I'm half italian, but I dont feel like I am at all.?

Question

I'm half italian, my moms calabrian and my father (divorced) is canadian. I also live with my nonah (Grandma) and mom, so my nonah speaks ONLY italian, no english.

Under all this infulence I (still) dont feel that i'm italian. Does being half mean I cant take part in our culture as much as someone who is entirely italian?

I'v always felt this way, are there any half italians that take part greatly into their culture?

P.S: Could it be that I still dont understand the language completely yet?

Answer 1

Your background is half Italian, you are a complete person--a wonderful You--no splitting into halves.
Be well.

Answer 2

One-half Italian is still a substantial amount so you could easily claim an Italian heritage if you want. If you don't want to, that's okay too.

I see Americans with a quarter or an eighth Irish ancestry - sometimes even less than that - trying to climb on the Irish bandwagon all the time. Some Irish geneaology fans right now are trying to make a big deal even out of President George Bush's remote Irish relations.

My own ancestry is English, Scottish and Irish but since I have an Irish last name that sounds Italian I've been considered Italian all my life by many people. You could say I'm an honorary Paesan.

I have nothing against Italians for the most part. They are a very talented people and all of Europe and Western Civilization owes much to their contributions. Had there been no Italian Renaissance in the late Middle Ages, there probably would have been no Northern European Renaissance either.

Answer 3

It really depends on how much emphasis that your family placed on your Italian culture and your environment. Half does not really mean anything, if you were born in Italy and one only of your parents were Italian you would probably feel differently. There are so many ethnic groups and races that immigrate to Italy and they have children, don't you think that even though their families culture would be an influence, that they will most likely be influenced by Italian culture and language? What about all of the people that live in America and have mixed ancestry, how do you think they feel?American, probably. There are people of Chinese stock born in Britain and they call themselves British.

Answer 4

Every culture and ethnicity comes with their own sets of irrational ideals and psychologically inherited issues. People base so much importance on their traditional heritage that they fail to realize that a lot of their ethnicity is pretty messed up and self-destructive. Had you been raised completely surrounded by your own ethnicity you would have never been given the opportunity to question some parts of your ethnicity that may not make you a better person. This is true about anyone who never travels or sees other options to human interaction. It is quite possible that you don't feel Italian because you can't relate to it at all as you have a different and almost better way of looking at things. I myself am a mutt with german, british and cherokee, but I really don't care what I am I am looking to improve myself and progress, not get stuck chacing the past other than to learn from past cultures and alternative ways of thinking. My opinion to you is to take parts from your Italian heritage that make you a better person, and mix them with the traits of other cultures you encounter. There is not just one version of any culture there are variations throughout the entire country, otherwise stereotyping would work. Just like religion you need to figure out what culture you feel like you are a part of or mix and match to help you reach your maximum potential as a human not just as an Italian.

Answer 5

As a coworker said to me, you can't be half Irish. You are all Italian.

Learning the language and the culture will help you feel more Italian.

You could also research your Italian genealogy. Maybe you'll find some good piece of family history no one else knows.

Answer 6

No matter what you are what you are, only you can learn to accept yourself. I have learned over the years that you don't have to "fit" into a culture.
I am a mixture of many things and on the race-o-meter, I keep coming up as American. No matter what languages I speak or the people around me speak, the number one language I choose for myself is: self love & acceptance.
Sounds like you need to be asking a different question. Why are you so self-doubtful and confused?

Answer 7

you should try visiting Italy and meeting the rest of your family members it doesn't matter that you're only half Italian you can definitely take part of the culture but it depends on how interested in it you are in the first place

I am half Mexican and half Salvadorian and i feel very connected with both nationalities i have visited both countries and interact with people from both countries i think that helps! however i have lived in the United States my entire life

Answer 8

not sure what you mean you don't feel like you are italian, maybe you should just join some italian clubs, and if there aren't any ..start one. Or you could open an italian eatery and watch Saturday Night Fever. Too bad John Travolta is already married.

Answer 9

Hmmmmm...I wonder how an italian feels. I consider myself an american. My ancestry is incidental. Integrity, is the most influential contributor to my self image. I've had to compromise it occasionally, but without it I would have no validity. So, just enjoy the learning experience you get as you investigate your italian ancestry. Cultural differences are fascinating

Answer 10

hy... i'm italian and i can say that i feel like i belong to the american culture... i'd like to live there..i love this language and i wanna visit america one day...
i know, it's weird..but i feel that i'm both italian and american even though i don't have any relatives there!
i just wanna let u know that i love the place where u live...and that sooner or later i'll be there!!