Uruguay 1996/2013
Chapter Four
At the above mentioned celebration I finally met many Italians emigrated to Uruguay in the post WW I and I had the occasion to fix a lot of meetings. I was invited to meet the “Ossolana” Association of Montevideo, one of the most numerous and active and the “Abruzzo” Association. In this latter I knew the Famija Piemonteisa of Cologne Valdense. But for me, it was very important, other than the official visits to the Association, to speak with immigrants, hear their stories, the hardships and the joys of living in a country so different from Italy of which the oldest between them were plenty of homesichness.
For their children the mood was different. Tthey were pride to felt Uruguayan and to live in that country, but also conscientious that Italy is the place from which their parents come from and keep their memories.
From 1996 to now the situation has changed very much. Many of the immigrants are no more alive and the Association life is now very different, some of them may have been closed or are frequented only by elderly immigrants, young people have chosen the actual social network and other modern systems to keep in contact with relatives and friends.
Italian Emigrants and associations
At the above mentioned celebration I finally met many Italians emigrated to Uruguay in the post WW I and I had the occasion to fix a lot of meetings. I was invited to meet the “Ossolana” Association of Montevideo, one of the most numerous and active and the “Abruzzo” Association. In this latter I knew the Famija Piemonteisa of Cologne Valdense. But for me, it was very important, other than the official visits to the Association, to speak with immigrants, hear their stories, the hardships and the joys of living in a country so different from Italy of which the oldest between them were plenty of homesichness.
For their children the mood was different. Tthey were pride to felt Uruguayan and to live in that country, but also conscientious that Italy is the place from which their parents come from and keep their memories.
From 1996 to now the situation has changed very much. Many of the immigrants are no more alive and the Association life is now very different, some of them may have been closed or are frequented only by elderly immigrants, young people have chosen the actual social network and other modern systems to keep in contact with relatives and friends.
The commemoration of the "IV Novembre" Italian Hospital Umberto I°
The nursing home for Italian
The Italian School of Montevideo
At lunch social for the commemoration of the "IV Novembre"
Youth Association Abruzzese
The Vice-Consul in Colonia del Sacramento
Italian emigrants
Feast Association Ossolana
A special dedication to his cousin Paolo, who accompanied me on this adventure and now is no longer with us.
