Week 2 GL 350

It is now the second week of my adventures in Roma and I feel like the time is going by so fast; I can’t get over the fact it’s already Wednesday. I really consider every second I get to spend here precious time and I want to make the best of it. In The Italians, Barzini discusses the fatal charm of Italy, his statement about the fatal spell appealed to me. He states, “It made and still makes unwanted people feel wanted, unimportant people feel important, and purposeless people believe that the real way to live intelligently is to have no earnest purpose in life”. I feel as though I relate to this quote in many ways.

As I mentioned in my post before this one, I had no reason for coming to Italy, but now being here and experiencing everything I know that I was meant to be here at this time. In the beginning of the semester while I awaited my departure to Rome, I had little if any motivation. It was tiring and depressing, all I wanted to do at home was sit and watch television. I felt I had lost my purpose in life and no matter what I did I couldn’t get that motivation back, it was a weird phenomenon. 

After the first week of classes in Rome I have my motivation back and I feel like I have a driving force pushing me to go out and experience Rome and take everything in. Rome is so beautiful and maybe that’s why I can’t get enough of it. Like Barzini says, “Everything is displayed everywhere, in dramatic and artistic disorder” and I love this about Rome. In The Smiles of Rome, Ginzburg talks about how she no longer thinks it’s clear why she loves Rome, and that love is something unexplainable. I believe that love is unexplainable, but I don’t know if I could ever stop loving the sites of Rome.

Week one SOC 490

Over the past few months I have heard a lot of talk about health care in the United States and I really didn’t think much of it. The talk that I have heard has mostly been from political campaigns and the presidential debates. Overall though I don’t think about healthcare too much and the way insurance policies are set up. In class though when we had our discussion about the readings it was interesting to see how much the topic really got some people going.

After discussing the readings I have come to the conclusion that I think health care should be a privilege. America has always been about working for what you want, “nothing worth having comes easy”. Peikoff states, “The system guarantees you the chance to work for what you want – not to be given it without effort by somebody else”.  People should have a desire and a drive to always better themselves, if everything was just given to people think of how lazy America would be.

It seems that in my generation everyone wants things to come easy and fast. That is not how it works, and if health care is made a right then that will just confirm their idea. I mean don’t get me wrong I think that the crazy rich people could probably all survive with less, but they have worked for everything they have. If you are less fortunate you don’t have to stay that way, get up, go out and work for what you want.   

               

Week one GL350

Well everyone, I am here in Rome and honestly I never thought for a second I would be in Rome, let alone studying abroad for two months in this beautiful Country. I have often heard the phrase “All roads lead to Rome”, even Barzini mentions it in his book The Italians. Being here now actually makes me believe that all roads really do lead to Rome. The past few years of my life have been a time of uncertainty and a journey to find myself; I am excited to continue my journey in Rome.

           

 I never had any reason for coming to Rome when I finally decided to; I just thought that it seemed like a fun adventure, something different to do. In The Italians, Barzini talks about the tourists that come to Rome driven by some unknown urge. I’d say that this definition of a tourist describes me perfectly. The first week here has already been quite an adventure and I have loved every second of it, from the best to the worst.

           

 The beauty of Rome and Castel Gandolfo intrigue my heart and mind, just the simple view of the country side outside of my room makes my heart flutter, and the huge magnificent Coliseum boggles my mind. So much history is in this great city and my mind can’t help but wonder what Rome really looked like in its prime. On our tours we see the ruins of the city, and even they amaze me because even though they are ruins they radiate such beauty. In Smiles, Masson talks about the Forum and how it seems like an empty space, but if we use our imagination we can comprehend what an important space the Forum actually was.

           

 Week one is coming to a close and I know that week two will bring even more beauty and adventure. I can’t say yet what I am hoping to get from this trip, all I know is that I plan to make the best of it. I can already tell that the group I came with will become like family because they already feel like my family. I do not regret for one second being here, it was a wonderful decision and I know I will learn so much from my experiences. Until next time Buona Sera!