The Wealthy American

Globally speaking, the U.S. has amassed quite a reputation and stereotype in the world. Some students who have studied abroad shared their experiences of discrimination from being an American. A common one is the "wealthy American" -- no thanks to famous celebrities and athletes.

To dispel such stereotypes, simply explain your socio-economic situation. I don't blame anyone for assuming that a student studying abroad has money, because travel costs do add up and it's natural to assume with the wealthy stereotype portrayed in the media. I'm not going to deny that we probably have it easier than other students from other countries -- it's fairly easy to get a job, save up money, and still get a job upon coming back.

My side of the story: I'll get into the finances deeper in another post after my program, so I can really break it down for everyone. But generally, I do consider myself your average, comfortable middle-class American -- doesn't everyone consider themselves middle-class?? Anyway, I've been lucky enough the last 2 years to have held down multiple jobs. For many college students, it isn't difficult getting A job; the problem lies in getting a job you want, that pays enough. It's common to find students working full-time, and if you truly wanted, while taking classes full-time. Many young people in other countries aren't even able to find jobs. The other portion of my trip is funded from 3 different scholarships I've applied for, and the rest is from saving up.

So yes, as Americans, we are better off than most, but to be completely honest, few are as well off as the media portrays. As a side note, though… I personally feel that many, many study abroad students do come from a wealthier background and are able to afford it with the help of their parents. So perhaps the stereotype is not completely unfounded… I hope to share my experiences and will report back on what I observe in other American students!

Gift for my host family

So something I've been procrastinating is obtaining a gift for my "host family." I put that in quotes because none of it seems real. I don't have any details on who, when, where, or how -- except that she or them is/are in Florence within 30 minutes. I say she or them because it could be a couple or it could be an elderly lady.. only time will tell.

It actually really makes you think - what could represent where you're from? That wouldn't be completely tacky or useless? I was pretty hesitant about bringing buckeyes or some Ohio State themed gift.

And then, my friend suggested something like this off Pinterest, but I wasn't sure about the weight and practicality of bring you know, wood and nails onto an airplane. After a copious amount of brainstorming and numerous options, this is what I ended up doing -- and fell in LOVE with the idea!

It's an 8x8 canvas, for $4 from a craft store. I picked this scene because I felt the perspective of the landscape draws you, and it's saying, Here's a glimpse of Ohio! Come in and see!

I wanted to give some close ups, so you can really see the texture!

I will admit that I struggled slightly with taking photos of a painting from different angles. It's like combining my 2 love

Things I struggled with:

- figuring out a background color

- the texture for the background. I used acrylics, and decided to experiment with impasto, which is really fun stuff, but not really retractable. That's what gives that older, historical feel to it.

- I realized afterward that purple is the mourning/death color for Italians… so hopefully it'll be okay!

I love this idea so much and wanted to keep it for myself! I'm really thinking about doing one for each state I've lived in, or start a series, and do different seasons, or something! It's small, manageable, and functionally cute. 

A great DIY painting project.

Culture Report on Italy

[Source 1, Source 2]

Culture refers to a variety of aspect: family, community, celebrations, as well as other more subtle factors. Italians are very family-oriented and form bonds easily.

The arts have always been significant and influential in Italian culture – hence, why I am studying abroad here. The country has a preoccupation with painting, sculpture, and especially architecture. The emphasis on art extends to fashion, which is a key aspect of Italian culture – especially in the upper class. In hearing about others’ experiences, how you dress can really make a difference in how you are treated in public. I think this is true all around, wherever you may be. In terms of food, some common dishes are pasta, pizza, tiramisu, and gelato. Italy is also one of the world’s largest producers of wine and coffee.

In regards to food culture, Italians do not emphasize breakfast as the biggest meal of the day. Usually a croissant and an espresso is sufficient. Meals are consisted of starters (antipasto), pasta or rice dish (primo) and then the main meal (secondo). Following that are cheese and breads. Last is a dessert (dolce) and an espresso. Italians generally do eat lunch later (1pm) as well as dinner (8-9pm).

The Italian government has a tumultuous history, so in everyday life, Italians usually may complain about the government or work around it to achieve personal goals. Sound familiar? :)

About 40% of Italians are practicing Catholics, but 85% of religious Italians are classified as Catholic. Apparently, it is the dominant religion, but culturally, not everyone is actively practicing as one – ie. going to church, etc.

The majority of people are ethnically Italian, but other groups include French-Italian and Slovene-Italians in the north, while Albanian-Italian and Greek-Italians in the south. Although different dialects are used, the official language is Italian, which is taught in schools and used by the government. Most people are loyal to their town and “geographic expression”, rather than national pride for their country. The strongest ties are familial.

Italy does have a high unemployment rate, so a noticeable gap exists between the wealthy and the poor. Immigrants are usually from poorer countries, and social boundaries are evident. Education is indicated through speech (close to the national language versus a dialect), in addition to the way one dresses and what kind of meat one eats.

Italians do not have much respect for lines, so usually push their way to the front – this is probably very different from American culture. Although in some aspects we are considered rude, in public settings we do respect lines. It’s quite interesting how many different perspectives can exist. Because America is pretty much a melting pot comparatively to other countries, similarities can always be found.

I’m thinking about it like a Rubik’s cube – merely depending on the angle and the way we organize our perspective and colors, different facets reveal themselves from the same components of every culture.

Simple, artsy, and functional

I am in love with this method.

 I stumbled upon this Pinterest photo a while ago, and this lady used ribbon on a wall and clothespins to put up mini-paintings. I can't remember if it was hers, or her children's paintings, or just pictures. The point is, it can be anything you want that is classified as "interchangeable" in your mind.

Such an ingenious way of hanging stuff up to admire. I have had these postcard-sized notecards and postcards from a book of the marvelous works of Edward Hopper, and this is a great way to display because 1) it's cheap, 2) it looks great, 3) they don't fit into any standard sized frames.

So I didn't have any clothespins handy, so I found some paper clips and discovered they worked just as well. I also pinned the ribbon "between" walls", but they'd probably look just as great flat on a wall. I just didn't have the space.

And that's a glimpse of this beautiful little method that I actually, you know, did. (Rather than just fawning over the idea, pinning it on Pinterest, then promptly forgetting about it…)

Travel Musings.

The other day, my friend asked me what my greatest fears are, in the context of Italy.

Here are some fears that immediately came to me:

1. Not making the "most" of my time. 

This is pretty general, since who's to define what's the "most" - is it the more things you said you did, or the amount of different experiences you gained, or the enjoyment of the moments? It's all relative. But my fear is that I'll have spent the time away without having enough memories to last me. I don't want to say, I wish I had visited this place, or taken the time to do that.

2. Not "prepping" enough for my trip.

I'm going to be honest -- I'm often content being the passive traveler, letting somebody else be in control and do the planning if they so wish. I've never actually prepped for a trip, besides the packing, defined as haphazardly throwing some clothing into a bag. This time around, I'm trying to look through guidebooks, learn Italian, and my goal is to make a list of "must-memorize" phrases and "must-go" places. Which there's a lot of, by the way.

3. Not meeting other people I can travel compatibly with.

I'm all for independence in traveling, but honestly, it would be nice to, you know, have someone else be able to help take pictures. Share the stress in travel. Share those one-in-a-few-years memories with. So you know you didn't imagine all of it! It doesn't sound like a very great fear, but it's a very practical one. To have someone that shares your tastes in personal hygiene, budget, interests when traveling, and to a certain extent, personality… 'tis difficult. 

As I'm writing this, however, I'm noticing how they all start with "not." I feel a better attitude should be looking to what  I know I'll gain, rather than my fears. What if they come true? Doesn't help much that I predicted it. . .

Chemistry demos & geekery

I've been quite behind on having insightful blogging material, so here's a trip down memory lane -- my last week as a chemistry lab assistant. Here's a snapshot of our week (a few weeks back) of helping out with demonstrations for the kids. It's weird being unemployed…not having multiple jobs.

Here one of the chemists is demonstrating how liquid nitrogen can freeze the rubber tubing after going through.

Some of these balloons have salts put in them, so when a match is lit near them, they explode fire of different colors. Ie. strontium, iron, cupric chloride. 

I am really going to miss working in the chemistry labs, but I know that it's not for me in the long-term. Life is about dabbling in different things and finding your connections. It's fun being in an unknown black hole of mysterious options… 

Why Learn a Language? & Resources

Here are the most important reasons (in my opinion) that motivate me to learn another language:

Study abroad & travel - The more Italian I know, the better I can 'get by'. i.e. ordering food, asking for directions, finding my way around, and even more so, having interesting conversations with people! Language will deepen your understanding and assimilation into another culture.

Challenging myself - As I mentioned before in my Global Scholars post, I took classes in Spanish and German for 4 years (2 years per language). Much of it, however, was the book learning: grammar, writing, reading. I always felt that conversational speaking was my weakest point. No kidding, when everyone else in the class is speaking English… It'll be fun to see a different approach - the speaking before the book learning!

Other tidbits - Apparently learning a second language keeps your mind healthy, in terms of preventing the onset of dementia. I'm not sure if this is scientifically proven, but it's still a great thing to try your brain with.

Here's a list of helpful resources for the beginner -- those of you in the same boat as me, without any background in Italian.

*Italian General Practice 
This link has a plethora of sites that are great for starting out. Basic phrases, vocabulary, and alphabet pronunciations. I like how there's different angles provided: Italian literature, radio stations, verbs. There's something here for every learner.

*Italian Tutorials Index
This one in particular seems great - it's structured into advancing lessons, beginning with basic phrases about weather and days of the year, and progresses into possessive pronouns and phrases used in a hotel or bank.

*Everything Italian
Such a cute, fun site! Everything Italian can be found here: maps, geography, travel tips, grammar aids, recipes, and games for learning Italian. Who doesn't like games?? Learning a language isn't simply about memorization, but immersing yourself in all things Italian can help you pick it up faster than you would staring into a dictionary.

To a New Year - 2014

If I had to choose a favorite holiday, it would be New Year's. A time for reflection, and a time for moving forward. It makes you appreciate life in a different way. And, it's not a self created holiday; it inevitably comes and goes with time. 2013 was one full of changes - I had the craziest busiest semester of my life, and I moved into my first apartment. I chose my current life path (grad school) and applied to one. I decided to study abroad in Italy, with the help of applying for several scholarships. I got my first job as a nurse aide - my first certification. I made truffles for the first time, and moved back home. My parents got a puppy. I went to New York and renewed my love of art. (This is starting to get out of order). 

Anyhow -- my view of life deepened, and I got to see what matters most. I became closer to friends that mattered while losing a few on the way. 

But that's okay. Life's a journey and adventure full of changes. And I'm looking forward to a new year filled with more -- four and a half months living in Florence, Italy, traveling to places unknown, hopefully becoming somewhat fluent in Italian and becoming an Italian at heart. I'm looking forward to interviewing at different schools in different states & guessing where life will take me. Learning how to balance a gap year and excited to see what I end up doing during that time. Painting like I have never before. 

Here's some photos taken on New Year's Eve in 25 degree weather - 'bout froze our toes off.

 To another year of joys and sorrows, successes and failures. Bring it on, 2014.