I'm an Argentine/Italian/American. A similar thing happened to me not far from Tursi at Brienza in the early '90's (pre-internet days). I was the first in three generations to return with only a scrap of paper with a list of distant contacts. I was a traveling with a backpack looking like a hippy when a local policeman stopped me for hitchhiking. He detained me asking for my passport. His eye's raised when he saw my surname. He ask what was my father's name. As soon as I mentioned it, he got excited and started to give me a big hug. As so it happens, the policeman was my Dad's cousin. Once at the police station, he made a few calls telling everyone "L'americano è arrivato". He then asked me "Hai già mangiato?....That evening I reconnected with by great uncles, aunts and countless cousins with homemade wine, cheese and food. It was incredible experience as they asked about lost relatives in Buenos Aires and life in California. Thankfully I spoke fluent Spanish as this was made easy since the local dialect had many Spanish loan words from the Bourbon era.
For us born in Italy to perceive in your eyes the deep desire to search for your Italian roots is moving. 24 million of our relatives left our beautiful Italia, due to the harshness of life and hoping for a better future for their children, and you are now this better future, the job well done. We are happy for you all. Thank you for this wonderful testimony. May God bless you all. PS Tufaro means “lavoratore del tufo”: miner, or bricklayer. Colacino means Little Nicola in our dialect. Be proud of them.
Way too many Americans of Italian descent, have forgotten the land of their family's birth. They think just because they eat pasta on Sunday, or have a last name that ends in a vowel, makes them "Italian". They may know a few words of a dialect that is unintelligible, but have no real idea of the language, culture or history of Italy. What you did Katie is return to the roots of your mother's family and are actually living as an Italian. I give you high praise for what you have done and your mother and father must be so proud of you.
Hi Katie: I have found your videos inspiring. My paternal grandparents emigrated to the US from a small town, Cassano Delle Murge, outside of Bari, in 1913. My father was born 6 months after they landed. I have all of the apsostilled documents necessary to obtain my Italian passport (still working on my grandfathers naturalization certificate, I have their birth and marriage certs from Cassano). I have even managed to dig up what might be a set of relatives in Cassno. Someday I hope to visit. Now I need to learn some Italian. Keep those videos coming.
Beautiful video, very touching; it made me cry. I am Italian from the North. Few years ago the Argentinian relatives of my neighbours came to my hometown to reconnect with their roots and their relatives, as you did. As I spoke fluent Spanish my neighbours asked me if I could spend the 3 days with them and their argentinian relatives to help them communicate and translate. It was an amazing and very touching experience to be part of that reunion. There were so many similarities between the relatives, despite them having grown up continents apart. The Argentinian family was still honouring their italian roots and were still able to make fresh pasta as their granparents taught them so. It was soo touching! The Argentinians were soo keen to learn everything they could about their grandparents' roots and my neighbours were so keen to show them around and take the time to explain everything. Blood is stronger than anything else. It was incredible!
Hey great story, im from Argentina and im looking for my italian family too, Mainero, i think they are from Dusino San Michele, near Torino, but have to investigate more, do you know something???? Thanks we love Italia :)
Iam glad i scrolled through UA-cam this early morning, 16 years ago my wife and took my father to Calabria after 17 years for him and 42 years for me I was 7 first visit. I was ready to see Italy now through my fathers eyes as an adult and watch his reaction need less to say it was very overwhelming for me . Listen to my father quietly say to himself how many times he had walked up this road back to his village after a day of picking chestnuts or when a friend of his approached us and my dad reaching far back in his memory to recall this gentleman and when it came back tears flowed . Travel by car to his village up the switch backs he told me to stop the car and showed me th exact spot where he crashed his Vespa which gave him the cracked cheek bone I always remember him with, thanks I am glad I found your channel Iam hitting subscriber
Simply LOVE this. I found my long-lost relatives from France. They had pictures of my own mother that I have never seen before and I even saw a picture of my own great-grandfather. Isn't this the best or what??
Che bello...I too, have become an Italian citizen through juris sanguinis and am so proud. The majority of my family lives in Italy, dad and mom were the only two to emigrate to the USA. When I go back to visit family in Italy, I get the sensation that I am related to half of the people in my parents town. Italy is in my DNA and I love that country with so much passion and so proud to be an Italian. Love your videos, in bocca al lupo.🤗❤🇮🇹
I’m coming to Sicily in April 101 years after my grandfather came to the USA. I know my family was in contact with family in the 1960’s and 70’s when I was a kid. I have contacted people I found on a FB page for that comune and we’ve come to the conclusion we are family. I will be meeting them on my visit.
This is so wonderful. I try to take my children to Italy as much as possible to avoid losing touch with their second cousins. I believe it is essential for an individual to know their roots. When I was little, I felt lost living in California. No one really knew Italian, and the culture is limited where I lived. So when I was 12, my parents took me to Puglia for the first time, and I got to meet my cousin for the first time, and I appreciated my culture even more.
I have to say that your story is inspiring. I have been watching your channel for some time. Long story short, I got my Italian citizenship and now I live in Naples. Could not be happier with my new life.
First: your mother is beautiful! My partner is Italian American (we live in Switzerland) and he told me he met with his relatives in Italy when he was in college. Fast forward, my partner has gotten Swiss citizenship and his Italian cousin has moved to the US! 😂 And I - Japanese - am the one learning Italian and translating when we holiday in Italy 😂 We love Puglia btw, we are still in touch with our Airbnb host after 4 years staying with them! Keep up your fun videos! Xx
Well how cool was that - reconnecting! My husband’s family comes from a town about 45 minutes north of Tursi and we get there almost yearly to see them. We live in Canada, so now have to wait for covid to get under control before we venture back. You are so natural with your video making, I feel like I know you. Thanks for sharing.
I was in the middle of searching for my ancestors in Italy when I stumbled upon this video. It has made me that much more determined to find them!! Thank you for making this video!
Nice region Basilicata I visited Maratea on the Thyrrean coast since I have family in Campania and Calabria I had to pass by Basilicata pretty similar from Calabrian villages ,Enjoy
Wow! So proud for you . I’m an American also in puglia. Great grandfather is from Lucito , Molise had chills visiting this town . Returning to visit the comune which is only open mornings ;) thanks for sharing your story !
This was such a beautiful story, I'm glad you and your mom got to come together with your relatives. Regardless of language, love and longing is universal and that really translated here. ☺️
That’s such a heart warming story to reconnect with your family. I did the same many years ago, came to live in Italy in 2015, and got my Italian Citizenship the following year. That’s so typical that you go to one of these offices and they “can’t deal with you” because only one person seems to have that responsibility. Well done for your persistence! 🇮🇹
What a story Katie! Tracing back your ancestry is literally a trip back in history just by reading the old certificates. I can imagine how amazing should be to phisically reunite with your lost relatives. Your GGF would have been so proud of you!
Non sapete quanto mi avete fatto piangere con questo video. I can't relate because I don'tt have any relative outside Italy, but this story has moved me a lot.
Not MY story, but it from someone I know. He is Canadian and he has Italian ancestors and relatives he doesn't know at all. Done lots of research. He's been to Italy several times, always looking for "traces" of his family and past. Last trip, he had a target: Signore whatever, in whatever citta. Google to the bone. Goes to the said citta, knock on the door, Monday and Tuesday, no answer. Extremely disappointed. Goes to the local bar for a beer, talks to the owner about his endeavour. Signore Whatever, sure, he lives at xx on Whatver street. "But I've been there yesterday and today, no answer". Wait a minute said the owner of the bar. He makes a phone call, tells Signore Whatever that his great great cousin is at the bar. Natirally, Signore Whatver shows up in minutes, celebrates the event like there is no tomorrow (Italian style), dinner at home, the works. He told my friend that he would never answer the door to a stranger - basic security measure, you never know. Obvious happy ending.
A very touching and inspirational story, Katie. Very happy you and your mom could establish a connection with your long lost relative. Who knows how many of these stories could be written if people embarked on the same journey. And thanks for letting us discover Tursi! An incredibly charming hilly town I really knew nothing about...that view from the top, amazing!
This is so wholesome Katie! And your mum is such a sweetheart! I am very happy that you could meet your relatives, they seem really warm and nice people. La frase sulla piastrella che gli hai dedicato mi ha fatto scendere una lacrimuccia 🥲 bellissimo video davvero.
Hi, Katie. I'm writing from Brazil. My surname is Pannoni. I'm the second-generation brazilians. Italians are all the same, all over the world. We share the same way of life. That's wonderful. Abbraccio!
Hi Katie, I'm Italian, a brother of my grandmother is emigrated to USA in 1920, we visited him in 1981 (I had 6 ) but after this time we have lost the contact with this part of our family. in 2012 after many research (31 years later) I found a Facebook's contact with a second cousin and we have reconnected ours families! I have learned a bit English and have visited them three time in these years and I have hosted them one time in Italy. Watching your video I felt the same emotions I had in 2012.. unforgettable beautiful memories
In 1997, our family accompanied by my mother visited her home town in Palena, Abruzzo. My mother had previously visited about 15 years earlier and reconnected with several distant cousins. On our trip we planned to baptize my younger daughter in the church my mothers and her ancestors had been parishioners. This was no small feat as neither I or my wife were members of any church and we were advised that we needed a letter from a local parish in the US confirming that we were members. Anyway we overcame that hurdle and ultimately baptized my then five year old daughter much to my mother’s relief. It was a wonderful experience for our children, one they will never forget. My younger daughter now a physician at Yale-New Haven has traveled extensively but fondly remembers the hilarity of trying to convince the local parish priest in Palena who neither read or spoke English that the letter from an American priest attested to our faith. were parishioners for
I was so impressed the day when our American cousin (now passed away) came to visit us, as he was still able to speak a perfect piedmontese dialect although he couldn't speak a word of Italian. My parents were able to communicate with him without needing me to translate. Nice video!
Exciting meeting with your relatives in Tursi. I think that everyone has an italian relative on the earth.Hospitality is the holy dogma in my country. You are the perfect guest in my country. Merry Christmas and Happy new Year to you and your family.
this is the moment in which you know you are lucky your relatives are from south of Italy, their hospitality is awesome, I was sure they would have given you an amazing welcome and hospitality. I am not from the south, but I am happy to see that they confirm the good stereotypes too :-)
Wow. Tanti bravi. Congratzulazioni Katie e mamma. I was thrilled to watch your journey and to for you to find il radici di famiglia. I found my nonno's birth records on Antenati. We visited his little birth town in 2019 before any pandemic. The town's people were very welcoming. I am returning for an annual town festa in Ottobre and this time I am bringing mio figlio and mio fratello. We would be so thrilled to find a relative from nonno's side. We did find a delightful young women who is a descendant of mia bisnonna. Grazie e Auguri.
Oh my gosh I just came back from my Grandparents home of Pisticci which is near Tursi! I did practically the same thing but via Facebook and met up with a cugino who was very welcoming. I totally need to get better in my Italian as in this part of Italy no one speaks English so I’m envious of the communication you were able to have. I was able to see the home my grandparents and aunts lived in and left over 100 years ago, I had the same emotions you felt. What an amazing experience it is! Your fortunate to have shared this with your mom, my father never got the opportunity so it was a pilgrimage for me in his memory.
Che meraviglia! ❤ I don't know if I have much chance of finding my family in Naples, but it would mean a lot to me. I'm so glad you and your Mum got to meet your relatives! ❤
Try it, being from Naples I'm sure they would absolutely welcome you. I'm from a close city and my mother still remember her cousins from America that she lost contact with! I'm trying to find them but it's being difficult till now. If you can reach for them, I'm sure people like my mother would love the possibility to reconnect with lost relatives
@@areswalker5647 I'm not sure where I would start, my mother was a baby when they left, in 1949. I know my nonna's maiden name and my Mum knows the area her family lived and she has a name of her cousin. I did think of contacting people on Facebook to find it if anyone has a nonna with her cousin name, but felt a bit nervous about that 😬
@@NyreeAlana don't be nervous, that's sweet. I think people will try to help you find them, especially if we're talking about small towns. Nowadays Italian fb is full of town pages and groups often called "Sei di .. se" ("you're from.. insert name of the town.. if"), if you can't contact a person you could try searching for groups like those. I can't promise anything especially but it doesn't hurt to try. Best wishes 😘
My grandfather came from Abruzzo. We've had no contact with his side of the family since his death at age 75 back in 1970. It's my dream to reconnect and visit them soon. I'm now 65
Oh Katie! I’m so happy for you and your mom! We had a similar experience from my Messina relatives with tears and smiles and so grateful for our friends translating! Thanks for your energy and enthusiasm Best Wishes Gigi & Jeff
Happy to hear you connected with relatives there. I did the same about 8 years ago with my family in Abruzzo. It was fantastic. The welcome was incredible. I wish you success exploring your family roots. I enjoy your videos sharing your life experiences in Italy. Buon Natale!
Wow, this is so cool, i love this! Im from sweden and i got lots of family in the us, i hope i can take a trip over the pound and meet some of them some day
Hello Katie. Greetings from Atlantic Canada 🇨🇦 Just subscribed. My family have amazing memories of our almost 2 years in Rome during the early 1980’s. Your lovely story of meeting your cousins reminded me of our visit with my husband’s family in Slovenia. Have wonderful Christmas 🎄 🎄
@@TheQKatie Thank you Katie. I hope you do visit this beautiful country. We visited family in Ljubljana which surrounded by the Julian Alps. My husband’s family who he hadn’t seen since he was 7, reminded me of my own back in Atlantic Canada. They so were warm and welcoming and on arrival we went to their kitchen for a delicious meal and the best coffee. Stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas. 💕🎄🇨🇦
Thank you for sharing, As an Italian American 2nd generation this is touching to me. Question when you went to your ancestries town did you feel like you have gone home? When I went for the first time I felt I had gone home I have been back many times
I found my many relatives in the beautiful city of Syracuse Sicily, it was great now even my children have contact with their lost cousins and many many relatives. I go back now almost every year but I also speak fluent Italian
Ciao Katie! ho guardato i tuoi video e sono stati molto emozionanti. Io vivo a Venezia da sempre e, spesso, andando a lavorare, ho visto i volti dei turisti che vedevano per la prima volta l'isola, il loro entusiasmo, il loro stupore. Diamo troppo per scontato. Se verrai qui a Venezia sarò felice di darti qualche suggerimento. Brava e congratulazioni a te e Connor.
Fantastico! My great-grandparents came to America from Alanno, a little town about 30 minutes from Pescara's center. I've been gathering documents for possible citizenship, but regardless of what happens with that, I'm planning to go to Alanno next spring (2022) to see if I can find anyone from my family. Your video gives me so much inspiration that this could actually happen! Thanks for sharing your experience. ♥
I love your story! I had a similar experience this past august when I met my Italian relatives from my great grandfathers comune and it was amazing! Italians are so sweet and welcoming. You inspire me to learn Italian!
My father was born in 1906 in Calabria, came to USA in when he was 16. I know my first cousins, but only met one in 1970. Used to want to go there passionately, but my desire has waned. I think I would only be disappointed.
Video fantastico, la vostra felicità si vede tutta nei vostri occhi e nei vostri sorrisi. I don't have to translate for Ketie and Connor but I'll try. Amazing video, you happinesses is shown in your eyes and in your smiles.
Through ancestry dna It had dna matches and I have recently spoken with a 2-3 gen cousin. Were both slovak and she comes from deceased fathers side. I truly hope shed like to meet me one day. I get to share our slovak roots with her.
it's rare for italians to move away from their towns,we have a strong attachment to our local culture so if you have an ancestor from italy there are good chances to find relatives in their town of origin
What an amazing story!! To track back your family roots and be able to discover relatives and meet them!! Thank you so much for sharing this moment with us, it literally gave me chills since I know how big this is, I’m also tracking my family past in Italy and to hear and see this conquer of yours motivates me to keep going! Molto amore dal Brasile 💚
Great story Katie, I really enjoy your videos, you are great at drawing an audience. I know time was limited in this town but were you able to visit the town cemetery ? You might have discovered more distant relatives.
You've inspired me, Katie! Would love to do this one day too! Kinda similar, My Great grandmother came from Italian speaking Canton of Switzerland, Tricino.
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i know every city in Italy and England and France just by watching football.
I mean, EUROPEAN FOOTBALL.. not the weak American one
I'm an Argentine/Italian/American. A similar thing happened to me not far from Tursi at Brienza in the early '90's (pre-internet days). I was the first in three generations to return with only a scrap of paper with a list of distant contacts. I was a traveling with a backpack looking like a hippy when a local policeman stopped me for hitchhiking. He detained me asking for my passport. His eye's raised when he saw my surname. He ask what was my father's name. As soon as I mentioned it, he got excited and started to give me a big hug. As so it happens, the policeman was my Dad's cousin. Once at the police station, he made a few calls telling everyone "L'americano è arrivato". He then asked me "Hai già mangiato?....That evening I reconnected with by great uncles, aunts and countless cousins with homemade wine, cheese and food. It was incredible experience as they asked about lost relatives in Buenos Aires and life in California. Thankfully I spoke fluent Spanish as this was made easy since the local dialect had many Spanish loan words from the Bourbon era.
Wowowow! That is an incredible story!
For us born in Italy to perceive in your eyes the deep desire to search for your Italian roots is moving. 24 million of our relatives left our beautiful Italia, due to the harshness of life and hoping for a better future for their children, and you are now this better future, the job well done. We are happy for you all. Thank you for this wonderful testimony. May God bless you all.
PS Tufaro means “lavoratore del tufo”: miner, or bricklayer. Colacino means Little Nicola in our dialect. Be proud of them.
Thank you for the etymological information on those names! Super interesting!
❤️
Way too many Americans of Italian descent, have forgotten the land of their family's birth. They think just because they eat pasta on Sunday, or have a last name that ends in a vowel, makes them "Italian". They may know a few words of a dialect that is unintelligible, but have no real idea of the language, culture or history of Italy. What you did Katie is return to the roots of your mother's family and are actually living as an Italian. I give you high praise for what you have done and your mother and father must be so proud of you.
Hi Katie: I have found your videos inspiring. My paternal grandparents emigrated to the US from a small town, Cassano Delle Murge, outside of Bari, in 1913. My father was born 6 months after they landed. I have all of the apsostilled documents necessary to obtain my Italian passport (still working on my grandfathers naturalization certificate, I have their birth and marriage certs from Cassano). I have even managed to dig up what might be a set of relatives in Cassno. Someday I hope to visit. Now I need to learn some Italian. Keep those videos coming.
Beautiful video, very touching; it made me cry.
I am Italian from the North. Few years ago the Argentinian relatives of my neighbours came to my hometown to reconnect with their roots and their relatives, as you did. As I spoke fluent Spanish my neighbours asked me if I could spend the 3 days with them and their argentinian relatives to help them communicate and translate. It was an amazing and very touching experience to be part of that reunion. There were so many similarities between the relatives, despite them having grown up continents apart. The Argentinian family was still honouring their italian roots and were still able to make fresh pasta as their granparents taught them so. It was soo touching! The Argentinians were soo keen to learn everything they could about their grandparents' roots and my neighbours were so keen to show them around and take the time to explain everything. Blood is stronger than anything else. It was incredible!
Hey great story, im from Argentina and im looking for my italian family too, Mainero, i think they are from Dusino San Michele, near Torino, but have to investigate more, do you know something???? Thanks we love Italia :)
Iam glad i scrolled through UA-cam this early morning, 16 years ago my wife and took my father to Calabria after 17 years for him and 42 years for me I was 7 first visit. I was ready to see Italy now through my fathers eyes as an adult and watch his reaction need less to say it was very overwhelming for me . Listen to my father quietly say to himself how many times he had walked up this road back to his village after a day of picking chestnuts or when a friend of his approached us and my dad reaching far back in his memory to recall this gentleman and when it came back tears flowed . Travel by car to his village up the switch backs he told me to stop the car and showed me th exact spot where he crashed his Vespa which gave him the cracked cheek bone I always remember him with, thanks I am glad I found your channel Iam hitting subscriber
Simply LOVE this. I found my long-lost relatives from France. They had pictures of my own mother that I have never seen before and I even saw a picture of my own great-grandfather. Isn't this the best or what??
Che bello...I too, have become an Italian citizen through juris sanguinis and am so proud. The majority of my family lives in Italy, dad and mom were the only two to emigrate to the USA. When I go back to visit family in Italy, I get the sensation that I am related to half of the people in my parents town. Italy is in my DNA and I love that country with so much passion and so proud to be an Italian. Love your videos, in bocca al lupo.🤗❤🇮🇹
Bravo Jerry, e spero che parli italiano bene come Katie! :)
@@MrHarryx62 Sì, ho studiato italiano a scuola e parlo abbastanza bene l'italiano. Grazie.🇮🇹
I’m coming to Sicily in April 101 years after my grandfather came to the USA. I know my family was in contact with family in the 1960’s and 70’s when I was a kid. I have contacted people I found on a FB page for that comune and we’ve come to the conclusion we are family. I will be meeting them on my visit.
Bravo!! Enjoy every moment!
we're italian, once in the bloodline, forever in the bloodline. so happy you'll come to Sicily. a Paradise if is your first time.
So cute
@@TheQKatie i'm brazilian but I have some Italian descent in my DNA 🧬!!!
That's so sweet! Welcome to Italy i hope you'll love your experience and find a lovable new family
This is so wonderful. I try to take my children to Italy as much as possible to avoid losing touch with their second cousins. I believe it is essential for an individual to know their roots. When I was little, I felt lost living in California. No one really knew Italian, and the culture is limited where I lived. So when I was 12, my parents took me to Puglia for the first time, and I got to meet my cousin for the first time, and I appreciated my culture even more.
Beautiful! Pugliese love
The rebirth of our country also passes through people like you who bring your experiences and love for their roots.♥
6:50 that hand gesture gave your mother full Italian citizenship 🤣🤣
I have to say that your story is inspiring. I have been watching your channel for some time. Long story short, I got my Italian citizenship and now I live in Naples. Could not be happier with my new life.
First: your mother is beautiful! My partner is Italian American (we live in Switzerland) and he told me he met with his relatives in Italy when he was in college. Fast forward, my partner has gotten Swiss citizenship and his Italian cousin has moved to the US! 😂 And I - Japanese - am the one learning Italian and translating when we holiday in Italy 😂 We love Puglia btw, we are still in touch with our Airbnb host after 4 years staying with them! Keep up your fun videos! Xx
Tons of countries it is Amazing
Well how cool was that - reconnecting! My husband’s family comes from a town about 45 minutes north of Tursi and we get there almost yearly to see them. We live in Canada, so now have to wait for covid to get under control before we venture back. You are so natural with your video making, I feel like I know you. Thanks for sharing.
Italian beauty and genes are clearly on your side. Beautiful video. Loved it!
I was in the middle of searching for my ancestors in Italy when I stumbled upon this video. It has made me that much more determined to find them!! Thank you for making this video!
Nice region Basilicata I visited Maratea on the Thyrrean coast since I have family in Campania and Calabria I had to pass by Basilicata pretty similar from Calabrian villages ,Enjoy
Brava Katie. E' bello accarezzare le proprie origini. Chi perde le sue radici, perde la sua anima..
I was born in the small town next to Tiriolo in Calabria. I highly recommend you to visit it too! Colacino is one of the most common surname here.
Wow! So proud for you . I’m an American also in puglia. Great grandfather is from Lucito , Molise had chills visiting this town . Returning to visit the comune which is only open mornings ;) thanks for sharing your story !
This story of family reunion and connection is absolute perfection!
This was such a beautiful story, I'm glad you and your mom got to come together with your relatives. Regardless of language, love and longing is universal and that really translated here. ☺️
Love and longing -- yes!! Well observed and said.
10:14. And then as usual by us in Italy in these meetings we always end up with a nice table, with a good meal of many beautiful things. :)
That’s such a heart warming story to reconnect with your family. I did the same many years ago, came to live in Italy in 2015, and got my Italian Citizenship the following year.
That’s so typical that you go to one of these offices and they “can’t deal with you” because only one person seems to have that responsibility. Well done for your persistence! 🇮🇹
What a story Katie! Tracing back your ancestry is literally a trip back in history just by reading the old certificates. I can imagine how amazing should be to phisically reunite with your lost relatives. Your GGF would have been so proud of you!
Grazie Marco!!
This is so cool. Hopefully I too will be able to connect with my Sicilian relatives when we visit in October 2022.
Non sapete quanto mi avete fatto piangere con questo video. I can't relate because I don'tt have any relative outside Italy, but this story has moved me a lot.
Sono contentissima :)
It s so tender to see your mom happy for reconnecting with your family roots.
Super cute ❤
Not MY story, but it from someone I know. He is Canadian and he has Italian ancestors and relatives he doesn't know at all. Done lots of research. He's been to Italy several times, always looking for "traces" of his family and past. Last trip, he had a target: Signore whatever, in whatever citta. Google to the bone. Goes to the said citta, knock on the door, Monday and Tuesday, no answer. Extremely disappointed. Goes to the local bar for a beer, talks to the owner about his endeavour. Signore Whatever, sure, he lives at xx on Whatver street. "But I've been there yesterday and today, no answer". Wait a minute said the owner of the bar. He makes a phone call, tells Signore Whatever that his great great cousin is at the bar. Natirally, Signore Whatver shows up in minutes, celebrates the event like there is no tomorrow (Italian style), dinner at home, the works. He told my friend that he would never answer the door to a stranger - basic security measure, you never know. Obvious happy ending.
Haha, I love this!!! Persistence!! And proof that the local barista/bartender knows everyone :)
A very touching and inspirational story, Katie.
Very happy you and your mom could establish a connection with your long lost relative.
Who knows how many of these stories could be written if people embarked on the same journey.
And thanks for letting us discover Tursi! An incredibly charming hilly town I really knew nothing about...that view from the top, amazing!
This is so wholesome Katie! And your mum is such a sweetheart! I am very happy that you could meet your relatives, they seem really warm and nice people. La frase sulla piastrella che gli hai dedicato mi ha fatto scendere una lacrimuccia 🥲 bellissimo video davvero.
Hi, Katie. I'm writing from Brazil. My surname is Pannoni. I'm the second-generation brazilians. Italians are all the same, all over the world. We share the same way of life. That's wonderful. Abbraccio!
Hi Katie, I'm Italian, a brother of my grandmother is emigrated to USA in 1920, we visited him in 1981 (I had 6 ) but after this time we have lost the contact with this part of our family.
in 2012 after many research (31 years later) I found a Facebook's contact with a second cousin and we have reconnected ours families!
I have learned a bit English and have visited them three time in these years and I have hosted them one time in Italy.
Watching your video I felt the same emotions I had in 2012.. unforgettable beautiful memories
In 1997, our family accompanied by my mother visited her home town in Palena, Abruzzo. My mother had previously visited about 15 years earlier and reconnected with several distant cousins. On our trip we planned to baptize my younger daughter in the church my mothers and her ancestors had been parishioners. This was no small feat as neither I or my wife were members of any church and we were advised that we needed a letter from a local parish in the US confirming that we were members. Anyway we overcame that hurdle and ultimately baptized my then five year old daughter much to my mother’s relief. It was a wonderful experience for our children, one they will never forget. My younger daughter now a physician at Yale-New Haven has traveled extensively but fondly remembers the hilarity of trying to convince the local parish priest in Palena who neither read or spoke English that the letter from an American priest attested to our faith.
were parishioners for
I was so impressed the day when our American cousin (now passed away) came to visit us, as he was still able to speak a perfect piedmontese dialect although he couldn't speak a word of Italian. My parents were able to communicate with him without needing me to translate. Nice video!
Awesome its so nice to see family in Italy.We need to come for more then 2 weeks at a time
Exciting meeting with your relatives in Tursi. I think that everyone has an italian relative on the earth.Hospitality is the holy dogma in my country. You are the perfect guest in my country. Merry Christmas and Happy new Year to you and your family.
So awesome. Very touching. Good job!
Che bella storia... sono contento che tua madre sia riuscita ad incontrare suo cugino. Anche Rocco mi è sembrato molto felice di incontrarvi. 😊
OMG! at 7:37 was such a sweet statement that i welled up.
Che bel video, grandi emozioni, 👏👏👏🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
I can imagine the commotion and emotion of this reunion with your relatives and reconnection to your roots! Very touchy indeed!
this is the moment in which you know you are lucky your relatives are from south of Italy, their hospitality is awesome, I was sure they would have given you an amazing welcome and hospitality. I am not from the south, but I am happy to see that they confirm the good stereotypes too :-)
Wow. Tanti bravi. Congratzulazioni Katie e mamma. I was thrilled to watch your journey and to for you to find il radici di famiglia. I found my nonno's birth records on Antenati. We visited his little birth town in 2019 before any pandemic. The town's people were very welcoming. I am returning for an annual town festa in Ottobre and this time I am bringing mio figlio and mio fratello. We would be so thrilled to find a relative from nonno's side. We did find a delightful young women who is a descendant of mia bisnonna. Grazie e Auguri.
Amazing story! I'm glad for you and your mother you found family.
So Cool !!! Happy for you All !!!
My great grandfather came from Sicily to America about 1905.
Oh my gosh I just came back from my Grandparents home of Pisticci which is near Tursi! I did practically the same thing but via Facebook and met up with a cugino who was very welcoming. I totally need to get better in my Italian as in this part of Italy no one speaks English so I’m envious of the communication you were able to have. I was able to see the home my grandparents and aunts lived in and left over 100 years ago, I had the same emotions you felt. What an amazing experience it is! Your fortunate to have shared this with your mom, my father never got the opportunity so it was a pilgrimage for me in his memory.
Che meraviglia! ❤ I don't know if I have much chance of finding my family in Naples, but it would mean a lot to me. I'm so glad you and your Mum got to meet your relatives! ❤
Try it, being from Naples I'm sure they would absolutely welcome you. I'm from a close city and my mother still remember her cousins from America that she lost contact with! I'm trying to find them but it's being difficult till now. If you can reach for them, I'm sure people like my mother would love the possibility to reconnect with lost relatives
@@areswalker5647 I'm not sure where I would start, my mother was a baby when they left, in 1949. I know my nonna's maiden name and my Mum knows the area her family lived and she has a name of her cousin. I did think of contacting people on Facebook to find it if anyone has a nonna with her cousin name, but felt a bit nervous about that 😬
@@NyreeAlana don't be nervous, that's sweet. I think people will try to help you find them, especially if we're talking about small towns. Nowadays Italian fb is full of town pages and groups often called "Sei di .. se" ("you're from.. insert name of the town.. if"), if you can't contact a person you could try searching for groups like those. I can't promise anything especially but it doesn't hurt to try. Best wishes 😘
@@areswalker5647 thanks for the suggestion! Good luck with finding your family too xo
My grandfather came from Abruzzo. We've had no contact with his side of the family since his death at age 75 back in 1970. It's my dream to reconnect and visit them soon. I'm now 65
Thank you, as a 4th-gen Italian-American myself, that was touching
That was pretty Kool Katie..Your Mom looked so Happy!
Amazing!!! Auguri per avere trovato la vostra radice!
Wow, so nice video, love it...congrats
Bello video auguri e buone feste 😘☀️🌴🍾🍾🍾🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗❤🇮🇹🍲
Lovely story well done. Perhaps you can make it Calabria one day. I was born in Provincia Crotone on the Ionic Sea and it’s a beautiful seaside resort
I'm dying to go to Calabria! That will be next!
There are tons of Italians in canada too !
Thanks Katie a nice experience for you
Oh Katie! I’m so happy for you and your mom! We had a similar experience from my Messina relatives with tears and smiles and so grateful for our friends translating! Thanks for your energy and enthusiasm Best Wishes Gigi & Jeff
Dopo un po' che l'ho visto, mi sono commossa. Sei brava!
Happy to hear you connected with relatives there. I did the same about 8 years ago with my family in Abruzzo. It was fantastic. The welcome was incredible. I wish you success exploring your family roots. I enjoy your videos sharing your life experiences in Italy. Buon Natale!
Ah, lovely!! Abruzzo is such a gorgeous region. Buon Natale!
I am from Matera and when I heard that her great grandfather was from Tursi I was shocked because it is quite near my city
Wow, this is so cool, i love this! Im from sweden and i got lots of family in the us, i hope i can take a trip over the pound and meet some of them some day
Incredible video! Thanks-
Hello Katie. Greetings from Atlantic Canada 🇨🇦 Just subscribed. My family have amazing memories of our almost 2 years in Rome during the early 1980’s. Your lovely story of meeting your cousins reminded me of our visit with my husband’s family in Slovenia. Have wonderful Christmas 🎄 🎄
How lovely :) Every time I'm visiting Friuli, in NE Italy, I think about popping over to Slovenia!! Can't wait to visit there!
@@TheQKatie Thank you Katie. I hope you do visit this beautiful country. We visited family in Ljubljana which surrounded by the Julian Alps. My husband’s family who he hadn’t seen since he was 7, reminded me of my own back in Atlantic Canada. They so were warm and welcoming and on arrival we went to their kitchen for a delicious meal and the best coffee. Stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas. 💕🎄🇨🇦
What a lovely story- very inspiring for many who dream of finding their roots. So honored to be part of the Quirky Club!
I'm so glad this video touched you, and big hug to my fellow Quirky Club friend!! :)
Your videos are so sincere and real! Amazing! Complimenti!…
Thank you so much!
Thank you for sharing, As an Italian American 2nd generation this is touching to me. Question when you went to your ancestries town did you feel like you have gone home? When I went for the first time I felt I had gone home I have been back many times
Wonderfully delightful Katie. Thanks for sharing the adventure. We truly enjoyed watching. Happy New Year!
Grandiosa ! Viva la NOSTRA Italia
Molto bello. Complimenti. Per le tue radici puoi essere. Fiera della tua provenienza e della tua petsona.
I found my many relatives in the beautiful city of Syracuse Sicily, it was great now even my children have contact with their lost cousins and many many relatives. I go back now almost every year but I also speak fluent Italian
So awesome!!!! 🙌🙌🙌
What a nice Family. America and Italy one big family...Che carini che siete tutti.
Che bello! Congratulazioni 😁
Ciao Katie! ho guardato i tuoi video e sono stati molto emozionanti. Io vivo a Venezia da sempre e, spesso, andando a lavorare, ho visto i volti dei turisti che vedevano per la prima volta l'isola, il loro entusiasmo, il loro stupore. Diamo troppo per scontato. Se verrai qui a Venezia sarò felice di darti qualche suggerimento. Brava e congratulazioni a te e Connor.
Fantastico! My great-grandparents came to America from Alanno, a little town about 30 minutes from Pescara's center. I've been gathering documents for possible citizenship, but regardless of what happens with that, I'm planning to go to Alanno next spring (2022) to see if I can find anyone from my family. Your video gives me so much inspiration that this could actually happen! Thanks for sharing your experience. ♥
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love your story! I had a similar experience this past august when I met my Italian relatives from my great grandfathers comune and it was amazing! Italians are so sweet and welcoming. You inspire me to learn Italian!
Yes, you can do it!! I'm glad to hear you had a similar wonderful experience!!
Penso che ormai l'Italia ti sia ritornata nelle vene e la cittadinanza cominci ad essere qualcosa di più che un pezzo di carta. Bene.
My father was born in 1906 in Calabria, came to USA in when he was 16. I know my first cousins, but only met one in 1970. Used to want to go there passionately, but my desire has waned. I think I would only be disappointed.
Bellissimo video :D i wish i had also relatives in the states!
Video fantastico, la vostra felicità si vede tutta nei vostri occhi e nei vostri sorrisi. I don't have to translate for Ketie and Connor but I'll try. Amazing video, you happinesses is shown in your eyes and in your smiles.
Fantastic! Buone Feste!
Katie, love. Wish you could have done a bit more footage. I did the same in Tenerife. And I was received with warmth. Now I go every other year.
Through ancestry dna It had dna matches and I have recently spoken with a 2-3 gen cousin. Were both slovak and she comes from deceased fathers side. I truly hope shed like to meet me one day. I get to share our slovak roots with her.
Congratulations Katie, welcome back to Italy to descendants of Mr.Nicola Tufaro. Bellissimo, video, bellissima compagnia, bellissima famiglia. GREAT !
Best video ever!
That is amazing. You're actually italian! Beautiful video, nice story. Thank you for sharing.
Amazing video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Che storia, giuro, sono commosso!
Bello vedere che anche Kiro si è fatto questo bel giro. Fagli una carezza anche da parte mia.
Buone feste!
Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 and best to you and your family ithe New Year🎄🎁🎉😎👍
it's rare for italians to move away from their towns,we have a strong attachment to our local culture so if you have an ancestor from italy there are good chances to find relatives in their town of origin
What wonderful memories were made!
Che bella storia Katie, grazie per averla condivisa con noi. Sono contenta che avete ritrovato il cugino ❤️
I don’t enjoy like that in london but
I love British people 👏🏻✊🏻
What an amazing story!! To track back your family roots and be able to discover relatives and meet them!! Thank you so much for sharing this moment with us, it literally gave me chills since I know how big this is, I’m also tracking my family past in Italy and to hear and see this conquer of yours motivates me to keep going! Molto amore dal Brasile 💚
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and even more thrilled it gives you more confidence to tracking your family past in Italy!! In bocca al lupo!
Great story Katie, I really enjoy your videos, you are great at drawing an audience. I know time was limited in this town but were you able to visit the town cemetery ? You might have discovered more distant relatives.
That's a great idea, and I'll do it next visit!
Bravissima !
You've inspired me, Katie! Would love to do this one day too!
Kinda similar, My Great grandmother came from Italian speaking Canton of Switzerland, Tricino.
So glad my video could inspire you! It would be so cool if you found your relatives from the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland!
Che bella esperienza, ritrovare i parenti dopo tanti anni. Ottimo lavoro Katie!!!