The Departure

Our third episode of Figs & Famiglia is an emotional one. Today we continue our conversation with Antonio Russo, author of 'Wresting with the Devil; A Story of Sacrifice, Survival and Triumph from the Hills of Naples to the Hall of Fame.' He’s going to share with us excerpts from chapter 3 which is when he is put on a ship in the Bay of Naples as a ten year old boy and sent off to America. This was devastating for his Italian family but they were driven for a better life. This quote from author Dianne Hales in the book; La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language, sheds some light as to the emotional toll this took on young Tony and his family. She states; “What Italian doesn’t say also is revealing. Italian has no words that precisely translate “lonely” (unthinkable for its gregarious speakers), “privacy” (equally unthinkable in an Italian family), The Italian phrase “da solo” translates as “by oneself, alone,” which doesn’t convey a yearning for connection in the way that “lonely” does. Italians weave such close and complex connections that perhaps they don’t experience loneliness. Perhaps the culture itself provides a sense of belonging." Young Tony definitely experiences loneliness, and loses his sense of belonging as well, but as you’ll find out in future chapters he’s driven to get that connection back. Enjoy this very special episode!