GL 350 week 7.. Don't overthink just let it go

Okay so I realize I have been slacking on telling you what I have been doing over the past two weeks. I’ve just been so busy doing last minute things before I leave and completing assignments that are due this coming week. On Monday, November 26, we climbed to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica. It was so cool to look over all of Vatican City and some of Rome. After the Dome, we walked to the Vatican Museum where we were able to see the Sistine chapel. Although pictures were not allowed, it was cool to see something that I’ve heard about from textbooks but never seen. On Tuesday, November 27, Brandon and I had our student led tour of St. Peters Basilica after we went underneath the church to see the remains of St. Peter, luckily our tour went off without a hitch. On Wednesday, November 28, we had a free day that was spent by relaxing around campus. On Thursday, November 29, we went into Rome to conduct our SOC interviews. It was an awesome experience but it was scary because we had to approach Italians to ask about their health system. Nonetheless it was an awesome experience to learn how they felt about Universal Health Care. On Friday we left for Sorrento/Pompeii with Mike!

It was an adventure getting to Sorrento since there was strikes on the trains that went right into Sorrento. After a few hours we arrived in Sorrento, and continued on the planned route. On Saturday, it was raining but we still went into Pompeii to see the ruins. It was awesome to see a city in the form that it was a century or so ago. Even though the rain didn’t let up and we all got soaked, it was an amazing opportunity and I’m glad we got to do it. That night we had a group dinner that took over three hours and was simply chaotic. We left on Sunday to come back to Campus to begin our seventh week. This past Monday, December 3, we had Katie B and Katie D’s walking tour of Esquiline hill. It was so cold, but we got to see the chains that held St. Peter onto the cross. On Tuesday, it was supposed to be a free day, but the four education student’s had to go to an Italian School to do our observation hours. It was so cool to see how an Italian school operated and to see how similar they actually are to American Schools. As we were leaving we even got to see a school bus!

On Wednesday, we went to the papal audience to see the Pope! It was an amazing opportunity that most people don’t get to do while in Italy. We were in the second row, thanks to Danilo, and had the best seats in the house. Since I’m Catholic it was an honor to see the person in charge of the Catholic Churches. At the end of the audience we were able to get things blessed. I got my two necklaces blessed and myself since I was also in the presence of the Pope during the blessing. I am so thankful for this opportunity. On Thursday we went to the American Cemetery in Nettuno. While at the cemetery we walked around looking at all the two types of graves, the cross and the star of david. In the chapel there were names of soldiers who died but were never found, and I was able to find over five people who share the same last name as me. Although I don’t think I am related to any of them, it was cool to see. It was the first time we were in the town of Nettuno, but we got to go the sea and have class on the rocks. On Friday, Katie and I hit the city of Rome to explore and find a store. We also went to the Trevi Fountain for the first time since we have been here. Since your not supposed to throw a coin in until you leave Rome, we simply saw the fountain and then left and headed to The Hard Rock to celebrate Katie’s birthday. It was a lot of fun just to take the day and relax and enjoy ourselves before our weekend full of assignments.

Even though this weekend is a free weekend, we have two finals that we have to write and other little things to do before we leave to come back to America on Friday. It’s a very weird feeling knowing that this is my last week in Rome. While writing my Global Learning Final, I realized how much I have changed since I left home. As Highsmith says, “He had improved, at least, since he left New York, and would improve more.” This quote represents me so well since I left New York to come to Rome, and I am growing everyday because of new experiences. I just consider myself to be extremely lucky to have experienced what I did in the seven weeks that I have been in Rome. I now have an outlook on life that makes me appreciate what my parents have given me and what I have accomplished on my own. When I go home it is going to be really weird that stores are open from the morning to the evening without a break since that is what happens in Italy. “Places closing from noon to four” (p. 47), will be a thing of the past and it will take some getting used to. Just like I had to get used to the stores being closed it the first place, I will have to readjust to them being open whenever I want to go. Like I said in my last blog, I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back home just yet. I already know I will come back to Europe sometime in the future since it is simply beautiful. 

SOC 490, week 6.. The end:/

      I can't believe six weeks has already come and gone. This is my last post for Soc 490 since our class is coming to an end. The question of the week is, can we cure disease through power of prayer? Well that depends on who you are talking to and what country you are in. It also depends on the religion of the person who is sick. Many Christians and Catholics believe that prayer will help heal a disease or sickness. For me, I don’t think a chronic disease can be cured solely from prayer I think there are other factors involved such as medicine and doctors. I am unsure whether prayer is a strong enough method to cure someone, but then again that is only my belief and I know others feel differently. 

Last Thursday, our class went into Rome with a survey in hand about the Italian Health Care system. Our mission was to interview ten Italians on the state of their health, the quality of their physician, if they have visited a hospital and if so the care they received, if the Italian healthcare is good, and which hospital in Rome has the best doctors. While I was interviewing, I found that some Italians didn’t want to answer my survey because they didn’t know what it was about. I also found some Italians say that they have never been to a doctor and they have excellent health. I don’t know if they were built with an awesome immune system or if they believed in the power of prayer. On the day of the interview I was nervous to approach these Italians because I have previous knowledge that Italians don’t like giving out person information. After getting passed my first couple of interviews I noticed that the people who were answering my survey were helping me out because they knew I was an American Student doing a study for my University. It probably helped that I approached them saying, “Senta Scusi, Buongiorno, mi Chiamo Katie, La studentessa di Americana...” or something to that effect. 

Over the past six weeks we have been discussing the topic of Universal healthcare. Through discussions we have talked about whether the United States should model a Universal Plan based off of the “Roman” model or the Canadian model. For this week we are looking at the steps the United States can take to achieve Universal Health Care. The biggest question is if the United States needs to create a new system or if we can repair the current system. According to Johnathon S. Ross, an extension of Medicare is the most efficient way to go. Ross says, “Low-income individuals and families who do not qualify for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid would receive subsidies toward the purchase of insurance through the experience” (p. 163). Ross also says how if a family doesn’t qualify for Medicare there would be a system that requires everyone to have insurance or they would have to pay a fine. 

On the other hand William Hoar asks, “Do we really want healthcare run by those who have displayed the efficiency of the DMV and Postal Service and the compassion of the IRS” (p. 170)? Hoar also says that the Government says the Medicare system that is in place now will be going bankrupt within the next ten years or so. If this is the case do we really want to mirror an entire healthcare system off of a failing Medicare system? After interviewing ten Italians and looking over everyone else’s results, I have decided that America needs to create a new healthcare system based on the Italian or Canadian models. Even though there is flaws in both of their systems, it would be better than basing our universal plan off of a failing medicare program. 

GL 350 week 6: I wanna live while I'm young

As many of you know I have been living in Rome for the past six weeks. Every weekend I was given the opportunity to see other cities besides Rome. For instance, I saw Paris, Venice, London, Florence, Dublin, and Sorrento. Next Friday I will begin to make my journey home and I am sad to say goodbye to my life here. At this moment I am confused to whether I miss home, or I just miss simple luxuries that I have at home, such as driving my car or going to a grocery store whenever I want to. Looking back I wouldn’t want to change anything about my experience. Over the weekend I read The talented Mr. Ripley, by Patricia Highsmith, and I forced to remember the little details about my trip. Before my adventure to Castel Gandolfo, Italy I lived in New York, and I was not a big proponent of change in plans at all. 

After being away from home and familiar places I have changed but in a good way. As Highsmith says, “He had improved, at least, since he left New York, and would improve more” (p. 232). Everyday I face a new challenge that I have to work through and I have to make the best of every situation so I don’t ruin my experience. On our second day in Rome, we learned how some business have a siesta during the day. I had never heard of a business closing during the day to take a break before that day. Frankly it was weird to me and I didn’t understand what was happening. Now that my trip is over I have come to terms with the fact of “places closing from noon to four sometimes” (p.47). On my first free weekend, I was scared out of my mind to travel to Paris with two other girls. I was just getting comfortable with the Italian culture and here I was about to throw myself into the French culture. After all Paris “was the atmosphere that he had always heard about, crooked streets, gray-fronted houses with skylights, noisy car horns, and everywhere public urinals and columns with brightly colored theater notices on them” (p.121). Everything looked the same to me, the architecture, the streets, the metro, and even the restaurants. 

Our next weekend was a school trip to Venice, Italy. “American tourists raved over Venice” (p. 184), but why? I hated Venice for the most part. The only way to get from one place to the other was by ferry or walking. Not to mention it was supposed to be flooded why we were there. Luckily, the rain held off until Sunday but then San Marco’s Square was almost completely flooded. “The weather was bad, but Capri was Italy” (p.177), or in this case Venice was Italy. Everyone in my group was making the best of the situation because we were in Italy, the best place on Earth. Looking back on that weekend now, I think we over looked how miserable some of us were because we were in a “honeymoon” phase about being in Italy. I also learned about the hotel policies this weekend. In Europe, it is common courtesy to leave your one room key at the desk so your roommates can come and go as they please. It was weird every time we returned to the hotel we “collected the key at the desk” (p. 107), and proceeded onward. In my opinion it is a waste of time since I was always with my roommate. 

  I think my favorite part of my trip so far was experiencing Dublin with my friends. Since I am almost a 100% Irish, it was cool to be in the country where my ancestors once lived. I learned that visitors can bring their ancestry information to a building in Dublin and trace down their family roots. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and I would have done it if I had the information with me. Most people believe, “Italy is the most beautiful country in Europe” (198), frankly I disagree. I think Italy is beautiful and all but nothing can compare to the atmosphere in Ireland. Everyone was so nice and happy all the time and they spoke English! My biggest downfall this trip has been the language barrier. It is challenging trying to speak the little Italian I know to the Italians in Rome, which is probably why I find Ireland so irresistible. If I could hop on a plane right now and go back, I would. 

Although at the moment we are finishing out our semester abroad strongly in Italy. I am beginning to connect the information we have learned at tours with what I have learned about in school along with information from other tours. It’s amazing how everything is connected one way or another around Rome.  After reading The talented Mr. Ripley, I am remembering the small details that I so easily forgot about. There was the first train ride into Rome, the first metro ride to the colosseum, our first journey on the crowded bus 64, and other things that have escaped my thoughts. I think when I get home I am just going to want to come back to Italy to the family that I have spent the last two months with. I think this trip has defiantly brought me out of my little shell not including my dislike of food. I cannot wait for my American food since I am a very picky person. If anything I have grown a greater appreciation for the differences between people and cultures since America is almost all the same. Everywhere that I have been throughout Europe have been the same but different since the countries were established on different grounds and different beliefs. 

I will never forget this experience or the people I shared it with. I will also not take my life for granted back home because according to how most Italians live, I demonstrate a very luxurious life style. I also learned that I can live without the little things in life like cars and T.V’s since they have not been available to me for the past two months. The one thing that has drove me crazy was my cell phone not working. If I wanted to talk to my family I had to make sure there was money on my prepaid phone or that they called me back. In the end I learned that these are all materialistic things that people throughout the world go without everyday. It’s almost nice to “think about the meaning of possessions, and why I (he) liked to live in Europe” (p. 240). Living in Europe is like putting life on hold and just enjoying life for a while. Things like Gucci, Prada, ferrari, and things will still be there in the end and there’s no point wasting time getting caught up in having the best of the best when it’s not needed to survive. It’s like Danilo said the first week we were here about knock-off purses and goods, if he has the money he will get the real thing, if he doesn’t he will simply wait until he can afford it. Who knows, maybe I’ll start living like an Italian in America and only survive on the bigger things in life. 

Soc 490 Week 5!

These past few weeks in our Soc 490 class we have been discussing ones control over their own health. In our class discussion last night there were many points brought up about who has the ultimate control over health and the factors that affect ones’s health. Some people believe that people can control their health by controlling the factors that influence one’s health. Others believe that their health is completely out of their control and tend to believe bad health is caused but supernatural things. 

While reading Universal Health Care for our assigned readings this week, I noticed two authors in the beginning of the book had two very different viewpoints. Robert Helms thinks that having a Universal Healthcare system would be a moral hazard while Malcolm Gladwell thinks there is no moral hazard involved. Helms talks about how a Universal plan encourages abuse of the system. We said in class that people would be lining up to take advantage of free doctor visits. But, would people really want to go the doctor just because it’s free? I know I already dislike going to the doctor and just because it would be free would not make me want to go. I guess I agree with Gladwell when he says, “You’ll no longer grab one of those free Pepsis when you aren’t really thirsty” (p.59). Gladwell is saying just because it is free people aren’t going to do it just because it is there. If they don’t need to visit the doctor then they wont go. 

Another point we talked about in class was whether one has control over their health. We also compared various statistics of countries with universal plans compared to the United States. In 1990 Italy had a Universal Plan but their mortality rates, and life expectancy were close to those of the United States, but in 2007 their numbers were drastically lower. What cause a decrease in their numbers if they already had a plan set in motion? In the United States there are people dying from heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and accidents. These numbers are almost double the amount compared to Canada. If one has control of their health can we limit these problems? My thought is no because our health is not completely in our control. Even if you eat healthy, and lead what some may call a healthy life style you can still have a condition that is passed down through genetics that could give you heart problems or diabetes.

It is said that people in Italy only eat McDonald’s as a treat, and they walk every where which is one reason their numbers are better than the United States. I don’t think this statement is completely true since not everyone goes to a McDonald’s or other fast food chains daily or even weekly. For some families McDonald’s is used as a reward or a special occasion. Some people believe that if American’s didn’t eat as much fast food then there would be more control over their health. But once again, I don’t think our health is in our control. I think external factors such as not eating healthy and not exercising contribute to bad health, but things like genetic disorders cannot be changed. I also feel that I will always have an argument that ends with a yes but.. which means I think to some extent things are in our hands BUT there are external factors involved. 

GL Week 5.. We’re about to make some memories tonight

I cannot believe another week has come and gone here in Rome and I have to say it is going by far to quickly. Each week seems to get better and better and I never want to leave. Well, okay I lied, I miss my friends and family so if they move to Italy I am set for life. This past week was Thanksgiving, and it was the first holiday I’ve missed with my family. On Monday, we went to the Museum of Medical arts. This museum was weird at first because it was all about medical tools and medical processes of the past. When we first walked into the museum there were babies who had birth defects or were still births sitting in containers. I was really grossed out at first but after going through a second room filled with tools it became easier to look at the things in the museum. After the museum Katie B, Brandon, David, and I all headed to St. Peter’s Basilica to prepare for mine and Brandon’s walking tour. 

On Tuesday, we had another student led tour of the Borghese gardens and vicinity. At the beginning of the tour Gabby and Aubree pointed out the American Church in Rome that we would be attending on Thanksgiving. After their tour was over we ended at Borghese Gardens where we were visiting the Borghese Museum and the actual gardens. In The Italians, Barzini says “He had always felt the wind turning with sufficient anticipation to prepare himself without vulgar haste” (p.159). As mentioned in our class discussion, this saying is about changing with the wind and accepting changes as they come. This is precisely what we had to do when we arrived at the gardens. We were supposed to have an appointment at 11:00 to tour the museum but instead the tour was postponed until 1:00. Instead of being mad our group had to embrace the change since there was nothing we could do about it. We also couldn’t hold it against our professor or Danilo since it was neither of their fault. After we found our disappointing news, we decided it was time for our picnic in the park. We then proceeded to wander for what seemed like miles until we found benches to sit and eat and then have class on. 

In our Smiles of Rome book Edith Wharton says “she took daily walks and and carriage rides within the four-mile circumference of the park surrounding the villa” (p. 200). After walking just to find a place to eat and have class I can understand why she went on daily walks. It was so beautiful to see the different monuments and things throughout the park. I also learned how big the park actually is. When we finished class we headed into the Borghese museum which was different then expected. Again we had to go with the wind of things since we had no guide for the museum and everything was in Italian. Overall I wouldn’t change that experience for anything. 

On Wednesday we had another free day which was occupied by yet another paper, this time for my online class. On Thursday it was thanksgiving, my first one out of the United States. We caught the 8:24 train into Rome so we could attend the Thanksgiving mass at the American Church. At approximately 4:00 we had an American Thanksgiving dinner, or as American as we could get. Danilo hired an American Chef who cooked two turkeys, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin soap, pumpkin pies, apple pies, cranberries, and gravy. It was delicious and fun since we spent the evening with some of our Italian friends. 

On Friday Katie, Amy, Emily, and I left for Dublin. After wondering around and doing the mandatory souvenir shopping, Katie and I headed to Hard Rock for our annual dinner. After dinner we checked out the bar scene since that is what Dublin is known for. It was so much fun and we even got kisses from an Irish man, on the cheek of course! On Saturday we went to the zoo which took about three hours, and then headed back on our hop-on hop-off bus to get back into the city. In the city there was a Union protest happening on O’Connell Street, which was fascinating to see. I’ve normally only seen protests in pictures and on t.v but now I’ve seen one in real life. We ended our night with a pub crawl which was probably the highlight of my weekend even though I don’t drink. It was fun hanging out with my friends and just enjoying our night at the night clubs we went to. On Sunday we had a long day of traveling, but it was defiantly worth it in the end. Stay tuned till next week!

SOC 490 week 3/week4

In our Universal Health Care, Ben Furnas says “The United States as a whole is performing well below the standards of health, efficiency, and care that are realistic and have been achieved in the most successful U.S. states and other developed nations” (p.27). Furnas says that one of the indicators of our failing health system is infant mortality.  The United States is behind many other countries in life expectancies. Not only do we have a low survival rate of babies we have a shorter life span than most other countries.  Furnas says that obesity is one of the reasons for chronic problems in the United States. When looking at the functionality of the United States, there are fast food restaurants on every corner. People drive or take buses to get from point A to point B.

In Italy there are the same amount of McDonald’s since there is one almost every where you are. The difference is that people in Italy walk every where. Since everything is in a close proximity there is no reason to drive or take a metro because it is faster to walk. In America people eat McDonald’s and don’t exercise to get rid of the extra calories they have consumed, and people wonder why Americans are obese. Another difference is the freshness and quality of the food. Even though the restaurants we eat at are technically “fast food” the ingredients are fresh and things are made daily. 

There isn’t as much fat in the foods that they serve. Another thing that contributes to our health care failing is people in America don’t take care of their bodies. Along with the fast food being consumed, people are binge drinking. The drinking starts anywhere from age fifteen until the legal age of twenty-one. When people drink daily or weekly they tend to get what some may call a beer gut. Now I’m not saying a drink here and there is bad, but when it happens so often that people get alcohol poisoning or addicted then it impairs their health. I’ve noticed that people here in Italy tend to stop throughout the day and get a drink at the bar and then continue on with their day. Most people aren’t drinking to get drunk but rather its simply something they have grown up with. They also exercise more than American’s do, so they don’t develop beer guts. 

While we were at the museum of the mind, and the Museum of Medical arts, I realized that everyone has different approaches to people who are different then themselves. For example people were put in the museum of the mind for things as little as a learning problem. This is because some people thought that was an impairment to their health when in reality they just didn’t know how to deal with it. Now the question is what can we take from the Romans to improve our health? In my opinion we can’t take a lot from them except to balance what we eat with exercise. We can’t fix our healthcare system and make it like theirs because we would need to start from the beginning. America is trying to improve the system we have instead of creating one from the very beginning. 

Soc 490 Museum of the Mind/Medical Arts

Over the past few weeks in Soc 490, we have been taking about whether health care is a right or a privilege and whether the United states should provide it to their citizens based on the results from other countries. This past week we went to the Museum of the mind. This museum was in an old psychiatric hospital that was open for about 60 or so years. Yesterday we went to the Museum of Medical Arts. This museum housed different tools and instruments that were used during medical procedures in the past. Although these museums are different they both gave us a look into history.

The museum of the mind was interesting to see because there were different rooms that were set up as they were when the hospital was functional. There was a room where patients would sit to get their pictures taken, one for them to sit in silence, and another where they rock back and forth. While rocking back in forth in the chair we were able to use an interaction module to hear the different stories of the patients that came to this hospital. Most of the patients who came did not have any psychiatric problems they just simply had a learning disability or were homeless or were in an orphanage. By staying in the hospital for months these patients tended to gain psychiatric problems. It was interesting to see a room where patients who imposed danger were kept because there were ropes attached to the beds to tie a patient down. These patients started to then act like animals and pee in the bed since they constantly needed assistance to do simple everyday tasks. During a documentary film a nurse admitted that they would give patients sleeping pills in order for them to be silent.

The museum of Medical Arts gave a completely different vibe. At first it was cool because I didn’t know what to expect but then we stepped further into the museum. The first thing I saw were babies in containers that had been preserved. These babies were born with defects or were still borns. It was gross to see the babies features but it was also sad because the babies never had a chance at life. After the babies we saw a display of the different ways a baby could be positioned in the fetus. I realized that there are many dangerous ways a baby can be positioned that can harm their life. Professor Mustafaga explained to us that in most cases the doctor would have to rotate or fix the baby by hand in order for there to be a safe delivery. There was also no anesthetics at this time so a woman felt every movement. The next rooms in the museum housed the different medical tools used during that time. I’m just glad to say we’ve come a long way since then. Most tools were long and sharp and seemed like they would hurt more than they actually helped. After seeing the different tools and things that go into medical care I am glad I don’t have to look at things like that everyday because it would certainly make me sick! 

GL 350 Week 4..Hey girl I'm waitin' on ya come on and let me sneak you out

I can’t believe week four has come and gone so quickly. It seems like just yesterday that we arrived in the beautiful city of Rome. After our weekend in London, Monday morning seemed to come a little to early. We had to catch the 8:24 train into Rome to begin our day with a student led tour. Danielle led her tour which was of Aventine Hill. It was really cool because in the beginning of her tour we walked through a dirt patch that used to be used for racing. At the end of her tour we walked into a garden and got a beautiful view of the city. Even though we were miles away from St. Peters Basilica, it still stood out among every thing else in our view. After the tour was over we had class in the gardens, and as usual it was interesting watching the views of by standers who were trying to understand what was going on. 

On Tuesday morning we had another student led walking tour. This time it was Amy J. and Rachel through Piazza Della Rotonda and Piazza Navona. While walking around the first corner of the tour we walked up on the four rivers fountain under the obelisk.  As Muriel Spark says in The Smiles of Rome, “In central Rome you only have to walk down the street and you come to a fountain by Bernini” (p. 231). This is true because you never know what great wonder your going to see when you walk up the street or round a corner. The rivers are represented by people and one of them is blocking their face because they thought the church was going to collapse. We then walked to a bakery shop that had the best cannoli’s in all of Italy, or so I thought. When the tour was over we were headed towards subway only to realize it was closed for maintenance. We had to settle for a little mom and pop pizza place right down the road that turned out to be pleasantly good. After lunch we had another class in Rome in front of a different obelisk. This time we were in many different tourist photos including one of our own.

On Wednesday we had our free day. This time it was spent writing our Soc 490 midterm and doing laundry. Thursday morning Mrs. Mustafaga arrived to campus, just in time to celebrate her birthday! Since professor wanted to greet her at the airport our morning class was postponed and we caught the 10:24 train. After two train rides and a metro ride we finally arrived. We spent the afternoon at the museum of the mind. It was a museum of an old psychiatric hospital so it was pretty cool to see the history in the place. Before we got our tour of the museum we had class across the street since we had time to kill. Thursday night we had our first dinner with Professor’s wife and had Pope cake! It was a surprise to her since she had no idea we planned a party for her birthday.

On Friday morning we headed to Florence. We caught the 7:43 train into Rome and then the 9:15 train toward Florence. It was a beautiful city and frankly the best one yet, besides London. The afternoon was spent with an orientation of the city and then time to explore. Katie and I went on a mission to find a leather shop and ended up walking from one side of the city to the other. After we found what we were after we headed back to the hotel to relax for a while. Around 7:30 we met Danilo in the Lobby so the three of us could head to Hard Rock. Since we’ve been to three Hard Rock’s in different cities since arriving it’s sort of a tradition by now. 

On Saturday we went to an Art museum which was kind of boring but interesting at the same time. It was filled with over twenty rooms filled with paintings and sculptures. When we were done at the museum Katie and I headed towards the Duomo to accomplish the task of climbing to the top. Eight euros and 463 steps later we were looking over the entire city of Florence. It was breathtakingly beautiful and not just because we were over five stories in the air. After the Duomo we went out in search of a leather jacket and ended up in a market full of venders, each one willing to make the right deal for us. When a vender asked us how much we were willing to pay for the jackets and we both said a price without looking at the dealer in the eye. As Barzini says in The Italians, “Italians must always look at each other’s faces. The read in their opponent’s eyes (or catch in his voice and choice of words) the signs of his stubborn decision or hidden timidity” (p.188). Since the dealer knew we hesitated on how much we were willing to pay he asked a higher price than what we offered. 

Now we know that the Italians will only take us seriously if we can maintain a straight face. We ended the day with a group dinner at an authentic restaurant that served amazing food. Our dessert was Tiramisu and it was to die for, literally. On Sunday we had time to do last minute souvenir shopping until we had to head back to campus at three. Overall it was a great week, stay tuned for next week! 

GL 350 week 3.. Its Now or Never

This past week has probably been one of the best weeks I’ve had here in Italy so far. On Monday we went on another walking tour led by David and Emily of San Giovanni and San Clemente. I think the best church I’ve seen so far was San Giovanni. This church had a wow factor like no other. I remember walking in and just trying to take in the size of the church. Even though we could take pictures, I felt as if there was something I missed every time I turned around. Before we went into San Giovanni, we went to the Sacred Steps. There are twenty-eight sacred steps in which you are supposed to climb every step on your knees while saying a prayer or homily on each step. Although I did not personally partake in this task, watching my classmates and roommate complete the steps made me realize how much stronger we are becoming as a group. As St. Paul says in The Smiles of Rome, “ Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other (p.84).” By watching my new friends and family perform a religious journey, made me respect them even more. On both Tuesday and Wednesday we had free days. On these free days me and my roommate just relaxed around campus and caught up on sleep and homework. 

On Thursday we went to the Aqueducts after class. It was really interesting to see the aqueducts that were built many years ago still standing and transferring water today. After the first half hour it got kind of boring since the aqueducts all looked the same. On Thursday night Danielle’s parents joined us for dinner. It was nice having her parents at dinner but it made me miss my family. Its as St. Paul says, “Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying (p.84).” Even though seeing her parents made me sad, I knew I had to just keep going through the day because I would see my parents and family at the end of this wonderful experience. 

On Friday Katie B, Emily, Amy and I all left for London. After traveling through Germany and getting our passports stamped in customs (Again!) we found our way to the underground. Thankfully everyone spoke English so we were able to ask for directions to our hostel. The first person we asked sent us in the complete opposite direction of which we needed to go, but then we found directions and got back on track. That night we actively seeked out a Chipotle for a little American-Mexican food. On Saturday Katie and I explored the city on our own. We ate lunch at subway and then went into the city to find Big Ben. When we got off the underground we walked up the steps and looked up to the right and saw big Ben. After taking the very touristy pictures in front of Big Ben we walked toward Buckingham Palace. Before we reached the palace we came across the Abbey Road district. It was cool to know that the beetles took a picture right near where I was. When we found the Palace we were disappointed to find that there were no guards at the gates. 

We then took another tour of the City to go back toward Big Ben and the London Eye. We were told to get on the London eye right as the sun was setting because it was supposed to be the prettiest time to go. I would have to say the London eye which is the big Ferris wheel was well worth every penny. After the London Eye we found the Hard Rock to meet Emily and Amy for dinner. We all decided we wanted to celebrate Katie’s birthday so I told the waiter it was her birthday. She had to stand up in front of the entire restaurant while everyone sang happy birthday. It was really embarrassing for Katie, but of course we were all laughing at her. 

On Sunday we headed back to Rome. For our layover we had thirty minutes to get from our one flight to the other. We had to go through customs once again but got another stamp in our passport! The final flight home was hit with lightening making our radar system go out but thankfully we still landed safely. This was will an entourage of twenty firetrucks following the plane as we landed. All in all I’m realizing this trip is full of adventure. As Alice Steinbach says, “‘The unexpectedness of life, waiting around every corner, catches, even wise women unawares (p.245).’” Just like stepping of the metro on the very first day and seeing the colosseum to stepping off the underground in London to seeing Big Ben. Stay tuned to next week!

Soc 490 Week 2...Hold on to me as we go, as we roll down this unfamiliar road

Some people say that in order for one to fully understand their own opinion on a topic they need to fully understand the other side. That is my job this week, I need to defend the other side of the healthcare debate. My position is that healthcare is a privilege, while the other position is that healthcare is a right. In the Universal Health Care book, Helen Redmond describes why access to health care is a human right. Another author that thinks Healthcare is a human right and not a privilege is Gary Dorrien. Both these others point out valid points as to why healthcare is a right and not a privilege. 

One example that Redmond uses is people who are addicted to drugs. She says that people who are addicted should be provided the help they need in order for them to get their problem under control. She also says that treatment programs do not allow enough spots to help treat all of those who are addicted to drugs. Another example that Redmond uses is that some people only stay at their place of employment for their medical plans. If people are forced into jobs they hate in order for them to have decent medical coverage or any medical at all, then they are at an unfair advantage. If there was a universal health care plan then people wouldn’t have to worry about the medical coverage at a specific job because they would be covered no matter what. 

When looking at the debate of whether universal health care is a right or a privilege it is important to remember who is affected. For example if a child is born into a poor family who cannot afford to buy healthcare or cannot seem to find a steady job, then should that child be held accountable? If Universal Health Care is a right then the child should be provided health care no matter what.  As Gary Dorrien says, “Health care is a fundamental human right that should be available to all people regardless of their economic resources (p.100).” Dorrien is saying that no person should have it held against them if they cannot afford healthcare. He believes that healthcare should just be provided no questions asked.

While now I can see where the other side of the argument comes from, I still agree one hundred percent with my decision that healthcare is a privilege and not a right.

GL 350 Week 2...I know we only met but let's pretend it's love

This week in Rome.. hmm where to begin is the question on my mind. On Monday we were given our first free day due to the forecasted weather. We were supposed to spend most of the morning and afternoon riding bikes along the Old Appian way. I was not thrilled about having to bike almost ten miles that afternoon, so I was relieved it was postponed till Thursday. Since there was nothing to do around campus, my roommate Katie and I took an adventure to the Spanish steps in search of rain boots. After countless hours of shopping, we turned up empty handed because we couldn’t find the boot store. On Tuesday, we had our first student led walking tour. This tour was on the Spanish steps and surrounding area. Even though I had already been to the Spanish steps twice, I was excited to go into the churches that were pointed out. After the tour we had our first class in Rome! Normally our classes are held in the classroom on campus Monday-Thursday, but with the walking tour we needed to catch the 8:24 train instead of the 10:24 so class was postponed. We ended up on the steps in front of a very important building. As we were having our class discussion people walked by gawking at us. I guess they were intrigued at a group of student’s having class on a set of steps in Rome. After class Katie and I went back out in search of rain boots for the upcoming weekend, this time finding the store and the boots.
            On Wednesday, we had our scheduled free day. It was the first time since we had arrived that it was raining outside. Now I’m not talking a light drizzle, I’m talking a full blown rain storm. It was so bad the windows in our room started to leak. There was so much water coming in our room we had a small puddle on our floor. On Thursday, we had our dreaded bike tour of the Old Appian Way. Though I had anticipated it to be horrible it turned out to very relaxing and cool to look at since this road was used back in the day. After the bike tour we got ice cream and cupcakes. The cupcakes were from the Sweety Shop that was once visited by Buddy from Cake Boss.
        On Friday, we had to be up nice and early to catch our flight to flooded Venice. When we arrived, however, Venice was not flooded and barely had any water to be seen. When we got to the hotel we were all worried because it looked extremely sketchy and old. In our book The Smiles of Rome, John Updike discusses a couples experience in Rome. This piece was called Twin beds in Rome. After reading this chapter I thought I would never seen a king bed or a double bed in Rome since they are uncommon. To Romans the bedroom is strictly used for sleeping. Much to my surprise, the beds in Katie and I’s room was made into a King which was unaccepted. We both just wanted separate beds as we were told so we could have our space while enjoying each other’s company. Since we had to wait for our beds to be separated, we just became more and more exhausted and annoyed because we wanted to take a quick nap before our mandatory orientation of the city. After the orientation the “Cinque Chicks” or Katie B, Emily C, Amy, Danielle, and I found a gondola ride. It was extremely worth the wait and the money since our gondolier was hilarious. One of our group members was a little scared to be on the gondola and would yelp a little when the boat tipped. Our gondolier noticed and swayed the boat more just to see our reactions. After this our weekend seemed to get better. On Saturday, we went to the Murano Glass workshop and saw a live glass demonstration and got to see completed pieces of work. It was amazing to see what could be done with a little bit of time and a whole lot of glass. Now that the weekend is over it is time to recover and settle back into “Rome Home”
        After our most recent weekend trip, I am starting to see what Barzini is talking about when he says people are drawn to Italy. Barzini says, “many foreigners come back the next year. Some come back more and more often. Some stay a little longer, every time, and decide to live in Italy for a spell (p.8).” After being in Rome for three weeks I understand the feeling. Barzini quotes Nathaniel Hawthorne by saying “’we find that the native air has lost its invigorating quality, and that life has shifted its reality to the spot where we have deemed ourselves only temporary residents.’” I feel as if I am no longer a temporary resident of Italy or Rome but a permanent resident. Stay tuned for next week!

SOC 490 week 1... and here we go again

*DISCLAIMER ALERT: This blog is for my soc 490 class and therefore it will have no relevance to what I did this past week. You may proceed if you wish* 

This past week in Soc 490, we began discussing whether healthcare is a right or a privilege. After reading four sections out of the Universal Health Care book, I decided that I think healthcare is a privilege. If healthcare is in fact a privilege then there does not have to be a Universal Health Care plan in effect. The four authors in Universal Health Care that we read were Helen Redmond, Leonard Peikoff, Mark Creech, and the interfaith center in corporate responsibility. Redmond believes that Healthcare is a right while Peikoff believes it is a privilege. 

I believe that healthcare is a privilege and not a right because it is not outlined in the constitution. The constitution states that we have the right to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. There is no statement saying we have the right to healthcare. Peikoff says that these “American rights impose no obligations on other people, merely the negative obligation to leave you alone.” Peikoff is saying that we were given these rights because they do not impose on others rights. If you want property you have the right to work for it and if you want the pursuit of happiness you have the right to try to obtain it. Just like the constitution states, we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness not healthcare. I look at healthcare as a reward to hard-work.

An example that Peikoff uses to explain his point is haircare. If you were born with the right to free haircare then you would be taking away the rights of hair dressers. This is the same thing when applied to free healthcare. When providing universal healthcare for others the government would be taking away the right of doctors and nurses. Although haircare and healthcare are different, the point is that if they were free someone’s rights or freedom is being imposed upon. I also believe that healthcare is a privilege because it is a reward for things that you may have accomplished. If you work everyday and make a good living then you should have the opportunity to get healthcare. If you sit and home everyday and don’t try to earn a living then you shouldn’t be entitled to healthcare. I don’t believe it should be handed to someone just because they want it to be. I think if we work towards something it should be available to us. 

GL 350 week 1.. Step into the fantasy you'll never want to leave

Can you imagine what would happen if you were close enough to touch some of the most renowned buildings known to man? This past week I have had some opportunities to just that. On my first day in Rome we arrived at Fiumicino airport, located just outside of Rome, at about 9:30 in the morning. When we arrived at campus we couldn’t get in the building fast enough. We wanted to see the rooms where we would be staying for the next eight weeks. When my roommate Katie and I got to our room at the end of the hall, across from the balcony, we laughed at the sight. The room had two twin beds that looked like something you would find in hospitals. Next to the beds there was one amour for both of our clothes and one desk to share. When we were done unpacking we relaxed for a little bit before it was time to sit through an orientation and receive our Italian cellphones! After sitting through an orientation that seemed to last forever we hiked for a half an hour to Castel Gandolfo. In the town of Castel Gandolfo is the Pope’s summer home. Although the Pope is currently not residing in this home it was totally awesome to see. 

On Monday our day started at 8:30 with our Global learning class. After class ended we hopped on the 10:23 to termini to catch the B line to the Coliseum. When I heard about the Coliseum in school, I never imagined stepping off the subway and walking up the steps right outside the coliseum, literally. From across the street the sight was overbearing. I’ve seen the coliseum in pictures from others who have visited Rome, but the sight was still beautiful. After the coliseum we took the short walk into the Roman Forum. As Georgina Masson says in the book The smiles of Rome, you have to picture what it was like in the early days. The Roman Forum was pretty boring to look at if you ask me. While reading Masson’s article realized that if you used some imagination  you could see the beauty that was there once. After the Roman forum we walked to Palentine Hill where there more ruins stood. 

On Tuesday, we had two classes: global learning and Italian. After our first Italian class, I can say it is going to be hard differentiating from Spanish to Italian. Our teacher walked into class, and spoke in almost all Italian. It was really hard to understand at first but as the class went on she explained what she was saying both in Italian and in English. Needless to say it is going to be an interesting adventure in my Italian class! After class we went on a walking tour that took us through the Jewish Ghetto. This ghetto as it is called was where the Jews lived during WWII. On the boardwalk there were some stones that were replaced by names of Jews who were taken to concentration camps. It was really cool to see that America and Germany weren’t the only countries that had places to remember those who were involved in the WWII concentration camps. 

On Wednesday we had our second Italian class. This time she asked us what we wanted to know or what we needed to learn so we could go into the city and interact with the people who live in Italy. After class we headed to Albano Laziale so we could get our student Visas! We needed to get visas so we could stay in the country for two months! This was a very intimidating process since the policeman didn’t speak english, and I didn’t speak Italian. Luckily once of our staff members acted as an interpreter and made the process a little less intimidating. After we were done at the police station we had time to kill before we could catch the 2:19 train back to campus so we wandered the streets of Albano. 

On Thursday we started our Soc 490 class. After a heated discussion so to say, I can tell that I’m really going to enjoy this class.  When class was over we headed to the baths of Caracalla. The baths were the like a gym in the ancient days. Touring the baths seemed to take forever because there was so much to see. We went from one area that was the men’s locker room to across the way to the female’s locker room. This place was Huge! After the baths of Caracalla, we headed to get Gelato with Mike Mike (our residence life director). It was his treat so we all got two flavors to sample with whipped creme and a little cone on top. After our delicious Gelato, the cinque chicks (Katie, Amy, Emily, Danielle, and I) went exploring down the Spanish steps and into the shopping district in Italy. We found stores like Gucci, Tiffany and Co., and Louis Vuitton. After realizing we couldn’t afford anything in these stores we went to a bar to get a drink and relax. 

On Friday morning Emily, Amy, and I left for Paris. My weekend in Paris was defiantly an experience of a lifetime. First it took forever to even get to our hotel in North Paris. We left for the airport at 4:15 in the morning, and arrived at the Beauvais Airport at 9:00am. When we arrived we took a bus into Paris to connect with the Paris Metro. After navigating the metro, we arrived at our stop only to realize our hotel was located in the middle of the city or Ghetto. It was terrifying but we made it through okay. The weekend was spent touring the city and seeing the major sites in Paris. My favorite had to be seeing the Eiffel Tower in person. From photographs that I’ve seen from other people, I would have never imagined the actual size of the tower. It was a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. Now that were back on campus, it is time to relax and reflect on the busy jam packed week I have experienced. Stay tuned for next week!