European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I guess it was because I thought the war would be over soon.
I guess it was because I thought the war would be over soon.
Ma vede, forse, non so, un po’ perché subito secondo me doveva finire la guerra -
Then once I started doing this it became something I had to do, some sort of duty,
Then once I started doing this it became something I had to do, some sort of duty,
e poi dopo quando sei dentro ad una cosa diventa talmente una cosa... non so neanche come dire, -
just like taking care of house chores. It was something I really liked to do.
just like taking care of house chores. It was something I really liked to do.
per me era diventato un obbligo, una cosa che dovevo fare, che dovevo fare come magari i lavori in casa, così ed era anche bello ed era un lavoro che io dovevo fare. -
I did it with such enthusiasm that I wouldn’t even feel the distance I would cover by foot, from the Via Emilia,
I did it with such enthusiasm that I wouldn’t even feel the distance I would cover by foot, from the Via Emilia,
E si faceva con talmente tanta volontà che non ti pesavano tutti quei chilometri dalla Via Emilia, -
leaving San Pietro in the morning, all the way to Secchia, where I arrived at night with bloody feet.
leaving San Pietro in the morning, all the way to Secchia, where I arrived at night with bloody feet.
che partivo da San Pietro la mattina e arrivavo a Secchio la sera, con i piedi che mi sanguinavano. Mi facevo fare gli scarponcini inglesi, -
I was wearing English boots that the shoemaker had adapted to my feet.
I was wearing English boots that the shoemaker had adapted to my feet.
mi davano gli scarponi, mi facevano andare dal calzolaio e poi guastavano questi scarponi inglesi e poi mi facevano le scarpe adatte per il mio piede. -
Even so, once I got there, I couldn’t take it anymore because my feet were hurting badly.
Even so, once I got there, I couldn’t take it anymore because my feet were hurting badly.
Però camminare tutto il giorno dentro a queste scarpe io arrivavo su e dicevo: “Ma io non ne posso più, mi fanno male i piedi che chissà”. -
After I completed my task, he would hand me a pair of scissors,
After I completed my task, he would hand me a pair of scissors,
“Dai vai giù”, perché io quando avevo consegnato se andava bene -
telling me that my nails were probably too long, and he suggested that I soak my feet to feel better.
telling me that my nails were probably too long, and he suggested that I soak my feet to feel better.
mi diceva: “Toh, prendi le forbici che c’avrai anche le unghie lunghe, fai un bagno ai piedi e poi dopo vedrai che stai meglio”. -
I would then go to a house where two elderly women used to live, and I would finally sleep there in a real bed.
I would then go to a house where two elderly women used to live, and I would finally sleep there in a real bed.
E andavo in una casa dove c’erano due signore anziane, per quello io stavo bene quando andavo là perché dormivo in un letto e poi mi riposavo. -
The following day they cooked polenta twice, for lunch and dinner.
The following day they cooked polenta twice, for lunch and dinner.
Il giorno dopo mi facevano due volte la polenta, a mezzogiorno e alla sera, -
One was made with chestnuts, the other one with cornmeal. I really felt well there.
One was made with chestnuts, the other one with cornmeal. I really felt well there.
una di castagne e una di granoturco, però stavo bene veramente mi riposavo e poi ero lì, -
Sometimes other girls would come, but he always wanted me to stay there.
Sometimes other girls would come, but he always wanted me to stay there.
veramente veniva anche qualche altra ragazza, ma in particolare lui voleva sempre che io andassi là e io non stavo male. -
But my poor sister had to sleep in huts and sheds the whole time, wherever she could.
But my poor sister had to sleep in huts and sheds the whole time, wherever she could.
Invece mia sorella poveretta dormiva sempre nelle capanne e nelle stalle dove capitava. -
At first I asked why they asked me to do this or that,
At first I asked why they asked me to do this or that,
Eh subito sì, subito dicevo: “Mah... Mah... Non so, perché devo fare io questo lavoro?”, -
but then I realized that it was necessary, that it was my duty to do something.
but then I realized that it was necessary, that it was my duty to do something.
ma subito dicevo così. Ma vedevo che c’era il bisogno di fare queste cose secondo me, era un dovere di fare qualche cosa. -
For example, when we were kids, if a farmer was making hay my father would tell us to go help him.
For example, when we were kids, if a farmer was making hay my father would tell us to go help him.
Mio padre ad esempio, quando eravamo piccoli, e anche molto piccoli, quando c’era un contadino che faceva... facevano i fieni, facevano il raccolto del grano... mio padre diceva: -
“It might start raining”, he would say, and then he would go pick up some rope, while we all went to help the farmer.
“It might start raining”, he would say, and then he would go pick up some rope, while we all went to help the farmer.
“Andate ad aiutare quel signore. Dai che se viene a piovere magari, dai che prendo su la corda”, e noi tutti bambini andavamo ad aiutare questo signore. -
Battle-name; first activities as a dispatch-rider
Battle-name; first activities as a dispatch-rider
Nome di battaglia; Prime attivitá da staffetta -
As for myself, I was a dispatch-carrier.
As for myself, I was a dispatch-carrier.
Io invece, io facevo la staffetta...