*Bianca*

America was not like Italy at all. Unlike the ancient stonework of my home country, the history that descendants have built upon generation after generation, everything in America was shiny–bright and flashy, with neon signs proclaiming what their products could or could not do. Everything felt loud and obnoxious like every store and sign was trying to capture the world’s attention simultaneously.

Even the buildings were too tall and brand new in a ...