My Dad, Giuseppe Capalbo, came to the United States from Italy in November, 1970.  He was just 10 years old.   His Alitalia plane  landed in JFK Airport in New York City.   It was a 9 hour trip, non-stop.  He came with his mother.  They only brought clothes with them.  One month later, a trunk arrived with sheets and blankets from Italy.  They did not have to be sponsored because his father was already in the United States and had a job.  His father and his brother (my Uncle Pasquale) were sponsored by his Uncle Mike and Aunt Anna in 1969, one year earlier.

 Life was difficult at first for my Dad.  He didn’t speak English and had no friends, but he did have family.  He was also happy to come and see the many places one could visit in the United States,   and it seemed like he would have lots of fun.  He liked the blue jeans and shirts that everyone was wearing.  He also liked the stores.  There were lots of them.

 One store was his favorite.  That was a hobby shop 2 blocks from where he lived.  He lived on Jamaica Avenue and 107th Street, in Queens New York, in an apartment.  On his birthday, his Aunt Anna would buy him a train set from the hobby shop which he loved.  He also bought things from the shop when he saved enough money.

 When his father was in Italy, he was a farmer.  When he came to the United States, he did odd jobs.  Over the time while working these odd jobs, he learned English, which helped him to get into Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Brooklyn, NY (where my Mom now works).

 The school that my Dad attended when he came to the United States was P.S. 90.  He really didn’t like school.  He felt his teachers were mean and they weren’t helpful.  He felt that they were not educated enough for being teachers.  They did not help him with English.  My Dad picked up English in one year.  He loved watching T.V., which was a great help with English.

 One story that he told me was about an elderly Russian man who lived upstairs from him.  He was scared of this man who only spoke Russian.   Whenever my Dad would take out the trash, he would be scared.   One day, when he was taking out the trash, the Russian man appeared and my Dad got so scared, he threw the trash down and ran back to his apartment.  Now he laughs about this!

 My Dad finally went back to visit Italy 20 years later.  He wanted to see his family that was still living there and the old town that he came from.  He also wanted to show my Mom and me where he came from.  He says it was a trip that was meant to be.  It was great to be back in Italy with his family.  He was happy that my Mom and I got to meet all his family members and they got to meet us.

 My Dad is not a U.S. citizen but he is still glad to be in the United States.  He says the United States is "free".  There is no limit on success!  My Dad managed to buy his own business and his own home.  He does not miss Italy.  He says that the United States is his home!  He is "proud to be an American", in his own way!
 

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