May 29, 2018
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.
May 26-28
Rome is one of the most famous cities in the world and I was able to spend two days and three nights in this amazing place! Our hotel was literally a 10 second walk from the Spanish Steps, which was very crowed all the time. When we were first dropped off by our taxi, Marimar, Tina and I had to find our hotel on our own….with about a hundred bags of luggage…okay maybe not that many, but it was still a lot. I have never felt more like a tourist than struggling to push my 50-pound suitcase across the cobblestone walkway in front of one of the most popular places in Rome. Hundreds of people were staring and several were laughing as we made our way past them. This was the moment we realized we weren’t in Bernalda anymore.
Just chillin' on the Spanish Steps
Photo credit: Hannah Mckinnis, 2018. Used with permission.
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!!
Our view of the Pope!!!
Sunday morning we got breakfast and went to Saint Peter’s Square to listen to the Pope give a blessing. He spoke for about 10-15 minutes and although we did not know what he was saying, it was still a really amazing experience to see him in person! Towards the end of his blessing, he was shouting out certain groups of people that he supported and we could tell by their cheering in the crowds. That would make me feel so special if I was part of a people group that was typically discriminated against and I knew I had the support of someone in such power. This experience makes me reflect on a topic that I have been exploring throughout these three weeks: white privilege.
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.
Look closely to find Matera
I promise I am not actually this short
Photo credit: Tina Eucker, 2018. Used with permission.
After leaving the Vatican, we hopped on the Metro and went to the Roman Colosseum. I was in charge of getting our group to the tour guide office, so as we were leaving the Metro station, I was hoping it would be easy to find the colosseum. As soon as we stepped out of the station, the colosseum was literally right in front of our eyes. I laughed at myself for questioning where it was going to be, because I could not miss it at all. The name really does explain the size as “colossal.” It took the Romans nine years to build it and I can see why, because it is gigantic!
One of the beautiful ceilings in the Vatican
The Colosseum
Thank you random man for taking lots of pictures of my pals
Once we made it back to our hotel, we went to dinner with Anna and Fabio. We loved recapping our day to them, without forgetting any of the tiny details. They were so excited to hear about our adventures and acted like such proud parents! I am also so impressed with how well we did on the Metro. We were a little nervous for our first trip, but we got the hang out it very quickly and looked like locals!
After dinner, we walked to the Trevi Fountain, which was so beautiful, especially at night! The water was bright blue and full of coins. We all made our own wishes, a perfect way to end an amazing abroad experience. I had my last cone of gelato, which was so sad and I do not know what I am going to do without eating it every day! We got to our hotel late and had to pack all of our bags. I did not get to bed until 2:00 a.m. and we had to wake up at 6:30 a.m. to get on the van to take us to the airport. I was not as cranky as I expected, I guess I am just excited to see my family! These past three weeks have been so amazing and an experience I will never forget.
My last gelato in Italy :(
The Trevi Fountain at night!
May 26, 2018
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!
Shoutout to Spencer for taking a picture of the girls
Growing up, I briefly learned about Pompeii, but I did not remember much of its significance besides the volcano erupting and completely covering the town with ash. I learned that Pompeii was a place for wealthier people to come and visit, which was demonstrated by the extravagant architecture and paintings inside the homes. The town was gigantic and I do not think we made it through everything even though we walked around for several hours.
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.
Fabio taught us that these holes were used to store oil
The volcano that erupted is shown in the background
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?
Pottery left in Pompeii along with one of the people who did not survive the tragic event
Anna telling us "It's busy..." a phrase we heard non-stop during our daily photoshoots
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 :)
Antonio and some of the students performing
Spencer giving the principal a thank you gift for welcoming us into his school
Tina was in charge of taking care of the orchid we brought as a thank you gift for Paola. Orchids are very delicate flowers, but Tina did an amazing job of making sure it was in perfect shape :)
As a way to show our gratitude, everyone in our group recited a couple lines of Maya Angelou's poem, "What I've Learned." My lines close the poem and are shown in the picture below. We might forget small details of this trip, but the kindness and the warm welcome we felt will never be forgotten.
Photo credit: Google Images
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.
May 21, 2018
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!!!
The city is shown in the left side of the picture bordering the water
Just look how clear the water is!!!! Absolutely beautiful!
Before leaving Gallipoli, we took a break from shopping to enjoy lunch. This was probably my favorite meal of the whole trip so far!!!!! I ordered spaghetti with mussels and even though this was a simple meal, once again I think the simplicity made it incredible! It had a light cheese sauce mixed in with the noodles, but the mussels I have had in Italy have been the best I have ever had in my life. They are so fresh, most likely caught the day I ate them...you really can't get much better than that! Of course I had to snap a picture to share with all of you lovely readers.
We left Gallipoli and went to Lecce before returning back to Bernalda. Lecce is considered "Florence of the South" because of its historical appearance. The cobblestone streets in some places around town reflect the age of the area. The intricate architecture is beautiful and I love all of the details that went into each building. There is a lot of Greek influence in this area and it is interesting to see the differences between the Greek and Italian styles of architecture.
The top picture shows an amphitheater at the heart of the city and the bottom picture shows a fort that surrounds the amphitheater. These were used for entertainment including gladiator fights and animal vs. human fights. It is interesting how this type of fighting till the death was acceptable and enjoyed many years ago because such behaviors are unheard of now.
May 20, 2018
The view as we were walking down to the water to get on our boat
Today was a free day for our group and we spent our time "bronzing" (the Italian term for tanning) in the sun, exploring caves, and jumping in the icy waters of the Adriatic Sea. We started off by sleeping in until 9:00 (this is super late for us!!) and then getting complimentary breakfast from the hotel. We had pastries, fresh fruit juice, bread, fruit, and cheese. I was a little confused to see slices of bread, meat, and cheese sitting next to the pastries, but I learned that this is very common, especially in German culture. Despite my confusion, I love any excuse to eat bread and cheese so I filled my plate!
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.
View from inside a cave
After a quick lunch by the pool, we hopped into Vernon, the van, to take us to the water. We were scheduled for a two hour boat excursion to view the caves bordering the Adriatic Sea.
This picture is not the best of quality, but it shows how blue the water was!!
The caves were so beautiful and unexpected! Some of them were much deeper into the land than others, but all left me in awe as I stared at the history that had been left through the rocky indentions. The water was much more blue that I expected it to be and it literally looked like we were swimming in blue raspberry Kool-Aid.
These caves were thousands of years old and skeletons were even found in one of them. When our guide told us this fact, I immediately became excited, thinking we were going to be able to see the skeletons...which my group did not hesitate to laugh at me and tell me they had been removed. I was super bummed but also felt very silly for asking such a question. This has become a regular feeling I have been having while abroad. Some of the simplest things like which trash can to throw away garbage into or how to order the proper ice cream flavor have suddenly become difficult for me. However, finding the answers to these mundane questions have taught me so much about the culture I have immersed myself in.
My face when the icy water splashed on me and photobombed my picture
Photo credit: Tina Eucker, 2018. Used with permission.
Photo credit: Anna Pennell, 2018. Used with permission.
I have had a history of having mini panic attacks in deep water, so I do not know why I thought this swim would be any different. We swam to the "beach" that is on the right side of this picture. About halfway there, I began to get anxious, which causes me to doggy paddle. This is obviously not an efficient way to swim, so it makes my body very tired, which makes me struggle even more. I was so relieved to finally reach the shore and get out of the freezing cold water-even though my body had gone numb and became somewhat used to it. I was nervous to swim back, so Tina volunteered for me to ride on her back, which is shown in the picture below. So, thanks Tina for being my lifesaver :)
One of the caves that we visited was fully of sulfur-filled water. The sulfur was visible in the water and had a strong, unpleasant smell to it. We decided to jump in the water for a quick swim because our guide told us the water was warmer here. However, he waited until after we were in the water to tell us that we would most likely smell like sulfur for three days. Thankfully, I did not continue to smell like sulfur!! After two hours, we made our way back to the shore and went back to our hotel. We sat at the pool for a little while and then got ready for dinner. We ate at the hotel again and enjoyed another long, but tasteful dinner with an amazing view of the water.
Photo credit: Anna Pennell, 2018. Used with permission.
Photo credit: Anna Pennell, 2018. Used with permission.
May 19, 2018
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.
Alberobello is full of very unique buildings that are pointed on the top. They were built this way for several different reasons. The main reason was because the tax collectors at the time only collected the taxes from the homes with a roof. So in order to bypass the tax collector, these residents would quickly take down their roofs the day before the tax collector would come so they would not have to pay. After the tax collector left, they would then rebuild the roofs. This shows the intelligence of the residents of Alberobello, but also the financial state they were in. If they had enough money to pay taxes, they would not have become desperate enough to have to deconstruct and construct the roofs every time the tax collectors came. Other than escaping the tax collectors, the material that was used for the roofs was also very common at the time and the circular shape is easy to create.
I loved exploring this town and going into the shops. Shopping is one of my favorite things to do and the people with me on the trip have definitely figured that out by now. There are so many cute, handmade items that make for great gifts for friends and family from this sweet little town!
Of course we had to get gelato before we left, because did you really spend a day in Italy if you didn't eat gelato??
The sunset over the water added to the relaxing vibe of the weekend
After stopping in Alberobello, we continued on until we arrived in Castro. This is where we would call home for two days. We got here around 7:30 and we had dinner reservations for about 8:30. The hotel and the surrounding area was so beautiful!! After unpacking our belongings, we headed over to dinner where we had a four course meal. We started out with different appetizers including: grilled zucchini, red peppers, and eggplant, mussels, bruschetta, and something similar to a calzone filled with onions.
We were able to choose our second and third courses individually. I chose macaroni with clams and broccoli for my second course and then swordfish for my third course. For dessert, we all had a small slice of cake with fruit on top. Everything was delicious, but we were all so exhausted from the day that it was difficult to stay awake throughout the whole meal. After getting a good night's rest, we were all very excited for what the rest of the weekend would hold!
Lilly and I were enjoying the beautiful view at our hotel
Photo credit: Tina Eucker, 2018. Used with permission.
May 14, 2018
Photo credit: Hannah Mckinnis, 2018. Used with permission.
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 went into a mock cave home that represented how it would have looked 70 years ago. Here is where the family horse would stay, only about 10 feet from the bed
The bed with the small toilet to the left. The smallest child would sleep in the crate at the end of the bed during the day. At night, the smallest child would join the parents in the bed and a larger child would sleep in the crate
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.
I really cannot put into words how beautiful this town is. Several times during the day, we all stood still, looking around, and taking in every piece of this amazing creation. It is hard to wrap your mind around all you are seeing and the pictures we took still do not give it justice compared to seeing it in person. Our day was simple as we walked around the town, but the simplicity is what made it so beautiful.
Read more about Matera's miraculous transformation here
This is the room for couples. Anna wanted to sneak away with Fabio but we wouldn't let her, sorry not sorry :)
After leaving Matera, we ate dinner inside of a cave in Gravina in Puglia. Just to clear up any possible confusion, this cave is slightly nicer than how they would have looked when people were living in them. We ate a five course meal which was fabulous, but different than every other meal we have had! We had familiar foods, such as mushrooms, cheese, pasta, and tomatoes but they were cooked using different flavors. These simple foods can be enjoyable day after day because they taste different each time we eat them. Once again, an example of how simplicity can be a wonderful thing. I also told the group that our server was cute while he was standing near us because I didn't think that he spoke English. But, my lovely professor asked him and apparently he does so that made things pretty awkward for the rest of the night. Go me :)
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.
Photo credit: Tina Eucker, 2018. Used with permission.
May 13, 2018
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..
Left: My ticket for zip-lining
Right: We zip-lined between the two mountains on the sides of the picture. They were pretty far apart, so it was difficult to have a picture of the full distance. This was so much fun and the views were INCREDIBLE. It was a very long walk up several steep hills to reach the top of the mountain, but it was so worth it
We started off today just like every other day... getting croissants and cappuccinos for breakfast. Then we spent three hours wandering around the downtown streets of Bernalda while trying to find the best deals for the cutest clothes. We were finally at the market!! I have always loved to shop and so I was looking forward to this day since we arrived here. There is a market every Sunday, but once a month their is a bigger market and today was the day! Being from the States, I know that bigger is ALWAYS better and the market was no exception!
Our first purchases at the market!
Photo credit: Anna Pennell, 2018. Used with permission.
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?
After we left the market, we drove an hour to a small town on the side of a mountain. As we were driving there, we discussed a book we read called Christ Stopped at Eboli by Carlo Levi. In his novel, he depicts the negative stereotypes given by outsiders to Southern Italy. He mentioned that the mountains were dead and cracking, basically calling them ugly. But, if you notice in the picture below, the mountains are full of greenery and life! It has rained recently, which could be a reason for the bright colors, but even if it hadn't rained, I still view the mountains as beautiful.
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.
A view of the city from where we were zip-lining
May 12, 2018
One of our classes
Photo credit: Anna Pennell, 2018. Used with permission.
We were observing in a P.E. class one day and we were able to play volleyball with the students. This was so much fun and they were so much better than my gym classes ever were! It reminded me that sports have no language. We can all enjoy the game, while working together and playing as a team without even being able to communicate with words. We were able to quickly tell who were the more advanced athletes and how much ground each of us could cover while playing. This helped us to use the talents of each player to become successful on the court in a very short amount of time.
Tina, Hannah, and I playing volleyball
I do not even know where to begin when explaining all the things I have learned and observed while being in the classroom in Italy. The best part so far is how excited the students are when we enter the room. The younger students will stand as we walk in, but the older ones typically do not. It feels crazy to have people rise as you enter a room because that has never happened to me before, but it shows how much respect they have for us.
We have gone back to many classrooms for a second time and today when I went back into one of them, a group of students were motioning me over to come work with them. This made me feel special and wanted and I really appreciated them. The students also immediately give up their seats for us to have one and they will leave the room to bring in more so everyone is able to have one. If they cannot find enough, they will stand or sit on their desks. Once, again this shows how well they treat us and they make it an honor to be there to work with them.
Left: Artwork in the hallway that was painted by a former student
Below: Tina and I with a group of students...three of these were our tour guides :)
There are many aspects of Italian school that are different than school in the United States. One big part is that they have school Monday-Saturday but only from 8:15 a.m. t0 1:15 p.m. I asked them if they prefer this schedule or one similar to mine in America and they definitely wanted one like mine. I agree with them, because it is very nice to have two days in a row off to be able to relax. However, they do have much more free time to do homework and hang out with friends during the week.
Photo credit: Anna Pennell, 2018. Used with permission.
Something else that is different is the teachers rotate classrooms, while the students stay in the same room all day. They also have the same classmates all five years of high school. Students have mentioned that they wish they could move around throughout the day and I agree that I would probably feel bored and restless if I was in the same room all day.
One of the classes we observed was a lesson in English literature. This particular type of high school in Italy lasts five years and the students spend two years studying English grammar and three years studying English literature. They were discussing similarities and differences between the Romantic Era and the Neoclassical Era. I definitely did not expect the students to be studying the same concepts that I studied in high school. I even felt a little silly because they know more information than I do. Clearly, I only remembered the facts for the tests and then forgot them quickly after...oops
Another class :) Photo credit: One of our students, 2018. Used with permission.
I have been in several different classes with different teachers and I have noticed a difference in actions and attention within the classes. A teacher who is more strict reflected higher standards for her students by fussing at them for being late and making them spit out their gum. A teacher who is less strict allowed students to be on their phones, listen to music in their headphones, have private discussions while he was giving a lesson!!!! This seems so rude to me, but it did not bother the teacher enough to say anything to the students. It seemed as if the students were more attentive and learned more with a strict teacher versus a more laid back one. This will help me in the future to see the benefits of having high standards and enforcing the rules for my students.
I have thoroughly enjoyed being in the classroom so far and I cannot wait to continue to build relationships with the students over the next two weeks!
May 11, 2018
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.
A local man fishing in the Ionian Sea
After leaving the school, our first stop was one of my favorite places on the planet, no matter where I am on the map....the beach!!!! The last class we were in was an hour long lecture about philosophy, given completely in Italian. As you might guess, this also left me wanting to fall asleep on the desk, but I assumed that would be very unprofessional and frowned upon. So, I fought through the pain, made it through the lecture, and hopped on the bus. I was under the impression that we were going to Fabio's brother's house, so when I opened by eyes and looked out the window to see we were parked at the beach, my eyes lit up.
Such a beautiful view!! Oh and the ocean is nice too
Photo credit: Anna Pennell, 2018. Used with permission.
My mood changed within a matter of seconds and I bolted out of the van. No matter where I am around the world or how stressed/tired I might be, the beach has always been my happy place. The best part about this trip was that most of my group still had on their name tags and we were all wearing our nice outfits. So, we might look a little out of our element in the pictures, but just know in my heart, I felt right at home.
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 :)
Here's a hint
My stomach is growling just looking at these pictures again
The Metaponto ruins where it is believed that Pythagorus taught
Photo credit: Tina Eucker, 2018. Used with permission.
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
Photo credit: Hannah Mckinnis, 2018. Used with permission.
After we saw the Temple and museum, we went to see the Etruscan Tombs. These tombs were put into place thousands of years before the Greeks arrived in Metaponto The picture on the left is of Tina and me on top of one of the old tombs..creepy but very cool!
By the time we returned back to the farm, our dinner was made and ready to serve! We seriously have been treated like royalty by everyone in the town and it is the sweetest thing. For dinner we had focaccia which is similar to pizza, but it has a much thicker crust. We also had homemade calzones that Fabio's sister-in-law taught us how to make! We are going to attempt to make them without her instruction at some point before we go back home so stayed tuned :)
The focaccia with the calzones in the back
For dessert, Fabio's nephew and his girlfriend made us strawberry and apricot pies which were so beautiful and tasted amazing. This was the point where we all could have fallen asleep on the table because we were so full, but so so happy. After dinner, we went back home and finally went to sleep after our long, eventful, but very fun day.
May 10, 2018
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.
Tina and I taking our first sip of Italian cappuccino
Photo credit: Hannah Mckinnis, 2018. Used with permission.
Within the schools, it has been very interesting to talk with the students. I was anxious and nervous about what to expect, thinking they would know little to no English. Surprisingly, the students have been learning English basically their whole lives and several speak very well, while many others know enough to hold a basic conversation. Something that has stood out to be is how students almost always ask us what we like/dislike about Italy. They are conscientious about what we have to say and this shows that many love their hometown and want to defend it. Even though the students appreciate where they are from, they also struggle because in order to make a better living, they must move away from home and start a new life. I can imagine that this would be a very difficult decision because they are almost admitting that the stereotype is true and that the North is better.
Just as one might imagine, the food in Italy is AMAZING. Tina and I quickly learned that cappuccinos are only allowed to be drunk after 1:00 p.m. and espressos are the way to go in the morning. However, the tiny, very bitter espressos are not enough for us and the man who works at our favorite coffee shop loves that we can drink cappuccinos at anytime in America. He has been so excited to serve us what we are used to, even if it is different from their culture. It has been a wonderful experience to dive into another culture as well as spending time with locals who are interested in learning more about ours.
Left: My favorite type of pizza so far is four cheese! It has so much more flavor than any other pizza I have ever had. Papa John's is not going to taste nearly as good as it used to :(
The aspect of Italian culture that has stood out to me the most has been the concept of time and rest. Workers will typically go in from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., go home for a break, then go back to work from 4-7 p.m. and eat dinner an hour later. During their break from work, Italians will eat lunch at home with their families, take a nap, and walk up and down the street before returning to work. This allows them to have a break during their day to step away from the craziness of life, breathe, and spend time with loved ones. This is just one way the importance of relationship has been shown in this culture and it really makes me take a look at my own life and notice how time-oriented I am. The teachers in Bernalda have even encouraged our professor to give us less work, which she has out of the kindness of her heart, in order to give us more time to enjoy our time here and to relax just as they do. The lifestyle is involved around good food, good wine, and good company and I cannot think of a better way to spend my time! I hope we can all learn from these amazing individuals and reflect this change into our lives back at home.