325: Week #5

On Monday, we went to the Borghese Gardens. Our topic for the day was leisure. When we got to the gardens, we were told that we had about two hours to do what ever we wanted. It was a very relaxing day, and the gardens were beautiful.

In class, we talked about the difference between what Americans believe is leisure and what Italians believe. Americans believe that it is a time to rest so they can work harder. Italians believe that leisure is for self improvement. We focus more on work and making money, while the Italians just focus on life and how to make it better for them.

This is a place where everything slows down so people can enjoy the simpler things in life such as “grandmothers and daughters strolling, fathers teaching sons to ride bikes, romping dogs, red-hot lovers, and friends walking arm-in-arm. (Smiles, 200)

This area parallels Central Park in New York. Now, I have never been to Central Park, but I would imagine that it is about the same thing; a park in the middle of the city where people come to relax and take a break. The only difference being that, like we talked about in class, Americans are just taking a quick rest from work, and Italians are actually taking a break from work.