Traveller

Sofia

After months of planning and saving we caught a taxi to the Brisbane International Airport for the two day journey to Italy. This is your third trip to Italy but last time you were only 20 months.

 

You are now a very different girl, old enough to pull your own hand luggage around and voice your opinions. Old enough to understand most of what we tell you and certainly ready for the plane trip after days of asking 'Can we go on the plane to see Nonna and Marina today?'

 

With your pink Trunki called Toby full of snacks and entertainment we set off, ready to embrace the process of taking you on two ten-hour flights with a layover in Seoul courtesy of Korean Air.  

 

In Seoul we caught up with friends Harry and Shawn, English teachers that mum and dad had befriended in Naples about 6 years ago. You particularly enjoyed the swimming pool at the Hyatt Regency and Daddy enjoyed the traditional Korean style baths.

Aussie Italian

Sofia

It's Australia Day, it's still raining, all outdoor celebrations have been cancelled. Floods predicted for some parts of Brisbane. Tornadoes around Bundaberg. It feels like most of the city has bunkered down at home, abandoning the usual larrikin behaviour that today brings out.

I sometimes wonder what it means to be Australian. How is it meant to feel?

I'd like you to grow up feeling connected to both my country and daddy's home in Italy. I often think about how we can help make that your reality. But I don't want you to feel torn between the two countries. Instead I hope you'll be a true citizen of the world moving comfortably between both cultures and languages.

I suspect the sacrifice we will make in order for that to happen will be larger than I realise right now. But it's not your burden. We want you to know and love both extended families. That will involve regular trips to Europe, maybe some schooling there and maybe Italian lessons when we are based in Australia.

It's going to sometimes be complicated, sometimes confusing. My ultimate hope though is that being a dual citizen will truly be rewarding.