reflection #1: introduction and salvation

Multicultural Literature in Cotemporary Italy is a collection of literary works by immigrants.  This assortment of stories, poems, and other writings gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of those less heard in Italian society.  The voices that were once silenced can now be heard through Marie Orton and Graziella Parati’s book.  In the introduction, they introduce the idea that we are constantly migrating and transforming.  In a quote by Caldas Brito, he states “Everyday we need to learn a new language.  We are in constant migration”(11).  This idea that we are constantly changing and migrating is something that I agree with.  Change is something that is constantly happening.  I believe that we can either accept the change or be stuck in what we only choose to see and want.  In reference to immigrants, everyday brings new change, whether it’s leaving their homelands or learning a new language and culture, the world is continuously changing for them. 

Another aspect that Orton and Parati discussed was the use of humor.  In many of the works they noticed the similarities in the use of laughter.  Mikail Bahktin was an author who pointed out laughter and its use, “Laughter could never become an instrument to oppress and blind the people.  It always remained a free weapon in their hands” (15).  The use of humor and laughter covers up the hardships many immigrants face.  It uses laughter in sarcastic situation.  When things become uncomfortable to discuss, laughter can make light of the situation.  Using humor to disguise the circumstances of immigration also acts as a way to alert people to the issues.  Also public discussion and dialogue present a way for people to understand immigration.  Through the collection of these literary works, Orton and Parati have unveiled the issues of immigration and given a voice to those who weren’t heard. 

assignment 5

Naples or Napoli is one of Italy’s southern cities and well known for its pizza.  My experience in Naples proved to be an experience that was “more than meets the eyes”. When I first saw Naples, skyscrapers lined the city skyline.  Coming from Rome, where skyscrapers don’t exist, seeing them surprised me.   My image of Europe has been mainly been shaped by time in Rome.  What I see there is what I expect to see in other Italian cities.  But in Naples, I was stunned to find both the new and modern city with skyscrapers and tall, glassy buildings, while still walking past ancient castles on cobblestone streets.

Before coming to Naples, I was lucky enough to hear from Alex Valentino, a resident of Naples.  He came and discussed with our class on the rich history and his experiences there.  One issue that he made sure to mention was the problem with trash that Naples has been dealing with.  Since it is one of the most densely populated cities in Italy with 4 million people and with little wasteland, there is nowhere to dispose of the garbage that the residents produce.  Alex made sure to let us know that seeing trash on the streets wasn’t just a common occurrence; it was a permanent resident of Naples’ streets.  As soon as we arrived, I started to notice the garbage everywhere!  Streets were littered with cigarette butts and scraps of paper, dumpsters overflowed with bags of trash, and cardboard boxes were piled high.  Trash was everywhere!  Even walking by street merchants I noticed a sense of “trash” with their merchandise.  It was like walking through a yard sale.  Old toys and books covered the blankets used to display their goods.  There were countless knickknacks and trinkets for sale there.  It literally looked like the stuff that collects in a junk drawer; the stuff no one really wants or needs.  Between the trash lining the streets and the collection of street merchandise it is apparent that there is no solution to this current problem in Naples. 

One of the things we’ve studied in class was the divide between north and south Italy.  Naples is considered to be part of the south.  In some of the readings we’ve had, people describe Naples as not even being apart of Italy.  Many from the north view people from the south as outsiders.  There were also a lot more immigrants it seemed like in Naples that in other places.  This might another reason why northern Italians view the south as “other”.  In Clash of Civilizations in an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, we heard the perspective of one of the residents who shared their opinions about people from Naples.  They looked down on people who came from the south and didn’t consider them Italian at all.  Getting to go to Naples, I was able to see the difference between North and South Italy. 

Another aspect of Naples that I noticed were the two faces of the city.  After exiting the train station, the main road was lined with beautiful buildings.  Tall buildings with rows of matching, shuttered windows bordered the streets.  The beauty of it was breathtaking.  But behind the splendor of the main street was the dirty, darker side of Naples.  As soon as we took a turn off the main road, the buildings got dimmer and clotheslines hung over our heads.  No longer were the streets wide and sunny, but narrow and smelly, due to all the dog droppings everywhere.  Also, graffiti covered almost every open inch of wall or door space.   But the graffiti here was different that the ones I’m used to seeing at home in Seattle.  In Naples it was a mix of powerful messages and beautiful artwork blended in with the usual sayings I’ve seen before.  Even the graffiti was two sided; works of beauty and vandalism. How could a city so beautiful be so dirty and ugly at the same time?  Even now I wonder what the people of Naples think of their double-sided city. Many times graffiti is associated with youth, I wonder if the youth in Naples are creating the graffiti there too?  Do people support what the youth have done (if they are the ones creating graffiti)? It seemed to me that at first glance, Naples was a beautiful city, but as we traveled farther, I saw a different side and started to question the place of youth in Naples society. 

My experience in Naples was one I’ll never forget.  I never would have traveled down there if not for the class trip.  I’m glad I had the opportunity to go.  Although the city may not been exactly as I imagined, the beauty of it shone through the dirt and garbage.  Naples opened my eyes to a different part of Italy.  It showed me how you can have harmony between an old and new city.

assignment 4

Consider what doors are open and closed here in Italy for immigrants and for youth in general in terms of education?  How do you compare these to the doors in the United States?  What are you basing your opinions and perspectives on?

Education has always been highly respected in my family. Both my mom and my grandma have worked in schools, so education has always been prized and valued in my family and it continues to play an important role in my life.   Growing up I never questioned the quality of the education I was receiving.  As I’ve learned and studied abouteducation I’ve started to view it as a right not a privilege.  I believe that everyone has the right to receive a good education.  In America this is the goal for education, but in other places such as Italy, an equal education for all does not exist. 

Throughout my time here in Rome, I’ve begun to see the struggles and differences many immigrants face while in the education system.  In Italy, many laws are just starting to acknowledge the presence of immigrant children in classrooms and the obstacles they face being in a new environment and understanding the language. 

On January 25, we had Frederica Bianchi and Anna Onorati come and speak to our class.  Both of them work for Carnitas in Rome.  During there visit, I was surprised to learn that 6.4% of the student population (574,133 students) are immigrants and 40% of pupils of foreign origins are in primary schools.  Currently in Italy, Mariastella Gelmini, the Italian Minister of Education, has advocated and passes a law that caps classes with immigrant children at 30%.  This means that many schools are dealing with an excess of immigrant children in their classes.  Schools like the Pisacane School where they have a 90% immigrant population are faced with dealing with Gelmini’s new laws.  For many immigrant children, just getting to school is a struggle.  Anna Onorati commented on how a majority of Indian immigrants work in agriculture, meaning that they live farther away from schools.  These students often have to travel farther distances and sometimes aren’t even able to attend afterschool or summer school activities because of where they live.  Special buses are available to students, but this still leaves a gap between teachers and parents.  This lack in communication is another factor that depends the divide between immigrant students in schools.

Also during their talk, Bianchi and Onorati commented on higher education in Italy.  Growing up in the United States, after high school it was a question of “where are you going to school?” not “what are you going to do?”  I feel that getting a college education is almost the “norm” in American society.  Education in the United States is often looked at, as a way to get ahead in life, thus going to college or a university is all part of the process.  But in Italy it appears as though education isn’t as highly prized.  Very few students pursue a post high school education and those who do receive little support from the government.  Unlike the United States, where financial aid and countless scholarships are available, students in Italy have to rely on their families to support them.  According to Bianchi and Onorati, college tuition is based on the income of the family.  Even with some of the people I’ve talked to here education comes secondary to finding a job.  In Italy, going to college doesn’t always guarantee a job after graduation.  This is the reason why many immigrants are coming to Italy in search of work rather than for studies.

Many immigrants coming into Italy, specifically to Rome, make the journey due to business ties. During one of our excursions we went to Piazza Vittorio, where we talked with some local immigrants.  Through talking to them, I learned that many immigrants come in search of jobs, leaving their families and friends back at home.  I even had the opportunity to talk to a server at one of the restaurants in Campo di Fiori.  He was an immigrant from Albania who came to Rome in search of work.  His connections eventually lead him to a restaurant job in Rome.  I was able to ask him about education and he mentioned that he came to Italy because of studies, but eventually had to drop out so that he could just focus on work.  He said that when he first came, he worked and went to school but in the end it was too hard to keep up with his studies and just decided to work because he needed the money.   He also mentioned that in Italy it common to find youth still living with their parents until their thirties.  It seems as though the option of living at home and working until later in life is more appealing to many youth in Italy, not just immigrants. 

Another guest lecturer our class had the opportunity to hear from was the author of Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, Amara Lakhous.  During his lecture, he emphasized the importance of youth in Italy.  He said that one of the keys of understanding Italy was its youth.  In Italy, Lakhous explained that it’s almost a shame to be young; something to feel guilty about.  Youth here in Italy are associated with inexperience and immaturity.  Older generations often look down on the youth.  One thing that I really took away from the lecture was the little impact youth have in Italy.  Lakhous mentioned that most young people are open to change but with older generations in positions of power, laws are rarely changed to benefit youth.  In the United States, I feel that the youth have a powerful impact on the country.  People in America look to the future and the changes can be made now.  Children are our future, progress and forward thinking lies in youth.  Many of the brightest and best youth in Italy are leaving because they see no future where they are.  This is leaving Italy stuck in old traditions with hard laws to change.  The older generations also fear that the face of Italy will be changed since 99% of immigrants entering the country are youth.  Italy’s government is resisting the change that is taking place and failing to acknowledge that education may be a key in shaping the younger generations.

 

Education in Italy is changing, but at a slow pace.  The education here in Italy doesn’t recognize the needs of immigrant students and make accommodations for them.  They lack the funds due to budget cuts and adequate funding for teachers.  Children of immigrants, the second generation, and immigrant students only receive a small portion of the help they need in schools and often living so far away adds another obstacle.  Education in Italy needs a transformation, a change to better the needs of immigrants and also to those seeking higher education. 

assignment 3

When we first arrived at Piazza Vittorio I felt like we had entered Chinatown.  There were tons of people there who didn’t look like the many Italians I was used to seeing in the Campo.  Germaine and I walked around the stalls, checking out the fresh seafood and meat.  There were also tons of familiar fruits and veggies I was used to seeing back in Seattle.  As we explored the market, we kept an eye out for any younger merchants who we might be able to interview. 

Our meanderings brought us to a fresh fruit and veggie stall where a young man watched over the goods.  Germaine and I attempted to communicate with him in English, but soon realized that he didn’t understand what we were saying.  A friend soon came over and addressed us in English.  His name escapes me right now, but we found out he was 24 and from the Philippines.  In 1996 he had moved to Italy in search of work.  He currently worked in the Piazza.   We asked about other immigrants in the area and he pointed out many of the other merchants around his stall that were also from the Philippines.  He also mentioned his sister had been born in Italy and was currently going to school here, but his parents still lived in the Philippines.  When we asked him about immigration and the laws about immigration, he didn’t have much to say about it.  Talking to him gave me a better understanding of the people who make up the Piazza Vittorio

One thing I noticed while we were talking and walking around was the sense of community in the Piazza.  When we were talking, the other merchants in the surrounding stalls would talk with each other and help out with getting exact change if they didn’t have it.  It might have been because of the familiar ties of where people came from, but it seemed like everyone was a friend. 

Germaine and I attempted to talk to some Italians, but had no luck.  We tried to talk to another merchant in the Piazza who ran a little bakery, but the communication barrier proved to be difficult to overcome.  Later we tried to talk to two Italian girls, but they were late for something, so we weren’t able to interview them.  Later we tried to ask two other women, but between our Italian and their English, the only thing we accomplished was getting directions outside of the Piazza.  As Germaine and I continued out search for an Italian to interview, we ended up interviewing another immigrant.  He was from Egypt and had just moved to Italy 2 years ago.  He too came in search of work.  When we asked him about the government and his view on immigration laws he only had good things to say about them.  Our interview was unfortunately cut short, when things got a little inappropriate and he starting making passes at Germaine for his friends.  It was our signal to move on. 

My experience in Piazza Vittorio gave me a different view of Italy.  It wasn’t another image of the one I get walking around Campo di Fiori, it was an image full of the stories of immigrants and people not originally from Italy.  In many of the readings we’ve had for class, there has been a constant theme of immigrants as the “other”.   The idea that immigrants in Italy are not apart of the society was something that came up frequently.  It portrayed the concept that immigrants don’t fit into what Italians perceive as their culture.  When going to Piazza it was evident that it was where many immigrants were located.  There was one incident where Germaine, Sarah and I were walking a little outside of the Piazza and we stopped in an Indian store to pick up some sodas.  When I told the storekeeper that I didn’t want the receipt, he told me that I need to keep them because cops can stop anyone and ask to make sure that they have proof of the purchase and also that the store had taxed them appropriately.  I was surprised to learn this and I wondered why no other storekeepers had told me this information when I had refused to take the receipt.  I also wondered if this had anything to do with the area we were in?  Were cops more active in pursing “criminals” in this area?  I’m not sure if this is the case, but it crossed my mind.  Were the people who lived in and around Piazza Vittorio treated differently because of their immigrant status?  These questions filled my head as we concluded our adventure in Piazza Vitorrio.  The time we spent there gave me a look into a different side of Rome and the colorful population that is  making its presence known. 

assignment 2

Before coming to Rome, I had no idea what to expect.  The only images I’d had of Italians were what I’d seen on TV or on other forms of media.  A few friends had been to Rome before and told me of their experiences, but all my ideas were based off the experiences and ideas of others. After arriving in Rome and spending a few weeks here I’ve come to realize that Italian identity is more than meets the eye.  I had always believed that Italy held a unified group of people.  But from our class readings and lectures I’ve discovered how divided Italy is between the north and the south. 

It wasn’t until I was in Rome that I learned what a “young” country Italy was, having only being formed during the 1800’s.  I’ve always been under the impression that it was a country as old as England or France.  The creation of Italy was comprised of many different nations coming and being unified together.  This unification led to the division between the north and south.  According to our class readings, the divide occurred because of the difference between northern and southern Italy.  In the north, it is more industrialized than the south.  The north feels that it is more developed.  Class lectures also addressed the issue of the north and south, describing the south as “a mix of regions and mismanaged corruption of the Bourbon government” before the unification of Italy.  After the unification, the northern Italians took advantage of southern Italians, they viewed them as barbarian and the southerners were often treated as Africans Americans were in the US.   Today, the Southern Question exists which inquires as to why the South is so different from the North.  This divide between northern and southern Italy has made the identity of Italy one of division.

Immigrants have also played a role in the dived between northern and southern Italy and the idea of Italian identity one of division.  After many southern Italians moved north during the economic boom, immigrants from all over started moving in, taking over many of the lower level jobs.  Once the economic boom ended and the southern Italians who had moved north returned to the south, they found that their prior jobs had been taken over by immigrants.  This then caused a rift between Italians and immigrants.  Northerners had always looked down on Southerners, but with the increase of immigrants in the south, a new identity for the south was created perpetuating the division.  The image of the immigrant now represented the south.  For many southern Italians, and Italians in general, immigrants from other places are viewed as “others”.  This idea has left many immigrants unincorporated into Italian society and looked down upon.

Today, steps are being taking to change how immigrants in Italy are being treated.  Italian identity is also seen as transforming.  One of the guest speakers we had come was G2, an organization based on raising awareness for second-generation immigrants.  The main focus of the group is to take steps in changing the immigrations laws currently in place.  For many immigrants gaining citizenship in Italy is a challenge.  There are many regulations and restrictions that prevent them from gaining citizenship.  Unlike the US, which practices jus solis, where one becomes a citizen at birth, Italy’s laws practice jus sanguinis, where only those whose parents are citizens are grated citizenship at birth.  This means that many immigrants are often left without citizenship or become illegal aliens.  For immigrants working in Italy, special work and living permits are needed in order for them to stay extended amounts of time.  Recently laws were passed that only permitted immigrants to come and work in Italy if they already had jobs lined up.  According to the speakers from G2, there are certain jobs that only Italian citizens are allowed to perform, such as public service jobs.  The immigration laws in Italy had consistently made it difficult for those not of Italian decent to live and work here.  It appears that many Italians continue to believe that immigrants are the “other” and want it to stay that way, yet the efforts of groups like G2 are stirring up change. 

Another issue that Italians are facing is the identity of the Roma people.  Roma exist all over Europe, but for Italy, many they are residing in the south.  Originating from India and migrating since the 1300’s, the Roma are struggling to erase their common image.  Many people refer to them as gypsies.  This stereotype is often accompanied by the idea that they steal to survive and are a nomadic people, never being able to stay in one spot.  Both of the guest speakers we had who addressed this topic, Isabella Clough and Mirela Pribac, emphasized the need to face stereotyping and look beyond what the Roma people appear to be. For southern Italians, the Roma people distort the image of the south and are consistently left out of the protection of the law. 

To pinpoint what Italian identity is, is like holding the wind.  To label an entire nation made up of millions of people, each who have overcome individual obstacles, is hard to do without leaving others out, but division and transformation are two emerging themes. The divide between north and south has made itself apparent and a central issue in Italy.  Also Italy is made up of such a variety of people and the history of Italy makes it that much more complicated.  Each day new immigrants are arriving while Italians are migrating; the changing of people combined with the already existing division between the north and south makes division and transformation two aspects of Italian identity.  As people are entering and leaving Italy, they are transforming the culture.  Organizations like G2, professors like Isabella Clough, and artists like Mirela Pribac are contributing to the change that is occurring in Italy today.  The movements of these people to make the smaller groups heard is transforming what Italy is familiar with and into a new society.  The change is happening now.

assignment 1

Well I'm finally in Rome!!!  And it it AMAZINGG!!! Everything is so beautiful here!! The streets, the people, even the dogs may be a little cuter than the ones at home!! hahah  :]

But one of the huge differences here has to be with the youth in Rome.  At home, in Seattle, many times youth are found hanging out and partying inside houses, bars, or clubs, here everyone is out on the street.  This may be due to the nonexistent rule of having open alcoholic contains on the street, unlike home.  Just the other night as we were walking back to our apartments in Campo del Fiori, the square was filled with teenagers and other youth milling around, drinking and socializing.  Another thing that I find surprising here is the lack of youth in the actual bars and other vicinities.  Here it seems as if most people are found outside on the street or right outside of the places that serve alcohol.  It's crazy to imagine if youth in Seattle were to be seen outside on the street with open containers and milling about the street.  I wonder if teens and young adults in Rome meet more people by hanging out outside than those in Seattle who are restricted to hanging out inside.