Marisa (mother of Valeria) speaks perfect English from living in the US during her teen years. She and family were exceedingly welcoming to me. My great-grandfather was from Sambuca, and Marisa introduced me to other people from Sambuca who are possible family members--We had a big, wonderful dinner of 12 people together. It's still unclear how we're related due to multiple people with the same name, but I was treated like family by everyone.
I also had the great fortune to be in Sambuca in late October during the olive harvest. I was able to spend a few hours with Marisa, her husband Pippo and son Roberto picking olives from their grove, and then at the local mill for pressing the fresh olives into their own family batch of olive oil.. That was an experience that I'll never forget, connecting to the land of my great-grandparents. Grazie mille per tutta la tua ospitalità!