what does josie feel about the rituals which are associated with her italian background

Josie is very conscious of her ethnicity and the rituals that go along with it. One of the greater themes of the story has Josie coming to terms with feeling an outsider in Australia. A good example of this conflict is when Josie goes on a date with Jacob Coote. Jacob say's "what the hell are you? the other day you called me an Australian as if it was an insult. Now you're not an ethnic? You people should go back to your own country if your so confused." Josie has had to face being called names like 'wog' or 'ethnic' throughout the novel. Josie not only contends with the normal "fitting in" that teens go through but must also contend with issues of ethnicity "fitting in" as well.