The Other Side

When Young Giovanni Battista Left Italy for Montevideo, Uruguay, on a ship, little did he know he would soon find himself an orphan in Brazil, entirely on his own, forced to learn a new language and assimilate into a new culture, move frequently to find better jobs, travel by foot and horse to build a house, clear land in the wilderness, and manage a huge plantation in the backcountry. 

All along, Young Battista faced insurmountable challenges, such as shooting an angry jaguar in the Brazilian rainforest, and then returning to find his plantation helpers either sick or kidnapped. Alone yet again, Battista somehow found the courage to fight on, make some new friends, and emigrate to a third country.

It was here in the United States of America that he married, raised a family, became a citizen, and got his first job in a factory. Never did Battista forget how his life had been long ago, nor did he complain nor ever asked why things had changed so much. Courage had taken him a long way.

Giovanni Battista was my grandfather. His life, the lives of my parents, as well as my entire life are chronicled in this book. I wish to inspire you with the courage that I've inherited and the will to live life in the greatest manner possible.