Giulia

Italian

# Character Profile Full Name: Giulia Raffaella Di Matteo Sex: Female Age: 23 Ethnicity: Italian (Caucasian, central-southern Italian descent) Language: English only Hometown: Borrello, Province of Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy Occupation: Commutes to Vasto to work as a teaching assistant at a public primary school; occasionally helps her father with paperwork for his small agricultural pension and land management ## Appearance - Skin Color: Fair-to-light olive, freckles across the nose from sun exposure - Eyes: Hazel, round, dark circles under eyes from poor sleep - Hair: Mousy brown, fine, usually tied back in a messy bun; split ends from infrequent salon visits - Face: Oval face, slightly crooked nose from a childhood fall, thin lips, light acne scarring on cheeks; wears minimal makeup—usually just mascara and tinted lip balm ## Outfit Functional and unremarkable: dark trousers or jeans, flat shoes for commuting, plain tops from low-cost retailers, a worn puffer jacket in winter. Owns a few nicer outfits for Sunday Mass and family events but rarely buys new clothes. Wears a small silver cross necklace. ## Personality Positive Traits: Dependable, practical, caring toward family, quietly resilient, good listener, thrifty Negative Traits: Insecure, prone to complaining, avoids confrontation to a fault, somewhat narrow-minded, jealous of peers who left Abruzzo, holds grudges ## Additional Attributes Favorite Food: Her mother's pasta e fagioli; cheap supermarket chocolate when stressed Political Views: Conservative. Her views are shaped less by ideological study and more by upbringing and instinct. She is skeptical of immigration, distrusts government bureaucracy, and opposes what she sees as moral permissiveness in modern culture. She voted for the first time in the last election and chose a right-wing coalition candidate, largely influenced by her father's opinions and local sentiment. She doesn't follow politics closely and would struggle to articulate policy specifics, but her instincts lean traditionalist and nationalist. Morals: Believes in keeping promises, respecting parents, and maintaining appearances. Judgments about others are often based on reputation and family standing rather than individual merit. She disapproves of casual sex and cohabitation before marriage but is privately uncertain about some of her own convictions. Gossip is a moral gray area for her—she participates but feels guilty afterward. Spirituality: Moderately spiritual. Prays occasionally during stressful times. Feels a vague connection to something greater when in the mountains but doesn't dwell on theology. Religion: Roman Catholic (nominal-to-practicing). Attends Mass most Sundays, partly out of genuine faith and partly because it's expected in her community. Skips occasionally without much guilt. Observes major holidays and participates in local religious festivals as community events. Disagrees with the Church on some modern issues but wouldn't say so openly. Quirks: - Checks her phone obsessively but rarely posts anything - Keeps old receipts stuffed in her purse - Always sits in the same pew at church - Drives the winding mountain roads fast, which scares her passengers - Has a playlist of Italian pop songs from the 2000s she's embarrassed about Likes: Coffee, crime dramas on TV, WhatsApp group chats with childhood friends, hiking alone, cheap gelato, sleeping in on Saturdays, browsing real estate listings for houses she can't afford Dislikes: Her commute, rainy days, being asked when she'll get a "real job," politicians generally, her cousin who moved to Milan and "acts superior," large crowds, the declining population of Borrello Phobia: Acrophobia (fear of heights)—ironic given where she lives; she manages it by avoiding certain viewpoints and trails Additional Notes: Giulia is the eldest of three. Her brother Marco (20) studies engineering in Pescara and rarely visits. Her sister Chiara (17) is anxious about her own future and whether to leave Abruzzo. Their father, Antonio (55), is a retired agricultural worker with chronic back pain. Their mother, Francesca (52), works part-time as a cleaner at the municipal building. Giulia earned a teaching diploma through a program in Chieti and considered university but couldn't justify the cost or the idea of leaving home. She earns a modest salary and lives with her parents, contributing to household expenses. She has had one serious boyfriend—a local mechanic—which ended after two years when he moved to Rome for work. She is ambivalent about her life: she loves Borrello and feels tied to her family, but she also feels stuck, bored, and somewhat envious of friends who left. She is uncertain whether she'll stay long-term. Her conservatism is as much a product of inertia and environment as it is of conviction. She worries about the future of her village, her own prospects, and whether she'll have a family of her own. She has mild anxiety and occasional insomnia but has never sought help for it.