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Michelle.jpg

Ciao.

I'm Michelle. Thanks for visiting The Istrian Diary. I hope you enjoy my father's story.

The Istrian Diary
Translating a boy's life in Istria
16 November 1942 - Il Fratellino / Little Brother
Dec 4

Dec 4 16 November 1942 - Il Fratellino / Little Brother

Michelle Aitala
Diary Entry, Photo

Franco writes about his little brother, Ruggero.

9 November 1942 - The Train to Villa d'Rovigno / Il treno a Villa d'Rovigno
Nov 27

Nov 27 9 November 1942 - The Train to Villa d'Rovigno / Il treno a Villa d'Rovigno

Michelle Aitala
Diary Entry, History, Sketch

Franco goes to Villa d'Rovigno by train, drinks wine, and gives a speech.

3 November 1942 - The Double Bath/Il Doppio Bagno
Jun 12

Jun 12 3 November 1942 - The Double Bath/Il Doppio Bagno

Michelle Aitala
Diary Entry, History

A lessons in history, symbolism, and fish. All things come full circle.

29 October 1942 - Un Metro Quadrato Sacro/A Sacred Square Meter
Mar 20

Mar 20 29 October 1942 - Un Metro Quadrato Sacro/A Sacred Square Meter

Michelle Aitala
Sketch, Handwriting, Diary Entry, Help

A naval ship comes in and the people go to visit their sons and brothers. But this proves more difficult for some.

28 October 1942 - The Soccer Tornament / Il Torneo Calcistico
Mar 15

Mar 15 28 October 1942 - The Soccer Tornament / Il Torneo Calcistico

Michelle Aitala
Diary Entry, Sketch

Do all boys love sports, even when their mothers worry?

Per il Giorno del Ricordo: Una poesia scritta oggi, 10 febbraio 1947
Feb 10

Feb 10 Per il Giorno del Ricordo: Una poesia scritta oggi, 10 febbraio 1947

Michelle Aitala
Poem

Today is the Day of Remembrance, 10 February, held each year to preserve the memory of the Italian exodus from Istria, Dalmatia, and Fiume, and the tragedy of the foibe.

24 October 1942 - In the Garden / Nel giardino
Jan 17

Jan 17 24 October 1942 - In the Garden / Nel giardino

Michelle Aitala
Diary Entry, Postcard, Map

Franco works in the garden, and is awed by the sunset.

7 October 1999 - Aesculus Hippocastanum, Gli Ippocastani della Scuola G. Carducci
Jan 8

Jan 8 7 October 1999 - Aesculus Hippocastanum, Gli Ippocastani della Scuola G. Carducci

Michelle Aitala
Followup, Poem, Photo

Over 55 years later, Franco writes me a poem about the chestnut trees of the school, G. Carducci in Rovigno.

12 October 1942 – Kings and Queens / Re e Regine
Oct 2

Oct 2 12 October 1942 – Kings and Queens / Re e Regine

Michelle Aitala
Diary Entry

Using everyday objects, Franco creates a world of kings and queens. I get a history lesson.

Follow-up Post: Giarabub
Oct 2

Oct 2 Follow-up Post: Giarabub

Michelle Aitala
Followup, Correction

This post corrects some errors in translating "Giarabub."

10 Oct 1942 - Giarabub
Apr 1

Apr 1 10 Oct 1942 - Giarabub

Michelle Aitala
Photo, Handwriting, Diary Entry

A day in school starts with a movie. But what is Giarabub, and is "Nemiche" what I think it is?

The First Page - Followup
Mar 27

Mar 27 The First Page - Followup

Michelle Aitala

A friend locates my father's house

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Buy me a coffee?Offrirmi un café?

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