tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77049334047014388362024-02-21T03:30:51.005-08:00Marissa in Rome 2010 (2011 actually...woops)Hello all my beloved friends and family!! All of us in the Winter in Rome 2010 program have created blogs so that whoever is interested can follow us on our Roman travels/experiences :) I'm planning on posting a couple times a week (more or less) depending on how much spare time i have. I hope to hear from you all!! Miss & love you lots!!!Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-30418059717502535072011-03-13T07:29:00.000-07:002011-03-13T07:29:37.741-07:00Research Presentation/ Blog: The Institutionalization of Roma Youth Identity in Italy<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After being introduced to many different Roma (also known as Romani, Rom, and Gypsy) communities all over the world - through several guest lectures, readings, and in-class discussions - I became intrigued by the Roma people and their life here in Italy. Particularly, the integration of Roma youth within Italian society, and through the means of education in Italian public schools.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsBWFHL5QUy6_LY2zH_09Rw6HdA1mMP-k4fTJVVtlsaKvBAApi1kSsWflqm3w44UparoHGRZXSQQcVI2uDT2PwHuvxQx-I_CDdTZ341AiPIf17RJgCyjQCqvb7fkVkd9x-J13eaGwUts/s1600/Roma+Encampment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsBWFHL5QUy6_LY2zH_09Rw6HdA1mMP-k4fTJVVtlsaKvBAApi1kSsWflqm3w44UparoHGRZXSQQcVI2uDT2PwHuvxQx-I_CDdTZ341AiPIf17RJgCyjQCqvb7fkVkd9x-J13eaGwUts/s320/Roma+Encampment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My objective is to make a small contribution to the discussion for successful methods, lessons, and training courses to best equip administrators, educators, and and teachers with the proper tools and skills tailored specifically for the academic success of their Roma students. The progress of these tools and preparatory lessons could potentially ensure the scholastic breakthroughs within the Roma community, and, therefore, help facilitate the integration process.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp6hBJVR0p8Wmdva_wAIX2kldK2i6ABO_UpjiqxQHgZEGaFBJk68zvsc2d2Tigtk4rHw3lrg02MLu5vJTmSS9mQPDeSuMe-Y6jyW9WLugQPKt-abPgRqaoZWPH9tbybB1etgd_aWYQ2o/s1600/Happy+Roma+Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp6hBJVR0p8Wmdva_wAIX2kldK2i6ABO_UpjiqxQHgZEGaFBJk68zvsc2d2Tigtk4rHw3lrg02MLu5vJTmSS9mQPDeSuMe-Y6jyW9WLugQPKt-abPgRqaoZWPH9tbybB1etgd_aWYQ2o/s320/Happy+Roma+Kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was important for me to acquire the necessary information in order to gain a broader understanding of several different perspectives, and to properly address issues pertaining to Roma kids in Italian society. Therefore, I formulated a few specific questions to interview several teachers and other former guest lecturers as to that they personally think are preventing successful integration among Roma youth.</span></span></div><div style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The following is an example of the questions and the responses I received based from the interviews I conducted: These particular responses are from a male 4</span></span></span><span style="color: #365f91;"><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">th </span></span></sup></span><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">grade teacher from Iqbal Masih who has several decades of experience teaching Roma pupils.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Q. How do you feel the needs of the of the Roma children are met in the Italian public school system today?</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">A. I can tell you this: The needs of the Roma children in the Italian school system are addressed the same way we Italians address the needs of their parents and relatives. [What] I mean [is], Roma people are not at all integrated in Italian society, nor are they improving their relations with our language, work opportunities, etc. In my opinion, [the] Italian school system can't really have a positive impact until some kind of <b>REAL</b> integration starts improving. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Q. In your point of view, how are the Roma children/students perceived amongst native Italians? For example, are they perceived specifically as ''special needs''? If so, why do you think that is??</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">A. [Based] on my thirty years [of] teaching experience, Roma children are still really perceived as ''special needs'' from native Italians, both young and old. But, because they <b>ARE</b> special needs in learning areas based on the written language, such as our school. I mean, 95% of Roma pupils still come from parents that can't read or write any language, [including] Italian.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLYg_5c2vMlyBSpqvqBYDtSXQg4asRSVPoCdKFY0P17ncasyf3E9LmBXz-DqYp5_kAZo19KcOQDSZ9XIQ0q1jZmiukwIPDtUv2nVCuseI7FNPW_vIKa2AVlAMAPNujICUl2z8nBwBumA/s1600/Roma+Encampment+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLYg_5c2vMlyBSpqvqBYDtSXQg4asRSVPoCdKFY0P17ncasyf3E9LmBXz-DqYp5_kAZo19KcOQDSZ9XIQ0q1jZmiukwIPDtUv2nVCuseI7FNPW_vIKa2AVlAMAPNujICUl2z8nBwBumA/s320/Roma+Encampment+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Q. What are your personal opinions as to why these kids are faced with so many challenges? </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">A. All the Roma children in my classrooms in the past thirty years have been showing deep difficulties in all teaching [and] learning areas. Again, I think the main problems are connected <b>BOTH</b> with the Roma way of living (very very different from our usual standards of western societies), <b>AND</b> the absolute rejection of the written language by the Roma people, that makes them, as a whole, a functionally illiterate segment of our society.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Q. Lastly, do you feel that Roma children are given the opportunity to be successful in Italian schools?</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">A. Of course, not. I would say an absolute majority of Roma pupils leave schools without any real mastery of the basic abilities needed to improve their social status. In the end, I'd say that the real, substantial problem is not about helping Roma kids in our schools. The real problem is to work to get a <b>REAL</b>, <b>SUBSTANTIAL</b> way to start integration between Italian and Roma people. </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLN2rz2O_mwl4Rm463tHd-UXshZpD3aSyld2MmoICyKhUDnIWXAoOMgfQwaIXfCxsU-iGSmMwy2A4uAhXxcVzSxAs2X9XToyUDAeG3tIMZOBdPcncnpg_nfJBVIUlpyeKPgtTn71AQ1c/s1600/Roma+Kids+4+pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLN2rz2O_mwl4Rm463tHd-UXshZpD3aSyld2MmoICyKhUDnIWXAoOMgfQwaIXfCxsU-iGSmMwy2A4uAhXxcVzSxAs2X9XToyUDAeG3tIMZOBdPcncnpg_nfJBVIUlpyeKPgtTn71AQ1c/s320/Roma+Kids+4+pics.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Roma populations that are located on the outskirts of downtown Rome are steadily increasing. Many of today's Roma communities are the descendants of emigrants from the Balcan Wars (1912 - 1913 conflicts in which large ethnic populations from Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia emigrated to Italy). Other heavily populated Roma communities are either the descendants of, or are emigrants from, Romania, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Turkey and several other European countries.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Furthermore, Italian societies have shown difficulties in facing integration throughout recent history. There are still many prejudices against Roma communities, and this particular ethnic group are still most commonly referred to as 'gypsies'.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Additionally, eighty percent of the inhabitants in Roma camps are illegal, and there has not been a systematically successful procedure to either expel or identify people of illegal status within Roma encampments.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Lastly, because of the diversity of regions, ethnicities, morals and beliefs among the different communities, this has led several conflicts and encampment instabilities.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4omk85AJ7nWkkuE5kwaso-PJz3UVx_UddPFtdAoruTHewQArZyqEjQIHnd064bqMz4cnfEaNglbjckMakO-zZ4fxjwZ7Ew-1tqPjTynZHggGA6995s-wTlRRvGUQef15CsX7v2Y674r0/s1600/Roma+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4omk85AJ7nWkkuE5kwaso-PJz3UVx_UddPFtdAoruTHewQArZyqEjQIHnd064bqMz4cnfEaNglbjckMakO-zZ4fxjwZ7Ew-1tqPjTynZHggGA6995s-wTlRRvGUQef15CsX7v2Y674r0/s1600/Roma+kids.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">The initial step that administrators and educators alike can take to bridge the gap between the Roma communities and Italian society is to understand and then work through cultural limitations and restraints. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">There are many difficulties that teachers are confronted with in working through the cultural barriers of the Roma community; mainly not being a member, and therefore not being able to identify with their particular philosophy, values, and ideology.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Some Roma parents (if not all) are concerned that their children are being instilled with conflicting cultural beliefs that are entirely different and oppose their own. Moreover, only a small minority of parents actually feel that it is beneficial for their children to attend school. The resulting behaviour is usually then indifference towards that child's academic successes and struggles.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Furthermore, the majority of Roma communities are illiterate because historically their civilization best utilized the oral tradition (cultural materials & folklore being transmitted verbally from one generation down to the other through stories, songs and chants).</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Therefore, it is imperative to demonstrate to Roma parents how regular school attendance and involvment are the first steps towards successful integration into Italian society.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">It is also equally important to convey the additional benefits of receiving an education. Primarily being: the importance of literacy in preparation for the work force, and therefore earning competitive wages.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Nw_5F5rC4hq9eEdwwfRkcpiqtiZV5KhXITHgEra21EeM9KAv4vcuvwr4BSTJnL2mu0Yf8G8GhBo56q6n-zVfyWPxeWfuXpj5ljH0sqU2R1e9ni3p00L07eh1KGRv5rFgQmWISOQM3Sc/s1600/2+Roma+Students.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Nw_5F5rC4hq9eEdwwfRkcpiqtiZV5KhXITHgEra21EeM9KAv4vcuvwr4BSTJnL2mu0Yf8G8GhBo56q6n-zVfyWPxeWfuXpj5ljH0sqU2R1e9ni3p00L07eh1KGRv5rFgQmWISOQM3Sc/s1600/2+Roma+Students.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">It is absolutely essential for all educators and administrators in the Italian public school system to acquire the necessary tools and skills specifically for their Roma pupils. The majority - if not all - Italian public schools are not equipped with the tools, nor do the teachers have the necessary training in order to address and tend to the needs of their Roma students.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Therefore, it is fundamentally imperative for Italian teachers to be professionally prepared to accommodate and educate their Roma students based on understanding the potentially problematic barriers rooted in the conflicting ideals of several different cultural backgrounds.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Likewise, it is essential for Italian teachers to receive coaching or lessons in order to successfully integrate and build trusting relationships with the parents of their Roma students.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">School integration is aimed to find different approaches to properly teach and educate these children to improve the quality of their lives.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildTCEgLyOU9JV9U2gQnAc8YlUPlsfBgV0yFGzjAuSX2U-Jn6YAB_zjaGY0zseQcc1CKTJSrxboJkBf6B-MkqkHGzuBpEaAcZkzZ9PSzIKrL6SaFYOoHEtoszv14WAP9N3Q0O3GcrJBHU/s1600/Boys+give+peace+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildTCEgLyOU9JV9U2gQnAc8YlUPlsfBgV0yFGzjAuSX2U-Jn6YAB_zjaGY0zseQcc1CKTJSrxboJkBf6B-MkqkHGzuBpEaAcZkzZ9PSzIKrL6SaFYOoHEtoszv14WAP9N3Q0O3GcrJBHU/s320/Boys+give+peace+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">In conclusion, I have composited a few possible solutions for successful integration and Roma scholastic progress. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Firstly, equal share responsibilty between the Italian public school system and Roma communities to ensure the academic success of Roma youth.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Secondly, the incorporation of cultural training courses for all Italian public school educators and instructors. Six years ago, Marco Brazzoduro, a sociology professor at the University of La Sapienza began a project devoted to study and promote integration among Roma children. This project is necessary based on often problematic and conflicting values between the Italian and Roma cultures. One specific problem this study is attempting to comprehend and find a solution too is illiteracy. There is a profound concern among teachers in identifying the reasons why many of their Roma pupils still have many difficulties reading at the end of their primary school years (or elementary education).</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Finally, their is a substantial need for Roma biographical narratives (and other minority based literature) in order to properly understand the personal hardships, experiences, and needs of the Roma people coming directly from their own, powerful, independent voices.</span></span></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB0CuohrV5Pt0WhJxRtunmefTr1UITL57UEx4-cG7idpyrjyMjNPBT1ecA2CM1VH9T8OMG17T3cHujq0lMn_9iQucIv6Hr99Fa-mpr9KSDcjITJvxhvIc41YYKtlgVdVlS0AsoBtw9AY/s1600/Interlocking+Hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB0CuohrV5Pt0WhJxRtunmefTr1UITL57UEx4-cG7idpyrjyMjNPBT1ecA2CM1VH9T8OMG17T3cHujq0lMn_9iQucIv6Hr99Fa-mpr9KSDcjITJvxhvIc41YYKtlgVdVlS0AsoBtw9AY/s320/Interlocking+Hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span> </span></span></span> </div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-46317409076476688822011-03-13T04:01:00.000-07:002011-03-13T04:09:14.477-07:00Blog #8: Service Learning Reflection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQIHNSvOkG3N4kfrSPPgtKwMFxGCjRkTTaABmXMUxH0sdS4MHh8YyIn0DS5ieFL09tDFjDlhtWIaRUmj52PRC8c3kEnSGoQ2TinDBg6qinyzA0e1RbL5fHllXDf1MhuhH-283SkVnf70/s1600/Scuola+Emblem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQIHNSvOkG3N4kfrSPPgtKwMFxGCjRkTTaABmXMUxH0sdS4MHh8YyIn0DS5ieFL09tDFjDlhtWIaRUmj52PRC8c3kEnSGoQ2TinDBg6qinyzA0e1RbL5fHllXDf1MhuhH-283SkVnf70/s1600/Scuola+Emblem.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Iqbal Masih is the name of a young boy who </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">was sold into Child bonded labor at 4 years old for what today would amount to $12. He escaped bondage at 10, and began to speak out against child slavery, for freedom, and for schools for all Pakistani children. However, on Easter Sunday in 1995, when he was only 12 years old, he was brutally murdered by, who many believe, was an organized crime hit put out by those who he was protesting against. Today, many public schools have been inspired to adopt the name of this young hero, and continue to promote his dream of 'freedom, education, and a childhood for every child'.<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGnoajgkdraWICT6mvYnxksiobRu_ORrmB0KauYIJhTk_RNFQ5XJJyey2CUPsnORkP8Cy6Dfu-oqmiHKzYzaDqif7bQA1iNpTM9DflHt857G-7bu97bB_5DsBYwSa-9vbIIUZ4C8QaWg/s1600/Iqbal+Masih.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGnoajgkdraWICT6mvYnxksiobRu_ORrmB0KauYIJhTk_RNFQ5XJJyey2CUPsnORkP8Cy6Dfu-oqmiHKzYzaDqif7bQA1iNpTM9DflHt857G-7bu97bB_5DsBYwSa-9vbIIUZ4C8QaWg/s320/Iqbal+Masih.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My initial impressions of Iqbal Masih, located on the outskirts of Rome, Italy was an overall sense of dedication that the faculty and staff maintain towards each and every one of their students, in addition to the integrity of the institution who lent its' name.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8KOwzBJ5e-_9bdEHrbusRgKw7F6lX8Yp4xxP0mGdquxMg7xp5669KBsRCFYaHYnWyDTKz6oCfnVkuQlhmGmpS79e1Tyi3WmutuEuzVX21JSnk9DWX4gdKX5bplW_vA4EPg4f8t0QSe8/s1600/Cartoon+Characturers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8KOwzBJ5e-_9bdEHrbusRgKw7F6lX8Yp4xxP0mGdquxMg7xp5669KBsRCFYaHYnWyDTKz6oCfnVkuQlhmGmpS79e1Tyi3WmutuEuzVX21JSnk9DWX4gdKX5bplW_vA4EPg4f8t0QSe8/s320/Cartoon+Characturers.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT2YngoxiECUuv1e1HH_V1i-kMMgoPABorzHIcgQfj2v57asz1HsAcE3OBhIyyI7Za6XHqg5Ffl78U5slhcR7dlaXEzZTfHbFwAFuX8Xywwm5EtTySIIzdwanlvrFSXQYiEFsMvCrm7k/s1600/I+M+school+emblem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT2YngoxiECUuv1e1HH_V1i-kMMgoPABorzHIcgQfj2v57asz1HsAcE3OBhIyyI7Za6XHqg5Ffl78U5slhcR7dlaXEzZTfHbFwAFuX8Xywwm5EtTySIIzdwanlvrFSXQYiEFsMvCrm7k/s1600/I+M+school+emblem.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">I was very intimidated on my first day of service learning at Rome's Iqbal Masih. I was extremely excited for the opportunity to interact with the children but I felt completely out of my element not being able to communicate using their native Italian, and having to depend entirely on body language, facial expressions, and a few Italian words and phrases that I had only learned a week prior to my first visit. However, after the end of my first day at Iqbal Masih, I knew that this school was the perfect fit for me and what I wanted to focus on during my time in Rome.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyb59VbIDjD0FQmKfrR-INYghLXkRXCV0CYfersvYkI9P2jge0uVfc8OAqZKDT30Xmmo0Eu3AfKs_nYdS4aYPxNHuyjTfxl1jT1ODrEU8NimljOXUhaRlkLVyXMsrT_c1j-uu0veSq3I/s1600/Cartoon+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyb59VbIDjD0FQmKfrR-INYghLXkRXCV0CYfersvYkI9P2jge0uVfc8OAqZKDT30Xmmo0Eu3AfKs_nYdS4aYPxNHuyjTfxl1jT1ODrEU8NimljOXUhaRlkLVyXMsrT_c1j-uu0veSq3I/s1600/Cartoon+pic+2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Iqbal Masih has, in total, 47 Roma children, the majority of which were born in Italy but do not have Italian citizenship. By law, a person can obtain Italian citizenship based on either ancestry (the origins of their parents) or by where they were born. However, the latter is usually a long and grueling process. The predominant ethnicities of the Iqbal Masih Roma children are Serbian and Romanian. Furthermore, due to centuries worth of cultural based practices, in addition to societal discrimination, Roma children and their parents don't believe school is necessary or beneficial for the sake of their survival or future. Therefore, kids rarely do their homework, are unmotivated to improve their literacy skills outside the classroom, they frequently forget the majority of their subjects, are often held back from progressing onto the next grade level of their education, and are not socially integrated among their peers or Italian society as a whole.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9rVMsJ-IEr16xGapODgq_LpOzgRwCTvmwdNdSLR0VTmCn2nwi1LqdtkFbQ6NCfk9d1ScZXPBZ9JPI46Q1QORQR_d6whTTHn-k56ABln_GYEmzmwt7x0atMsOiWj462ePiVk_N3pesn0/s1600/Iqbal+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9rVMsJ-IEr16xGapODgq_LpOzgRwCTvmwdNdSLR0VTmCn2nwi1LqdtkFbQ6NCfk9d1ScZXPBZ9JPI46Q1QORQR_d6whTTHn-k56ABln_GYEmzmwt7x0atMsOiWj462ePiVk_N3pesn0/s320/Iqbal+Poster.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Within my first couple of visits to Iqbal Masih, in having the opportunity to observe in several different classrooms, I became extremely intrigued by the few Roma students I came into regular contact with. Two particular students were Sandra & Camilla.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Camilla is a 10 year old fourth grader and Roma student who has been consistantly struggling in school. She is trying to overcome learning deficiencies in both mathematics and reading. She is a very sweet girl but it is blatantly obvious that has been encountering many difficulties in her school subjects for some time. Furthermore, she is incredibly shy and even rarely communicates with her teacher. It takes her a lot longer to feel comfortable enough to interact with her peers, and she is a year older than the other students in her grade level. Unfortunately, she was held back from moving foward with her education due to her lack of proficiency in her school subjects and the inadequacy of her socialization skills. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMP7dZids5HfM49-cc7cf7SsvMNY2_usWF2Y9LcKsf_iwng0gy5hyphenhyphenMoJkyxAF_kv3v5jX2ncrBqG-nedhC1vzZfABx_Gki1zoozroulsT5gUARNOEuEgKr5LwGUpQRqbUBD_vQ55phDeA/s1600/Roma+kids.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMP7dZids5HfM49-cc7cf7SsvMNY2_usWF2Y9LcKsf_iwng0gy5hyphenhyphenMoJkyxAF_kv3v5jX2ncrBqG-nedhC1vzZfABx_Gki1zoozroulsT5gUARNOEuEgKr5LwGUpQRqbUBD_vQ55phDeA/s1600/Roma+kids.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sandra is also a fourth grader at Iqbal Masih but has not yet been held back. She too is incredibly shy, and is, unfortunately, showing the same problematic signs in interacting with her peers and instructor. Her teacher once told me that Sandra is often afraid when she comes to school that her classmates will no longer like her. Furthermore, she is also having a hard time keeping up academically due to her infrequent school attendance. For reasons that I am unaware of, she can only attend school twice a week and the result is proving to be extremely detrimental to her education and her integration into Italian society.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhLNEg1qIBP6cuh1UpaOF19wxVyo3AU5VtoU1UDUO9-6Kuv-XZlPNlW8pkyQ7QTZj4H1Hl8RTEaxOdkx-NwXRIKKBRNPc-Mtu5B1PN2kw4G9ImB5CxP0wPm65VvSz5xiBguH7QNFLE2s/s1600/The+hero++and+the+construction+company.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhLNEg1qIBP6cuh1UpaOF19wxVyo3AU5VtoU1UDUO9-6Kuv-XZlPNlW8pkyQ7QTZj4H1Hl8RTEaxOdkx-NwXRIKKBRNPc-Mtu5B1PN2kw4G9ImB5CxP0wPm65VvSz5xiBguH7QNFLE2s/s320/The+hero++and+the+construction+company.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If I had the opportunity to go back and make further observations at Iqbal Masih, I would be interested in seeing how culturally based courses, designed specifically as lessons for teachers, could help facilitate the integration process more effectively among their Roma students. I would ask to have a meeting with our main contacts, Paola Arduini and Susannah, to discuss the possibility of me sitting-in on some teacher training courses to observe how certain skills and/or instucting methods would be implemented into their classrooms. It would be extremely fascinating for me to understand exactly what educators and administrators feel would be the best methods to teach teachers in how to successfully educate their pupils. For instance, I'm currently wondering what information would be shared in terms of Roma culture? What potential stereotypes would be exposed against the Roma communities? Would these lessons be broken down in various components focusing on different Roma groups/ethnicities/religious beliefs? Or, would these lessons address, solely, one all encompassing ethnic and minority group considered by either themselves or by Italian society as Roma people? How would they determine the best ways to meet each individual Roma student' needs? How would they suggest the best way to successfully convey the importance of an education to the Roma students' parents? Or an entire Roma community? How would they suggest the best way for the Italian Public School system to effectively engage with the different Roma communities who are potentially affecting the academic progress of their students? These are the questions that I would be interested in addressing, finding answers too, and seeing incorporated in Italian public schools. Thank you.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6fdQxVTFgrbhtwue_5MWOOmj6f5qKGYCLQtclvmu1CmajiwGj-MJwwQ0MnevP1EgN26KVpwqG9y2Jcf3CeezCaVLPCfl6NpDYRoZTKaJ8X5aENBope-95HXW-IVEXqqvcGVVnqDh1kg/s1600/Hope+for+Children.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6fdQxVTFgrbhtwue_5MWOOmj6f5qKGYCLQtclvmu1CmajiwGj-MJwwQ0MnevP1EgN26KVpwqG9y2Jcf3CeezCaVLPCfl6NpDYRoZTKaJ8X5aENBope-95HXW-IVEXqqvcGVVnqDh1kg/s320/Hope+for+Children.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-3257603065183336542011-03-12T11:28:00.000-08:002011-03-12T11:28:32.255-08:00Saturday, March 5th (Last Weekend in ROME!!!)<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_599Lp06TVhldGMC1l_rXla9ka5535rn98yRO_4syu44qGaYutMcDp2ttRdJv7WAud-0numVe6gm0G3mFqLRzXT69-CQqpW6MvLFN5M7UD0ClNPENQdUapNhwx61_VmeMu4jBGRLMsYQ/s1600/Trastevere+Apartment+Piazza+Malva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_599Lp06TVhldGMC1l_rXla9ka5535rn98yRO_4syu44qGaYutMcDp2ttRdJv7WAud-0numVe6gm0G3mFqLRzXT69-CQqpW6MvLFN5M7UD0ClNPENQdUapNhwx61_VmeMu4jBGRLMsYQ/s320/Trastevere+Apartment+Piazza+Malva.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUt1LpQ6ruWxRzHxrnLaYMcnbdxKqEQ8UqILitZ7qjbX2gQ6vvE8y9Mw1Ba8Jb98VDZbEcFjYHMKr6H9NJKzWBkzm85YKHuQR6Bhor-BY2zoUMqE0Qc38tEMy8xKbCyCbhuUCTwQ7blf0/s1600/Piazza+Malva.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUt1LpQ6ruWxRzHxrnLaYMcnbdxKqEQ8UqILitZ7qjbX2gQ6vvE8y9Mw1Ba8Jb98VDZbEcFjYHMKr6H9NJKzWBkzm85YKHuQR6Bhor-BY2zoUMqE0Qc38tEMy8xKbCyCbhuUCTwQ7blf0/s320/Piazza+Malva.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;">This morning started out slowly enough, feeling the full effects of an overwhelming and sleep deprived week of constantly stressing about our research papers, final presentations, past due blog assignments and attempting to salvage a few hours of personal time for ourselves - my roommates and I took advantage of our limited amount of ''free time'' this morning and slept in until almost noon today in our shared Trastevere apartment (located just over the Ponte Sisto bridge & Tiber River).</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhWV47rh9jFVWQ37CSNhqPIoJX079yJSJ0yTJM7fyJgwKErjzzYtXKCz0WV_PlVmcg6G6cSinOpMlDoac9AD0WNmpdJpJkY9UFipROHPgPq2yL59KWUmlWumtF1JHSJx3-SbpgfOBPfY/s1600/Ponte+Sisto+Bridge+and+St+Peters+Dome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhWV47rh9jFVWQ37CSNhqPIoJX079yJSJ0yTJM7fyJgwKErjzzYtXKCz0WV_PlVmcg6G6cSinOpMlDoac9AD0WNmpdJpJkY9UFipROHPgPq2yL59KWUmlWumtF1JHSJx3-SbpgfOBPfY/s320/Ponte+Sisto+Bridge+and+St+Peters+Dome.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"> The previous night, me and my roommates had discussed the best way to utilize our free time today with it being our last weekend in Rome. Many of us have had little to no time in order to conduct any research and structure the format of our final presentations/ research papers that are due within the next few days. Waking up this morning, I had had every intention of walking my butt over to the UWRC (UW Rome Center) located 10 minutes away near Campo di' Fiori. However, as soon as I walked into Natalie & Sarah's bedroom and caught a glimpse of the bright blue skies & sun streaming down into our neighborhood piazza - all my original plans of locking myself up into our school's computer lab all day long had flown right out the window... I mean, it's our last weekend in Rome for Christ's Sake!! And it's a beautiful day! The first one Rome has seen in the last 2 weeks of weather eerily similar to Seattle´s :/ We've been recently subjected to a constant down pour of face smacking rain, lightning & thunder storms, and blisteringly cold temperatures. I could only come to the realization that today's beautiful weather was a sign from God saying, ''Get your a$$ moving & take advantage of my gift to all of you who will be leaving the 'eternal city' in a couple of days''. Point taken, Sarah & I quickly made ready and went straight to the Colosseum =] </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74O3kf9zPKh-8Sh_zfi_Zzz9onfp8UUYFhzCm4CoNLMCKbK6xvRMSHZsrXe6kmkDt9CzOb6X7rsj8f8dTno1dQUn_t6xJl3DNyO2BDPbhn3_IcJ6CUbU4sI95Iln5ZmLsQwyjVlRHhcw/s1600/The+Colosseum+and+the+Surrounding+Area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74O3kf9zPKh-8Sh_zfi_Zzz9onfp8UUYFhzCm4CoNLMCKbK6xvRMSHZsrXe6kmkDt9CzOb6X7rsj8f8dTno1dQUn_t6xJl3DNyO2BDPbhn3_IcJ6CUbU4sI95Iln5ZmLsQwyjVlRHhcw/s320/The+Colosseum+and+the+Surrounding+Area.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;">We had previously visited Rome's historical district on several occasions but had never received the opportunity to actually go into the Colosseum. To me, coming all the way to Rome & not stepping foot inside the Colosseumis comparable to committing a cardinal sin! The fact that I had already been living in Rome for the past 9 weeks and hadn't managed to do this is equally blasphemous! Today was the freaking day that I was finally going to be able to do it!! And it turned out to be one of the most memorable moments that i've had in Rome :))))</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvqH8qeQQYmPJ1HGRvyD9FGV8NAekIaC3SUtAoNN0M3D2oTWEML-gWJqtxNoxxGQL9GJSg44MdC8H-uniyZyIBfiPbtro-2aICCrxOL7xfhHa0D5RdcLMdE0gBwr6rl0eaHcpqw6IRUY/s1600/Inside+the+Colosseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvqH8qeQQYmPJ1HGRvyD9FGV8NAekIaC3SUtAoNN0M3D2oTWEML-gWJqtxNoxxGQL9GJSg44MdC8H-uniyZyIBfiPbtro-2aICCrxOL7xfhHa0D5RdcLMdE0gBwr6rl0eaHcpqw6IRUY/s320/Inside+the+Colosseum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">The Colosseum (originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre) is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of Rome, and is the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering.</span> <span style="color: magenta;">It was constructed alongside the Foro Romano (Roman Forum), and was started in 72 AD under the emperor Vespesian. It was completed in 80 AD under his predecessor and son, the emperior Titus<span style="color: magenta;">.</span><span style="color: magenta;"> The name "</span><i style="color: magenta;">Amphitheatrum Flavium</i><span style="color: magenta;">" stems from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name (</span><i style="color: magenta;">Flavius</i><span style="color: magenta;">, from the </span><i style="color: magenta;">gens Flavia</i><span style="color: magenta;">).</span></span><span style="color: magenta;">The Colosseum was designed to hold up to 50,000 spectator</span><span style="color: magenta;">s and was used for gladiator combats, public executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and mythological dramas</span><span style="color: magenta;">. Today,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;"> It stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes </span><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">and stone-robbers. Nevertheless, the Colosseum remains an iconic </span><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">symbol of Imperial Rome</span><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">, and is still one of Rome's most popular tourist destinations.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1t9rO535heh7eTE39MTE6v0EVDZWMMClkTwIxcLVh9XB9pQmt2gHbSxySA8fRrfRmhG-HMDRZFofWaY4g7BD22mpTlugQQCkUVpXUmgoJMxwj2TweZL957wPKiugpA5HLgekaCHdSVk/s1600/Gladiator+Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1t9rO535heh7eTE39MTE6v0EVDZWMMClkTwIxcLVh9XB9pQmt2gHbSxySA8fRrfRmhG-HMDRZFofWaY4g7BD22mpTlugQQCkUVpXUmgoJMxwj2TweZL957wPKiugpA5HLgekaCHdSVk/s1600/Gladiator+Movie.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">In preparation for our inevitable tour of the Colosseum, Sarah & I hosted a viewing of 'Gladiator' earlier in the week which depicts the Colosseum in all of it's glory, and shows it's original purpose of hosting deathly gladiator fights! Therefore, you can imagine how excited we were to finally capitalize on this momentous occasion! Sarah & I arrived in perfect timing with the last English speaking tour getting ready to the enter the Colosseum. The tour lasted about an hour, and afterwards we were able to climb to the top and take amazing pictures of the interior along with the neighboring landscape. We had an amazing time =]</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRTI8m3ByI_HtlY8OBTPDYmvu73iULgQtUbZ7wIDMhUsUIJ_8oupxlFJWNiWroCftcAha-XrU9Ryfe7KJjKhm1Exq4H-nT7kyXqousCiZxJfVQgLrzPJc7zDVxKkKVclM59YZIK0PR3I/s1600/Castel+Sant+Angelo+Bridge+and+Front+Facade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRTI8m3ByI_HtlY8OBTPDYmvu73iULgQtUbZ7wIDMhUsUIJ_8oupxlFJWNiWroCftcAha-XrU9Ryfe7KJjKhm1Exq4H-nT7kyXqousCiZxJfVQgLrzPJc7zDVxKkKVclM59YZIK0PR3I/s320/Castel+Sant+Angelo+Bridge+and+Front+Facade.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">After we finished, we decided to grab a quick bite before hopping a bus to Castel Sant' Angelo! Again, both Sarah & I had been talking about touring the castle and museum for weeks... But due to time constraints and a hectic schedule we were forced to try and cram all the things we hadn't done yet, and still desperately wanted to do, all within a few days :( So, we grabbed a couple slices of pizza, threw down a few espresso shots, and arrived outside the castle about an hour later.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictAVxq3UfUJJuNHGYzQYlATuYw25fFmILk4BOVtfCtjpdEgGN7LagyMFEtBb28G6EnQdIK-VIvbSVwpj837Syg_egfkYpPSZ1wYgOFJpI1Se52CnkQ3Bvmhyphenhyphen6R_xWwQJILzIjm83jweo/s1600/Castel+Sant+Angelo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictAVxq3UfUJJuNHGYzQYlATuYw25fFmILk4BOVtfCtjpdEgGN7LagyMFEtBb28G6EnQdIK-VIvbSVwpj837Syg_egfkYpPSZ1wYgOFJpI1Se52CnkQ3Bvmhyphenhyphen6R_xWwQJILzIjm83jweo/s320/Castel+Sant+Angelo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;">Castel Sant' Angelo, orginally known as the 'Mausoleum of Hadrian', was built just off the right bank of the Tiber River between 135 AD and 139 AD. It is a towering cylindrical building located close-by Vatican City, and near the heart of Rome. It was initially commissioned by the Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. In later times, the building was used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. Today, it is a widely popular tourist attraction thanks to authors like Dan Brown who used the remarkable monument as a historic reference and a plot setting in his book 'Angels and Demons'. For me, anyways, that book was a source of inspiration to make a visit to the castel! In addition to it coming highly recommended by some of the locals and friends :)</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKOtjl5MobLBR8lTPNTf04d2ECleon2Hqv42ryDqgkR-Ll4wjQv5gfWiU10VR94Gojs4oFTEL6TVXrygEnoGFWTSzZV5w4J2HZhVDeDQdZ43Ip2iD3GJ0XXwo1Z1-sQwYlkgrTuOxZVo/s1600/Angels+and+Demons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKOtjl5MobLBR8lTPNTf04d2ECleon2Hqv42ryDqgkR-Ll4wjQv5gfWiU10VR94Gojs4oFTEL6TVXrygEnoGFWTSzZV5w4J2HZhVDeDQdZ43Ip2iD3GJ0XXwo1Z1-sQwYlkgrTuOxZVo/s1600/Angels+and+Demons.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;">As Sarah and I entered the grounds, and made our way up to the top of the castle were we had heard of the spectacular panoramic views of the city, we couldn't help giggling and joking as we steadily climbed the narrow and winding passage way which made us feel like we were in some kind of horror movie! It was incredibly spooky but extremely fun - similar to going through a haunted house! However, once we made it to the top, nothing could prepare us for the scenery we beheld as we walked to the edge of the viewing terrace! We had arrived just in time for the sunset, and the sky was coated in blue, pink, orange, and violet. The street lights aligning the bridge and the pathway to the Vatican were now illuminating, and the result was incredible imagery. It was truly an awe-inspiring moment - the kind that makes you question reality... Am I really here? On the top of this amazing castle? Looking out on the most beautiful city I have ever beheld? It's these kinds of moments that truly make life worth living =] </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9feBDxQGN30C6ojLv1HH-PzckPqZxNbJeJBGrJIO8afJeGwgWh3PKhv3uV4TD-kN6smtehAr1Q52yTMIHwSzTu3UfKGGfXpQ88siU30y5oq72h1Jz8Q8pXH396TE5Okhy2qEZdYy0oU/s1600/Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9feBDxQGN30C6ojLv1HH-PzckPqZxNbJeJBGrJIO8afJeGwgWh3PKhv3uV4TD-kN6smtehAr1Q52yTMIHwSzTu3UfKGGfXpQ88siU30y5oq72h1Jz8Q8pXH396TE5Okhy2qEZdYy0oU/s320/Sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;">Once we were able to pull ourselves away from the top, we made a quick trip through the galleries and then decided to run around the grounds in exploration for hidden passageways, tunnels, dungeouns, or whatever we'd be lucky enough to find. However, other than coming across a few locked caste-iron gates, we came up empty handed...but I wasn't entirely disappointed!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAPvAhz-CSLePA2gbWi8KglviEihiOoIAaKLs-ihVCliPnthIsifTjWx315EknybG8GgMMs_zV98tY2K3nHuwiXby7q-icwEaSubZDfo0LyvHZOeH-w077-6mfh7goDqLaDTRI1wITY0/s1600/Dinner+Spread+Bomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAPvAhz-CSLePA2gbWi8KglviEihiOoIAaKLs-ihVCliPnthIsifTjWx315EknybG8GgMMs_zV98tY2K3nHuwiXby7q-icwEaSubZDfo0LyvHZOeH-w077-6mfh7goDqLaDTRI1wITY0/s320/Dinner+Spread+Bomb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaay6LOBE1smp91XsNajFLvHgNKL9Z87iyZWgUDYeOJctlZuiRgcIQM5jI4HfozaEdBjtt3ZD5DUO4Nw_48bgf3feeA7anp5sggpaf_Pi-lkQupZ5FwQKPwMyhfLayiirRN-_NBmElsuU/s1600/Group+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaay6LOBE1smp91XsNajFLvHgNKL9Z87iyZWgUDYeOJctlZuiRgcIQM5jI4HfozaEdBjtt3ZD5DUO4Nw_48bgf3feeA7anp5sggpaf_Pi-lkQupZ5FwQKPwMyhfLayiirRN-_NBmElsuU/s320/Group+Pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;">After finally finishing our tour, we headed back to the UWRC to meet up with the rest of our program for a group dinner/potluck! Many people contributed with delicious dishes such as homemade pasta & lasagna, roasted garlic cloves & grilled veggies, mixed salad greens, and, of course, traditional Italian wine!! We all sat, ate, drank & laughed together for a few hours before we collectively decided it was time to cut loose and hit the town!!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta;">In celebration of spending one of our last few nights left together in Rome, we spent the remainder of Saturday evening (and some of the early morning) dancing, drinking & partying the night away!!! Lastly, although we might have originally been brought together as a group of college students sharing a common interest in Rome, we grew closer together, first as friends - but ultimately as our own little Roman family! We have impacted eachother's lives in so many amazing and special ways, and, for me personally, I've come to love each and every person of our program for their own unique qualities and infectious spirit!! Ciao luvs!! See you all in Seattle!! <3 <3 <3</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFN_MyTi2xqA3cEpdl41bGDfEtwTlD3PALwYMSo5ZbAnS4hbesCmo0Zsld_Q9uRtl5YQIimLuapxExnA2_aBl2chr0Pj6EFHsgTePCzI6gRSUp4guzjWpsv3HWmib0Jhyphenhyphen3_TTfYurywA/s1600/Group+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFN_MyTi2xqA3cEpdl41bGDfEtwTlD3PALwYMSo5ZbAnS4hbesCmo0Zsld_Q9uRtl5YQIimLuapxExnA2_aBl2chr0Pj6EFHsgTePCzI6gRSUp4guzjWpsv3HWmib0Jhyphenhyphen3_TTfYurywA/s320/Group+pic+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mhCArJ4RTC1qU3ttg3G2XJAR1CNSJwMHVJ6pNWWc6DVgDG7q0fPypTlgOV3998kzysKmXjmNAHiJydVBNdOER9rzjg0DYP_hkCu-de0g1jQMdJSF2_G7eKIKQveT-UljAWKTYEDWmCw/s1600/Pose+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mhCArJ4RTC1qU3ttg3G2XJAR1CNSJwMHVJ6pNWWc6DVgDG7q0fPypTlgOV3998kzysKmXjmNAHiJydVBNdOER9rzjg0DYP_hkCu-de0g1jQMdJSF2_G7eKIKQveT-UljAWKTYEDWmCw/s320/Pose+Pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-63174279840543795532011-03-02T13:29:00.000-08:002011-03-12T03:20:31.391-08:00Blog #6 - Rione Project: Vatican City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD88aYN_krHLRqrXshLqI_LbCmrPB96c1n2OllXo0lpu7aiNO0Mh4W05j8PojcB-ooh3Oym1YWJuDBDnFJL3VF9j2RUPhknr6b_54G4mKHMuXxsPf0hBOToOTS4kH7vF5MDNU7fxOW6Sg/s1600/Vatican+City+Coat+of+Arms.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD88aYN_krHLRqrXshLqI_LbCmrPB96c1n2OllXo0lpu7aiNO0Mh4W05j8PojcB-ooh3Oym1YWJuDBDnFJL3VF9j2RUPhknr6b_54G4mKHMuXxsPf0hBOToOTS4kH7vF5MDNU7fxOW6Sg/s1600/Vatican+City+Coat+of+Arms.bmp" /></a></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Introduction</span></u></b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">:</span></u></span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">There is still a monarchy in Vatican City - ruled by the elected Bishop of Rome (the Pope).</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Pope is the sovereign (Head) of the stat</span>e.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">Vatican City is currently the only widely recognized independent state that has not become a member of the United Nations.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The Vatican City Coat of Arms has two flowing bands, and in the center are the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter. Yellow (or golden) is associated with golden keys - symbols of Saint Peter (popes are the direct descendants of Saint Peter's office). The keys are supposedly the keys to paradise.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJ1UFNZHgel2nmTML8iQpr6HSjWc1D0thsDTTKLduL5aHYnXkduZ_oOwaEuMcYzC1Cjy0N3iFHf1_UQOJVLBuQeX0tU_f2SrcREHnjSTMNcP9Z5uMsZvdETJS4_GM6drIM-u8oMnhHpk/s1600/Saint+Peters+Basilica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJ1UFNZHgel2nmTML8iQpr6HSjWc1D0thsDTTKLduL5aHYnXkduZ_oOwaEuMcYzC1Cjy0N3iFHf1_UQOJVLBuQeX0tU_f2SrcREHnjSTMNcP9Z5uMsZvdETJS4_GM6drIM-u8oMnhHpk/s320/Saint+Peters+Basilica.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">St. Peter's Basilica</span></u></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">:</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">More popularly known as ‘St. Peter’s Cathedral. However, in order to be considered an actual cathedral it has to be the seat of a bishop which St. Peter's is not. Therefore, its correct name is St. Peter's Basilica.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">It is the 'mother-church' of the Roman Catholic faith and has been a sacred site and a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of years.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">It is one of the largest churchs in the world with a nave laying 218 meter long. It is also considered the perfect representation of the creativity and the ingenuity of the 16th century. </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, ordered a basilica to be built on Vatican Hill. However, a small shrine already existed, so it was replaced by a new church that was completed around 349 AD. </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">Donato Bramante was the first chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica. </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The dome of St. Peter's Cathedral was designed by Michelangelo, and is one of the largest domes in the world. It measures 42meters in diameter and reaches a height of approximately 138 meters.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">St. Peter's Basilica is famously acknowledged as the burial site of Saint Peter. According to catholic tradition, he was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He was also the first Bishop of Antioch and the first Bishop of Rome. Saint Peter, therefore, was the very first pope throughout history.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NOQG5WMGJBP6NSOLkr6yP2fbO8_F98MIDRe2sgcZTcDiqTRvC_Fe4FGBUBDOKc7feIk5_vzl9owwXV7kgan7OEume5bYJAavjM8Jh4EhYOq3CM7j-wzfEWRd_Eb0CthQ7Cy7q_JegQg/s1600/Saint+Peters+Crucifiction.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NOQG5WMGJBP6NSOLkr6yP2fbO8_F98MIDRe2sgcZTcDiqTRvC_Fe4FGBUBDOKc7feIk5_vzl9owwXV7kgan7OEume5bYJAavjM8Jh4EhYOq3CM7j-wzfEWRd_Eb0CthQ7Cy7q_JegQg/s320/Saint+Peters+Crucifiction.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: 16pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">St. Peter’s Square</span></u></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">: </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The open space surrounding the entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica was redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini from 1656 to 1667, under the direction of Pope Alexander VII. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The obelisk marks the center of the piazza, and is flanked by two beautiful fountains; the south/left one by Carlo Maderno (1613) and the northern/right one by Bernini (1675). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The piazza was designed in a trapezoidal shape to create a ‘heightened perspective’ for visitors leaving the basilica. Therefore, the opposing structures of the church & the surrounding colonnades were designed to astonish the patrons of the church when exiting the basilica and entering St. Peter's Square.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The Tuscan colonnades are four columns deep and frame the center of the piazza, which contrasts with the trapezoidal entrance and encloses the visitor with "the maternal arms of Mother Church" (Bernini's expression).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhipcSqqSwfvePqVcJAzohPMATdSVKguizOueXQRIhd_ZAyCj-AAGaZ5mTvphBEdIF0azWeolhvw8gPBVC3cIJpEBlcvUN8KdL6Ejgno5V1g0MnVdK4UNPpgkHwxwYwA2FVuW-avVfIM/s1600/San+Pietro+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhipcSqqSwfvePqVcJAzohPMATdSVKguizOueXQRIhd_ZAyCj-AAGaZ5mTvphBEdIF0azWeolhvw8gPBVC3cIJpEBlcvUN8KdL6Ejgno5V1g0MnVdK4UNPpgkHwxwYwA2FVuW-avVfIM/s320/San+Pietro+Pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Monuments</span></u></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">: </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">An original Egyptian obelisk of red granite, 25.5 meters tall, supported on bronze lions and surmounted by the Chigi arms (the Vatican Seal – also in bronze), in all 41 meters to the crucifix on its top.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">It was originally erected at Heliopolis by an unknown pharaoh of the Fifth dynasty of Egypt. </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The Vatican Obelisk is the only obelisk in Rome that has not toppled since ancient Roman times.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">Some of the most important works in the basilica are the Pietà - by Michelangelo (my fave), the Papal Altar - by Bernini, the Throne of St. Peter - also by Bernini, and the Monument to the Stuarts - by Canova. Furthermore, Vatican City is home to some of the most famous art in the world. St. Peter's Basilica, whose architects include Bramante, Michelangelo, Giacomo della Porta, Maderno and Bernini are world renowned Renaissance artists and innovators. The Sistine Chapel is famous for its frescos, which include works by Perugino, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Botticelli. The most acclaimed sections being the ceiling and the mural of the 'Last Judgement' designed by Michelangelo. Artists who decorated the interiors of the Vatican include Raphael and Fra Angelico.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The Vatican Library and the collections of the Vatican Museums are considered of the highest historical, scientific and cultural importance. In 1984, the Vatican was added by UNESCO to the List of World Heritage Sites, and it is the only one to consist of an entire state.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzccfXZH3DI-R64jDCgjrc4GH5PFJ2GiBFZZUzOv-WrMr2yuciQrJItCI2cZgkVi8ozZQ2SFjO0yf3IlDWg-Gp8HHuvaXsVBGKMpcj63H3lcAjfZWY9HFvv7u9LvqOEIfdzKRq2oTpErE/s1600/Michelangelos+Self+Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzccfXZH3DI-R64jDCgjrc4GH5PFJ2GiBFZZUzOv-WrMr2yuciQrJItCI2cZgkVi8ozZQ2SFjO0yf3IlDWg-Gp8HHuvaXsVBGKMpcj63H3lcAjfZWY9HFvv7u9LvqOEIfdzKRq2oTpErE/s320/Michelangelos+Self+Portrait.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">History</span></u></b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">:</span></u></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vatican City is the smallest sovereign state in the world! The Lateran Treaty established the City-State after a long series of disputes with the Italian government. Gradually, the king was attempting to take over the authority but the Lateran Treaty prevented this and Vatican City became independent in 1929.</span><u> </u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrAYiri621IEBAh8yPxxLiMSpBx4SBOIdOn57GuF3WBRFjSWlQGbrlE3gk5qaJLwuqP3E3T4HFUOgGn6MDy81NcVvDDKBRkZsnNmUPh_ykMtNbIwx0uKIw7mpeqFA0jFKIBj7BR0hnD8/s1600/Vatican+City+Layout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrAYiri621IEBAh8yPxxLiMSpBx4SBOIdOn57GuF3WBRFjSWlQGbrlE3gk5qaJLwuqP3E3T4HFUOgGn6MDy81NcVvDDKBRkZsnNmUPh_ykMtNbIwx0uKIw7mpeqFA0jFKIBj7BR0hnD8/s320/Vatican+City+Layout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Demographics</span></u></b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">:</span></u></span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The total land area of the state is approximately 0.44 square km, and when compared in terms of land area it is only 0.7 times bigger than <b><u>The Mall</u></b> in Washington, DC.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">Vatican City houses the smallest population in the world, with an estimated 1,000 people calling the region his or her home.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The ethnic groups that reside in the state are Italians, Swiss, and many other nationalities from all over the world. There is not only one nationality from which people reside there.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The literacy percentage is one hundred percent, and the languages spoken by the people of Vatican City are Latin, Italian, French and English.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">*Citizenship of Vatican City is granted <i>jus officii</i>, an appointment to work in the service of the Holy See.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s0q9K9hthL0McFyNqJG8Y2KPbbchiwJBoRPkdbI6cssMDm2a3OPeS2scy31uJ6X6nGSxDReElNCDs7ZcM2XnEcNMVLhmzVdwwuSVb8bymOnmFLy2MVzV14-9ATgAsXVzDmap1b07QEI/s1600/Pope+John+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s0q9K9hthL0McFyNqJG8Y2KPbbchiwJBoRPkdbI6cssMDm2a3OPeS2scy31uJ6X6nGSxDReElNCDs7ZcM2XnEcNMVLhmzVdwwuSVb8bymOnmFLy2MVzV14-9ATgAsXVzDmap1b07QEI/s1600/Pope+John+II.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Government</span></u></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">*</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">Vatican City is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state, ruled by the Bishop of Rome—the Pope. The highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergymen of various national origins & ethnicities.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The Pope exercises principal legislative, executive, and judicial power over the State of Vatican City (an entity distinct from the Holy See), which is a rare case of a non-hereditary monarchy (succession NOT passed through blood).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6REykpvBBcvA5r1S4-fcbmQ6JzhcplcNckEnvPCbaYsqAXbAPLi9St1DSLtFAxQ46SYONvJ0p6GhajX9vWApKE9BXpJYBMkh6cVEQA7MxIam62iyibRJdN7atBrHZo4LTGLZ0OXieds/s1600/Vatican+Staircase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6REykpvBBcvA5r1S4-fcbmQ6JzhcplcNckEnvPCbaYsqAXbAPLi9St1DSLtFAxQ46SYONvJ0p6GhajX9vWApKE9BXpJYBMkh6cVEQA7MxIam62iyibRJdN7atBrHZo4LTGLZ0OXieds/s320/Vatican+Staircase.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Economy</span></u></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">: </span></div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">*</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: small;">The economy is dependent on the printing industry, production of coins, postage stamps and financial activities. It is non-commercial and the economy is largely supported by an annual tax collected from all Roman Catholic dioceses from all over the world. It is also a world renowned tourist location. </span><br />
</div><div class="Standard" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; font-size: large;"><u><b>Interviews:</b></u></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Anthony and I set out to Vatican City from the UW Rome Center (located in Campo de'Fiori) to interview both a resident and non-resident and ask them their personal views and thoughts about this particular 'neighborhood'. We walked up and down Via D. Conciliazione, translated as: <i>way of reconciling</i>, looking for approachable people (haha!) in what turned out to be a miserable day (weather wise) because of the constant down pour of rain that went on consistantly for hours. What we learned from several of the tourists that were nice enough to talk to us was that it for many of them it was their first time visiting Vatican City. We interviewed several people on the street, ranging from a wide variety of different nationalities and ethnicties, all of which turned out to be either visiting for an extended period of time (like study abroad) or otherwise just passing through (tourists). I was amazed at the staggering number of people who seemed to be visiting during the 'off-season' or winter months. The vast majority were from western European countries (Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania). We also talked to a few Americans (from Austin, Texas & Fort Lauderdale, Florida) who were both traveling for business related reasons, and saw a surprising amount of Asians too (we overheared their tour guide speaking their native language). The general response from many of our interview-ees was just the surreal astonishment of the surrounding architecture of St. Peter's Square and Basilica, along with the amazing historical background and ancient religious importance. They seemed very excited to be at the Vatican and were looking foward to seeing many of the attractions including: Michelangelo's 'Pieta', the statue of St. Peter, St. Peter's Dome & Tomb, the Vatican Museums, and the most popular (for obvious reasons) being the Sistine Chapel. Other things that stuck me about our interviews is that most of the people we came across weren't necessarily of the Catholic faith. It sounded as if they were just satisfying their own curiousities - in terms of experiencing the architecture, museums, and living out this experience first hand - as oppose to making an oversees pilgrimage based on religious and moral obligations. </span><br />
</div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The mission of our interviews was too understand the general impressions of Vatican City to both the residents of our 'rione' and the non-residents. However, we had a very difficult time finding non-residents because even store owners and shop keepers were non-residents. I began to feel that the only residents we would be able to find were the Swiss Guard.... And there was no way I was going to ask them for an interview while they were carrying their halberd (a four-sided pole which is held on their right during marches, drill, and regular formations in their official duties around the Vatican), and which could easily impale me!! Not to mention...they're not exactly the friendliest looking people. Furthermore, what really stood out to me about our rione or Vatican City was the diversity of people that visit this site from all over the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In fact, weeks later when visiting Vatican City on my last weekend in Rome, I made a special trip to Saint Peter's Square specifically to hear the Pope address the people and make his weekly Sunday speech. I have to say that I do NOT consider myself Catholic (even though I was born and raised Roman Catholic and forced to go to church every single Sunday until I was 18 years old). However, I couldn't help but satisfy my own curiosity and went with my roommate, Sarah, to understand what exactly it is about the pope that appeals to people...When approaching the Vatican we could here the hundreds, if not thousands, of people crowding the Square and facing the direction of the Papal apartments. People from all walks of life made the trip to the square this particular day to either pray, protest, or (I assume) do what I was doing and came just to observe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I don´t particularly like this Pope based on (what i believe are) his open acts of discrimination through various comments he has made against other religions, races, and sexual orientations. In fact, I think it would be a safe assessment to make when I say, in all honesty, that I despise this man. However, despite my own prejudices against the Catholic diocese, and, more specifically, the Pope himself, I went because I felt it was a particular experience I needed to do for myself during my last weekend in Rome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">As Sarah and I waited patiently for the basilica clocks to chime at noon, and therefore marking the time for the Pope to make his appearance at his window, I looked around and noticed many people standing underneath their banners of protests. I couldn't make out what exactly they were protesting against (being written in different languages), but it was blantantly obvious they were there for reasons other than praying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">As the Pope came out, he was greeted with applause and cheers but also with disapproving objections. However, when he started to speek an overwhelming calm came through the square and quited every single person to silence. He continued on with this speech for about 15 minutes, and as he talked I couldn't help but notice chills running up and down my spine. It was a very eery experience, and I couldn't tell if it was a good or bad thing. It was very surreal, and it made me question exactly what I hated about him in the first place. This made me mad at myself...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">At the end of his speech, he addressed several groups of people in their own native language including Spanish, French, Portugese, Dutch, German & English. I couldn't help but be impressed by his versatility. This also angered me. Futhermore, I think it affected the protestors similarily because they were no longer shouting angry remarks like they originally were when he first appeared. Instead, some of them were even cheering when he addressed them in their own native tongue - as if they had entirely forgotten what they had originally come to protest against! Even, I clapped and cheered as he made the rounds.... Appauling really :/ </span><br />
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Anyways, I guess what my point is is that regardless of my disapproving opinions about his objectable behaviour, Pope Benedict XVI should, at the very least, be given the opportunity to speek freely in his own ´house' (per say) though the content may not be received well by many people outside of the Catholic faith. I also suppose, that being the Pope, gives him the right to be acknowledged with some sort of courtesy...even if it's against will and better judgement. Standing there in Saint Peter's Square in front of the Pope made me aware of this...along with many others who were also present. If nothing else, what I took away from this experience is the pacifying affect he has on people who oppose beliefs, opinions, and ideology - no matter what religion or race the individual is. Therefore, I have to give the man kudos for keeping the peace in 'God's house'. Ciao :)</span><br />
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</span></div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-65560501381647823252011-03-02T09:42:00.000-08:002011-03-02T09:55:19.174-08:00Daily Blog #2 - Venezia, Italia for Carnivale!!!Saturday, February 26th (Saturday)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyiwU4_G1psX7rh6Rq2tFMGjI0EErJrzSvdyzxtW2XCXWC_AQ8Di2VkGZpZeOWnRAEK8ajk4mXIKtSFBkmPIp4q80oSLEHW8Q76vPfxzGb8K7uBM5oKLwALztpdPRgXZSFBmy4gW1FRI/s1600/Venice+water+scenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyiwU4_G1psX7rh6Rq2tFMGjI0EErJrzSvdyzxtW2XCXWC_AQ8Di2VkGZpZeOWnRAEK8ajk4mXIKtSFBkmPIp4q80oSLEHW8Q76vPfxzGb8K7uBM5oKLwALztpdPRgXZSFBmy4gW1FRI/s320/Venice+water+scenery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This morning a group of eight from our study abroad program (me, Brenda, Minji, Luis, Kelsey, Sarah, Anthony & Marson) woke up in our 2 separate hotel rooms on the Island of Lido. Lido is a part of a connection of 117 small islands located <span style="color: black;">in the Venetian Lagoon. An interesting fact is that the Venice Film Festival takes place on the Island of Lido every September. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Venice is a historically & culturally rich city found on the eastern coast of northern </span><span style="color: black;">Italy</span><span style="color: black;">. Our group specifically chose to come to Venice this particular weekend to participate in the Carnivale festivities. Carnivale is a annual festival that's hosted in Venice & starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday. It ends of Shrove Tuesday or 'Fat Tuesday' (known in Mardi Gras terms) which is the day before Ash Wednesday. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9TKB4EEFyi05k9YHK5CBL5KCC_e7bpcQg1sdreBj1N6zxnVUuBWKFnkq6buYbGxGMQIXOy3RMIEwxDCHnpyK6ZJTamWkF_CKSSEnri_sGNNYEomdXdLWKkBrHcT6Xvro_M6dCOxEZV8/s1600/Venice+Carnivale+crowds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9TKB4EEFyi05k9YHK5CBL5KCC_e7bpcQg1sdreBj1N6zxnVUuBWKFnkq6buYbGxGMQIXOy3RMIEwxDCHnpyK6ZJTamWkF_CKSSEnri_sGNNYEomdXdLWKkBrHcT6Xvro_M6dCOxEZV8/s320/Venice+Carnivale+crowds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Our group was exhausted from the work load of our busy week in Rome, in addition to waking up at 3:30am yesterday morning in order to pack our bags and make our 7am flight to Venice. Needless to say, after we checked into our hotel all of us took a nice long nap (lasting 5 hours) until we decided to make a little night tour of San Marco, grab some dinner, and tour some of Venice's famous sights.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ukGe4egh7VgxQg0TfM2_c1nVFQW_yB57opYDGN20K2306zvlI21bENOPZrwwg9gj26h5Lkb5lpQeO8adJ1wQy3OQ-eHZpYZX9jrYR9zay1z3G1QOPtq9D4IVQtQGOad-emEdpkFXI4E/s1600/Venice+group+pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ukGe4egh7VgxQg0TfM2_c1nVFQW_yB57opYDGN20K2306zvlI21bENOPZrwwg9gj26h5Lkb5lpQeO8adJ1wQy3OQ-eHZpYZX9jrYR9zay1z3G1QOPtq9D4IVQtQGOad-emEdpkFXI4E/s320/Venice+group+pic+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So when we finally woke up late Saturday morning, we quickly dressed in our Carnivale 'costumes' and caught the taxi ferry to Piazza San Marco to help kick off Carnivale! We really lucked out with the weather having bright blue skies, moderate sun shine & non-freezing temperatures. It was a really beautiful day & perfect weather to explore downtown Venice :)<br />
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The first thing many of us decided to do was get our faces painted! It was relatively quick (10mins) & fairly inexpensive. Plus, it was a nice compromise to our Carnivale masks which obstructed our view and facial movements... We all chose different colors and we were fortunate that they all came out super cute! Traditionally, during Carnivale, people were allowed to wear masks to conceal their identity from others while conversing. The masks were decorated with complex designs, making them stand out. This is a centuries old tradition in Venice, making it an extremely popular festival amongst tourists and natives alike!<br />
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From here we decided to take a gondola ride around the many of the long and winding canals :) The Gondola is a traditional flat-bottomed Venetian Rowing Boat, and perfectly designed for the conditions of the lagoon. For centuries gondolas were the primary means of transportation, and the most common watercraft within Venice. Today, the iconic boats serve as <i>traghetti</i> (ferries) over the Grand Canal. However, their primary function is to carry tourists for sightseeing excursions....like me!!! And let me tell you, the Gondolliers definitely got their monies worth with us (me, Minji & Luis went twice this weekend)!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC_nqUfQiy0SnXZsS5lvP50znV6dgxgUk7HlabmIrb0qw5_-n3a6OfWoRx8ToCelPwQxqH5nCAjgNKP-Y8L_dfLlekL4k2cpBQfnxdF04oKSggvIXy8uek0YbIOD2Dc1cBPy4tPM0E5U/s1600/Venice+dock+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC_nqUfQiy0SnXZsS5lvP50znV6dgxgUk7HlabmIrb0qw5_-n3a6OfWoRx8ToCelPwQxqH5nCAjgNKP-Y8L_dfLlekL4k2cpBQfnxdF04oKSggvIXy8uek0YbIOD2Dc1cBPy4tPM0E5U/s320/Venice+dock+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After our little midday tour, the three of us & the rest of the group met up for a late lunch at a local Chinese restaurant in the San Polo district in Venice. Some of the group had dinner at this same restaurant the night before, and it came highly recommended from two other girls in our program (Gina & Natalie). So, after ordering the first round of wine we decided to go around the group and give a brief statement of what each of us were thankful for. The collective response was that we were all very thankful for the opportunity to meet eachother through the UW Honors study abroad program, and that we were looking forward to spending this last weekend's adventure here in the beautiful city of Venice & with all of us =)))) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bw2VzGGFw90k5zeen68C3RzJB8pYIy54jggTpTy_RWU-87dENikhQKeHLTcCRK_gThWaIQPmaeRoGUN-Lp6Rwngtx0ML_NqJ5FwiQJma3VY-kSt2E1vWHVxsTvjTWWTD_wOuFr4hKs4/s1600/Venice+lunch+group+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bw2VzGGFw90k5zeen68C3RzJB8pYIy54jggTpTy_RWU-87dENikhQKeHLTcCRK_gThWaIQPmaeRoGUN-Lp6Rwngtx0ML_NqJ5FwiQJma3VY-kSt2E1vWHVxsTvjTWWTD_wOuFr4hKs4/s320/Venice+lunch+group+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After lunch we spent a lot of time exploring all the different areas that make Venice a world famous landmark & help contribute to it's unique characterists. Then, after the sun started setting, we decided to head to Santa Croce (known as the College district) to find a nice spot for dinner. We decided on this really picturesque and popular Italian restaurant in Piazzale Roma (unfortunarely, i can't remember the name). The food was fantastic and the servers were very friendly with their recommendations on dishes and wine.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFE4Tfg1d_aliMYEr_a7LJiYW3iP1TQNFDN33t75xNBvXdH4ZGAYSLOKikz2MSZBAmWTXBjKrIDdd6oTXx_1h78Tl9WEMKb04arrkJS7bAOzDH3r5vGrKaG8AfBT7OumIuM7yt2YT3MA/s1600/Venice+Carnivale+Festivities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFE4Tfg1d_aliMYEr_a7LJiYW3iP1TQNFDN33t75xNBvXdH4ZGAYSLOKikz2MSZBAmWTXBjKrIDdd6oTXx_1h78Tl9WEMKb04arrkJS7bAOzDH3r5vGrKaG8AfBT7OumIuM7yt2YT3MA/s320/Venice+Carnivale+Festivities.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After dinner some of the group decided to make it back to the hotel because they were tired, and some decided to go tour another area. However, four of us (me, Minji, Luis & Anthony) decided that it was time to (literally) get the party started!!! So we headed back to Piazza San Marco for the Carnivale kick-off concert!!! Walking through the street and headed in that direction, you could literally feel the vibrations of the music through the streets and streaming into your body... It was crazy! Not to mention that everywhere you turned there were people donning their Carnivale costumes & masks!! It was like a crazy threatrical Halloween party!! I freaking loved every minute of it!! =))) Heading the concert was this Italian soft rock/pop group and they were extremely entertaining (though we couldn't understand a word they were saying...) but we were having fun pushing ourselves through the mob of people, dancing (aka jumping around), and 'rocking out' all the same ;) It was the perfect ending to our Carnivale experience! Ciao Ciao!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtM9hw0J8hoop89HfxiLI3chTTLKqWBmLzh_pr991EICU07BVymXJbhQhdStLNQ95Bcmtb0wC0bHdA_shajcPOp745nbItygxn2rG4z50jL_B_ESWs9_deH9lsUiuURv01RsVHGMHAnQ/s1600/Venice+Carnivale+Concert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtM9hw0J8hoop89HfxiLI3chTTLKqWBmLzh_pr991EICU07BVymXJbhQhdStLNQ95Bcmtb0wC0bHdA_shajcPOp745nbItygxn2rG4z50jL_B_ESWs9_deH9lsUiuURv01RsVHGMHAnQ/s320/Venice+Carnivale+Concert.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-40396538242909661272011-03-01T05:31:00.000-08:002011-03-01T05:31:47.030-08:00"Artist Summary" - Graffiti Poster<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last Monday morning our class created "graffiti posters" depicting our personal "frames of reference", and integrating certain aspects of Italain youth culture/identity that has affected us on a personal level.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">I decided to do my poster based on multiple ethnicities that directly effect each individuals identity based on language, culture, religion, politics, and all other personal beliefs.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">The nationalities i decided to highlight in my poster were Italy, USA, China & Bangladesh. I specifically chose both Italy and the USA to directly compare similar controversial issues shared between both nations. I chose China and Bangladesh because both share staggering high numbers of immigrants throughout Italy, and both ethnicities have large communities residing on the outskirts of Rome. Each country is represented by the nations' flag.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">The controversial topics displayed throughout my poster and highlighted in red words with a black outlne are: Integration, Language, Politics, Migration, Racism & Religion</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">I chose to put "Discrimination" at the very top of the poster because it's a very prevalent issue amongst all immigrants, refugees, different ethnic groups, visiting foreigners, and even amongst the native Italians themselves (regionally - North vs. South).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">I also highlighted both the dominating and conflicting religions seen in Italy but more specifically Rome: Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, and Buddism. Each are represented by their religious symbol: the star of David, a crucifix, a ying/yang, and a cresent moon with a small star.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">I did a rough drawing of the earth with different colored people holding hands and surrounding it. I chose dark brown for dark skinned people, yellow for light skinned people, pink for females, and purple for gays. Furthermore, they are holding hands to represent equal responsibility in the advocacy for tolerance and understanding amongst all walks of life on this planet. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">The word 'Education' is highlighted in yellow with an outline in black at the bottom of my poster. I did this to set it apart from the rest of the words because, to me, education promotes awareness. Specifically, an awareness of the differences between religions, politics, ethnicities, and which will confront stereotypes. Education can be used as a tool to bridge the gap between preconceived ideas and the truth. Hence, knowledge is power.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">For a dramatic affect, I put two large bold black cracks running both vertically and horizontally through the middle of my poster and which cross in the center of my drawing of the earth. I did this to represent constant conflict and consequences of dueling ideologies by literally 'breaking' the world. This is my way of voicing my own concerns, and a warning, of what might happen if humanity does not find a peaceful and productive way to end all of our potentially hostile differences (i.e. resulting in extreme warfare).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">Finally, I drew a white dove with yellow rays flowing behind it to represent hope. I also drew blue clouds in various areas of my poster with beams of sun rays bursting through as a similar representation. This is my personal way of 'shedding light' on (what i consider) heavy subject matter and creating a sort of balance: conflict vs. peace, discrimination vs. education, hope vs. despair. This drawing illustrates my hope for a brighter future; focusing on education as a means to encourage people to work together for a solution instead of against dealing with disastrous consequences. </span>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-45286320453765377102011-02-23T15:07:00.000-08:002011-02-23T15:07:25.186-08:00Daily Blog #1 - Service Learning, Tiber Island Excursion, Ed Taylor Lecture & Brenda's 21st B-Day<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">February 22nd, 2011 (Tuesday): Today me and the other Iqbal Masih girls (7 total) woke up pretty early to start our morning at our service learning sites. The school is located on the outskirts of Rome and it takes us about an hour on public transit to arrive at our destination. We spend about two hours in designated classroom observing the teacher & children - more specifically their teaching methods & techniques, the special needs children, immigrants, minorities & the native Italian kids. Our main perogative with these service learning visits is to gain a broader understanding of the educational environment of the Italian youth. We are placed in these different service learning locations based on our particular interests, whether it be a local refugee center, a public Italian school (Iqbal Masih), an Italian art gallery, or an Italian gay rights activist group (Archigay). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">Today, me & Sha were observing the kids in Simonetta's class (the English language classroom), and the 3rd graders were learning how to read time using illustrations of hand clocks on the black board. In previous service learning visits both Sha and I have participated in class skits where we helped reinact characters in the English language guide book. We have also read outloud to the kids in English, and walked around to individual students asking them simple questions like: What's your name? What's your favorite subject? What's your favorite Italian food? Color? Game? etc. We have also played "shop" with the kids were they come up to us while sitting at a desk and they attempt to order food items in English and then proceed to "pay" for it :) It's super cute & some of the kids are extremely shy but these kinds of interactive games are so helpful in learning the English language. Btw, the are many differences between G.B.'s English vocabulary and America's English vocabulary. For example: they say trousers, we say pants; they say jumper, we say sweater, they put a plural of math (maths) and a singular on sports (sport). I mean, I knew they used interesting terms for swear words and the toilette but i never actually realized how many differences existed until i started observing these classes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">Anyways, I'll usually spend an hour in the English classroom with Sha & Simonetta and then the second hour in 4th grade Paola's classroom (there are many Paola's). This past Tuesday we they were working on fractions & decimals for the first half of the hour, and then they switch to English language for the second half hour. Jenny & I will try communicating with the kids in English and they always have the opportunities to ask us questions about where we're from, what we're studying in Italy, our favorite foods... Some times the little girls will ask if either of us are married or have boyfriends. Haha! Jenny & I will just grin at each other and then respond honestly, (heck) no. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">The teachers are all very welcoming, supportive, friendly & helpful and the TA's and "special needs" assistants are also extremely gracious and open to trying to communicate with us (though some are not as fluent as others in English). But we're worse!! My Italian is horrible & my pronunciation is God awful... However, somehow the kids and the teachers are able to understand our chopped up Italian skills (or lack there of) but most of the time we have to resort to English.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">We'll usually get to the school aroud 10am (if we're lucky) but most of the time it's 10:15...ish. And then we'll meet up and leave around noon. It's takes us an hour to get back into downtown Rome, and then most days we'll either have class or an afternoon excursion planned from 2-5pm. This past Tuesday we had one of our favorite guest lecturers/ tour guides, Margaret Brucia, a Classics professor at Temple University take us on an afternoon excursion to Tiber Island!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">Margaret was the perfect guide for our afternoon excursion seeing as how she wrote her graduate school dissertation on Tiber Island, including the myths and archeology surrounding it. Tiber Island is located in the Tiber River that runs through Rome. The Island is linked to Rome by two ancient bridges, the Ponte Fabricio & the Ponte Cestio. Tiber Island was the location of the ancient temple dedicated to the Greek God of medicine & healing, Aesculapius. This Greek God is identifiable by a snake adorning his 'healing stick' or staff. Margaret showed us where she believed was the exact spot for the Temple of Aesculapius which is now the location of San Bartholomew, the church dedicated to Saint Bartholomew, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. She gave a wonderful tour based on her research, findings, expertise on relatable topics and knowledge of the site.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">After this late afternoon tour we made our way back to the Rome Center located in Campo di Fiori for a little break before our scheduled guest lecturer. At 6pm, Dean Ed Taylor took center stage for an incredibly fascinating discussion on Critical Race Theory. Professor Taylor is the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and specializes the areas surrounding<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"> "<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">higher education, policies and programs servicing disenfranchised groups, and the construction of race-based policy". I don't know exactly what that means, but he did come and briefly lecture about CRT (critical race theory). <span style="color: #351c75;">CRT is "an intellectual and politically committed movement in American legal scholarship that studies race, racism and power". Anyone who has taken a theoretical concepts course understands the difficulty in comprehending these theories and then implementing them into our daily lives. He made his lecture personal, interesting, and easy to follow. I appreciate that :)</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">Finally, following Dean Taylor's lecture and a small reception in his honor, all of my peers, instructors, our guest lecturer, and a few other friends from another UW study abroad program shuffled into our conference room for a surprise birthday celebration for our dear little friend, and fellow study abroad companion, Brenda Martinez. We were celebrating her 21st birthday with cake, balloons, streamers, and, for some, other festivities that lasted well beyond the twilight hours. I, on the other hand, because i'm severely behind on my school work due to a hectic schedule here in Rome and an even more hectic travel schedule on the weekends, decided to hang around the conference room until 1am and do my graffiti poster. Originally, I was supposed to have done this in class this past Monday but missed it because i was exhausted, had a cold, and decided to sleep in until 3pm (a total of 15hrs). It took me nearly 4 hours to complete (because i'm an idiot & an "over-achiever). However, the important thing is that i finished the damn thing & now it's done, with "artist summary" to follow.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana;">I would include a few other details which happened later in the night, after i made my way home, and which i now think back on as "funny" moments that me & my roommates have experienced here in Rome....but they would kill me & it's not school related! So, ciao!</span>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-12677811760973460782011-02-21T13:30:00.000-08:002011-02-21T13:30:03.936-08:00Multicultural Literature in Contemporary Italy: Reflection<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Introduction: "It takes time before the pain of leaving one's country transforms itself from a pain as obstacle into a pain as growth. This transformation is a characteristic of life itself and it works for everybody and it affects everybody: every day we have to leave the homeland of our certainties. Everyday we need to learn a new language. We are in constant migration." (Orton, 11). The author of this quote is calling attention to the fact that "migration is not the exclusive experience of a limited number of people". Migration is explained as "change in a multicultural context". Therefore, migration affects the life of every person daily when he/she converses in more than one language, views a foreign film, tours a foreign country, or interacts with people from different cultural backgrounds. Futhermore, It's the literature written by migrants that allows people to catch a glimpse of the experiences, hardships, and tragedies that they have gone through. This literature opens up dialogue between all parties by discussing themes such as exile, displacement, cultural fragmentation, and racism. Narratives, biographies, short stories and essays directly draw on the influences of the authors' life who, in turn, breathes life into the content of their work and thus produces the fruit of all their labours in the manifestation of migrant literature. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana;">Salvation: "the West only wants them for the humblest jobs, those requiring hard labor. They keep the good jobs for their children. I can understand that, as long as they don't come and deprive us of our resources, and as long as those strange nongovernmental organizations don't come and teach us about human rights in our own country and allow those of the 'los tero' to prevail. That would cause of nation to collapse." (Dekhis, 70). The protagonist of this story is explaining the vast similarities between two entirely different countries, those of 1st world nations and 3rd world nations, who are sharing emigrants/immigrants and are entirely dependent on one another for economic stability & resources. In other words, it's the classic master/slave relationship in which neither is the mastor or the slave. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana;">Furthermore, his own story also sheds light on this situation. He himself who is a legal immigrant who has been living in Italy since the 1980's and who is constantly "bothered" by his distant "relatives" who are seeking the same dream he had once had: to "better his life" in a country with endless possibilities. However, his dream was shattered by bittter reality and his life turned more into a living nightmare. Now he is battling both anxiety and depression and is seeking his own salvation from his unemployed status, creditors, government, and relatives. He says to himself: "They had come of age, they were ready to run any risk, but they denied their own history, mired the nation in violence, ruined its economy and erased the distinguishing aspects of its culture... No, no, stay home cousin, at least this unfortunate experience will be a lesson to you that will help you to think more reasonably about the future." (Dekhis, 73). Therefore, he feels as if the lie he told his cousin that ultimately changed his mind in tyring to immigrant to Italy is justified in helping him avoid the same disappointing fate as himself. A fate in which he achieves his only salvation through death. </span>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-23117047407120316822011-02-15T10:22:00.001-08:002011-02-15T10:22:44.064-08:00Assignment # 5 - The Naples Experience! Don don don....<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Prior to our arrival in Naples I had no preconceived notions about the city or people. By reputation, Naples is notorious for theft and robbery and they are known to usually target tourists but I had heard similar things about Rome. Honestly, I was really just looking forward to experiencing my first authentic Neapolitan pizza, and exploring the unique culture and atmosphere of Naples with everyone from my program. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When we first walked out onto the streets of Naples from the train station, I immediately noticed the differences in architecture from Rome’s. Rome is a deeply historical city in which the Roman’s take pride in their many ancient sites and buildings. Particularly, how it coincides with the ancient Roman culture. You can’t walk down a street in Rome without being aware of the beautiful decorated fountains, many of which were designed by celebrated Renaissance sculptors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there several historically significant churches in which many were constructed between the 7<sup>th</sup> – 13<sup>th</sup> centuries. However, Rome is primarily known for their famous sites & monuments including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and many more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Naples, though also historically rich, is noticeably more modern in their architecture and skyline. Our tour guide, Alex Valentino, who is a native Neapolitan as well as an architect and activist, brought all of us too many of Naples more famous sites and attractions including: the historic centre or Centro Storico where you’ll find Piazza Garibaldi, the city's main walking path in front of the station. Also nearby is Piazza Plebiscito where many beautiful, ancient churches can viewed, including the Sansvero Chapel, a church built in 1590 and adorned with ornate religious decorations. We also visited Naples’ Royal Palace and the Galleria Umberto.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Not only are the Neapolitans more modern in their architectural designs but the native Neapolitans also dress in more urban/ pop culturally influenced clothes. The stores seem to focus their advertisements to a certain demographic: young adults between the ages of 15 – 30. The clothes draped on many of the mannequins were “thuggish”, and shall I say, even, “ghetto”. The mannequin’s usually bore stupidly contorted facial expressions with pursed lips and raised eyebrows which, I’m guessing, were specifically designed to appeal to that age bracket of Neapolitan thugs and gangsters. Even the female mannequins were designed with equally stupid expressions and dressed with “skanky” frocks like higher than thigh high mini-skirts, fish net stalking, belly bearing shirts, puffy metallic jackets, and studded ankle boots. Therefore, the apparel outfitters were definitely aiming for the Neapolitan urban scene, and, from what I observed from the natives, their advertising campaign was successful </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The urban scene that seems to drive Napoli is vastly different from the high end labels that are well known and very popular in Rome. Wealthy Romans, specifically Roman women, are easily noticeable because they like to wear fur coats and other expensive apparel. They also drape themselves with lots of jewellery and dowse themselves in expensive perfume. I’ve noticed this type of Roman on several occasions walking along the Piazza de Spagna (where the Spanish steps are located). That specific area caters to all the famous fashion and jewellery houses including Valentino, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Prada, Cartier, Hermes, Swarovski, Louis Vuitton, and many more. Rome, in my opinion, is geared more toward the working professionals and the wealthy because it’s a richer city. There are certain areas of Rome that have more urban influenced clothing shops, markets, and apparel stores but they usually exist on the outskirts of the major metropolitan area. The outskirts of Rome, places like Piazza Vittorio, are where the communities of minorities are commonly located. I think it’s a safe assessment to make that the reason for the change in location for both the kinds and clothing and the prices are based purely on the demographics of people: the wealthy vs. the working class, and the Italians vs. the minorities. Therefore, unlike Rome who sweeps these social-economic roles “underneath the rug” by establishing perimeters around the downtown area that keeps all the ethnically diverse people on the outskirts and in their own communities, Naples doesn’t seem to run their city on the same system. There are slight differences between the Napoli downtown area and the “projects” but not much. Diversity is all around, there isn’t a noticeable class distinction between the two areas and it seems to suit them well. However, this does attribute to a more dangerous atmosphere than Rome, and, like I stated earlier, is probably a major contributor for their notorious reputation of theft and robbery. It’s not a rarity to be pick-pocketed or robbed in Rome but it definitely seems to be more common in Naples and even happened to a girl in our program on our last day there.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Naples struggles many stereotypes that are plaguing their reputation. For instance, the streets are dirty with noticeable grime around some of the buildings and sidewalks. However, considering the sheer size of Naples, and also being an incredibly busy port city, it’s is somewhat understandable the difficulty in maintaining the overall cleanliness of the city. But, it appears as if the streets are full of trash that the trash workers are failing to collect due to the strikes. It has been an on-going issue in Naples that the sanitation workers would refuse to collect trash while negotiating for better wages, hence the strike. Although it is known that these strikes primarily affected suburban areas – tourist centres are now experiencing the consequences. Another stereotype is that Naples is a “crime centre”, and from what the people in my program experienced based on our visit, this would be true. It is universally known that Naples has a larger problem with organized crime. The city has entities that are controlled by the Italian mafia, but those aren’t something you’d ever notice as a tourist. However, there is a high risk of purse snatching and jewellery theft in the city. And, as I stated earlier, a girl from my program experienced this first-hand…unfortunately.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, although Naples and Rome are two equally important, culturally and historically rich cities in Italy, perhaps Naples is just personified as a grittier and more dangerous location because their isn’t such a noticeable social-economic divide that separates the have’s from the have’s not’s. They are all inhabiting the same area and they are all sustaining themselves the best way they know how, to whatever means necessary.</span></div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-14062532572710641722011-02-09T10:38:00.000-08:002011-02-09T10:38:56.532-08:00Verona, Naples, the Amalfi Coast & Pompeii!Hello luvs,<br />
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Sorry it's been a while since i've last posted a "personal blog". Shit's been hectic & crazy ;) Anywho, 2 weekends ago me and a couple of friends from the program spent 2 days in Verona, aka "the city of Shakespearean love". It was very picturesque and lovely but incredibly small and best utilized as a day trip. Furthermore, we made the mistake of turning it into a long weekend, and even more frustrating, our hostel was a 20 minute bus ride to the outskirts of town... wah wah. Nonetheless, we had a great time and saw many beautiful museums, churches, and other architectural fetes including: Casa di Guilietta (Juliet's house from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet) where we got to touch her right bronze-y breast and make a wish, Castelvecchio & the Ponte Scaligero (amazing medieval castle turned museum and connecting medieval bridge), the archeological museum and roman theatre, the arena, and some fantastic churches. We had every intention of visiting a few more tourist attractions but got stranded out by our hostel for over two hours on our way back into Downtown (because public transit is pretty much non-existent on Sundays), and ended up getting a taxi back to Verona's airport where we literally chilled for almost 5 hrs until we were ready to board our flight back to Rome... So, all in all, not a very great way to end our trip but still a great experience and now i can make suggestions about what to avoid when visiting the historic city ;)<br />
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Last Thursday our entire program made our way towards the southern belt of Italy...Naples :) Or Napoli in Italian. This interesting city has a notorious reputation for theft and robbery (we heard many frightening stories), and sadly one girl from my program had her purse ripped off of her by some a$$hole on a motorcycle when walking down a street with heavy foot traffic and in a group with 4 other girls! So, this crap happens often and goes to show that Naples lives up to its reputation. Other than that incident, however, we still had a great visit. Our instructors sheduled a two day walking tour with a native Neopolitan and professional guide to show us all the great sights and scenery that can only be found in Naples. We ate, ate, ate like none the other & walked until our feet nearly bled (just kidding...kinda). <br />
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After our two days in Naples a group of 7 of us decided to go on a day trip around the Amalfi Coast :) This was absolutely spectacular, and definitely tops the list of things i've experienced so far in Italy. The weather was perfect with sunny & bright blue skies, and around 60 degrees in the middle of the afternoon (which is actually quite warm from what we have been experiencing thus far). We hopped on the SITA bus which took us from the Naples port through the mountains and to our first stop - the coastal town of Amalfi. The views of the coast line and the Gulf of Salerno far exceeded my expectations. The water was a clear turqious blue and the backdrop of the white Mediterranean villas and other architectural buildings that line the Amalfi coast was breathtaking. I honestly couldn't have dreamed of anything more pristine and alluring as Amalfi & Positano (both coastal cities). The last stop of our day trip was on the opposite side of the peninsula - Sorrento. We only stayed there for a few hours but Sorrento lays on the same bay as Naples so we attempted to catch a ferry back but apparently they stop running at 4pm during the winter months...meh :P So we decided to grab some gelato instead and hop on a train :)<br />
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Finally, we left bright and early Sunday morning for Pompeii & spent the majority of our day exploring the ruins and excavation site before we all "hit a wall" & decided to head back home to Rome. It was when we arrived back in Naples and were heading back to our hostel to grab our bags when the girl from our program was robbed of her purse (which included her camera, i-pod, phone, cards & cash...boo!). <br />
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Anways, we've done a ton of excursions this week :) We've all learned so much different and fascinating information while touring the Basilica of Saint Clement & the Arch of Constantine, the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel), and finally, the biggest Mosque in Europe (located on the outskirts of Rome) and the Jewish Synagogue located in the "Jewish Ghetto" of Rome. Needless to say, it's been an incredibly busy week!! But really fun and informative so i wouldn't change a thing (even though we're all practically on the brink of exhaustion at this point).<br />
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I'm gearing up to fly solo to Dublin, Ireland this weekend to check out the land of my daddy's daddy ;) Sike, it's more like my dad's great-grandfather x's 10's daddy... Anywho, i'm more or less just really looking forward to some "personal time" to rejuvenate myself self for the last 4 weeks of this program. I don't really have an itinerary yet for my trip, but i'll let you all know how it turns out =)<br />
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I'm going to try and post a "personal blog" every week to keep you all updated. I have another "class blog" due tomorrow and then i'll be in Ireland all weekend so expect to hear from me again by late next week.<br />
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Hope all is well back home & i'll talk to you all soon! Luvs <3<br />
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~MarissaMarissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-581661779942361172011-02-01T08:44:00.000-08:002011-02-01T08:44:02.396-08:00Assignment # 4: Immigration & Education<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Marissa McGrath</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Assignment #5:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider what doors are open and closed here in Italy for immigrants and for youth in general in terms of education? How do you compare these to the doors in the United States? What are you basing your opinions and perspectives on?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The doors to education in Italy depend on several factors: citizenship status (native Italians vs. Immigrants, cultural expectations, accessibility, familial responsibilities & self-motivation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Citizenship status in Italy can determine what schools youth are admitted too (predominately native Italians vs. multicultural diversity & emersion). In 2009, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gelmini</i> law was passed though it proposed slashing funds for segregation/bridge classes for immigrant youth, and admitting no more than 30% immigrant students to each classroom (reform passed w/ many protests and public outrage). However, although the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gelmini</i> law was passed in 2009 and was attempted to be introduced in Italian public schools in 2011, many educational institutions failed to successfully implement these policies while others have abandoned it altogether (notes & class discussion).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Many problematic situations have occurred in determining the specifications of how to define “immigrant students” in the classroom. According to Italian government policies, being born on Italian soil does not automatically make you an Italian citizen. Either one or both parents must be a “native Italian” (maintained ancestry in Italy), and the youth must provide the necessary documentation in order to gain the rights and privileges of Italian citizenship. Otherwise, the youth must wait until 18 years of age to formally apply and begin the process of becoming an Italian citizen (notes & class discussion). However, these laws are particularly frustrating when considering 2<sup>nd</sup> generation Italians, or Italians whose parents have immigrated to Italy (or refugees), and have not yet legally gained their Italian citizenship. These “Italian youths” are caught in between two identities & cultures that are constantly colliding. By law, they are not considered Italians though they were born here, and they have no citizenship elsewhere. Therefore, they must wait until they reach adulthood and then go through the tedious process of legally acquiring Italian benefits.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One particular experience I had while visiting a middle school here in Rome, called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Esquilina</i>, is coming across an extremely troubled 13 year old Chinese immigrant named Ving. He and family emigrated from China six years ago, and to say he was not particularly happy about it would be the understatement of the century. When meeting Ving he was incredibly obstinate, un-cooperate, disrespectful to my instructors and insulting to my peers. Nonetheless, however rude he may have been, he was surprisingly fascinating to me and I was intrigued by his behaviour. I wanted to know his life’s story. Where did he grow up in China? Does he have any siblings? Did he immigrate with his entire family? Does he like Italy and Italians? Does he have many friends? Does he enjoy school? But most importantly, why is he so angry???</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ving is fluent in Chinese (I don’t know which dialect) and Italian. He cannot communicate fluently in English though he could understand some of what I was asking. I had to ask our TA, Stephanie, to translate for us. From what I could understand through Stephanie’s conversation with Ving (and translation), body language, and expression Ving hates school because to him it doesn’t serve any useful purpose. He refuses to read and write regularly (especially for school purposes), though he perfectly capable of reading and writing in both Chinese and Italian, and he says he doesn’t understand math. He doesn’t like the teachers and very few of his school mates. He doesn’t enjoy any of the subjects offered to him including art, music, and extracurricular activities. He has been in Rome for six years and hasn’t made very many friends, or at least close friends (though it seemed that he was enjoying side conversations with the newly immigrated Chinese students who were sitting in front of him). He moved here with both of his parents and with his younger brother who attends the same school. Basically, from what I can determine from these answers, and my observations, is that Ving is experiencing an incredibly difficult time integrating into his relatively new environment. He feels very passionately about his feelings concerning Italy, and Italians in general, which is that he really dislikes them (I’m pretty confident he used the terms “stupid” & “hate” but I honestly don’t think that’s truly how he feels about them). What I am certain about is that he has a lot of pride in his Chinese heritage and that he is most likely “acting out” due to the mistreatment (along with some misunderstanding) of him and/or his family from Italian society, culture, and the natives. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When interacting with Ving while Stephanie (unfortunately) had to deal with his impolite attitude and blunt responses, I couldn’t help but empathize with him and his situation. Although he was being a contemptuous little brat, and there was more than one moment when I wanted to ring his little neck, still, despite all his hostility and insolence, deep down I really just wanted to give him a hug and try to understand the root of his problem with Italy, school, and life in general.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What I can conclude from my observations with several immigrant youths along with class readings and discussions is that: it’s not so much about what “doors are open and closed” but how one deals with the doors (or opportunities) that are available to them, and more importantly how to go about generating those “doors”. In other words, while there are several factors that contribute to the kinds of opportunities that are available to immigrants in either Italy or the US, whether it be cultural, familial, or personal determinants for either school placement or pursing a higher education, in my opinion and from my own experiences: “where there is a will, there is a way”. If it seems like certain doors are closed to you, then find a way to open them. If it appears that no door exists at all, then find a way to create one. Opportunities arise when one has the determination to seek them out. So, it’s not so much about if there is a door but what one will do when he/she come across it. </span></div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-68091831805221517462011-01-24T12:31:00.000-08:002011-01-24T12:31:16.917-08:00Writing Assignment #3<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Write about your interviews conducted at the Esquilino market and the Piazza Vittorio in which you asked a native Italian and an Italian immigrant several questions pertaining to their views on immigration policies and other pressing issues in Italy today.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Today’s assignment was to engage with both a native Italian and an immigrant Italian to discuss and gain understanding about how immigrants feel about government policies, Italian laws on obtaining citizenship, etc., and how some native youth (18 – 25) Italians feel about immigrants and their thoughts on immigration in Italy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We were very fortunate in being able to successfully open dialogue with several immigrants who were willing to discuss such personal matters with our small group. However, it wasn’t exactly easy communicating with an immigrant who wasn’t fully conversational in English, in addition none of us knowing very much Italian.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One Italian immigrant we were particularly able to have a long conversation with was a man named Ahmed from Bangladesh. He has been living in Rome for seven years, and is willing to maintain a long distance relationship with his wife and seven year old son who are still in Bangladesh while trying to gain his Italian citizenship. I must note that it is especially difficult for immigrants with no native ancestry from Italy (having either one or both parents born in Italy) to gain citizenship in fewer than 10 years. However, Ahmed did not seem too disconcerted with this government obstacle. His plan is to keep applying for his working permit (when it expires) while living legally in Italy (unfortunately, living a legal immigrant status in Italy is becoming more and more rare) until he eventually receives his Italian citizenship. Once he succeeds in gaining his citizenship status (which is extremely difficult for many) he will open his own business in the international district and fulfil his dream of becoming a successful Bangladeshi businessman. He then plans on going back to Bangladesh to get his wife and son. Ahmed would also like to travel to the USA for a short amount of time a tour/explore before coming back to Rome permanently.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While discussing with Ahmed his dreams of becoming an Italian citizen and a successful businessman, I asked him his opinion concerning immigration laws in Italy. He stated that he doesn’t have any personal issues with the immigration process in Italy, nor does he find it a particular inconvenience. In my own opinion, I believe that Ahmed isn’t worried about the long and gruelling process of becoming a permanent resident because he is only concerned with the end result, which is his citizenship and being reunited with his family. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Although, I have to add that while Ahmed was pleasantly engaged in conversation about the personal details regarding his life’s story, and with complete strangers who spoke very little Italian, his struggles and worries were completely obvious to me. However, he wore them very proudly. What I mean is that Ahmed stated that he was only 27 years old but to me he looked more like 37. I believe the stresses and uncertainties of his immigrant status, his family, and his daily occupation have led to some premature aging which was foretelling by the look of exhaustion and fatigue on his face.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The second part to assignment was to engage in a conversation with a native Italian. This was particularly hard to accomplish because while is it a lot easier to differentiate a native Italian to an immigrant (based purely on skin color), Italians blend in with many other less obvious ethnicities like Ukrainian, Russian, Argentinian, Spanish, etc. In other words, most of these people are white. However, we finally managed to come by two youth university students at a local college (which we didn’t realize at that time). Their names are Alessandro, 20, who is a communications major, and Tomas, 21, who is studying several different languages including Chinese, Japanese & English (lucky for us!). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During our conversation both Minji and I directed all of our questions to both Tomas & Alessandro, however, Alessandro seemed more opinionated on the topics while Tomas (who was the one fluent in English) seemed to just agree with Alessandro’s answers and occasionally translate some Italian words to English when Alessandro couldn’t explain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I asked them both their personal opinions about immigrants in Italy. Alessandro commented that he didn’t understand the native Italians’ hostility towards immigrants and they don’t particularly bother them. He feels they are marginalized as criminals and thieves which is a “stupid stereotype”, and that he (who obviously isn’t an immigrant) used to steal clothing from department stores and oddities from supermarkets too! They both agreed that neither feel threatened by immigrants because the jobs they will be pursuing when finished with college won’t be accessible to immigrants. Alessandro stated as an example that “they don’t give jobs like newspaper editors and firemen or policemen to immigrants. All the jobs that local and native Italians would want employers don’t hire immigrants for”. They feel confident that immigrants are only allowed specific jobs that native Italians don’t want anyways, and so “let them come here and work for us”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I asked them why they were easily tolerant of immigrants other than their own personal sense of security in the job force. They agreed that though Italy may not be the immigrants’ native country they are still entitled to find a home anywhere they believe will provide them and their family with a better life because “we are all the same. We are all human, and we feel compassion [& empathy] for one another”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lastly, I asked both Tomas and Alessandro if they believed it was just their generation that was predominately accepting and tolerate of immigrants in Italy or if they opposed this notion. They both commented that their parents share the same views of immigrants as they do, and though the topic of immigration isn’t a particularly popular topic to discuss they believe that the majority of students at their college share believe in their same ideology.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, based on my limited knowledge on the subject from readings and class discussions older generations are entirely opposed to immigration and intolerant of them. They feel there are distinct differences in family, religion, social-economic roles, and culture which they don’t want integrated into native Italian society. Therefore, no distinct conclusion can be made from these interviews.</span></div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-78688844338351856372011-01-24T00:39:00.000-08:002011-01-24T00:39:01.545-08:00Writing Assignment #2: Write about what do you think makes Roman and Italian Identity?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Roman and Italian Identity is a very complicated and difficult concept to explain because, like the USA, there isn’t an ideal image that illustrates and explains the “face” or image of their country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I will begin by explaining how I define “native Italians” or locals whose families have been the descendants of their homeland, Italy, for several generations. There are several social, cultural, and physical forces that help shape this aspect of Italian identity including their religion, native tongue or language, ancestry, occupation, & their own ideology of what makes them a true Italian.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Roman Catholicism has been Italy’s dominant religion for hundreds (if not thousands) of years and is a critical part of Italy’s history. The Roman church (and Vatican City) is well respected, worshipped, and a powerful institution in all of Italy making it an important attribute of Italian identity. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Italian language also plays a fundamental role of Italian identity because it’s the tongue of their homeland, ancestors, and countrymen. Knowing, understanding, and implementing the Italian language into their everyday lives separate native Italians from their immigrant counterpart whose own native language comes from a different region of the world, and therefore often creates a troublesome language barrier between them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ancestry plays a critical role in Italian identity because their ancestors are a part of world history that dates back to their ancient civilization; when Rome was founded by the mythological figures of Romulus & Remus. Furthermore, their ancestors were once the rulers of the Roman Empire who conquered and expanded their country and built temples, coliseums, and forums – world renowned architecture that rivalled the abilities and inspired other architects in that time period. Needless to say, native Italians are extremely proud of their country and their history. Their pride and confidence can be observed in the way in which they hold themselves as the ideal model or image of Italian identity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The labour industry and job force is the main problematic issue that native Italians feel create the barrier between themselves and the immigrants. The native Italians believe that all of the “white & blue collar” job opportunities are solely for them - a right in which their native status reserves for them. However, this leaves all the low skill jobs, or, in other words, the jobs that the locals don’t want for the immigrants. Ironically, Italy’s economy heavily depends on the immigrant job force that helps sustains their fragile system. These businesses heavily rely on the immigrant work force that is willing to work for long hours and for low wages in order to get by. Otherwise, these industries wouldn’t be able to sustain a lot of the low to medium size factories that are prevalent in northern and central Italy along with several agricultural farms in southern Italy who also depend on many desperate immigrants.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The counterpart to the first aspect of Italian identity is comprised of Immigrant Italians, refugees, second + generation Italians, or, otherwise, all other Italians who they themselves or their families are not native to Italy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a serious issue amongst native Italians who some (or, disputably, even most) agree that “Italy [should be solely] for Italians”. From the limited information I have gained through readings, research, and a few interviews I believe that Italians feel that their culture, language, religion, and, ultimately, their “authentic Italian” identity is threatened by the immigrant masses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These immigrants have emigrated from several countries including Tunisia, Bangladesh, Albania, Algeria, the Philippines, Romania, Peru, and several other nations from Northwest Africa as well as Southeast Asia. Many of these immigrants leave their native countries solely on their own free will, possibly looking for a better way of life, but some are forced to leave – resulting in their refugee status. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Native Italians perceive these social and cultural differences as threatening. The influences on Italian culture from the immigrant population is rapidly changing the “face of Italy” and transforming Italian identity. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The conflicts between religion, language, social-economic roles, and culture have created hostilities between the native Italians and the Italian immigrants to the point where no immediate solution can be seen in the near future. The Italian government has made it nearly impossible to successfully integrate immigrants into Italian societies, instead isolating them tens of miles outside major cities in several legal encampments.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore, one can only conclude that an ideal image illustrating Italy, native Italians, Italian immigrants and Italian culture does not exist. There will be a continuous struggle defining the perfect representation of Italian identity for many years to come.</span></div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-42449295064604225272011-01-18T12:45:00.000-08:002011-01-18T12:45:25.479-08:00The ancient city & our weekend in Florence!Hello everyone!<br />
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</div><div>So it's been about a week or so since my last blog & many excursions have taken place! A small group of us went and toured a bit of the ancient city (where the Colosseum & Roman Forum are located) but didn't actually go into these sites until today. We had a guest speaker to teaches Classics and Latin at a local college here in Rome give our class a guided tour of the Roman Forum today and it was pretty spectacular. We were able to see temples that were built to worship Saturn (Cronus), Jupiter (Zues), Minerva (Athena), plus the spot where Julius Caesar's body was cremated after his murder (which actually wasn't the Senate house but was committed in the EXACT same building where the UW Rome Center is!!!). That's some crazy ish huh?!?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Anyways, last weekend we were able to chill a bit and walk around the ancient city where we took pictures at several locations like the Forum, Colosseum, the chariot racing track, & some famous piazza's. I'm thinking that we'll probably have a chance to actually tour the Colosseum and Palatine Hill this weekend before we go to the Italian Opera since we don't have any plans to leave town as of yet... :)</div><div><br />
</div><div>Last week we also had a chance to go to the Van Gogh exhibition which is taking place at a local Roman Museum near the Colosseum. That was pretty cool but this particular exhibition was missing a few keys pieces that makes Van Gogh such a world renowned artist...like his "Starry Night" for example. So that was a little disappointing but it was fun all the same.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This weekend a group of eight of us decided to go to Florence for the weekend! We had an absolutely AMAZING time!! Of course i took this opportunity to compose a crazy jam packed itinerary of all the famous Renaissance tourist sites and museums including Florence's most famous site: the Duomo cathedral, also, Piazza della Signoria (the heart of the historic center & a sculpture exhibit) & Piazza Vecchio near the world famous Ponte Vecchio (medieval bridge, built in 1345), Galleria degli Uffizi (the world's most important collection of Renaissance art), Galleria dell' Academia (Michelangelo's David), & the Boboli Garden's/ Pitti Palace!! We even managed to make an early afternoon day trip to Pisa to take pictures of it's famous leaning tower (though we didn't make in time to tour the inside and climb up to the top which i was NOT happy about). And yes, we managed to cram all that into just two freaking days. The eight of us also shared an 8 person room with just one shower & toilet...that was interesting. Nevertheless, it was an amazing time and i would do it again in a heart beat :)<br />
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We made of first trip to our internship location today at the Iqbal Masih school located on the outskirts of Rome. We're doing internships twice a week at a couple different locations depending on what our interests are. A couple of us are working with a gay rights activist group called Archigay. A couple are working with a non-profit organization, a refugee center, a local art gallery, and i am a part of a group that will be working with the Iqbal Masih school which is centered on educational opportunities for immigrants, impoverished, low income or just diverse multicultural families without discrimination or prejudice.<br />
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For those of you who are wondering about the name of the school, Iqbal Masih was the name of a young immigrant boy from Pakistan who was sold by his family at 4 years old into child labor. He became an international figure head for the Bonded Labor Liberation Front at the age of 10 when he escaped. However, he was brutally murdered in 1995 at the age of 12 when he was assassinated in his hometown in Pakistan. It is believed that the "carpet mafia" are the ones responsible for his assassination because of his famous fight against the child labor industry.<br />
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That being said, the Iqbal Masih school in Rome is named after this young champion for child rights and is incredibly dedicated to the education of under privileged and immigrant youths from all over Rome. Our group was greeted by an incredibly friendly and outgoing faculty and very excited and curious 1st graders today. I will definitely keep you all updated with my internship!<br />
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Sorry for the ridiculously long blog. Lot's have been going on and i don't have an opportunity to write personal blogs very often. I have two blog assignments that i will be posting by the end of the week (Sunday). So if you have any interest in reading them, by all means - feel free. Otherwise, you'll be able to identify my personal blogs strictly by the title.<br />
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Miss & love you all lots!!!<br />
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Ciao <3<br />
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p.s. My other half of post cards will be sent of shortly. Thank you for your patience :)</div>Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-20971895797095743112011-01-10T00:03:00.000-08:002011-01-10T00:03:33.374-08:00Assignment #1 First Impressions on Rome/ Italian Youth From what i can gather from my first observations on Roman youths is that they are very family oriented and are completely enveloped around the traditions and cultural norms surrounding Roma and Italy. <br />
I have visited the Piazza Navona a couple of times since being in Rome and they were hosting a carnival both times. There were many children with their families enjoying the decorative and lively atmosphere and taking part in the celebrations of the upcoming Italian holiday. Obviously these types of interactive familial activities will have a huge impact on their cultural identities as they grow into active participants of Roman/Italian society. <br />
In comparison with the youths of the US, it's very similiar if not the exact same situation of exposing youths at a very young age to cultural traditions (and maybe even the expectations) of your surrounding society. When you expose youths at an early age to certain types of food, religion, and societal norms you are having a direct impact on that youth's identity and social structure that will impact them for the rest of their lives; because it's a projection of their culture and society - rather it be American or Italian.Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-13488112429265088292011-01-07T02:31:00.000-08:002011-01-07T02:31:32.487-08:00All settled in :)I have been officially moved in into our new apartment for 2 days now and it's really fantastic. I consider our neighborhood as the "Brooklyn" of Rome because we have to walk across the Ponte Sisto Bridge into Trastevere (where Vatican City is located). It's seriously is less than a 5min walk back into downtown\central Rome so it's actually really convenient.<br />
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I have 3 really great roommates: Natalie, Sarah & Sha (Shaquella), and i couldn't have asked for more friendly and outgoing girls! Our apartment is surprisingly really large, and we share 2 girls to 2 bedrooms so we aren't cramped at all. I'll have to take some pictures to show you how modern and nice our place is! I wasn't at all expecting this and had prepared myself for the worse...haha!<br />
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Everyone else in my program is really nice and we all like to spend a lot of time socializing with the whole group! The other night i organized a night tour from the Campo de Fiori to the Piazza di Spagna (because i had already done this walking tour by myself during the day), and 8 of us ended up touring these sites for over 3 hours... It was a lot of fun but really hard on our feet.<br />
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We've only had 2 short orientations so far because everyone is still kinda out of it, and still transitioning to Italian time, but the group is going to the local flea market this Sunday and some of us are planning on exploring the historic district (where the Colosseum is) and Vatican City this weekend since we have it off :)<br />
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I'm sending out some post cards today so keep an eye out for them! Luvs!!!Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-8718247167583558422011-01-03T13:23:00.000-08:002011-01-03T13:23:26.998-08:001st day in Rome!After mulling around the hostel this morning and trying to avoid doing anything productive (since i was severely jet-legged and lazy), I finally decided to go out and explore my surroundings. For any of you who are familiar with the downtown Rome area, the hostel i am staying at is right near the Stazione Termini which is a fairly short subway trip outside of central Rome. When i left my hostel, it took me exactly two blocks walking in the opposite direction of the train station before i got lost for approximately 20mins and was finally able to find my way back, without accomplishing anything, and frustrating myself with my directional amnesia and stupidity. Anyways, when i got back, the guys at the reception desk told me to go right instead of left outside the door and the train station was only 2 blocks away...<br />
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A short walk later, I was on my finally on my way and took the subway to the Piazza di Stagna (where the Spanish Steps are located). As soon as i got out of the subway i knew i was in the right place because there was a million tourists walking around, and the Piazza is absolutely beautiful. The spanish steps have a more picturesque look of grandeur in all the post cards but they seemed smaller in person....or maybe that was because of all the people on them?? Who knows... I will go back some evening for a different perspective.<br />
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Then it was a short walk to the Trevi Fountain, and that also seemed very different in person. The facade was gorgeous, and the statues breathtaking, but the fountain is self seemed bigger in the movies...or maybe i just expected the piazza itself to be bigger. Then again, there was too a million tourists walking around and taking pictures like myself... So a different perspective is also needed.<br />
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Then i found the Pantheon. The outside architecture is absolutely amazing!!! It is obvious that this monument of Historic Rome is the real deal since the circumference of the building is bordered off with a moat like structure to preserve it. They are currently doing maintanence to the front of the Pantheon so i have a bunch of pictures with ugly ass staffolding ladders in them...bummer. The inside was nice. I expected it to be a little bigger because all the postcards make it seem absolutely gi-normous. I mean, it was big and everything, and the floors were nicely decorated and made of marble with the big ass whole in the middle of the ceiling directly above. The surrounding piazza was also nice. I might as well make another trip in the near future.<br />
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The Piazza Navona was probably my favorite "touristy" sight today. The piazza itself is huge and is actually the shape of a square unlike the Piazza di Spagna which is kinda just an open area....or maybe i just couldnt tell its shape becuase of all the freaking people. Anyways, there was a carnival type event going on and there were a bunch of children walking around with their parents so that was really cute and charming. I loved the three very large fountains in the middle and their very different decorative themes, especially :)<br />
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A short walk north is the Piazza Campo de Fiori which is the Roman market area. This is a lot smaller and quant than the Navona but just as charming, and really had the authentic Italian atmosphere. The UW Rome center is located just on the northeast wing of the market in the nearby piazza de Biscione. This was the reason for my venture out today, so i could find this place in the morning when i have my big ass bulky suitcase to lug around the cobble stone... :p<br />
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Afterwards, I made my way back to the Stazione Termini without trouble, and grabbed some take out (I LOVE TAKE OUT) which was the Italian dish of Catelloni de Carne! It was muy delicioso (yeah, i dont know any Italian so Spanish can suffice)!<br />
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However, shortly after making it back to my room, i was somewhat alarmed by someone knocking on my door. I assumed that one of the 4 other girls sharing the same room was locked out... So imagine my surprise when i found a young girl standing outside asking for me and greeting me with a smile only to start sobbing when i confirmed that she had found the right person. Her name is Sharice (i think), and she is another girl in the same UW study abroad program. We had sent a few emails back and forth with our travel itinerary but i had no idea she was staying here. Anways, she was crying because she was very overwhelmed with her first experience traveling solo outside of the US and had encountered a some unforseen obstacles. She too had a weird experience with her "cab ride" (though it wasnt a marked/licensed taxi car), and the "cab driver" freaked her out. So she was already unnerved when she got in and then she had trouble figuring out the door/room light situation, like myself. Her laptop was also dying and she has the wrong converter so she cant charge it, etc. She was just not having a very good day and had only just got in a few hours prior; plus she isnt used to being on her own so she just needed to vent and be reassured that she is okay, and i will make sure she gets to where we both need to be tomorrow.<br />
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Other than that i took a two hour nap and am ready to finish my dinner, have a couple of drinks, and enjoy the last night of my first Roman hostel experience. Sorry for the overload of information. There was a lot going on today. I promise i wont post again till the end of the week :) Ciao luvs!!Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704933404701438836.post-33196051849865172762011-01-03T00:28:00.000-08:002011-01-03T00:28:48.314-08:00What a crazy couple of days...Travels got off to a pretty rocky start. My flight from Dallas to Madrid was delayed 5 hours which resulted in me missing my Madrid to Rome connection. When i finally made it into Rome last night i was 7hrs behind schedule and my luggage was still in Madrid :\ However, I luckily had my carry-on bag which provided me with at least some essentials...except for underwear, my cell phone charger, and my outlet converter. Go figure. But, nonetheless, within the last 24 hrs i made through 4 airports, 3 countries and 2 continents in one piece ;)<br />
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I was somewhat sexually harassed (though i am sure the Italians would consider it flirting) by my cab diver last night... I probably shouldnt go into detail, but lets just say that if this would have happened in the states i am certain he wouldve had a law suit filed against his ass.<br />
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I am staying at a local hostel until we can officially move into our Roman apartments tomorrow morning. The staff here are amazingly friendly and helpful. This one guy had to literally help me use my calling card cuz i didnt know how to call long distance and my cell phone wont be working until i get an Italian SIM card (on my to-do list). I wouldnt have even attempted, but knowing my dad...he probably wouldve contacted the US Embassy for missing persons abroad if he hadnt of heard from me like soon.<br />
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The nice Roman gentlemen also had to show me how to get into my room and turn on the lights... I can manage my way through foreign airports but i apparently i cant do anything else. He told me he would bring back some authentic Italian wine with him this evening and would share some with me. That is probably going to be the extent of my day cuz i dont feel like doing much else.<br />
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Uh... Other than the mayhem of the last 2 days, things have been pretty chill. I am debating if i should attempt to wonder around the historic district today and find the UW Rome Center but i havent made up my mind yet. I am feeling pretty lazy and comfortable with where i am at the moment. <br />
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I hope all is well back home and i will update you all again soon :) Ciao!Marissa in Rome 2010http://www.blogger.com/profile/14374996126811054043noreply@blogger.com0