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     Victor Losa: Oral History Transcript 

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Louis (Luigi)
Biamonte

Mike Biollo

Father Giovanni
Bonelli

Camillo Bridarolli

Mr. & Mrs. Henry
Butti

John Camarta

Domenico Chiarello

Joe Fabbri

Mario Grassi

Victor Losa

Filomena Michetti

Mrs. Mamie Meardi

Tony Nimis

Giorgio W. &
Norma Pocaterra

Mr. & Mrs. John
Segatti

Romano Tedesco &
Mrs. Irma Giacobbo

Angelo Toppano

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Mr. L:  Mr. Victor Losa
Mr. R:  Mr. Sabatino Roncucci

Mr. R:

Did you have any problem or trouble with other dialects?

Mr. L:

Oh yes, there were some I could not understand.

Mr. R:

You couldn't, eh?

Mr. L:

Yes, like the Fruilani.

Mr. R:

The Fruilani? The Fruilani is actually one of the Romance languages - not Romance - is an opposite of Latin in some special ways.

Mr. L:

Yes, but there are many dialects that are very, very, very hard to understand. However, they let them, and I understand that during the Fascists, they were trying to abolish them.

Mr. R:

Yes, they were trying to, more or less, play them down in a way.

Mr. L:

But now, they are bringing them out again and they are. (societing)?..them again.

Mr. R:

Tell me another thing. Did the Italians, between the two wars, I mean, did they show any preference, in essence, for one political party or the other?

Mr. L:

None whatsoever.

Mr. R:

So actually...

Mr. L:

They minded their own business, they just wanted to live in peace, and they were not against the country that ...

Mr. R:

Tell, me, now, in relation to other ethnic groups, for instance the Ukrainians, the Germans. In your mind, how did the Italians fare? Economically, I mean.

Mr. L:

Well, economically, we are not that bad. But , as far as organizations, no, not as well as Ukrainians, and as the Germans, and as the Norwegians, for instance - the Scandinavians. The Scandinavians, they have a beautiful hall, and they are all organized under one roof. All the Scandinavian nations. So are the Germans, and so are the Ukrainians. But that is another thing.

Mr. R:

No, I meant as a...I meant, economically in those days, were they making an economic advance. Were they able to buy their own home.

Mr. L:

Always. Always did that. Tried to buy their own home. They always did. Yes, but, of course, their education was not as good as many other nationalities, and therefore we had very few professionals. It's just now that we see more professionals, but at that time there were only miners and common laborers.

Mr. R:

So that you don't expect too much.

Mr. L:

No, no, no.

Mr. R:

All right, another final question here. So you have been here just about for 50 years, more than 50 years. Have you been back to Italy?

Mr. L:

Yes, oh yes.

Mr. R:

How long ago?

Mr. L:

10 years ago.

Mr. R:

Oh, 10 years ago? How did you find it?

Mr. L:

Oh lovely, yes, lovely. Nice.

 

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