European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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and my life changed completely.
and my life changed completely.
Life changed dramatically for me. -
coming from the traditions, the farm life, which was based on conservatism, the traditionalism, having to be careful about what you said...
coming from the traditions, the farm life, which was based on conservatism, the traditionalism, having to be careful about what you said...
We left farm life, based on conservatism, traditionalism, on having to be careful to what you say or do. -
and the women were constantly being treated like nobodies.
and the women were constantly being treated like nobodies.
Also, women would be considered being a nobody. -
In fact, I used to be told even in my own home, "Shut up. You are a woman."
In fact, I used to be told even in my own home, "Shut up. You are a woman."
I used to be told to shut up because I was a woman even at home. -
And my mother, poor woman, thought this was right.
And my mother, poor woman, thought this was right.
My mother thought this was right. -
Here, I instead started meeting women that went to work
Here, I instead started meeting women that went to work
In the city I started meeting women who went to work. -
and Dalmazia Street was a street where the working-class elites of the city lived.
and Dalmazia Street was a street where the working-class elites of the city lived.
The working class elite used to live in Dalmazia street. -
There were factory technicians, gas technicians, water technicians.
There were factory technicians, gas technicians, water technicians.
Reggiane factory technicians of the water and gas companies. -
They were a very bright, mature and well-prepared group of working class people.
They were a very bright, mature and well-prepared group of working class people.
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We moved there in 1938; I had just turned 17. We had a restaurant with a bar.
We moved there in 1938; I had just turned 17. We had a restaurant with a bar.
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Although I was quite young, I was very curious. I had always been like that.
Although I was quite young, I was very curious. I had always been like that.
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The older men liked me. They started to explain to me what I had known only in general terms.
The older men liked me. They started to explain to me what I had known only in general terms.
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What fascism really was, the real reasons behind its existence,
What fascism really was, the real reasons behind its existence,
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for it was only violence and ignorance to me at that time.
for it was only violence and ignorance to me at that time.
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These men were generally Communists and Socialists.
These men were generally Communists and Socialists.
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I began to understand and to see things from a different point of view that attracted me more.
I began to understand and to see things from a different point of view that attracted me more.
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I had made friends with the young men who came to our bar.
I had made friends with the young men who came to our bar.
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When they left for war I became their communication point.
When they left for war I became their communication point.
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They were writing from Africa,
They were writing from Africa,
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from France, from Russia, asking for news about each other.
from France, from Russia, asking for news about each other.