Sixth Former Amy wins Italian creative writing prize
Congratulations to Amy (Y13) who has won the La Civetta magazine Creative Writing prize for her piece ‘La quotidianità della famiglia’.
Judges commented: “Grazie mille for this excellent piece of creative writing! It really highlights your high level in Italian, while also transporting us to the “picchi del caldo estate” in Italy! We know that writing creatively in a foreign language can be challenging and you have tackled this impressively. The panel thoroughly enjoyed reading this work and encourage you to continue with creative writing, well done!”
Read the piece in full, including the English translation below:
La quotidianità della famiglia
In una tranquilla cucina, nel sud Italia, nei picchi del caldo estate, dove l’aria profumava di basilico fresco e pomodori bollenti, Giulia preparava il piatto. Era domenica, il giorno in cui la famiglia si riunisce e l’odore fantastico del ragù che cuoceva era una promessa di qualcosa di più che solo cibo: era tradizione, era pieno d’amore, era casa.
La nonna le aveva insegnato a fare la pasta a mano, come si faceva da generazioni (come sperava di fare per i suoi figli). La farina era versata in un tumulo sul bancone di legno, e Giulia la impastava con ritmo, sentendo la pasta prendere vita sotto le sue mani. I fili di sottil di pasta diventarono il letto caldo per il ricco ragù che aveva perfezionato per ore.
Mentre la pasta si riposava, i pensieri di Giulia si diressero verso le domeniche della sua infanzia. Suo padre suonava la musica di Pavarotti sul vecchio grammofono, la sua voce riempiva la casa, una colonna sonora bellissima per i loro preparativi dei pasti. Sua madre preparava la tavola, le dita che tracciavano i bordi dei piatti con la stessa cura e amore che Giulia ora dava al suo impasto.
La cucina era sempre viva di conversazioni e risate, mentre tutti si muovevano intorno al tavolo, assemblando il pasto insieme – un vero testamento all’amore italiano per la famiglia e chi non vorrebbe godere della compagnia l’uno dell’altro su un delizioso pasto casalingo?
Mentre si sedevano, la musica dell’opera si agitava sullo sfondo, mescolandosi al tintinnio delle forchette e al mormorio delle voci. Era un pasto semplice, ma portava il peso di mille ricordi. Ogni morso era una nota nella sinfonia delle loro vite.
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In a tranquil kitchen, in the south of Italy, in the height of the summer, the aroma of fresh basil and simmering tomatoes wafted through the kitchen whilst Giulia prepared the meal. It was Sunday, when the whole family gathers and the comforting smell of ragù she had prepared was a promise of something more than just food: it was tradition, full of love, it was home.
Her grandmother had taught her how to make pasta by hand, as had been done for generations before her and as she, herself, hoped to do for her own children. The flour was formed into a mound on the wooden counter, Giulia kneaded the dough with rhythm, feeling the dough come to life under her hands. The pasta becoming the warm bed for the rich ragù she had been perfecting for hours.
While the pasta rested, Giulia’s thoughts turned towards the Sundays of her childhood. Her father played the music of Pavarotti on the old gramophone, his voice filled the house, a beautiful soundtrack to accompany their meal. Her mother prepared the table, her fingers tracing the edges of the plates with the same care and affection that Giulia now gave to her dough.
The kitchen was always alive with conversation and laughter, as everyone gathered around the table – a true testament to the Italian value of family; who wouldn’t want to enjoy each other’s company with a delicious home-cooked meal?
As they sat down, the music of the opera dancing through the air, accompanying the clinking of forks and the murmurs of voices. It was a simple meal but bearing the weight of a thousand memories. Each bite was now a note in the symphony of their own lives.
