MLG 201 Oral History Project (Fall 2022)

Abstract

In this interview, I spoke with my grandmother, my mom’s mother, about her experience as an Italian immigrant who moved to America at only 2 years old. We discussed her basic information as well as our family background. I used the questions that were designed for this project because I felt they were the most important questions I needed to ask in order for this interview to relate back to class. Food is an important part of Italian history, more important than I recognized before taking this class. The interview includes a multitude of questions that involve food, past and present. I wanted to learn about how she dined with her family growing up and how that has influenced how my family eats today. I learned a lot about my nana and her family’s history during this interview. I also realized how big of a role my father plays in keeping up Italian traditions in my family. Now that she lives closer to me, she can show me more traditions from her side of my family. It was really interesting to see how my Italian culture was brought into my own life through my ancestors. Taking this class made me much more curious about Italian gastronomy than I ever imagined, and I am so glad my family can teach me more about it.