Writing Assignment #9

What is an Italian? What does it mean to be and Italian?
What I find interesting, is my inability to understand the national pride that all Italians posses. For a while I was offended by their attitude towards immigrants, and change in the world. Back home in the US, we are all immigrants; we are a country built on change and new ideas. So it was easy for me to come to another country, and criticize what they do and how they act, because it’s unfamiliar to me. But it’s arrogant. I can’t judge Italians by what they do or how they act. Because I don’t understand what motivates them to be that way. I could pretend that I know it all because I have been here for over two months. The reality is, I don’t think I will ever be able to understand them. People are too different. I grew up in a different world.

Even still, I think about what they are doing to the immigrants, and then I look at America. How are we handling the immigrant situation? Do we make it easy for people to gain citizenship? No, I don't think we are that much better with our immigrants than the Italians. So why are we studying all the immigration issues in Italy and judging them? Why aren't we reflecting on our own situations? It is interesting to think about, do we hold ourselves to a different standard?

Sometimes I find my self-jealous of the Italian world. Sometimes I think they got it all right. In the US everyone gets up at 6, spends an hour getting ready and driving to work, works an eight hour work day, spends an hour trying to get home, another hour complaining about work, then an hour trying to figure out what to do for dinner, maybe 30 minutes actually eating dinner, then a few hours watching TV, then some at home work/ emails, then they sleep… and get up and do it all over again. It’s terrible, and boring. What are we doing with our lives? We live to work… We go out with friends and what do we talk about? Work… When we meet people what do we ask? What do you do? Work, work, work. It’s wrong. We are here not to work non-stop for the rest of our lives. We should work to LIVE.

That’s how I feel the Italians got it right. Yes they work 5 days a week, but they have a whole 2 hours off in the middle of the day to go home, relax, get some lunch, or WHAT ever they please. Then they get off work, and go out, or spend time with their families. I see so many people here at the same spots everyday. Walking in to coffee shops or restaurants, where the owners already know their name and order. The Italian slow food theory is a perfect example. They wont seccum to this idea of running somewhere to pick up food and being done. Having meals together really helps people connect. I can’t even think about the last time I actually had a dinner with my family, that wasn’t for some special occasion. Its not any ones fault we don’t have dinner together. We are all too BUSY. Mom and Dad work 8 hours a day, my sister has school, then practice, my brother has school, then work, I have school, then practice and THEN work. Again back to the idea of work, what do we sacrifice just to have a few extra dollars? Is it worth it?

Italians have a strong sense of national pride, and individual purpose. They aren't perfect, but Americans aren't perfect either, but I love the Italians and will miss them greatly. CIAO!

Monti Rione

Monti from Ancient Times to the Present:
Originally known as Suburra, home to gypsies, prostitutes, and thieves. Where people, such as Julius Caesar sent his troops after battle for some time to “unwind”. Today known as Monti, named for the many hills of Rome that the rione covers. It is the oldest rione and the most authentic. Despite being in the heart of the city, it is relatively free of tourists and very safe. Before 1874 Monti was the largest Rione, but that year it lost a large part of its land, which now is the Esquiline Rione. Then only a bit more than 50 years later, Mussolini tore down part of Monti to make Via Dei Fori Imperiali. This destroyed around 30% of the residential neighborhood. Despite these two devastating wounds to the rione, in the years following, Monti experienced a “building fever”. Many “immigrants” (I believe this was a misunderstanding in our presentation, immigrants not from other countries, but Italians from other Riones in Rome) moved to Monti. It became a very hip, and spendy area to live. Most of the inhabitants today are doctors, lawyers, journalists, and boutique owners. Many hip jazz clubs, organic food shops, ethnic food and local artisans shops can be found wandering the streets. The people of Monti are pleased in their own advancements, being the oldest but also the “most recent”. But they fear that they will become Rome’s trendy spot, bringing in tourists.



Architectural History:
Via degli Ibernesi is an excellent example of the age of the Rione. All of the buildings you see are build on ancient Roman Foundations. The first couple floors are from medieval times. The 3rd floors are all Renaissance add-ons. And all of the roof terraces were put up in the 1950’s.



La Torre Delle Milizie:
Rome had 200 towers at the end of the 13th century, now only about 12 remain (5 in Monti). La Torre Delle Milizie is the most famous, sometimes called “Nero’s Tower”. Because it is a common myth that Emperor Nero started the city of Rome on Fire and watched it burn from the Tower (Because Nero’s palace was located in Monti there are many stories of him relating to the Rione. Such as.. He was known to sneak around in dark alleyways in hope to catch the local gossip). The Tower was built over 800 years ago by Pope Gregory IX to be apart of his fortress. Sadly as soon as it was put up, the tower began to sink on one side, so it Rome’s own leaning tower! La Torre Delle Milizie stands almost 50 meters tall, which equals about 7 stories.




Monti vs. Trastevere:
They are the two most important rione in the city, Trastevere being the largest and Monti the oldest. The two constantly feud over who is more “Roman”. Supposedly the people from both are the most genuine “Roman”, the women the most beautiful, and the men the strongest. But they will never admit to this being true of the other, so they encourage marriages within their Rione (Romeo and Juliet anyone?). Every few years they choose a male “leader” (bully) and they take part in the “throwing of stones” at the Campo Vaccino. This is a competition in which the rione with the most superiority would be decided. The “leader” would bring his godfathers to watch, as they would throw rocks and use knifes to battle. Who ever won the fight would be known (among the people) as the “Leader of Rome” (because one of them is the only true Roman in the city).


Street Names and Their Meanings:
Piazza degli Zingari: Gypsy Square, in medieval times was the location of a nomad camp.
The Vicolo delle Carrette: Carriage Alley, the location where during the Renaissance, carriages brought barrels of wine from regions far away.
Look for meanings of other street names!!


Piazza Santa Maria Dei Monti:
The Church of Santa Maria Dei Monti was commissioned by Pope Greogory XIII in 1580 after discovering A miraculous 15th century image of the Madonna, Saint Lawrence, and Saint Stephen. The Image was found in ruins of a convent, the church was built on top of the ruins. Every year between April and May a copy of the image is carried in a procession. The Façade of the Church was designed by Giacomo Della Porta (who also did Il Gesu, can you recognize the similarities?)



FOOD FACT!
On Via dei Serpenti the Pasticceria La Licata makes a delicious honey pastry from an ancient Roman Recipe!!!

Naples Writing Assignment #7-8

Before going to Naples I had already made up my mind what I was going to experience there. Danger, scary locals, mugging, and dirty streets. This is what I was expecting. Stepping out of the train station I prepared my self for this environment. Skyscrapers lined the sky, I hadn't seen a building more than 5 stories tall in two months so this came as a shock, and people chaotically walking in every direction. There were no buses running because of a protest going on through the main streets of the city. We were forced to walk to our hostel. All of this reassured me that I was right... this city was going to be one big urban mess. As we made the trek a few blocks to where we would be staying I kept all focus on my backpack. I was carrying nothing of value, for fear it would be stolen. But I was still on my guard. Luckily we all made it to the hostel with out being mugged or killed. Surprisingly our hostel was pretty cool, all of the staff were really nice, and our room had a pretty sweet balcony. After a brief drop off of our things we were off to experience Naples.

For the next day and a half I was pleasantly surprised by this place. The food was amazing, the people were nice, and the city was so interesting. I don't think there is any where like Naples in the world. It truly cannot be described in words. Being there I could see where many of these horror stories and rumors came from. There is a roughness to the city I don't think many people can appreciate. The people seemed more real than the Romans. They were a bit grittier but nicer, and seemed to be genuinely interested in things outside their own life. Always willing to strike up a conversation and answer any questions we had. The streets were filled with odd vendors selling things that clearly weren't "tourist" items. Even though we wandered around in their neighborhoods and stopped to stare at their shops with no intention of buying anything, they were excited to have us.

When looking back on the readings I find that many people probably didn't have the opportunity to see Naples the way we did. Describing the city as beautiful but the people rude, and devilish. I think this is untrue. Naples was beautiful, but not in a "paradise" way. I think that the city actually matched its inhabitants pretty well. Looking at the buildings and winding streets, they reminded me of the people I met. The way you could look at a street and feel the age, tradition, and hardships it went through. Paint chipping of the sides, weird stains, shutterless windows and clothes hanging out to dry. I found the people of the city to be very much the same. They all were unique, you could tell that they had been through so much in their lives. They might not have been Botticelli's Venus of ideal beauty, but they were beautiful in a different way. Just like we found beauty in the old buildings and streets, we found beauty in the people. I think this was an important lesson that all of us learned.

Arriving back in Rome was a different experience for me. I rushed home to meet my family, who were visiting for the weekend. When I came back I had a much different feeling of pride for Rome. This was my home, where I had been living for two months and now it was time for me to show it off. It was sort of fulfilling to walk them around the city and share it with them. I love Rome, and have learned so much about it, I wanted to be able to give some of my experience to the people that I care about. So even though sometimes I could tell they would rather not listen to my hour rant about the founding of Rome and the Forum while we stood on the Capitoline hill, I went on. It was funny to see them struggle with the same things I went through when I first got here. "Why can't we get coffee to go?" "Why would anyone close stores in the middle of the day? "Its 6'o'clock and I am STARVING! I CANT WAIT two more hours!" But interesting, because it really showed me how much I have grown and adapted to the life as a Roman. I felt apart of the city after this realization hit me. I knew where to go, and how to speak to people (somewhat, thanks Fede!).

Some strange things began to happen to me after they left. Walking around people would come up to me and ask me questions, or for directions, in Italian and I easily responded. Yesterday I went to the ATM, the first one wasn't working so I tried the one right next to it. While I was finishing a man was trying to use the broken machine. He asked me "Is there something wrong with this machine?" "It's broken, you can use this one when I am finished, I will only be a second." As I walked away, it hit me. That man just spoke to me in Italian, and I responded with ease with out even thinking about it. I was proud of my self and my mad Italian skills (haha). But mostly I wondered what had changed. My first few weeks here no one would dare to approach me on the street and ask me anything or speak to me in Italian. But now it was happening daily. Did I appear more confident, more Italian?

It is an interesting thing to think about, that all of this might have happened in a few short weeks. And now in just 10 days I will be leaving. Rome has made such an impact on me, what will it be like to return to my "other" "old" home. I wait with sadness for these next few days to pass. Slowly cleaning and packing up my things. Something tells me I will miss Rome, and from now on... I will never be the same.