I got to do this summer what all Italian Americans dream of.  I visited Italy and met for the first time, my Italian relatives. I have talked about this on our blog and the podcast and detail the trip in my forthcoming book 40 Days in Italy con la mia Famiglia – but nothing can explain these moments like a video. So the video above is a glimpse into the few days that we spent with relatives in Sortino, Sicily.

You’ll notice in the video how everyone is so happy and excited.  You’ll also notice how everything is simple.  We ate outdoors most nights, and often picked food from the gardens and trees. This entire trip opened my eyes to a whole other side of my Italian American experience — the Italian side; and now I can dig deeper into that side as I get to know my newfound relatives.