In my first blog, I thought that I was going to be more aware of different cultures after the eight weeks here. I came to find, that yes I am more aware of different cultures, but I think I have always been. One thing I learned how to do was to pick an American out of a whole crowd of different tourists, because I am usually looking for an American who speaks English so I understand what is going on. It was actually easier than I thought it was going to be.
Also in my first blog, I mentioned Danilo and his American way of saying thank you, "uh huh," to show how lazy Americans really are. Maybe we are lazy, but the Italians are just as lazy. When getting on the metro, I'm not sure if it is just that they don't feel like they need to be some where or what, but they always take the escalators. They will wait in line for them. And when exiting the metro area, there are a lot of exits, but everyone seems to always go to he closest one, even when all the others are open.
In Conversations, Fellini says that "one of the things [he] found most striking was the monumental rudeness that [he] encountered everywhere." (pg. 209) This confused me because before coming to Italy, we were taught how to say please and thank you, how to greet people, and how to say excuse me when in a crowd. We were told that when we enter a store we should greet the owner, which does actually happen, but please and thank you don't hear as often.
I feel like Italy has changed me. I feel deeper into my faith, and I have more appreciation for the world around me. At home I almost always understand what is going on around me, but in Italy, it is not like that because of the language difference and the fact that I'm not always sure where I am. All in all Italy was a great experience and I would love to come back here, especially with this group of people.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
325: Week #7
I went to San Pietro in Vincoli and Parco Oppio for my walking tour. We were either able to take the metro or walk, so we decided to walk from Termini. According to the Merck Pace calculation, it should have taken me 1750 pedometer steps, I didn’t actually wear my pedometer or count, but I don’t think this was right. Once we were at the Cavour Metro stop we crossed the street and went up the stairs and down an alley to San Pietro in Vincoli. It was unfortunately closed. So we rook Part B of the tour first.
Part B was Parco Oppio. We were told to stop at a “precious little cafè called Il Fauno,” where we got pizza and a supplì. We walked to the park for a perfect postage place to eat. The park was nice because we sat right in front of the Coliseum. After eating, we set out to see the rest of the park. We played calcio for a while on a dirt field, and then walked to the other side of the park where we could sit and enjoy the sun.
After the park, it was three so we could go back to the church. When we got in to the church, we walked from alter to alter and read about them. Our papers had a little bit about each one. We read the most about the Mausoleum of Julius II and how Michelangelo was supposed to create it, but Pope Julius II placed him in charge of decorating the Sistine Chapel so he never finished it except the statue of Moses.
Overall, I really enjoyed our tour. It was a nice laid back day. We learned a lot about the church and the park, especially the best way to post up. One of my favorite things from the tour was the Mausoleum of Julius II especially the statue of Moses.
Part B was Parco Oppio. We were told to stop at a “precious little cafè called Il Fauno,” where we got pizza and a supplì. We walked to the park for a perfect postage place to eat. The park was nice because we sat right in front of the Coliseum. After eating, we set out to see the rest of the park. We played calcio for a while on a dirt field, and then walked to the other side of the park where we could sit and enjoy the sun.
After the park, it was three so we could go back to the church. When we got in to the church, we walked from alter to alter and read about them. Our papers had a little bit about each one. We read the most about the Mausoleum of Julius II and how Michelangelo was supposed to create it, but Pope Julius II placed him in charge of decorating the Sistine Chapel so he never finished it except the statue of Moses.
Overall, I really enjoyed our tour. It was a nice laid back day. We learned a lot about the church and the park, especially the best way to post up. One of my favorite things from the tour was the Mausoleum of Julius II especially the statue of Moses.
225: Week #7
Sant’Andrea al Quirinale is a church that was completely designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1661. It was built on the Quirinal Hill.
Historical Essay
This church is an example of Baroque architecture. Bernini received the commission from Cardinal Camillo Francesco Maria Pamphili and the approval of Pope Alexander VII to build this Jesuit Church. It was the third Jesuit church built in Rome, after the Church of the Gesù and Sant’Ignazio. It was to serve the Jesuit novitiate, which was founded in 1566. (Wikipedia)
Historical Essay
This church is an example of Baroque architecture. Bernini received the commission from Cardinal Camillo Francesco Maria Pamphili and the approval of Pope Alexander VII to build this Jesuit Church. It was the third Jesuit church built in Rome, after the Church of the Gesù and Sant’Ignazio. It was to serve the Jesuit novitiate, which was founded in 1566. (Wikipedia)
One of my favorite things in the church was the Crucifix. It wasn’t in the main alter, but in the alter just to the left. It houses the tomb of King Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia and Piedmont who abdicated his throne to enter the Society of Jesus and lived in the Jesuit novitiate adjacent to the church. He died in 1819.
Monday, April 5, 2010
490: Week #6
The power of prayer alone won’t cure a disease, but a mixture of prayer and medicine will. Prayer keeps moral high when someone is sick. If a person doesn’t believe that they will get better, then they probably won’t, but if they do believe, it will help them. Even though prayer keeps morale up, medicine is important too. If some one has cancer, most of the time their tumor isn’t just going to go away. Miracles do happen, but not every day.
“Well-being and positive emotions including joy, hope, and optimism are greater among those that are religious.” (Koeing, 2007) When a person is sick, it is that positive attitude that will help to make them better. Religion and spirituality help that because you never feel alone. If you don’t fell alone, you are happier. You have a support system with religion, more than your family; you have a whole community and God.
I have a friend that had two massive strokes on March 16. She is a senior in high school. Through the power of prayer through from a whole community and the doctors at Akron Children’s Hospital, she is starting to move her left side; she had her strokes in her right brain, and in her speech is slowly coming back. She is on her road to recovery, it will be a long journey, but she can do it because she has the whole community praying for her.
“Well-being and positive emotions including joy, hope, and optimism are greater among those that are religious.” (Koeing, 2007) When a person is sick, it is that positive attitude that will help to make them better. Religion and spirituality help that because you never feel alone. If you don’t fell alone, you are happier. You have a support system with religion, more than your family; you have a whole community and God.
I have a friend that had two massive strokes on March 16. She is a senior in high school. Through the power of prayer through from a whole community and the doctors at Akron Children’s Hospital, she is starting to move her left side; she had her strokes in her right brain, and in her speech is slowly coming back. She is on her road to recovery, it will be a long journey, but she can do it because she has the whole community praying for her.
225: Week #6
The Pine Cone in the courtyard at the Vatican Museum is made of bronze. It was made by Publius Cincius Salvius in the first or second century. We know this because he left his name on the base of it.
Iconology
Pagans coveted eternal life, and have sought it by worshipping many objects they find in nature. They worship evergreen as a symbol for eternal life and the pine cone because it is the “fruit” of the evergreen. It was originally found in the baths of Agrippa, and was a fountain. Water is also a symbol for life because water is needed for survival.
Iconology
Pagans coveted eternal life, and have sought it by worshipping many objects they find in nature. They worship evergreen as a symbol for eternal life and the pine cone because it is the “fruit” of the evergreen. It was originally found in the baths of Agrippa, and was a fountain. Water is also a symbol for life because water is needed for survival.
325: Week #6
“To Rome and to the World,” or “Urbi et Orbi,” is the beginning of a blessing the Pope gives before Easter or Christmas. This blessing is broadcasted throughout the world for other Catholics so they can watch it on television or listen to it on the radio. The end of the blessing is et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper which means and may the blessing of Almighty God, the Son and the Holy Spirit, descend on you and remain with you always.
He is blessing, not only the city, but the whole world. In the Catholic encyclopedia, it says that this blessing is only given on Easter, Christmas, and when a new Pope I crowned. He is the leader of all Catholics. According to Wikipedia, Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, whom, according to the Bible, Jesus named as the “shepherd” or “rock” of the Church. So he lives in Rome, but he is the leader all over the world.
Early Popes spread Christianity, but the also had some secular power. For centuries, the Pope had political supremacy over the entire former Western Roman Empire. And in medieval times, popes played powerful roles in Western Europe, often struggling with monarchs for control over the wide-ranging affairs of church and state. (Wikipedia)
He is blessing, not only the city, but the whole world. In the Catholic encyclopedia, it says that this blessing is only given on Easter, Christmas, and when a new Pope I crowned. He is the leader of all Catholics. According to Wikipedia, Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, whom, according to the Bible, Jesus named as the “shepherd” or “rock” of the Church. So he lives in Rome, but he is the leader all over the world.
Early Popes spread Christianity, but the also had some secular power. For centuries, the Pope had political supremacy over the entire former Western Roman Empire. And in medieval times, popes played powerful roles in Western Europe, often struggling with monarchs for control over the wide-ranging affairs of church and state. (Wikipedia)
Monday, March 29, 2010
490: Week #5
On Thursday, we visited Santo Spirito Hospital. It was a very exciting day. Dayna, Carol, and I sat with the creeper on the 7:06am train into Termini. When we got there, we had a moment and then got on Bus 40 to go to the hospital. We got off a little past the hospital, and walked back to it. When we went into the hospital, it was a lot different than a hospital in the US. None of the buildings were connected. We went into one then back out the other side.
We met with the Director of the Nursing Program at the hospital. Danilo translated her welcome to us. And then we met a couple other faculty members from the nursing program. After learning a little bit about Italy’s healthcare system, we went on our tour. We started out with the surgery wing. They explained the computer system for patients and the way they get prescriptions for their patients. We even met an American patient! Next we went to cardiology wing of the hospital. In groups, we went in to the ICU to see some of the more critical patients. After that wing, we went the obstetric and gynecology wing. We followed the path that a woman in labor would follow.
We learned that the Italians pay $1000 in taxes for healthcare every year, even if they don’t use it. I’m pretty sure that all their medical expenses were covered under this tax that they pay. We also learned that if someone is sick they see their GP before they go to the hospital. And if someone asks for a test, they have to pay for it, but if the test is ordered, then it is paid through the taxes.
We met with the Director of the Nursing Program at the hospital. Danilo translated her welcome to us. And then we met a couple other faculty members from the nursing program. After learning a little bit about Italy’s healthcare system, we went on our tour. We started out with the surgery wing. They explained the computer system for patients and the way they get prescriptions for their patients. We even met an American patient! Next we went to cardiology wing of the hospital. In groups, we went in to the ICU to see some of the more critical patients. After that wing, we went the obstetric and gynecology wing. We followed the path that a woman in labor would follow.
We learned that the Italians pay $1000 in taxes for healthcare every year, even if they don’t use it. I’m pretty sure that all their medical expenses were covered under this tax that they pay. We also learned that if someone is sick they see their GP before they go to the hospital. And if someone asks for a test, they have to pay for it, but if the test is ordered, then it is paid through the taxes.
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