Season 2023 Episode 11 | 7m 49s | Video has closed captioning.
Sofia Caloiero, a college Junior, spends an afternoon making biscotti with her grandmother Vittoria, who immigrated to the U.S. from Calabria, Italy. Vittoria shares the story of her arrival in this country, her life as a new bride, and the joy of raising her family.
Aired: 07/10/23
Expires: 07/09/25
- A what?
(upbeat music) My name is Victoria Caloiero.
I come from Italy.
In Vazzano, Calabria.
I born 1935.
My mom died when they were 11, so my Nonna raise after died, my daddy.
My husband, John he was in army I have the pictures.
He come in Vazzano.
And see me and he wanna marry like me like you know.
He come on just for vacation like you know.
And they look maybe they marry somebody from Italy like you know.
They see me.
Yeah John.
(speaking in foreign language) So I married the 28 November.
- [Sophie] Keep staying there, smile.
- Like a sauce?
- [Sophie] Just smile.
Just smile.
- And my husband, they come in America, and after 6 months, I coming over here.
They can take the wife together.
They have to come in America, the husband, and after they do the papers the wife come.
This is one in Italy.
(speaking in foreign language) I get to Vibo first.
And over there I get the boat.
So I stay in the boat to I think almost 11 days like you know.
I come to America in October and they have the room like this and then the bed like half over there, half over there.
And me, I sleep with this my friend, like you know the day or the night they went and there a big room and the dance they sing like, you know.
They toot in a boat and say, "Hey America!
Hey!"
'Cause we were close to America.
Continue?
- [Sophie] Yeah.
(both speaking in foreign language) No, in the I get off and I stay in New York.
And the family, I don't know who come like the family, they come and get me.
I burn, they burn my hands.
Right over here, Dr.Mornado, my cousin, the go dinner, beginning I cry like you know.
'Cause I miss my family, like you know.
I have this my friend, Carmela that died.
Yeah I have the picture every night, every night I kiss like, the mont, saints, blah, blah, blah.
(singing in foreign language) Oh my goodness.
(speaking in foreign language) Friend talks, some come all time in my house like, you know, come work with me like, you know.
So that's what happened.
They talk with the boss in downtown.
And I went like you know.
To go sew at Joseph Hornes.
But Joseph Hornes closed, and I go Monroeville Mall.
Another job.
Seamstress, I sew, sew.
John, he work as a shoemase.
Shoemaker, not shoemase.
And they go in mall the work with this guy and give it to John, you know.
But John says no I'll buy it and it's mine.
And after that's where he worked.
Oh, heavy, you see.
I get it the parcel.
Okay.
Okay, okay, okay.
It's too cold.
- [Sophie] Okay.
Okay.
We'll go inside.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [Sophie] Okay.
- You say I'm happy now 'cause I have the kids and my family, its my house.
Now this is my happy, that I stay over here like an now bless America.
I like an now like, you know, it's a my house and my thing is it's over here in America.
Like, 'cause I have my family, the kids, the nurse, like now it's the, I went a couple of time in Italy for vacation.
But I don't go no more like you know, I'm old.
- Come out.
- [Man] Okay.
- Okay.
Hi.
- Don't talk just.
- Oh, hi.
Hi.
Are you about.
- [Sofia] You're about to pee.
- She has to pee.
- Oh, hi.
Oh you wanna Calabria?
You wanna see Calabria?
Huh?
Calabria.
Let me see Calabria and see Calabria you.
Misorica you go now.
Was always think I Coco past.
