Giovanii’s Transcript

SF: Okay, allora. In italiano o in inglese e tutt’uguale. Why did you first come to Canada and in what year?

Giovanni: I come in Canada in 1967, Augusto 14. To make some…uh…per stare meglio. Economicamente. Sono arrivato qua con due figli: uno Nicolino di sei anni, e Lucia di quattro. Siamo arrivati al sessantasette agosto al Hamilton. Dove mio cugino mi a venut’ a prender’ là al treno del Hamilton e poi dopo siamo arrivato a casa sua qua a Guelph e nel frattempo che mi’ amore preparata collazione qua e là, mi disse il cugino ‘andiamo fare una passeggiata in paese nel centro di Guelph’ Allora verso le nove e mezzo, siamo entrati dentro un negozio che vendeva  vestiti, e nome “Brown’s Clothing Store” e siamo andate e lui lo conosceva. Poi dopo… a detta “Ti serve un sarto? Questo qua “Oh Si, Magari” “‘A ben questo qua e appena arrivata. Sta mattina a le sette” a dett’. “E Ti serve?” “Si!” Allora siamo andata a casa di mio cugino, si abbiamo fatto collazione, e dice a luna po venire a cominciare a lavorare lo stesso giorno. A la luna. Dopo quindici giorni di nave. 

SF: Con nave sei venuto?

Giovanni: Si, e allora sono cominciato a lavorà e non mi son’ fermato mai. Dopo un mese, e qualcuno ne busso delle spalle, un altro negoziante, parlare più italiano disse se volevo lavorare con lui…ho detto no, gia c’è lo il lavoro là…e ha detta lui, la sera o la mattina fa devi lavor’? E cos’ ho pigliato un altro lavoro. Andavo le sette la mattina fino le nove, e dalle sei alle otto da sera. Quando lasciavo lavorare a Browns Clothing Store. E poi ho trovato un altro lavoro, ce l’avevo tre lavori.

SF: sempre come sarto?

Giovanni: Sempre da sarto! E cosi poi dopo un anno e mezzo, mentre che camminavo andava a mangiare a casa, ho visto un piccolo negoziato là in MacDonnell Street, a numero ventiquattro e ho visto che si affettavo e abbiamo parlato con mia moglie qua e là, e allora ci siamo decisi. Se come io me lo portato la macchina e (incomprehensible) e tutto gli attrezzi dal’Italia. E a dett’ mettiamo… e poi dovuto dire a questo padrone…e addetto  “Tu fai quando vuoi, pero il lavora che tu fai qua io te lo mando là nella stessa settimana” Perché, come il mio lavoro io lo facevo a lui no, a questo negoziante. Poi sono messo la bottega qua “Giovanni Custom Tailor” numero ventiquattro MacDonnell Street, e comincia ad avere i clienti, più clienti lavoro qua e là che dopo due tre anni ho dovuto lasciare questo negoziante e facevo stanti mie clienti che ce l’avevo assai. Io e mia moglie che lavorava là…Nel frattempo moglie avuta un altro bambino dopo un anno qua e lavorava poco con me. Comunque ci siamo salvati sempre con lavoro. E poi da MacDonnell Street ho comprata a numero trenta MacDonnell Street una sartoria più grande e facevo vestiti su mesur, facevo tutto quanto. E poi siamo state la sempre, qualche viaggio in Italia non è mancato. I miei figli sono preso educazione, una fatta parrucchiere, l’altra figlia studia fina la tredici poi non ha voluta continuare, un altra ragazzina alle dodici se fermata, si messa a fare parrucchiere. Comunque la famiglie andata sempre cosi. La storie non è…ah…sacrifici ne se a fatt’ assai…assai assai. Sacrifici assai. Notte giorno lavorare, capo d’anno gli altri andavano a ballare e io andavo a lavorare perché dovevo preparare le robe per il giorno dopo. Mo è cambiato un po. 

Poi e…la storia della famiglia in Italia, e stato…è morta mia madre e mia moglie ha dovuta andare in Italia e stare quattro mese a curare mia madre. È andata lei con due bambini. 

interviewer: Quand’era?

Giovanni: Questo stato verso settantuno e poi dopo mia madre è andata, è morta, e lei se tornata qua…e che… siamo rimesso a fare lo stesso vita di lavorare qua e là e dopo due anni mio padre ha venuto a visitarci. Una visita qua….ma ricordate mio padre….(emotivo)…quando siamo partiti dal’Italia , la mattina presto, da Rocca San Giovanni – adesso facciamo un passo in dietro – mi han venut’ ad accompagnare, mia madre e mio padre, a Napoli…è…è…difficile…(lacrime) Il mio paese (si) trova sopra una collinetta.Quando siamo partiti, abbiamo fatto un chilometro, e siamo passato di fronte al paese, ho visto mio paese, no. Ho detto, a me stesso ho detto, guarda mo’….io non c’è entrato più al quel paese. Non c’era posto per me (lacrime) come vuol dir …Proseguendo per andare a Napoli, e speravo che la macchina si sfasciava quella c’e veniva a portar’ a Napoli. Non volevo partire! Ma mio padre dice “vai, vai u Canadà…americ’ ” beh, dai andiamo e sono venut’. Quando mio padre a venuto a facce la visita qua, mi ha ricordata quelle parole, a dett’ “Hai visto’, hai fatto bene a venire qua in Canada, ti trovo bene qua e là” eh va bene ho detto…però…! Sai, ho perso mia madre e non lo vista. È cosi, poi noi siamo andati in Italia, siamo fatt’ un paio di volte, una visita a mio padre, mio fratello, sorella là in Italia…Dopo un periodo anche mio padre è partito. È morto. La telefonata la mattina alle tre, la mattina qua, e non c’era tempo per andare in Italia perché funerale (incomprehensible la se fana?) e non ho potuto manca mia padre.. accompagnarla. Come mi porto bei ricordi poi dal Canada, anche un po’ di male ricordi. 

E poi dopo ho avuto l’offerta di lavoro qua a Toronto, in una fabbrica che faceva i vestiti, come aiutante tagliatore perché io sono venuto qua come tagliatore. Ho dovuto fare l’esame a Roma e avuto un invito in una fabbrica si chiamava SchefloHorn (sp?) ‘sta fabbrica che voleva che io andava a fare aiutante tagliatore là, loro i vestiti se ne faceva milliai alla settimana. E ho rifiutata perché me ero affezionata a questo paese. C’è la bottega mia che sta diciamo, fatti di clienti e stavo bene, me la aggiustato.

SF: sentivi la mancanza d’Italia

Giovanni: ah, e tutt’ora sempre pero ormai i figli sono grande qua.. che dovrai? Vado per bene là a fare una passeggiata, una visita, mia sorella, mio fratello, pero qua è la terra, la casa nostra, si può dire ormai.

…E niente, la salute andata, grazie a Dio, andata sempre bene. Mia moglie avuta un incidente sul lavoro, se rotta la schiena. Ma io personalmente ho messo salvato sempre la salute in grazie a Dio, preso sempre bene, ho lavorato sempre notte e giorno. Ho fatto, grazie a Dio, ne che ho fatto un impero, pero messo salvato lavorato, cresciuto i miei figlie, e tutto qua. Eco qua, e stiamo qua. (laughing)

SF: allora sei arrivato nel anno sessantasette con la nave?

Giovanni: La Queen Anna Maria da Napoli a New York, e poi New York col treno a Hamilton.

SF: sei venuto con la moglie e due figli

Giovanni: Si, la moglie e due figlie e un paura per gli strumenti che (incomprehensible) avevo una Pfaff un macchina che l’ho comprato nell millenovecentosessantuno. Quando ho perso la bottega in Italia, diciamo la sartoria per far venire qua io. E non ho portato la, ho portato qua. Ma adesso tre anni fa lo rispedivo in dietro con la speranza che quando vado in Italia e voglio fa qualche lavoro agli amici qua e là…percha qua c’è lo abbastanza e lo rispedivo la in Italia….Con i debiti là ho comprato la macchina l’ho pagato per due anni e mezza.

Giovanni’s Story

I met Giovanni at his workplace, a small shop on Quebec St., Giovanni Custom Tailor, surrounded by clothing, sewing machines, and other equipment dedicated to his tailoring work. From time to time, a customer came in and grabbed his attention. All of this perfectly reflected the story I was about to hear of a man dedicated to his life. Giovanni clearly has a deep love for his work as a professional tailor and is very proud of it.

We may speak in English or Italian, whatever is more comfortable for you, I say when we begin. We stood in front of his large cutting table in the center of his shop. He started out in broken English at first, but as he got carried away by his story, he quickly switched to his native language: the story of his life, of how and why he made the long journey across the Atlantic. , at the age of 29 to start a new life.

It was not an easy decision for him. No, it was a decision that, while greatly increasing his ability to provide for his young family, snatched him from his country, and at times he feels he wants to return home.

In 1967, Giovanni was a young man trying to make a life for himself in Rocca San Giovanni, but this was increasingly difficult, even if not impossible, he hastens to add. The idea of ​​moving to Canada actually came from Giovanni’s father. At first, they were a little worried about the change and weren’t sure if moving to Canada was a good idea.

After arriving with two children aged 6 and 4 in mid-August of ’67, a cousin came to pick them up from Hamilton. Giovanni says he found his first job on the morning of his arrival. While his wife was preparing breakfast, Giovanni and his cousin decided to take a walk in the city. As soon as they walked into Brown’s Clothing Store, his cousin introduced him as a newly arrived tailor and asked if there was a need for his services. The answer was “yes” and Giovanni started work the same day, immediately after lunch. From that day on he worked and never stopped. After a month, he found a second job and kept both jobs. Shortly after, Giovanni rented a shop in via MacDonell. He then moved on to a larger store on the same street and eventually to his current store on Quebec St.

Giovanni is proud of his success as a tailor and says his work has supported him here, even though his plan has always been to one day return home. Over the years, he made many sacrifices: while other people went dancing to celebrate the New Year, Giovanni went to work. His three children grew up and were educated in Canada, which has become his land and home, but one day he will return to his hometown.

I was very excited to hear Giovanni’s wonderful story and the devotion he has for his craft and his family. He showed a lot of strength and resilience in describing the change from Italy to Canada. It was a real pleasure and an honor to hear how he built a whole new life for himself and his young family, and also his story of his deep regret for missing his parents’ funeral because they lived very far away and not there. it was time to go home. Towards the end of our interview, he showed me and allowed me to photograph some of the artifacts he had brought with him on his extraordinary journey. Although he has recently sent his sewing machine to Italy, in case it can serve there, he still has a pair of large original scissors and a charcoal iron. I am very grateful to Giovanni for sharing personal anecdotes about his life and art with me.

English:

I met with Giovanni Giardino at his place of work, a small shop on Quebec St  Giovanni’s Custom Tailor , surrounded by garments, sewing machines and other accoutrements devoted to his work as a tailor. Occasionally a customer would enter and take his attention. This setting perfectly reflected the story I was about to hear of a man dedicated to his livelihood. Giovanni clearly carries a deep love for his work as a professional tailor and takes great pride in his occupation. 

We may speak in English or Italian, whatever is more comfortable for you, I say as we begin. We are standing at his large cutting table in the center of his shop. He begins at first in halting english but soon switches to his native tongue as he becomes increasingly engrossed in the story. The story of his life, of how and why he made the long trip across the Atlantic at the age of 29 to begin a new life.

Emigrating to Canada was not an easy decision as it turns out. No, it was a decision that while greatly increasing his ability to provide for his young family, also caused him to feel torn at times and wish to return to his motherland.

In 1967, Giovanni was a young man trying to make a living in his how town of Rocca San Giovanni which was becoming increasingly difficult, though not impossible he is quick to add. The idea to transfer to Canada actually came from Giovanni’s father. At first he was a bit apprehensive about the change and unsure if moving to Canada was a good idea.

Arriving with two young children ages 6 and 4 in mid August of ’67, a cousin came to pick them up from Hamilton. Giovanni recounts finding his first job on the very morning of his arrival. While his wife prepared breakfast, Giovanni and his cousin decided to take a walk into town. Immediately on entering into Browns Clothing Store, his cousin introduced Giovanni as being freshly arrived tailor and asked if his services were needed. The answer was yes and Giovanni began work immediately after lunch the same day. From that day forward he worked and never stopped since. After one month he found a second job and worked both jobs. Soon afterwards Giovanni was able to rent his own shop in MacDonnell Street. He switched again to a bigger shop on the same street and then finally to his current shop in Quebec St.

Giovanni is proud of his success as a tailor and says his work has sustained him here although his plan has always been to one day return to his motherland. Over the years he has made many sacrifices, while other people went out dancing to celebrate the new year Giovanni had to work. His three children grew up and were educated in Canada and it has become his land and his home but one day he will return to his own town.

I was deeply touched at hearing Giovanni’s wonderful story and the devotion he has for his trade and his family. He showed tremendous strength and resilience in making the switch to Canada from Italy. It was a pleasure and an honour to hear how he constructed an entirely new life for himself and his young family and I was deeply affected by his relating of how he deeply regretted missing the funerals of his parents because they lived so far away and there wasn’t time for him to return home. 

Nearing the end of our discussion he showed me and allowed me to photograph some of the artifacts he brought with him on his remarkable journey. While he recently returned his sewing machine to Italy in case he requires it there, he did have some original large scissors and an iron that was headed by coal. I am grateful to Giovanni for sharing his very personal anecdotes and showing me insight into his life and his craft.

Giovanni’s Photos