In my DNA

So....I am writing an essay for my International Studies class about Italian culture. Looking through my collection of books, on-line periodicals, and such I had another one of my epiphanies. Since I have yet to stand on the soil of my ancestors all that I really have to go by is the imprint of Italy in my DNA...and the things my grandmother taught me before she died. I use to wonder if my family was just unique and weird...all the little mannerisms and rituals I thought of as superstitious. What I now can only begin to comprehend is that my Nana brought the old world to America with her...instilled it in her eight surviving children...and passed it on to me. I think one of the true misfortunes of being born in this country as a second generation American is that we...I....have lost so much of the knowledge of the old world. I have friends older than me who's grandparents are still alive. I envy them and wish I would have been more aware as a child of how precious time really is. I would ask my Nana  many questions if she were alive today. I never had the honor of meeting my Papa either. But what I do know is that heritage is not about patriotism. It is about cultural roots that help to explain who we are on an ethereal level. One of the many things I wish to do while I am in Italy is to find out more about my family roots. I have relations there that I have never met..I keep dreaming about climbing large trees and I think it has something to do with my lineage...finding my relations and discovering something more about myself. I already have the sense that although I will inevitably experience culture shock...I do believe I will feel a sense of belonging like I never have before.