Kayli

A very bittersweet day has arrived for our Education 302 crew. As much fun as it was, I am happy to get to see my family and friends. I am so excited to share all of my experiences with them and to teach them all about Bernalda and southern Italy as a whole. This trip was more than I ever imagined it would be and I feel that I have learned so much about myself. After joining only a week before departure, I had little idea of what my three weeks abroad would entail. I knew the departure date and returning date, we were staying in a small town called Bernalda, and that Tina and I would be sharing a pullout couch for three weeks (which was not as bad as it sounds). To my surprise, my parents did not visibly seem as worried as I'm sure they were on the inside when they asked me questions and I had no answers for them. As nerve-wracking as it was at the beginning, especially not knowing much, I was just fine and adjusted very quickly. I believe that my small insight made the trip more of an adventure to be explored as we went.

Our group was full of people that differed in so many ways and none of us had ever hung out together at school. I think this is what made us get along so well because we had a lot to learn about one another. At some point in time, we all talked about deep circumstances going on in our lives or in our past, whether one-on-one or in small groups together. This honesty made us all realize that despite our differences- we are all human. This is also something I learned throughout our time in Bernalda. Even though I dress and talk differently than the students, in the end they are still high school students just like I was a few years ago. I observed many aspects of Italian culture that are different than my culture in the United States. For instance, lunch is their biggest meal of the day and everyone goes home from work and school to eat with their families. They also enjoy their dinners together and most meals will start around 8 or 9 o'clock at night and will last several hours. Fabio showed me that you make your own rules of the road when you're driving and the center line of the road does not necessarily mean you have to stay on either side of it, like you do in the States. None of these aspects of culture are right or wrong-they're just different. I do prefer many of the ideals of Italian culture over the culture that I grew up in, because they base their time and decisions off of their family and growing in relationship with them.

Throughout my journey, I learned to stop comparing the two cultures and to just acknowledge the differences, without judgement. At first, it is very easy to be defensive when my own culture is questioned, but as time went on I think I became more open to learning about both cultures without trying to defend my own as right or better.

To Anna and Fabio, WOW! This trip could not have been possible without your hard work in planning months before and your daily flexibility while away. Anna, although our schedules and work load might have all been changed, you never wavered. You helped to make our work reasonable and fitting for each of our experiences. You were so caring when my sweet friends became sick...ps. I can officially say I was the only person to never get sick on the trip so HOLLA AT ME WOO. But anyway, you were a rockstar!! Fabio, you have welcomed us so graciously into your family's homes and into your hometown. You did not act completely embarrassed when we acted like "Americans" and you helped us learn so much more than we ever could have without your help. Having an insider acting as a cultural broker changed our experiences. We attempted to become 'temporary locals' and without our own personal local, we would have been lost...literally and figuratively.

Beautiful Italy and beautiful EDU 302 class, you will be greatly missed. Our time together has given me memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for everything.

It's not goodbye...it's see you later.

We finally arrived at our hotel, while only losing a small amount of pride on the way. By this time, we were so hungry and exhausted from walking around Pompeii all day that we did not want to spend the time necessary to have a traditional Italian-style meal. So, we did what Americans do best and we found the closest McDonald’s. Honestly, I am a little embarrassed to be writing this, but when you’ve been abroad for three weeks and spent most of your money, you do not have many options. By the way, this McDonald’s had cheese fries that were the bomb, so it made it worth it!!

This is usually not a topic of discussion for me and I have never been taught this idea in school, just as Peggy McIntosh’s article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” suggests. Reading this article really opened my eyes to simple aspects of life that I take for granted every day that people of color often struggle with. I had many conversations with Marimar about this topic as well and she mentioned examples from her own experiences. For instance, when she was in an education class with me, she was in a group with three white females and she felt that she could not voice her opinion or if she did, certain people in the group would ignore her. I have never felt intimidated to speak my mind in a group, especially not because of my race. Having several conversations like these opened my mind to a world I have never been a part of. Hearing her story makes me realize how much privilege I do have, even if it was uncomfortable to realize initially. As many people do, I first felt very defensive, but as our conversations have unfolded, I have seen a new perspective and this is one of the biggest takeaways I have of the trip as a whole.

After seeing the Pope, we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Rome and shopping around before our last dinner with Vanessa. The next day, we had a full day! We had a reservation to eat breakfast at the Vatican before exploring the museum. I was in awe in every single room we walked into. All of the paintings and sculptures were full of detail and the people looked lifelike. I was surprised at how real everything looked, as if I was sitting in the middle of the scene myself. I really enjoyed the first exhibit that was Egyptian themed. It was so cool to see the caskets that the bodies were buried in and how much detail the drawings were inside of them. I also really enjoyed the map hall. This had different maps of places located in Italy. Just like the paintings, these maps looked real, especially the mountains. I found a map that showed Matera on it and I was so excited because I was able to locate where Bernalda would be and it made me proud to find a deeper connection within the maps, rather than simply looking at them like most people do. As I have mentioned before, Bernalda has become a second home for me and I feel pride from the town, just as the residents do.

I knew this day would come, but it still makes me so sad to know it is finally here. We woke up at the crack of dawn to leave our beautiful home for the last three weeks, Bernalda. Our final destination for the day was Rome, but halfway we stopped in Pompeii. I was very thankful we were stopping because the five-hour drive from Rome to Bernalda, three weeks ago, was rough. I do not enjoy being in the car for a very long time and the windy, mountainous roads have made me a little car sick throughout the trip. So, I was excited and relieved that Pompeii would be our first stop!

Even though it was so beautiful and amazing to see such a historical town, I couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. As I was walking around, and especially when I saw the remains of people who were there when the volcano erupted, I felt a little sick to my stomach. These people woke up one day, just like I did today, and they went about their own business. Then, their lives were changed forever or they were taken away in an instant. Many people died immediately, but as Fabio explained, some people died slower…in three minutes. I cannot imagine the fear they felt as they saw the lava coming towards them, as they fled and attempted to save their lives. Some people were frozen in time sitting in the fetal position, looking as hopeless as they could be. They had their hands on their head, looking towards the ground as if they had finally given up. Mothers were with children and animals were curled up in fear.

This picture will never escape my mind. As cliché as it sounds, anyone’s life could end in an instant. Visiting Pompeii made me think about my own life. Would I be satisfied with the way I lived my life if it ended in the next three minutes? Have a been successful as a daughter, sister, friend, student, and athlete? These questions rushed my brain and left me in a reflection that is difficult to consider. We often take our lives for granted, but just as the Bible says, we are not guaranteed tomorrow. So the question remains, how would I feel if today was my last day?

No amount of thanks can be given to the students, teachers, and principal at the school we have been working in. Today they had a two hour thank you show for us before we leave Bernalda in two short days. This show was filled with music from one of the teachers, Antonio, and many of the students. They played guitar, tambourine, bagpipes, and sang to some of the most popular songs of the area. They also showed a video of a play they had performed which honored Pythagorus for his influence in their town and the world. The students got us off our feet and we danced with them around the room. They taught us some of the traditional marriage dances, including tarantella. If we would have had more space and time, I was ready to jump on stage and teach them some of the line dances I know...cultural exchange at its finest :)

Everyone prepared today's sendoff in a day or two. Paola said "it was not perfect, but it was filled with love." This describes my experience here in Italy to a tee. Yes, I have made mistakes. Yes, I have said something I should have probably held inside. Yes, I learned that I might not be as culturally competent as I had originally imagined I was. However, love is the first emotion that comes to mind when I reflect on my trip. I can honestly say I love Bernalda and everything about it. The people have been so warm and welcoming, the food has been delicious, and the historical significance has taught me so much. I have created lifelong relationships with my peers who I did not know at all before now. We have a connection and incredible memories that cannot be taken away.

I love the simplicity here. I love the importance of family and time spent together. I love their idea of rest and how their days are surrounded by work, rest, and family. I have no complaints of this town that has taken a piece of my heart and I am already brainstorming ideas to give me an opportunity to return one day soon. So, to everyone I have come in contact with and to the sweet, small town of Bernalda as a whole, grazie mille.

At around 10:30, we left Castro and headed to Gallipoli; a small town that is bordered by the clear, blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Here, we walked around the edge of the city to see the beautiful water before making it into town to shop. This is a more touristy area than many of the places we have been, so we enjoyed picking through the shops to find the perfect gifts for our friends and family. You may be thinking that I have spent lots of money and you are definitely right! To defend myself a little, the vast majority of my money spent has been on gifts for my loved ones so I can bring a piece of Italy to them. I have been missing my family and friends a lot while we have been abroad and one of my favorite things to do is to find items that remind me of them. Then, I love bringing home the gifts and seeing their faces light up! Besides thinking of my family, I also love the idea of helping to support the economy here. I know that one person is not going to make much of a difference, but every little bit helps. If my family back home appreciate my gifts and feel inspired to visit Bernalda one day, their visits will contribute to a potentially growing tourist economy they are striving to create here. With all this being said, I am going to enjoy every second I can while shopping and if you are reading this from home, I hope you love your gift!!!

After filling our bellies, a few of us headed down to the pool to try to get rid of our pasty skin. Maybe if we got tanner, we wouldn't stick out so badly in Italy?? Probably not, but it was certainly worth a try. I've told Fabio many times that if we came to Bernalda at the end of the summer, I would not appear nearly as white as I do now, but my southern accent would still leave me sticking out like a sore thumb. Speaking of, this trip has been fun to see how our own accents and dialects are different within American culture. In Italy, there are different languages, formed by extensive dialects, in different regions of the country. This makes it nearly impossible to understand someone who speaks Bernaldese, even if you speak Italian. Instead of having different dialects in America, we just have accents. My group has made it clear that my accent is very southern compared to the rest of them. We enjoy comparing pronunciations of words like "naked," which for some reason I was taught to pronounce it like "necked...." thanks Momma.

Today was packed full of many different places and events! We started out by going to the school for a few hours then we started our journey to Castro. We were all super excited to have a nice, relaxing weekend to spend time with one another and finally get in the sun!! On the way to Castro we stopped in Alberobello for several hours.

When we first arrived in Alberobello, we got out of the van and ate our packed lunch in the parking lot. While doing so, Anna was explaining to us how this would be unheard of in Italian culture. She was asking why we thought this was the case and we finally boiled it down to cleanliness. Italians value cleanliness very much, which is why they clean every single day. They never go to bed with a dirty dish in the sink and without everything put into place. It is also considered rude if you go barefoot or show the bottom of your foot. Another reason why they would never eat on the ground is because of the value they have placed on food. They appreciate every step that food takes from the farm to the table, which is also why Fabio never lets food go to waste. These are all very admirable aspects of Italian culture and it makes me question why so many Americans do not value our food or cleanliness in the same way they do here. I feel that we have learned the most about Italian culture in the most mundane ways, such as eating in a parking lot, rather than formal classes.

Today was probably my favorite day in Italy so far! We journeyed to Matera, about 45 minutes away from Bernalda. Over the past several decades, this city in southern Italy has advanced its standing from the "shame of Italy" to the cultural capital of Europe in 2019. Matera is home to 1,500 limestone caves that hosted its residents until the 1950s when a law was made to stop people from living there.

Carlo Levi's sister went through this area while she was on the way to visit her brother and her descriptions of Matera were heartbreaking. As one would expect, the caves had no natural light, electricity, or running water. She saw children with large bellies due to malnutrition whose eyelids were covered by flies. Matera was mainly home to farmers (described as "peasants" by Levi in Christ Stopped at Eboli) who had families as big as nine or ten people. The families kept their animals inside of the cave with them because they had a fear of the animals being stolen. As Fabio's mother was telling us, it would have been better to have your wife stolen than your horse. You could find another wife for free, but your horse was a matter of life or death...yikes.

We also visited some of the churches that were inside the caves, but unfortunately we were not able to take pictures. It was so incredible to see where people were worshipping thousands of years ago! These churches were literally the "foundation" of Christianity in the world by being underground caves and some of the first churches. The churches had very detailed paintings of important figures of Christianity including: Jesus, the virgin Mary, and John the Baptist. Despite the age of the caves, these paintings were still legible, which is amazing to me. I could not get over the fact that I was standing in the same spot as people so many years before me were. They were in awe of the Savior, just as much as I still am today.

Read more about Matera's miraculous transformation here

Throughout this last week in Italy, I have reflected on how materialistic American culture has become, myself included. Life here is simple. More time is spent laughing with friends and family, enjoying delicious food, and walking around town than it is with eyes locked onto a screen or behind a desk. Although, this is in part because of less available finances, but through this experience I have learned that less really can be more. The joy and memories made with loved ones are what will really matter in the end. As cliche as this sounds, I have challenged myself to find beauty in the mundane and to appreciate every second even after I return home. If you're reading this, I challenge you as well.

Well if you did not understand the title, you must not love country music enough to recognize a spin on a song "Live Like You Were Dying" from one of my favorite singers, Tim McGraw. I feel that we have taken on this mindset because every day in Italy is an adventure. Two weeks before we left, I had no clue that I was even going to be able to go, so what is better than a spur of the moment, three week trip to Italy?? I'll wait..

At the market I was most definitely in my element. I came home with five different clothing items including shirts, a romper, and pants (all of which were around 30 Euros, HECK YES). Fabio and Anna were with us for most of our time to make sure we could navigate purchasing without getting ripped off because we are Americans. I got one shirt for 10 Euros that was originally 21 Euros so I guess it helps flashing my sweet smile and batting my eyes :)

The prices are so low at the market, and at most stores in Bernalda, because the average income per household is around $13,000 a year. At first, we were excited about shopping because of the cheaper prices, but after Anna taught us how low the income is here, it was heartbreaking. However, it does make me question the materialistic culture in the United States. The residents of Bernalda do not go without food, clothes, or any other necessities. So why did I initially feel sorry for them when I learned about the low income? Because was born into a materialistic culture, with emphasis on instant gratification, that believes you have to have every new outfit, electronic, or toy that comes into stores. As Americans, we do not often buy out of need, but out of want. So instead of feeling pity for these southern Italians, maybe we should take a look into their lives and find where their joy comes from. It most likely comes from their loved ones instead of their possessions. This can be a challenge for all of you reading this today, including myself. Let's really dive into where we find our happiness and do our material things really add to this joy or does it make us more unhappy in the long run?

I believe that Carlo Levi had so many negative things to say about Southern Italy because there was a lot of hardship going on at the time. This was after World War II and the whole Earth was still recovering from the heartache and disaster. With depression, famine, and unemployment at every corner, it almost seemed impossible to find something positive going on no matter where you were on the globe. Levi's descriptions of Italy were not much different than many other towns during this same time period and I would be interested to see what he would say if he were with us now.

Sure, things here are not expensive and perfect, but I think that is what makes it beautiful. Behind every crack in the mountains or chipped paint on the buildings, there is a story. There is a story of struggle and of pain, but also of survival and the joy of overcoming the worst of times. I think this is why these southern towns are so focused on relationship, because at a time, that was all they had. They learned that it was not about the amount of food on the table or clothes in the closet, but it was about the people they spent every day with; the people they survived with.

This is what makes a town like this so incredible and I feel thankful everyday for having the opportunity to be a part of it.

This morning we left to get breakfast and go to the school at 7:45 a.m. and we did not return until 10:30 p.m. To say we are tired is an understatement, but we really would not have it any other way. Despite the fact that I almost fell asleep at the dinner table, I would say it was all worth the hustle and bustle to see some beautiful, historic sites in Metaponto, an ancient Greek city located closely to Bernalda.

Fabio's sister-in-law was so gracious to welcome us into her home and cook us lunch and dinner! For lunch we had bread, artichokes, pasta, olives, stuffed artichokes, fresh oranges, something similar to a vegetarian meatball/hushpuppy, and vanilla gelato with strawberries for dessert! Most of our meal had been grown on their farm, making it as fresh as you can get! This is something that I absolutely love about Italy because everything tastes so fresh and not processed!!!! Wow, what an amazing concept America!

Farming is a very popular career in southern Italy, but it has become less common with the production of supermarkets in the 1950s and 1960s. Supermarkets gave more convenience for the residents and allowed them to have food from outside of their close region; this also gave them an opportunity to experience new cultures. However, it was difficult to find a central location to put the supermarkets in certain rural parts of southern Italy ("Changing Consumption, Changing Consumers"). I learned these things while researching for my final paper which is about food and foodways of southern Italy. It has been exciting to see how the different types of food and the patterns around meals compare to our own experiences thus far. We also loved getting to see all of their animals including: dogs, chickens, rabbits, geese, ducks, cats, and turtles. But, if you know me I'm sure you know which animal I stuck around the most :)

With full bellies, we headed to the Metaponto ruins to see the Temple of Hera. She was the goddess of women, marriage, childbirth, and family in Ancient Greek religion. Three boys from one of our classes joined us to give us a tour. When the boys were finished explaining the history of the ruins, Fabio jumped in and gave us more information from his vast base of knowledge. He has been such an instrumental part of our trip by acting as a cultural broker. Fabio has taught us so much about the culture of Bernalda and Italy as a whole. It is helpful that he lived in both Bernalda and Greensboro because he is able to tell us facts in a way to make it most relatable to our own lives.

We went to the Museo di Metaponto (Museum of Metaponto) and we were able to see many more ancient artifacts. The diagram in the picture above (on the right) shows what the Temple of Hera once looked like. The only sides left remaining today are the two rows of columns. There were pots and sculptures that had been found on the local farms that were buried by natives a long time ago. This reminded me of the parable in the Bible about hidden treasure where a man found a buried treasure in a field so he sold everything he had in order to buy the field. I remember learning how common this was in Bible times, but as Anna and I were discussing, she told me it is very common here in Italy as well! We all would love to go to Fabio's farm and look for hidden treasure, but if it is found we are not able to bring it back to the States....but we might have made a plan to make it work...shhhh

Wow! We finally made it! We left home around 9:30 a.m. on the morning of May 7th and we arrived to Bernalda around 5:30 p.m. on May 8th (in Italy we are 6 hours ahead of the US). These two days were filled with plane rides, van rides, struggling to get comfortable enough to sleep, and finding the nearest coffee shop every chance we could. I admit, I became very anxious on the flight from Newark to Rome and I knew little of what the next three weeks were going to hold. However, that has already made the trip so much fun!

Bernalda has already become a home away from home in two short days. The residents here are incredibly welcoming to our group, even if they make sure to point out our pale skin and accents. After learning so much about the negative stereotypes given to Bernalda, I have become defensive and sensitive for this sweet, sweet city in such a beloved country. I relate to a small southern city who is looked down upon by outsiders. My hometown has country accents, less rich residents, and most likely lower test scores than the surrounding towns in the Triad region of North Carolina. Even so, I adore my hometown more than anything and I greatly appreciate our culture we have created. This is why I want to learn more about the culture here and treasure all the little aspects that locals know and love.