Being Italian visiting Italy
on many occasions is adventuresome and emotional especially when visiting the home town of all my grandparents. I find great
comfort since everything is familiar since my family's background is Italy. However I don't speak Italian and that keeps me
at a small distance.
However when I visit England
I feel I am coming home. I speak English and that allows me to get closer to
the culture of England then Italy. I grew up as a youngster in the waning days of Canada's close relationship with England.
I sang God Save the King to the Union Jack. I learned the history of England's Kings and Queens. I knew of the building of
the British Empire where the sun never set. I learned its values like fair play, I played its sports like rugby, I learned
to sing in the pub songs like Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner, and I even learned to like Scottish Haggis. I am one of a
diminishing number baby boomers who still knows how to sing by heart God Save the Queen, They'll always be an England and
I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts.
To me I still sing out loud and
clear They'll always be an England...and I am glad.