- by Katharina Kunert
- 🕒 Approx. 5 minutes
Discovering the Italian Half: Unexpected Outcomes Revealed - Exploring My Italian Heritage: An Unexpected Discovery of a Different Origin
The last glimpse of my German kin fades as my long-haul train whisks me away from their embrace. Through a blurred window, I watch my dark reflection as we chug past the bustling Hannover station. Those brown eyes, the hair that spirals in the damp air of the platform — I don’t look stereotypically "German," I reflect. More like what they call "meridionale."
Despite the German passport, the German neighbors, the German dialect—I'm half Italian. On paper, at least.
- La Bella Italia
- Roma
- Identity Expedition
- Alemannia
- Meridionale Italia
The Unspoken Alliance
Living in Germany with Italian roots can be a balancing act, a struggle to reconcile the Italian within me with the German surroundings I've been swimming in my whole life. The divide can cause linguistic hurdles, conflicting cultural expectations, and a profound sense of not quite belonging.
The Voyage to Rome
Roma beckons, a city that promises a reunion with my ancestry. Stepping into its vibrant streets, I feel a connection to a place that seems to whisper, "Welcome home." The piazzas, the fountains, the scents of freshly brewed coffee-it all adds up to a intoxicating Italian symphony.
A Taste of La Dolce Vita
Immersing myself in the Italian language, cuisine, and traditions has been a journey of discovery. Although I still stammer through every Italian sentence, the effort to communicate with my countrymen is worth it. Each bite of a authentic Italian dish, each lyrical chant of an ancient Italian ballad, takes me closer to the heart of my roots.
Ancestors Echoing Across Centuries
Visiting the crumbling ruins of Rome's rich past, I can feel the echoes of my ancestors. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Vatican-they are monuments to a people who have shaped the world with their art, their architectural marvels, and their unwavering spirit. My heart swells with a pride I never knew I could feel for a country I never knew.
Reflections in the Roman Mirror
This journey has shown me that my Italian and German identities are not mutually exclusive, but instead like intricate threads that weave through my very being, creating a rich tapestry of my self. As I stand among the remnants of the great Roman Empire, I recognize myself as a product of my Italian and German descent. A descendant of a people who have faced hardships, triumphed in the face of adversity, and who have given the world an unparalleled legacy.
My reflection in the Roman mirror shows a meeting of cultures, a blending of histories, and the acceptance of the beautiful, multi-faceted person that I am. The dark-eyed, curly-haired girl from Hannover who carries with her the blood of a thousand-year-old empire.
- Katharina Kunert's article, titled "Longing for La Dolce Vita: My Journey into the Heart of My Italiana Sangue," discusses her Italian heritage and the struggle to reconcile it with her German surroundings.
- Throughout the article, Kunert describes Roman streets, piazzas, and fountains as providing a connection to her ancestry, offering an intoxicating Italian symphony that draws her in.
- Kunert shares her experiences in Italy, including her efforts to immersive herself in the Italian language, cuisine, and traditions, and says that each attempt brings her closer to her roots, echoing the pride she never knew she could feel for her Italian heritage.
