Giacomo and Bruna have enjoyed a wonderful marriage for more than 10 years. Most recently, they went on a surprise trip down memory lane that transported them back to when they first met. That might explain why the couple first met in a club in Atina, Italy, when Bruna was only 16 years old. Giacomo was born in this small alpine village. It became the location that Bruna’s parents grew up in, allowing it to be the most ideal setting for their first meeting. Full of cultural experiences and a beautiful co-mingling of dialects— or “Spanglish,” as they often call it —their story has changed a lot over the years.
At first, Giacomo’s imposing height of more than six feet was intimidating to Bruna. For just a moment, he smiled at her with an uncharacteristically warm expression. He didn’t know a word of English yet. His charming approach took him a million miles away from the usual “ciao bella” cockiness hurled at foreign girls. Little did he know that this first connection would be the start of a further incredible and life changing relationship that would define them both.
Giacomo subsequently welcomed Bruna into the rich student life that thrives in Italy. Together, they marveled at expansive outdoor music festivals and stumbled upon charming little bakeries tucked down backstreets. They lived life side by side with unbridled imagination. This trip set the stage for a strong connection that would last decades.
Twelve years later, Giacomo took the courageous step of re-exploring that life changing experience. He traveled to Bologna the first weekend he was available after their reunion, demonstrating his commitment to rekindling their connection. When Giacomo’s father showed up, he surveyed the aftermath with an overwhelming wave of feelings. He shook his head, knowing he should be pleased to find his son and Bruna behaving like lovestruck teenagers once more.
Soon after their first encounter, Giacomo moved to Rome to study architecture. During Bruna’s visits to the Italian capital, he proved to be an exceptional cicerone, or cultural guide, navigating her through the city’s historical landmarks and hidden gems. In Rome, their shared experiences seemed to span the 12-year gulf in their ages. Through this process, they rediscover each other and themselves.
Giacomo and Bruna now call the Scottish Borders home. Shared economy They have jointly created a community-owned enterprise, at work in both Scotland and Italy. Their lives attest to an extraordinary fusion of cultures, often alternating between English and Italian in the same breath. Since then, this cultural mashup has greatly deepened their partnership. Perhaps most importantly, it’s provided them with a truly uncommon view of life as they otherwise pursue their entrepreneurial journeys.
As they journey together, Giacomo and Bruna learn the details missing from each other’s life narrative. They open up about stories from their childhoods, discuss overlapping life experiences, and learn about things they’ve both been exposed to as adults that weren’t around years ago. What they learn on this journey is enabling them to continue to develop both personally and professionally. Instead, they celebrate their differences, while continuing to lean into their shared history as partners.