I had strict rules to keep my British and Italian lives separate. Then I learned the joy of being both | Silvia Saunders

I would elbow my mum when she spoke Italian in England, until I realised each part of my identity is more than just a ‘half’

In our end of year series, writers and public figures remember the place or time when they felt most at home

Since I was small, I have liked sitting on stairs to read. In my childhood home, in Nuneaton, I favoured the square of carpet between the two flights, positioned directly opposite the wall-mounted clock, so I could keep an eye on how many pages I could squeeze in before bed. My favourite place to read, though, has always been the red tiled steps that lead to the front door of my nonna’s house in Puglia. There are photos of me and my cousins on those steps at every age. If I close my eyes, I can feel the terracotta under my hands, somehow always warm, even in deepest winter.

Throughout my childhood, I grappled with the question: “Ti senti più inglese o più italiana?” – do you feel more English or more Italian? I’m British-Italian, and most of my family live in the heel of Italy’s boot, in a very small town of – at the last census – 6,200 inhabitants. My mum is one of five siblings, and the only one who moved any real distance from San Donaci, relocating to the Midlands for love, before having me, her only child.

Silvia Saunders is an author. Her debut novel, Homesick, is published in January 2025

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Topics

‘I keep hearing about break-ins in my neighborhood’: Should I keep valuable items in a safe-deposit box? What are my options?

“I read that the bank discourages people from storing jewelry and coins in the boxes, so I did not rent one.”
MarketWatch - 1h
I interviewed some of the top longevity experts in 2024: 3 things I learned from their approach to a long, healthy life

This year, I interviewed several longevity experts about the practices they recommend for optimal health. Here's what I learned from them.
CNBC - 2h
The Christmas that went wrong: We went into last-minute lockdown – and I had to spend the big day with my ex

Covid was everywhere, the fridge was empty and my former partner was coming to spend the day with me and my new girlfriend. Christmas was doomed … wasn’t it?. The year was 2020 and Christmas itself ...
The Guardian - 13h
What rights do I have if my credit card debt is in collections?

By knowing these rights, you may be able to avoid some of the common pitfalls associated with debt collection.
CBS News - 23h
‘I worked hard for my savings’: I’m 71 and a retired teacher. I want to give my kids money — but my daughter spends lavishly and my son is wealthy.

“I have been reading about the idea of giving your children money when they need it the most, rather than waiting until you die.”
MarketWatch - 1d
What are my mortgage options while I work abroad?

I plan to keep a property in the UK
Financial Times - 1d
The Christmas that went wrong: I had a massive abscess and spent my first ever night in hospital

The year already ranked among my very worst – then I wound up on a tinsel-draped drip, while my family texted fun photos from the pub. It hadn’t been a vintage year. I was in the middle of a ...
The Guardian - 1d
'I cook my Christmas dinner in five air fryers'

A cookery writer from Kent is ditching her oven to cook a festive feast for 11 of her loved ones.
BBC News - 1d
Here’s what I learned in medical school – beyond the curriculum | Roland Bull

Studying medicine is not an identity – and self-care should be considered a matter of medical ethics rather than an indulgence. After four long years of study, I wrapped up a medical degree this ...
The Guardian - 1d

I had strict rules to keep my British and Italian lives separate. Then I learned the joy of being both | Silvia Saunders

Topics

Related

‘I keep hearing about break-ins in my neighborhood’: Should I keep valuable items in a safe-deposit box? What are my options?

I interviewed some of the top longevity experts in 2024: 3 things I learned from their approach to a long, healthy life

The Christmas that went wrong: We went into last-minute lockdown – and I had to spend the big day with my ex

What rights do I have if my credit card debt is in collections?

‘I worked hard for my savings’: I’m 71 and a retired teacher. I want to give my kids money — but my daughter spends lavishly and my son is wealthy.

What are my mortgage options while I work abroad?

The Christmas that went wrong: I had a massive abscess and spent my first ever night in hospital

'I cook my Christmas dinner in five air fryers'

Here’s what I learned in medical school – beyond the curriculum | Roland Bull

More from The Guardian

More than 30 people survive Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan

Russia-Ukraine war live: Russia carried out ‘massive strike’ on Ukrainian energy system, says Russian defence ministry

Finland-Estonia power cable hit in latest Baltic Sea incident

Man arrested after pedestrians hit by car in London’s West End

Serbian students rally in Belgrade in latest protest over train station disaster