Reflections & Farewells (GL 350)

     This blog marks our final week here in Italy. I can't believe I'm saying that. It seems only yesterday I was packing my suitcases with my cat trying to sneak in it, or saying goodbye to all of my friends and family before leaving. These past eight weeks have been amazing and I've had the time of my life. Within the past two months, I've had so many firsts and I can also check off numerous things on my bucket list, which makes me very excited.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

     Last Wednesday was definitely one that I've been looking forward to since we've arrived in Italy and can easily be one of my favorite experiences here. We saw none other than His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI at the Papal audience. The night before at dinner, Danilo had told us we didn't get good tickets and might not have a good view of the Pope, only to find out later that he had gotten VIP tickets which allowed us to sit in the second row. People from all over the world and of all different ages and backgrounds come to see the pope, which is amazing. It was an unbelievable experience and even though he spoke in seven different languages, I listened to every word. At the beginning of the papal audience, different groups who are in the audience are announced and I'll never forget the moment when Walsh University was announced. We all stood up and cheered, very happy to be a part of the ceremony, if only for a moment.
     Last week, we also took a train ride to the town of Nettuno. This city, by the Tyrrhenian Sea is home to the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial. It was a beautiful day and very cool to visit this cemetery. It felt like we were in America, with the names of Americans on gravestones and American flags waving. It definitely made me realize how proud I am to be from America and I'm glad we got to see the cemetery. In Nettuno, we also visited the church which is dedicated to Saint Maria Goretti and had class on the rocks on the beach.

American Cemetery in Nettuno

Amy, Aimee, Sydney and I in London 

      For our last weekend in Europe, Amy, Aimee, Sydney and I decided to travel to London, somewhere I had always wanted to go. It was incredible. We got to see Big Ben, London Bridge, Shakespeare's globe and a British production of Wicked, rode the London Eye and ate fish and chips. It was great. Then, on Sunday, our journey home turned out to be rather frustrating. First of all, we slept through breakfast at our hostel (which is never a good sign). After being kicked off of a bus to take us to the airport because we didn't have online tickets, we had to rent a taxi which was 3x more expensive, but it was our last resort since we could not miss our flight. We did end up catching our flight and returning to campus on time for dinner though. And though we had a slight mishap in our returning journey, it was a great weekend and I definitely would want to visit London in the future.
     As our reading of The Talented Mr. Ripley comes to an end, I found it to be quite interesting. While reading about the places he's been, and having been there also, made the reading experience more enjoyable. I also found the reason that Mr. Ripley is so "talented." "His stories were good becaus he imagined them intensely, so intensely that he came to believe them." He lies and makes up stories so detailed and precisely that he believes them himself. But, as we know, Tom Ripley lives on.
Ciao!

Italian Health Care & Healing Through Prayer (SOC 490)

     It's hard to believe that this is the final blog for our Comparative Health class here in Italy. Before this class, I admit that I did not know much about the details of health care, or at least I didn't know how complex it could be. This class has definitely made me more aware of not only the health care of the United States, but other countries as well, especially Italy. 

     Last week, for class, we surveyed Italians about their thoughts on the Italian health care system. After practicing our Italian with Ippolita, our Italian professor, and perfecting our dialogue and questions to prepare for the interviews, we headed to the market. Because of the rain, we headed to an indoor market, which also included an Italian university. While it was nerve-racking at first, we got more comfortable speaking with Italian people of all ages. Some refusals and ten completed surveys later, here are some of the results: Half of the people interviewed were male and the other half female and their ages ranged from 19 to 69. Most rated their own health as "good" (buono) but others rated it as "fair" (discreto) and when asked to rate their doctor, most replied "good", but the others answered "fair" or "poor" (pessimo). Just over half of the people surveyed have been to the hospital before, while the other 40% have not. Those that have been to the hospital before, either rated their care in the hospital as fair or good. The most interesting results of the survey in my opinion were the answers given to the question "Is a nationalized system of health care a good system?" Eight people answered this question with "no," while only two replied with a "yes."

     Expanding on the readings in Universal Health Care: Opposing Viewpoints, Johnathon Ross believes that expansion of Medicare would be the best way to provide universal access to quality health care. He thinks that a single-payer universal insurance pool like Medicare, financed by payroll and individual taxes, is the simplest and most efficient way to make sure that health car would be available to everyone who needs it. Somewhat simlarly, Atul Gawande thinks that while our health care program needs to change, we cannot "swap out our old system for a new one...But we can construct a kind of lifeboat alongside it for those who have been left out or dumped out." He thinks that we need to look at our past and our current health care system, and work off of that to improve it and change it, rather than starting over new, which he believes, surely won't work. 

     Another topic we have been pondering over and discussing in class is whether or not we are able to cure disease through the power of prayer. While I believe prayer is powerful and can help people get through various life obstacles, I have not witnessed an actual disease being cured through the power of prayer. There have been many instances of miracles and healing from God through prayer or the Holy Spirit, however. On a different note, I do not think that one should resort to prayer as their only form of healing, because one may need serious medical attention for a disease or illness. Although medical attention is necessary for the control of a disease, I believe prayer and spirituality can contribute to the healing of a person.

The Vatican & Sorrento - Week 6 (GL 350)

View from the top of the dome, looking out over St. Peter's square

     Week six in Rome was surely an eventful one; one that I had been both looking forward to and one that I will always remember. On Monday, we went to Vatican City to climb to the top of St. Peter's dome. This alone was an incredible accomplishment. After climbing the many steps up to the dome, we were exhausted, yet amazed by the view below, from which we could see St. Peter's square. The time we were given to be at the top was short, but it definitely makes me want to come back.
     After the dome, we headed to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. This was undeniably one of the best parts of my stay here in Rome. We hear so much about the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo and his paintings growing up, which makes actually being there so much more enjoyable. One of the paintings on the ceiling, The Creation of Adam, by Michelangelo is one of the most famous works of art not only in the Sistine Chapel, but in the world. To see it in person is indescribable, and if pictures were allowed to be taken of it, they would not even compare to its beauty. As Michelangelo writes in one of his lesser known works of art, his poems, "art lives forever."
     On Tuesday, we had a tour of the underground excavations beneath St. Peter's. It was interesting to go beneath the basilica to see what it used to be like and the remains of what is said to be the actual St. Peter. To know that only 100 people are allowed to visit the underground part of the basilica a day, and that we got to have a tour of it, makes it more unique and special to me. Then we had a student-led tour of the Basilica of St. Peter and the vicinity. It was a great tour led by Katie Moore and Brandon. St. Peter's basilica is amazing and massive. I feel as if I could stay in there forever and just explore, and still not be finished.

Pompeii

     At the end of the week, we found ourselves on our way to our third and final group weekend trip to Sorrento. After three different trains and a van ride, we made it to our hotel. Sorrento is defnitely one of my favorite cities we've visited so far. Even though it was raining almost the whole time we were there, I enjoyed the mountainous landscape, the ocean and the Christmas decorations. I would love to go back and visit Sorrento on a warm Summer day. On Saturday, we took a train to the city of Pompeii, which was both destroyed and preserved by a volcanic explosion. It was very cool to take a tour of, even though we were literally walking through a thunderstorm. It was very enjoyable and even though our trip here is beginning to come to an end, I'm trying not to think of how many days we have left, and instead making the most of every day and enjoying it while it lasts.

Arrivederci!
   
   

In Control of our Health? (SOC 490)

     For the past few classes, we have been discussing whether or not our health is something we have control over. There are many different types of health: physical, mental, social and others. While one may not be able to control aspects of their health such as hereditary illnesses and accidents, we do control how we treat our bodies, whether positively or negatively. We are only given one body, and if we treat it well, by exercising, eating healthy and getting enough rest for example, then we are on the right track for a healthy lifestyle. In my opinion, if you treat your body right, in all aspects of health, then the rest is not in your hands, but the hands of fate, destiny, God, or whatever you may believe in. Everything happens for a reason, and you may make mistakes, but in the end, you are not in control of some things that may happen to you, like accidents, diseases or dying.

     Another topic that has come up in class regards American health care compared with other countries such as Canada and Italy. These countries both have universal health care which make it easier to compare between the United States and Italy, for example, because there are many differences. While health care in the United States is said to be better in different ways, there are statistics which may prove this theory otherwise and raise questions as to which type of health care may be more efficient. For example, the life expectancy at birth for people of the United States in 2007, was 77.8, while in Canada, the life expectancy was 80.4. Infant mortality death per 1,000 births is also higher in the U.S. than in Canada. On the other hand, in Italy, the infant mortality rate is 3, while in America it is 7. The life expectancy is also higher in Italy (81), while in the U.S. it is 78. While statistics may not always be a great example of the health of an entire nation, they provide a perspective which helps focus on the bigger picture.
     One viewpoint about a universal health care plan suggests that having universal health care, or an open-ended insurance program, would encourage abuse of the health care system. Malcolm Gladwell, alternatively states in Universal Health Care: Opposing Viewpoints that "Open-Ended Insurance Payments Do Not Lead to Abuse of the Health Care System." Gladwell thinks that just because we would have universal health insurance, that doesn't mean people would abuse it, rather it would decrease costs in certain aspects. He states that "when it comes to health care, many of the things we do only because we have insurance...are anything but wasteful and inefficient...they are behaviors that could end up saving the health-care system a good deal of money."
     Chris Farrell says that "Universal coverage would stimulate the economy, it would boost the financial security of ordinary Americans, and it would break the health-care reform log-jam." He thinks that implementing universal health care would be good for the U.S. economy and that it should be implemented rapidly. The negative aspect of Farrell's viewpoint, is that he uses words such as "hopefully" and states "once the economy recovers, Washington can debate how to create a more cost-effective and cost-efficient health-care system." This viewpoint seems to be not thought out well, and gives off the vibe that we can "figure the rest out later," which would not be good for the economy. Henry J. Aaron, on the other hand, says that the United States should move forward cautiously to implement health care. 

Thanksgiving Week in Italy: Week 5 (GL 350)

     As yet another week of our Rome experience comes to an end, I find myself extremely thankful for this entire experience. I've become comfortable with being here, that I sometimes have to pinch myself for taking the little things for granted. We're here in Rome for eight weeks. While that seems like a long time, it has gone by incredibly too fast for my liking, which is why I just have to take the time and continue to embrace every moment, even if every moment isn't perfect. 

     "Let us consider the solitary Italian, whoever he may be, at the moment he is actually born, on the day, that is, when he realizes that things are seldom what they seem, words not always what they sound like, and most of what he learned in school, in the army, or from his elders, and what he read in many grave books, is complete nonsense." This quote from Barzini's The Italians, I found interesting because it sends a good message. It means that one cannot learn about Italy stuck in a classroom, reading countless books, or just listening to what others say. It must be experienced by oneself, in the many piazzas of Rome, with the natives of Italy, and with the massive churches, small cafes and ancient ruins surrounding you. 

     During week five, besides Thanksgiving, we had some other fun experiences as well. On Monday, we had a little piece of home when some of us were able to see the final installment of the Twilight series in theaters, Breaking Dawn. Even though the movie had Italian subtitles, it was really great to see it in Rome with my fellow students. We also had a tour given by Gabby and Aubree of the beautiful Borghese gardens and Borghese Museum, which was very fascinating. Also, some of us got to visit St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican city for the first time. As we walked out, we see something spectacular: a rainbow covering the Vatican. It was beautiful to say the least.

     Last Thursday was a different and new experience for me, and many other students on this trip. It was our first holiday away from home: Thanksgiving. After 18 years of spending it with my family, Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite holidays. Great food, board games, laughs, family, ornament exchanges and good times are some of the things that make it special. While I missed all of this, I was happy to be spending this Thanksgiving with my new Rome family. We went to Santa Susanna, the English-speaking church in Rome for mass, sang "America the Beautiful," ate a delicious classic American Thanksgiving dinner, Skyped our families and watched Christmas movies, which left us all very full and happy people. This Thanksgiving in Italy was very special to me, and it is something I will be able to look back on and cherish for years to come. 

Ciao for now!

At the Vatican with a rainbow in the background

Thanksgiving feast on campus

   

Museums and Italian Health (SOC 490)

     For the past few weeks for our Sociology class, we have been focusing on several things. The American and Italian health care systems are different, and we need to ask ourselves why they are different and how we can learn from the comparisons. What can we, as Americans, take from the Roman approach to improve our health? We were also given something else to ponder over, and that is whether or not our health is something which we have control over. As part of the class, we visited the Museum of the Mind and the National History Museum of the Medical Arts. After visiting these museums, we could better understand part of the Italian health care system.

A bed which used to bed in the mental institution in the Museum of the Mind

     When asked the question of whether or not health care is something which we have control over, my answer is yes. We are in control of our bodies and what we eat, how much we exercise, and how we treat our bodies is in our control. In addition, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World states that man should take care of, not only himself but his brothers. "If one is in extreme necessity, he has the right to procure for himself what he needs our of the riches of others...'Feed the man dying of hunger, because if you have not fed him, you have killed him.'" Your health is determined by how you live your life, but at the same time, we cannot control when we die or when we procure certain things such as illnesses or diseases. In the Museum of the Mind, we had a tour of what used to be a mental institution in Rome. Some of the patients we learned, were entered into the institution because they were orphans, and had no mental illness. Though, when they left, and depending on how long they lived there, they left with a mental illness of some kind. This is sad, yet it shows us what can happen to someone if they are treated as if they have an illness, even though they don't.

National Museum of the Medical Arts

     On Monday, we visited the National History Museum of the Medical Arts in Rome. I found this museum interesting because it preserved many things that used to be used in hospitals long ago in Italy. It also had many things such as skeletons and wax models which were used to teach medical students. It was interesting to see the tools they used to use in hospitals and the differences between then and now. One of the main differences is technology, though it amazes me how much they knew even back then.
     In Italy, there is universal health care. In other words, if you are an Italian citizen, you are guaranteed basic health care. Statistically, Italy's life expectancy is 81 years while the United States' is 78. Some people also say that the U.S. health care system needs to change and that we should adopt a universal health care policy, similar to Italy's. Ben Furnas, for example, writes in Opposing Viewpoints that "the quality of health care in the United States has been declining...health care reform could lead to billions of dollars in savings." Italians have a different way of life. It is rare to see an overweight Italian. The foods they eat are also fresher and usually healthier. Though their way of life is not perfect, there are many things that we can learn from the way Italians live.

Living in the Moment: Week 4 (GL 350)

     Somebody pinch me. First of all, it's still hard to believe that I'm in Italy. Secondly, it's mind-boggling that we have just finished our fourth week here in Rome, and we're already halfway through this program. I'm still so grateful to be experiencing everything we have been doing so far and I try to embrace every moment. This past month can be summed up in a song that Aimee Jones and I have been singing since we've been here: "Living in the Moment" by Jason Mraz. It's a great song that we use to inspire us as we are studying here in beautiful Italy. 

A view of the Pantheon on Piazza della Rotonda

     "Work is pleasure and pleasure is work. I find Rome a good place to work." This quote found in Muriel Spark's "My Rome" is relatable to my time here because I find that even though we are studying here, it is highly enjoyable and I don't complain about the work we have to do here. We read about the places we are going to, we discuss Italian health care and we have find different places to just have class in Rome. This alone makes it so much more exciting and if every one of my classes were like this back in North Canton, I'd be set. But, I guess we can't have it great all the time, after all. This Tuesday, Aimee and I had to give the rest of the class a tour of Piazza Navona and Piazza della Rotonda. This included the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Sant'Agnese in Agone, Santa Maria sopra Minerva and the Pantheon.

     Alice Steinbach in "The Smiles of Rome"writes about a few things that I can relate to perfectly. She describes her feelings of homesickness first of all. I miss my family, my dogs, cat, my friends and "the comfort of routine" as Steinbach says, but at the same time, I'm in absolutely no rush to leave Italy. I know that my family and everything else will be there when I return home and I also know that they are proud of me and wish for me to experience the best of this trip. "I yearned to...lie in bed, waiting for the soft thud that signals the arrival of my cat." I can particularly relate to this sentence because my cat would sleep with me before I left for Italy, which was a comfort that I loved and can't wait to return to when I come home in December. 

Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence

     The fourth week ended with our group weekend trip to Florence. This trip has been the best weekend so far in Italy, and I find it so hard to believe that they just keep getting better. Florence had many great things to offer including a market down several streets with stands selling everything from various leather items (which Florence is known for) to scarves and souvenirs, the massive cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (which we attended mass on Sunday), the Accademia (which houses the spectacular statue of David by Michelangelo, which felt like meeting a celebrity), exciting night life, and fantastic food. It was a great weekend and I can't wait to not only see what Sorrento and Pompeii are like, but I look forward to this next month here in Italy. 

For now, I will be sure to keep living in the moment. 

So I just let go of what I know I don't know
And I know I'll only do this by
Living in the moment
Living our life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Peace in my soul
Wherever I'm going, I'm already home