GL 350, Last Blog!

It is hard to believe that this is my last blog that I will ever write here in Italy.  These past eight weeks have flown by, and it is hard to believe that in one week I will be sitting at home back in the U.S.  I have created so many wonderful memories here, and I encourage any Walsh student to take part in the opportunity I was given. 

Last week, our class had the opportunity to interview local Italians about their health care system.  At first, I dreaded going because I can barely speak any Italian, let alone have an entire conversation.  My support partner was Henna, and as soon as we were set free she walked right up to the first woman she saw.  She stumbled over words, but the elderly Italian woman soon discovered what we intended to do.  The woman took the paper, and began to fill it out.  After that I realized it would not be as difficult as I thought, especially because I would never see anyone again.

I am actually very thankful that we had to interview Italians.  As much as I disliked the idea, it made me realize that it does not matter what part of the world you are from, we are all humans.  At the end of the day, there will always be someone there to help you out.  It was funny even, because we ended our interviews at a local university, and students were actually asking if they could take a survey.  If we had to have more than ten surveys completed, there is no doubt in my mind that we could have fulfilled the request.

In chapter 21 of The Talented Mr. Ripley, Tom learns that the Italian police were searching for him, so he had no choice but to become Tom again.  To show how much he disliked this idea, Highsmith wrote, “He hated becoming Tom Ripley again, hated being nobody, hated putting on his old set of habits again…”  Here in Italy, we have formed several habits that we never had before.  For example, we all naturally say “no grazie” when we are offered something, eating salad before a meal seems unnatural now, and drinking more coffee in a day than the entire U.S. population.   Once we arrive back in the United States, it will be weird forming back into our old habits.  Everything that we have done here the past eight weeks will slowly be old habits and become nothing but memories. 

SOC 490, Week 6

            These past few weeks have really opened my eyes about Universal Health Care.  I have never taken a class that incorporated it before, so I am really grateful that I had the opportunity.  At first I had believed that Universal Health Care was a right, and then I doubted that by believing it was a privilege.  Now at the end of the course, I really am unsure of my viewpoint.  Each side contains so many supporting facts that I just do not know what to think!

            Last week we had the opportunity to go to a market and interview locals about their opinion on their health care system.  At first I was nervous because I can barely say a sentence in Italian, let alone have an entire conversation.  I was very picky at first trying to find someone to question, but eventually I gave in and just started going up to anyone.  After the first few, I actually began to enjoy myself.  It was very interesting seeing the feedback I had received and learned that even if you are not fluent in a particular language, it is not impossible to communicate with someone.

            At the end of Johnathon S. Ross’ article, he states, “America needs guaranteed, high-quality, affordable health insurance for all, with “everybody in and nobody out.”” As I stated, the first few weeks of class I truly believed this; however, now I am just not sure.  I still do believe that everyone does deserve some sort of health care, but after being here in Italy I am so thankful for the health care that the United States provides. 

            The last point in my blog will be about the notion of relationship between spirituality and illness.  Growing up I have been taught that this is true.  I have received countless cards and phone calls throughout my life saying, “keeping you in my prayers,” when someone in my family or I are ill.  I believe that the power of prayer truly does make a difference, regardless if someone is religious or not.

GL 350, Week 6

                Before I started reading Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley, I had heard several students say that it was a boring read.  I, on the other hand, am somewhat intrigued by it.  This is because the novel takes place in Italy and now I can envision almost every event the author creates; from catching bus rides from Naples to simply saying “ciao” to someone, I can relate it to my own experiences.

            “He doesn’t act like an American, does he?  Most Americans are so noisy.  He’s terribly serious.”  This line was stated near the end of chapter six, which was a conversation that two women had after observing Tom.  After being here for six weeks, I have learned that stereotyping is never a good thing, because a lot of them are incorrect.  For instance, a few weeks ago when I traveled to Paris with the six others, the French were so kind and helpful.  I expected to go there and be shunned simply because I was American, but it was the complete opposite.

            Also, I understand why people say that Americans are loud and obnoxious.  It is simply because we are when we are in the presence of friends; however, I have witnessed several Italians being just as loud and obnoxious as Americans back at home.  Riding the train back to Castel Gandolfo with several teenage Italians is never enjoyable.  They are always shouting at each other and laughing obnoxiously, listening to music, and so on.  Also, when we traveled to both Florence and Sorrento, we took the fast train.  Before we entered each time, Danilo stated that these were business people, and they will not be afraid to tell you to be quiet if they hear anything at all.  Again, it was the complete opposite.  People were loud; talking to each other, on the phone, or even just typing obnoxiously on their laptops.  The major lesson that I have learned is to never judge someone solely by where they come from.  Chances are it is wrong.

            Another point in the novel that I found I connected with was when Dickie  and Tom were sitting in Naples, and all of the sudden they decided to travel to Rome.  One of the greatest opportunities about studying abroad is that you can choose to go wherever you would like.  The last free weekend we had Katie Dodds and I randomly decided to spend a night in Rome.  Before we even planned that, we were looking up cities to travel to our last weekend here, just because we have the opportunity.  Another thing that has changed about my outlook on life is that I desperately want to travel to more places.  Being here has made me realize how much of the world I have yet to see.  There are more than just beaches on the Atlantic Ocean.

           

SOC 490, Week 5

            This week we had one of the most heated conversations about Universal Health Care yet.  One of the first things professor had brought to our attention was whether or not people have control over their own health.  This particular question could be answered either way.  People have control over what they eat and the amount of exercise they take part in, but they do not have control over things that happen genetically.   A person that watches their health as if it were their job can have anything happen to them in an instant.  Some things in life are truly out of our hands, even if we have a small grasp on part of it.

            Another one of the points that was brought up this week in class was that once we allow everyone to have access to health care, people will abuse the system.  I have agree with Gladwell, I do not think it will.  If anything I believe that it will be like any other new thing that comes out in America.  At first, many people will take advantage of health care simply because they have access to it; however, after a few years I do not think that will be the case.  The only thing it will lead to is the prevention of things, just as Gladwell argued.  People will go to the doctor in order to take more precautions; such as moles which could potentially prevent cancer.

            This also leads into another point, which is whether or not Universal Health Care is a “moral hazard.”   Again, I must agree with what Gladwell argues.  He asks, "You always hear that the demand for health care is unlimited. This is just not true. People who are very well insured, who are very rich, do you see them checked into the hospital because it's free?”  I could not agree with this argument more.  People always put off going to the doctor and/or dentist because they would rather be enjoying their free time rather than sitting in a waiting room.

            Even though I supported Gladwell in this blog, I must start end by saying these past few weeks have changed my opinion about Universal Health Care.  At first, I strongly believed that it was a right rather than a privilege. I thought that people should automatically have access to health care, regardless of their social status.  Now, six weeks into the course and trying to understand the other side, I realized that having it as a privilege has better information to support it.  America’s health care is not broken, so why fix it?

GL 350, Week 5

                I still cannot manage to wrap my head around the fact that we have less than three weeks here in “Rome home.”  I have been through so many experiences since this journey has started, and I can only imagine the times I still have yet to come.  This week is one that I have been looking forward to for a while.  I have grown up hearing about the Vatican, and this week we have the privilege to see it all.   I am looking forward to the experiences that I am about to take part in this week, and I am still laughing at myself for one that I had this past weekend.

            Ever since we first arrived here Danilo, Professor, and Mike have been telling us what to do and what not to do.   Sometimes they even throw in an old story about previous students and their experiences if it relates to a certain situation.  This past weekend, Katie Dodds and I definitely had an experience that will be a lesson to all future Romers.

            Instead of traveling to a different city this weekend, Katie and I decided to stay in Rome.  Late Friday afternoon we decided to head to Albano because we needed to pick up a few things, thinking that we would not be long.  We were only there for an hour or so and we would have had to wait a while for the train, so feeling adventurous we decided on the blue bus instead.  What a mistake.  Instead of taking the bus back to Villetta, we accidently hopped on the bus that said Velletri.

            We were both sitting for about fifteen minutes until we finally decided that we were headed in the wrong direction.  We were not sure if we should exit at a busy stop or stay on, so we decided to ask a few Italians near us if the bus would eventually head back to Albano.  No one seemed to speak English that well, but they seemed to understand when we asked them, and they did not hesitate to say yes.  Katie and I decided that we would stay on the bus, almost positive that we would end back in Albano. 

            After an hour bus ride we ended up in a small city named Cori.  Everyone had exited the bus and the bus driver turned off all the lights and slowly began to drive away.  Katie and I became nervous and instantly went to talk to the driver.  He did not speak English, and he seemed very upset when we said, “Albano,” and did not hesitate to open the door and kick us off.  We ended up going to the first place we could find, and that was a small place called Desire Bar.  As I mentioned, this was a small city so no one spoke English.  The two women that happened to be working could see that we were in trouble, and they were nice enough to bring out their laptop to use Google Translate in order to communicate.

            After a few hours of trying to come up with a solution to arrive back home, we ruled out buses and taxies.  So that only meant one other option.  Mike sadly had to drive an hour to pick us up.  Although we were scared and frustrated during the time, I cannot look back on this experience and be glad that it happened.  Not only does it make a great lesson for future Romers, but it something that Katie and I will always be able to look back on and say, “Hey, remember that one time when we ended up in a different Provence in Rome?”

            This story can relate to our conversation in class about The Smiles of Rome.  Last week we stated that America is constantly lending out a helping hand which makes Italians believe that we have some sort of hidden agenda.  This past weekend was the opposite.  Instead of neglecting us when we needed help, the two women that were working did everything in their power to help us find a way back home.  They called for taxis, looked up bus times, and even let us sit in the bar until Mike arrived because it was cold outside, and yet they wanted nothing in return. 

SOC 490, Week 4

            The health care in America is the opposite of Canada’s.  Instead of having Universal Health Care like Canada, America relies on private health insurance.  As always, this is a topic that is debated upon throughout the world.  While there are many positive aspects to have Universal Health Care, there are always many negative aspects of having it.  Since the United States and Canada are so similar to one another, it is easy to compare the pros and cons of this debate.

            Have you ever felt rushed while you were at a doctor’s appointment?  As an American citizen, I know I have.  That is a great thing about having Universal Health Care.  Doctors feel less rushed and actually take their time with patients.  Although it is wonderful that all of the citizens of Canada have basic health care, it also causes issues with their medical care.  Instead of having the luxury to make a medical appointment within a few weeks, Canadians expect to wait a few months.  This is a huge problem when it comes to people that need immediate attention.    

            The Romans may not have the best health care system or hospitals in the world; however, they are definitely healthier than Americans and there are a few things that we can learn from learn.  For starters, we can simply work on becoming healthier.  Here in Rome, you see Italians walking everywhere.  Sure you see cars driving crazily throughout the streets and/or sidewalks, but it is clear that most people travel to their daily activities by foot.  Also, everything in Italy tastes healthier.  Compared to the United States, sweets are not sweets.  Italians would have a sugar rush if they ate a single Hershey kiss.  Regardless of what Americans say, they are lazy.  These tasks are so similar to take part in and are easy to control.  If people focused on becoming healthier, they could do it.

            Last week we had visited the Museum of the Mind.  It was very eye-opening to me because I knew the things I had seen happen on a daily basis; however, actually seeing everything made me have a realization that it truly is part of the real world.  Also, this past Monday, we went to the Museum of Medical Arts.  Although it confirmed my instincts to not fulfill a career that deals with any sort of medical issues, it was very interesting.   After seeing all of today’s technologies at the Cleveland Clinic, where my family doctor is located, it is amazing to me how people could survive off of such simple items.  If anything it makes me appreciate today’s medical advances rather than take them for granted.

           

GL 350, Week 4

            I cannot quite wrap my head around the fact that we are now more than halfway through our experience in Rome.  We went to Florence over the weekend and it was everything I expected and more.  People had told me before I left that I should take advantage of the market and do most of my souvenir shopping in that city and I most definitely took that advice! Overall, these past few weeks have been amazing and I would not trade the memories I have created for anything.

 I have found myself changing small habits of mine, trying to fit in a “do as the Romans do;” however, there are a few small things that I have yet to work on.  Back at home it is part of my job to smile at people without even knowing who they are.  So naturally, it is a habit of mine. 

             Here in Rome, I continuously find myself smiling at locals while I go up to the checkout or while I simply pass someone while making awkward eye contact.  Instead of smiling back, Italians just stare at me as if I were crazy.  In The Italians, Barzini states, “Ordinary people must usually choose between the unrestrained expression of counterfeit emotions and the controlled expression of real ones.” Now I understand that Italians do not like to show emotions, but they could at least smile back when someone smiles at them!

            Last week in class Professor had brought up the point that throughout our life, during every experience, we will somehow tie it back to Rome.  Even now I find myself doing that while I am talking to family and friends back at home, regardless if I mean to or not.  This experience is something that I will always look back on.  I have seen, learned, and done more than I have throughout my entire life so it is almost impossible not to!

GL 350, Week 3

            This past weekend six of my classmates and I had been in three different countries all in one day.  How many people that are nineteen and twenty years old can say that? As always, we started off getting ready for our day and ate breakfast at Rome home while we waited for our ride to the airport. From there we traveled to Paris; hands down, it is my favorite city that I have seen when it comes to its architecture. 

Being in Rome has made me appreciate small things in America; such as, ranch dressing, somewhat sane drivers, and of course Chipotle.  I would not say that I am homesick, but I would say I’m “America sick.”  I miss the comfort of knowing my surroundings at all times and know how to order something without having to make hand gestures for people to comprehend what I am saying.  The night before we left for Paris, Henna had discovered that Paris had one Chipotle.  We lucked out because it just happened to be next door to another location that we needed to stop at.  So as many Americans that have been deprived from Chipotle at some point can imagine the first thing that we did when we arrived in the city was look for Chipotle.  And let me say, it tasted just like home. 

Knowing that we did not have a lot of time in Paris, we had managed to plan a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and it allowed us to see the entire city in just a short period of time.  As many other tourists and locals would say, my favorite part of the city was the Eiffel Tower, even though it was a close call compared to the Louvre.  Actually seeing it in person rather than in a textbook or online is indescribable; however, I was disappointed that it was not another “Coliseum moment.”  That is when something just comes out of nowhere and is unexpected.  Instead, we actually had to walk around for a little after we exited the metro in order to find it.  One thing that I did find unexpected was that French people are actually very nice! Not one person was rude to us and I will forever defend them if anyone tells me otherwise.   

Once seven o’clock hit none of us wanted to leave Paris, but we headed to the airport anyway with the Eiffel Tower in our rearview mirror.  We landed in Dublin, Ireland at about ten o’clock.  We went straight to our hostel, set our things down, and headed out to explore the city.  Even though Paris has my heart when it comes to its architecture, Dublin has the most amazing atmosphere.  Every person is so friendly and walking down the street everyone was singing! Every fifty feet someone would be on the side of the street being some sort of entertainment.  The food was also delicious.  I hate to say it but it was better than a majority of things I have eaten here in Rome.  It all tasted homemade and was comforting.   I would most definitely love to go back and spend more than just two days there.

In The Smiles of Rome, Saint Paul stated, “do not model yourselves on the behavior of the world around you, but let you behavior change, modeled by your new mind.”   As a student in a foreign country, I really enjoy this quote. Before moving to Rome, we were given several pieces of advice in order to blend in more with the Romans.  I have learned that no matter what we all do, we will always be recognized as American students, so we should not try to pretend to be something we are not.  Even though we have only been here for three weeks, I can already tell that I am forming a new mindset towards the world and life itself.  I appreciate small things more, especially things that make up my life back in the United States.

 

SOC 490, Week 2

In order to fully defend one side of a debate, you must understand what you opponent believes and the arguments they have to support it.   That is what makes a debate so appealing.  Seeing on how I believe health care is a right rather than a privilege, it is crucial that I understand where my opponents are coming from in order to completely defend my side.

After discussing this several times in class, I am led to believe that the biggest argument many people have is, “Why should I have to pay for something that other people aren’t working for?”  The wealthy class is continuously taxed to pay for things that the lower class cannot afford.  I know that is it harsh, but we live in an individualistic world; people have to become responsible and take action for their own lives rather than depend on those around them.

 I understand that this it is unfair to be taxed heavily in order to help the less fortunate; however, who are we to neglect someone in need?  It is impossible to go through and thread out the individuals that take advantage of our country, so why punish the ones that truly need help?

The second point that has come up frequently in class is the expense of Universal Health Care.  Universal Health Care only covers basic health care needs.  Because of this, people would have to pay for their own private insurance to cover what the government will not pay for.  In our Universal Health Care book, Ben Furnas stated that, “an accelerated growth in health care spending has translated into increased burdens on family budgets.”  What will happen to those that need to pay for the extra coverage that the government does not support?  The cost of insurance plans will skyrocket, leaving those that actually need it in most likely debt.

Even though these two points that I have brought up are valid, I still have to stand by my side and say that Universal Health Care should be a right rather than a privelge.  Then again, I am only a nineteen ear old girl taking advantage of my freedom of speech.  In all reality, it’s just another meaningless opinion.

GL 350, Week 2

  

Today was the beginning of our third week here in "Rome Home." We arrived back from Venice late last night, and it was hard to grasp the idea that we were in the same airport just two weeks ago, walking out into the Italian air for the first time. Each and every global learner had a purpose for coming to Rome, including myself.  Barzini stated that several people make a journey towards the city in order to improve themselves and that nothing could be better than a trip to Italy. Like many, I would have to agree with Barzini.

I have always been a sheltered person; growing up in a suburb right outside of the city, oblivious to the world outside of my town.  By coming on this trip, I find myself having a greater outlook on life.  I am slowly starting to grow outside of my comfort zone and am beginning to live by the famous saying, "do as the Romans do."

           Today we had exited the metro station and stood in front of the Coliseum.  When we took the same exit just two short weeks ago, every global learner’s camera was out and we could not take our eyes off of the Coliseum.  Today, as we waited for several students to fill up their water bottles, all of us stood so nonchalantly as if the Coliseum wasn’t even in our sight.   Professor was the first to point out this observation and he quickly said to all of us, “you are all Romans!”  That’s when I realized that many of us truly act like Romans regardless if we speak the correct language or not.  We maneuver our way throughout the city; taking every method of transportation and admiring the views along the ride. 
            Rome is a city that has the power to intrigue people more and more because of its combination between artifacts and modern day articles.  To make Professor’s observation even more accurate, while I was reading Barzini he began to say that Italy was known for some wonderful things; however, the same things that it is known for has better quality in other places such as Greece and France.  For example, he stated that Greece had better meals and France has better cuisine.  What I found interesting was that I was truly appalled that Barzini could even compare any other place to Rome.  It is unnatural to me that in just two short weeks I have learned to call Rome my second home.

SOC 490, Week 1

                Even though I am not an avid follower of Universal Health Care, I do believe that it is a right rather than a privilege.  Helen Redmond, a Clinical Social Worker and a member of Chicago Single Prayer Action Network, stated “the cost of health insurance continues to outplace inflation and wage growth.”  People across America are continuously struggling with every day needs, and unfortunately health insurance is another problem that many Americans need to stress about. By providing Universal Health Care, many people would have an unnecessary weight lifted off of their shoulders.

                I understand why many people believe that Universal Health Care is a privilege rather than a right.  How can one deny a child health care for the regretful choices that their parents have made though? Many people make disappointing choices throughout their life that they should not have access to health care; however, there are just as many people that are trying to make a living and are truly struggling because of financial issues thanks to their health problems.

                Another point the Helen Redmond brings up is job lock.  Job lock is when an individual stays at an unpleasant job only to receive health insurance.  If America was truly one of the best countries in the world, people would not have to settle for something less than what they desire.  Universal Health Care should be provided to every citizen so they should not have to feel obligated to stay at an unwanted job.

                The last point that Helen Redmond made that I found interesting was that approximately twenty-nine million people have medical debt. If Universal Health Care had been provided, many people would not be struggling because of medical bills. Life would be less stressful for citizens across the United States, as well as other areas around the world that provide it.

Thursday, October 25th

     Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been dependent on my family.  My parents, sisters, and I have always been extremely close and I have never been away from them for more than two weeks at a time; let alone two months.  So as many can imagine, knowing that I would be across the world for two months was a bit scary; however, knowing how dependent I have always been on my family, I realized that this was my opportunity to become more independent. 
     Today was our fourth day on this journey and it was the best one yet.  After visiting the Baths of Caracalla and receiving a quick lesson on gelato, four of my friends and I began to wander the streets of Rome.  At first, we walked in and out of small shops that we could never find back at home.  After awhile, we decided that we could not wait to see the Trevi Fountain.  Not knowing its location, we pulled out a map and started walking.  We had looked like typical tourists; taking wrong turns, looking for street names, and so on.  After awhile, we eventually found the known location, and it was by far my favorite spot yet.
     After that, we decided to wander even further into the city.  My friends and I wanted to find a particular store, so we stopped and asked local Italians for directions because our map was useless.  We found our destination and realized that we had lost track of time.  We had to figure out how to return back to the Metro in a short period of time.  My four friends and I remembered passing the Spanish Steps, so we went running throughout the streets of Rome, swerving in and out of the crowd searching for them; knowing that the Metro was nearby.  Once we had found it, we were not sure what to do next.  A giant map sat in front of us so we took our time trying to figure out what our next move was, and somehow we ended up becoming lucky; we made it back to Termini on time ourselves.
     I know that it does not seem like much, but my friends and I felt so accomplished once we reached Termini, a place that we are familiar with.  For the first time it hit me that I had not depended on my family; and instead my friends and I were learning to become more independent together.  As Barzini explained in The Italians, Italian families purposely made their living space larger than any other in their homes in order to spend time together and bond. In my particular situation, I could compare this to the city of Rome itself.  The city is so large that it left my friends and I no choice but to bond today while wandering the streets.  It was the first time that we realized we were on our own away from our families, and for the next two months we have no one to depend on but each other.