Canada was looking for specialist technicians so my husband applied and was accepted and I joined him one year later. We were married by proxy in ‘55 and I came over in ‘56. The day I left Italy-I was 24 and living in a little town. It was really, really early. We were all having espresso together in the kitchen and then it was time to go. I hugged my father goodbye and he said “I bless you, where you’re going.” It made me cry because I was leaving him. He was a nice father, he was working bringing all of the stuff for us, but he was more quiet. It was the first time for me to hear my father to say words like that. I have thought about that day and what he said many times.
When I arrived in Halifax we went in this big room and you don’t know what they’re doing. They tried to talk to you: some words you understand some you don’t. At that time two ladies asked me to give blood. I didn’t understand the word blood; I had never had a needle. I was scared and I don’t want to give because I didn’t understand. I thought maybe this was a policy for Canada. On the ship, I was okay: I could eat. Some people couldn’t eat. I was thinking maybe this was why they asked me for blood. I said “No” but they said in Canada they needed blood. I understand more now.
When we arrived in Kemptville, Ontario we were the only Italians and we didn’t speak English but people were nice to us. We didn’t have a car and when we were walking to church on Sunday, people stopped and drive us. In ’57 we moved to Sault Ste. Marie. There was Italian people and stores and we was on Wellington Street and eventually we bought one small house on Huron Street. It was a little bit hard because I had to find extra pennies to buy one quart of milk which was 15 cents, it made a difference. We were struggling with money, everybody was but we were happy. I all the time wrote letters to my family but I didn’t tell them about my struggling.
I got two boys and four grandchildren and we have a really close family.