Giovanna D.

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by Laura A.

 

Name: Giovanna D.

Gender: Female

Place of birth: Roma

Place of residence: Carbonia

Nationality: Italian

 

What year were you born?

I was born in 1937

 

Describe briefly the living conditions in your childhood (socio-economic status of the family, did you grow up in a nuclear family (how many children) or in an extended family (did you live with paternal or maternal grandparents, uncles and their families, did you go to school?)

My childhood was spent in comfort, in a serene family environment, consisting of my parents and an older sister. With my family lived for long periods, my maternal grandmother and a young aunt, sister of my mother. They often came to visit us from far away in Rome.

 

Describe briefly the circumstances of your life from adolescence to retirement (higher education, falling in love, marriage, career, children, holidays and travel, visions of society, environment, role of mobility) Was everything satisfactory, difficult, eventful?

I attended the elementary school and then the junior high school in my town; to attend then the teacher training courses, I moved to Cagliari, because in Carbonia the high schools had not been established yet. After obtaining the diploma, I attended the Faculty of Letters at the University of Rome for two academic years, but having meanwhile passed the magistral competition, I entered the world of school as a teacher. At the age of 22, my marriage brought me back to Sardinia for good. When I was left alone, I dedicated myself to the care of my two young children and to teaching, fulfilled by the satisfaction I got from it. At the age of 59, I retired, having achieved 40 years of service.

Nowadays

Please compare what you thought about old age when you were young, your expectations about your retired life and what it is really like now (it is your golden age when you realize all the desires of the past; it is time to enjoy moments of leisure with your grandchildren and family sharing your knowledge and 2experience; it is a time of loneliness without friends and being marginalized)? What does retirement mean to you?

Now that I am 83 years old, I am going to remember how the elderly were considered in myyouth: in the environment where I lived, there was respect, consideration, listening to the story of their working life, their family experiences as young and old, etc. In my family, the most important decisions were made by the elderly. In my family, themost important decisions were made with equal consideration for the opinions of both parents, and when we reached the right age, for my sister and myself. My elderly parents never lacked the affectionate support they deserved; while their material needs were always taken care of by themselves, thanks to the good pensions they received as a reward for their long years of white-collar work in the mining company.

 

Describe the intergenerational relationships in your family (Did your parents or your spouse/partner's parents take care of their parents and help you with your children and run the house? Did you live with your parents or spouse/partner? Did you take care of them when they were very old?)

In our intergenerational relationships conflicts were inevitably created, but they were always short-lived, thanks to the mutual understanding exercised in favour of each other: small disagreements about going out with friends or for the time dedicated to study, for the time to devote to the commissions commanded orto tidy up the rooms.

 

Nowadays

 

Please compare what you thought about old age when you were young, your expectations about your retired life and what it is really like now (it is your golden age when you realize all the desires of the past; it is time to enjoy moments of leisure with your grandchildren and family sharing your knowledge and experience; it is a time of loneliness without friends and being marginalized)? What does retirement mean to you?

Today I live alone, in a house that has become too big for me, since my children have made their home: the boy in a town on the sea 16 km from my residence, the girl in an apartment in the same building.

 

Describe briefly the living conditions in your current life (living alone or with your spouse/partner or children or in the retirement home, your pension is sufficient for a dignified life, for health, for communication with children and friends in the country or abroad).

I lead a dignified life according to what my teacher's pension allows me: I provide for my material needs, every early morning I take my walk in the countryside with a friend, I attend all the events that my city offers (theatre, film, music, exhibitions, etc.. I attend all the events that my city offers (theatre, cinema, music, exhibitions, etc..), every year I plan some trips to Italy or abroad in good company, I organize my vacations with enthusiasm.

Please describe your daily habits in the present (taking care of grandchildren, socializing with friends, neighbors, extended family members,health care) Activities such as art, playing music, going to concerts, cinema, theatres, gardening, hobbies, being active in tenants' advice, volunteering in community centers, environmental organizations, pets and other animal organizations, etc. should be suggested only if the person interviewed does not mention any of them when describing his/her daily habits!)

I often stock my personal library with the latest news that the publishing industry offers us, I look forward to the weekly afternoons engaged with conferences on various topics promoted by the cultural association of which I am a member, I dedicate myself to women's work that I am most passionate about (sewing, embroidery, knitting, crochet, etc..), in short, I'm never bored! Once a week I dedicate myself to voluntary work promoted by a centre to which I belong.
 
What media do you use in your everyday life (TV, radio, newspapers); what new technologies do you use (Internet, computers, smartphones) and have you noticed that your generation uses them and how?
Of course I enjoy everything that modern technology offers us: TV to choose a program to follow in the evenings that I spend alone, the PC to take care of small tasks online that are due to the lady of the house, the cell phone to communicate with relatives and friends, the stereo to listen to arias from favouriteoperas. However, I don't get to be a slave to these means of communication, which today's youth use obsessively!
 
The roles of pensioners / In your opinion, what are the main roles of pensioners?
When I was young I thought about how I would spend my old age, perhaps I imagined it just like this: maybe I would have preferred to be surrounded by little grandchildren to take care of, since I only had one who is now too old to enjoy his company often... What do I expect for the years I can still spend? Above all good health to continue to be independent and enjoy the affections, long-standing friendships and esteem of the people I frequent.