share with others! Thanks for reading and for your support!
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Join me for two epic women’s trips Summer 2024! Incredible destinations include Amalfi Coast, Sardinia, Sicily, Calabria and Greek Islands. See previous Substack post or email me for more info at wildestdreamstraveldesign@gmail.com