Book Description

After a very strict upbringing, Vittoria/Vicki/Victoria struggles to ‘fit’ in the more modern society of their new Country to which her immigrant parents brought her. It is a story as seen and experienced initially by a 5 year old, from the time she leaves her birthplace; her long sea voyage to Australia; the restrictive cultural rules she had to adhere to whilst in her ‘inner society’; and the lengths she had to go to, in order to give the appearance that she was just like the other girls in the ‘outer society’. It is a story of the ever-present anxiety of her ‘double life’ being found out; the ever-present fears of embarrassment if her ‘outer society’ friends were to find out how ‘stuck’ her family was in their old country’s cultural ideas and beliefs; and her naivety to believe that if she let her guard down she would be met with disbelief and ridicule; only to later discover that Australia was made up of ‘New’ Australians. It is a story of the ‘dating’ challenges faced by a young female growing up in such a restrictive household and the calculated risks she took, (sometimes with her co-conspirators), in order to get her parents’ permission to go out with her friends. It is a story of learning from her parents to appreciate and be thankful for what she had; and that her trait of having compassion for others was only possible because of the love and family values that were instilled in her. It is a story of the human spirit’s great capacity to heal the disappointments; hurt and betrayal; which, in turn, enables one to forgive. Of the strong faith one needs to possess in order to accept the physical and emotional pain with which one is afflicted in life. And of the great strength with which one is graced in order to cope when in such pain. But mostly, it is a story of the comradery which existed between the families during that era. They relied on and helped one another with everything. They laughed, cried and shared with one another. There was a sense of belonging, closeness and security that seems to be missing in the lives of so many of our young people today.