Ilene Modica - Our Italian Journey

Readers say

Our Italian Journey is about having adream and doing everything in your power to achieve it. Gary andIlene took on the arduous task of acquiring Italian citizenship,applying for Italian passports, and leaving their family andfriends for an entire year to live out their dream of residing inItaly. At any point, they could have given up on that dream, butinstead persevered. Regardless of what your dream may be, thismemoir truly inspires the reader to overcome all obstacles and havea lot of fun along the way!

Gina Andracchio, community leader ofmi.o: an online community for people passionate aboutItaly

Experience thedream of a loving couple while they travel through Italy. You willshare their encounters with old and new friends, learning a newlanguage, experiencing traditional festivals and of course thefantastic food and wine of this beautiful country. Bravissimi!

PatD.

Ive been following Ilene and Gary's blog,Our Italian Journey, since the beginning of their adventure,and was delighted to see theyd written a book about their travels.This book is a love letter to Italy, and the three-year culminationof their lifelong dream to become Italian citizens. Their story isalso a tribute to the desire many Americans haveto return to theland of their ancestorsand a chance to imagine life in smallvillages with cobblestone streets and flower boxes attached toancient walls. From loving descriptions of the exquisite food tostories of all the lovely people they meet through this year-longadventure, you'll find a treasure on every page. I highly recommendthis book!

Maureen Hannon

Our Italian Journey is a beautifullywritten memoir, full of realistic, charming and delightful people.Every page made me feel I was there with Ilene and Gary, enjoyingeach Italian village not only getting to know the locals, butstruggling with the language as well. If only I could taste thefood, too! The descriptions of each town are great. Ill definitelyreference them when planning our next trip.

Susan Lauciello

I am always in search of books that lay outthe good, the bad, and ugly of real life in Italy. We have traveledto most of the major cities covered extensively online in travelblogs, but are now interested in visiting smaller towns andvillages and this book provides exactly that. The Modicas werelucky enough to do what most of us only dream of. I so enjoyedadding to my list of places to explore in Italy as well as learninga few we can pass on. If you have dreams of visiting the gorgeouscountryside of Italy for the first or twentieth time, read theinsights Gary and Ilene share first. Cannot wait for internationaltravel to open up once again so I can start checking off areasadded to my wish list.

Barbara Winshurst

Since I may never have the opportunity to livein Italy through every season, living vicariously through Gary andIlenes year there is a gift to me. I felt like I was on a trip toItaly every time I picked it up. It is a book I can return to againand again if I want a quick reminder of what it is like to be inItaly. Also, they inspired me to make the most of my nextopportunity to travel to Italy when we are able to once again.Ilene and Gary were brave enough to live their dream and share itwith us. Reading their book made me glad to be a part of thisadventure.

Diane Selkregg

A beautifully written, emotional read. Notonly did I feel what Gary and Ilene felt, I believed there weretimes I was physically with them on their journey. I was immersedin some of the most amazingly beautiful settings, it was verydifficult not to want to go immediately online and book my nextflight to Italy. I have a new list of places to see, things to do,and ways to do them.

Susan Kuehne

Living Our Dream in Italy for OneYear

Living Our Dream in Italy for OneYear

By Ilene and GaryModica

Published in Phoenix,Arizona

Our Italian Journey

Living Our Dream in Italy for OneYear

2020 by Ilene and Gary Modica

This book or any portion thereof maynot be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without theexpress written permission of the authors except for the use ofbrief quotations in a book review.

PublishersNote: Our Italian Journey describes the authors experiences while livingin Italy for one year and is the reflection of their experiencesand opinions. To protect privacy, some individual names have beenchanged.

All logos, trademarks and registered trademarksare the property of their respective owners.

Cover photo taken by Ilene Modica inMontefalco, Italy, July 23, 2019

Designed by Ilene Modica and DeniseIrons Designs

Book Shepherd Ann Videan,ANVidean.com

ISBN: 978-1-7353761-0-3

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020920479

Published in the United States

by Boston Harbor Press LLC

Phoenix, Arizona

ouritalianjourney@gmail.com

Dedication

For Pop

Gary

When Ilene and I decided to write a book about ourincredible year in Italy, we discussed who we would dedicate thebook to. We thought of our parents and families because they taughtus, among other things, how to love and appreciate all of lifesmoments, good and bad. We realized, without the inspiration of oneperson, our dream of citizenship would never have come true. I knowsome would say we could become citizens following other avenues,but it would not have been as meaningful. On a personal note, Iwould not have such strong emotions about bringing my family nameback to Italy as I did then. Maybe it had something to do withfamily pride or perhaps a sense of personal accomplishment burninginside of me. Whatever was driving me, none of this would have cometo fruition if not for my grandfather Sebastiano Modica, the man Ilovingly called Pop.

Pop wasnt a man of many words, he hardly saidanything at all, and he never showed emotions. Very rarely would hewant to talk about his past, but when he did, at least with me, healways expressed his love for family and especially his love forSicily. He told me once if he were a younger man hed go back toSicily and live out his life. I suppose its the reason it meant somuch to me to become a citizen of his beloved Sicily and do what hewanted to do, bring the family name back home.

I often wonder as we explore Italy what hewould have thought of our journey and if he would have been asproud of me as I am of him. I will always love and cherish hismemory, but I will never forget the gift he gave both of us,citizenship, and the right to call Italy home.

Contents

Introduction 1

Bringing My Family Name Home5