Being an Italian Immigrant in London

A late afternoon sun slithers through clouds of ash on the ceiling of London. With an autumn breeze that intertwines with the last remnants of this summer. Angelica sits opposite me, cross-legged, on the rims of the water fountain. A stone's throw from where we met.

The first thing I noticed about Angelica was her accent. Her voice was small but sweet. "Where are you from?" I asked. Shyly, she replied, "Italy." As we indulged in conversation and Japanese pancakes, I learnt a little bit about Angelica's Roman childhood. As well as her experience being an Italian immigrant living in the United Kingdom. In this article, I expand on her adoration for learning other languages and about other cultures. And, what a home truly means to an immigrant.

During a holiday spent in London, a ten-year-old Angelica walked through the foreign City unaware of the thoughts her parents shared. Only one year later, she was told sitting opposite her parents in a restaurant that their lives would be very different. Very soon. Painted in blue, Angelica did not want to leave Rome. The thought of abandoning her friends and attempting to make new ones filled her with anxiety. She was afraid that her accent would be mocked, isolating her from her peers. Fortunately, Angelica was a rather driven child at school. Determined to speak the English language better than the rest in her class, her knowledge would serve her well in the new country. “I was very competitive.” She said. “I had to be the best.”

Due to his lack of success when finding a job in Rome, Angelica’s father, the entomologist, applied for a grant in the United Kingdom. His decision to relocate their lives was constructed before understanding the consequences of his application. Fast-forward five months, her father won the grant as a man living in England with his family. Collaboratively, we agreed that he manifested this accomplishment by relocating.

Despite the improved education and increased opportunities that living in the United Kingdom can provide, I was curious about what Angelica’s parents exactly told her in the restaurant. What was their explanation for this drastic transition to their eleven-year-old daughter’s life? Her parents told her they would move “for a better life.”

Asking Angelica what she misses most about living in Rome, she confirmed, “The sun.” Italian seasons are not drastically varied. Each month is warming and bright – a rather clear contrast from England where a temperature above twenty is rare. Though summer holds a significant place in her heart, a heavy thunderstorm to give the sun a break and relief is something Angelica adores, too.

Corroborating her lack of nostalgia as an immigrant, Angelica said, "When we moved, we brought everything." This transition involved relocating books from Rome, Italian furniture and even her dog! Everything about her and her house in England is still very much Italian.

I asked her, Do you feel like a Londoner or an Italian living in London? To this, she replied, “I don't feel like anything." When she is in the United Kingdom, she feels very much like an immigrant due to living in a heavily British-populated area. Furthermore, when she visits Rome, she feels like an outsider because she has “missed so much”. However, due to London’s multi-cultured demographic and immense inclusion, Angelica feels more accepted and welcome stepping off the tube and into the City.

Something I found rather interesting was the revelation that Angelica feels her personality and demeanour alter when she speaks Italian compared to speaking in English. Speaking of her mother tongue in her house and with her family, confidence and comfort are induced in her speech. “I think I am more outgoing in Italian." She validates. When I asked her if she feels more like herself speaking in Italian, she confirmed, "I do."

Despite studying French and German languages at school, Angelica took a particular interest in Spanish and Japanese. When asked why those two in particular, she confirmed that she found the Spanish language to be similar to those of Italians. This made learning the language easier and more secure for her. On the other hand, Japanese is a significantly contrasted language to her mother tongue. "I like to challenge myself sometimes." She said.

Something I learnt about Angelica during our early encounters was her desire to travel. Researching accommodation prices in Scotland together after meeting only once, it was clear her upbringing developed a curiosity for cultures other than her own. She said, "I would just love to go everywhere and experience different cultures." Angelica is not opposed to experimentation. Even if we are dining at a Nando’s, she won’t ever get the same order twice. As a creature of habit myself, I admire this about her. Tasting food from their origins is important to her and something she aspires to achieve. Perhaps not being cocooned in one location for her entire living life has enforced that inspiration to experience the unknown.

Last year, Angelica visited Rome with a few friends. I asked her if she took the role of tour guide during this trip, to which she responded, “I was trying to be.” Followed by a lightweight laugh. How did it make you feel visiting the place where you were born? I asked her. “I was happy.” She said.

Due to the weather being warm in Italy, Angelica believes this is why the general mood is more positive. The sun's rays radiate joy from everybody’s being. I said, Do you think that's why everyone in London is so miserable?

Visiting Rome often is not a realistic option due to limited expenses. However, Angelica told me that the festive seasons are harder for her to be so far from her origin. Most of her family is in Rome. So, Christmas feels quieter spent in a separate country. I asked her, Do you ever consider going back to Rome for Christmas? To which she responded, “Every year."

This statement ignited the ideology that a home is not a location. But other humans.