Final Research Paper: Looking at Italy's Health Care Dilemma for Undocumented Migrants

           Imagine being a nine-year-old child in excruciating pain with no place to obtain medical treatment while in an unfamiliar country. This horrifying nightmare is a reality to many migrants living in Italy. Just two weeks ago at the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center on Via Nazionale in Rome, a young nine-year-old boy was faced with this exact situation. Hit by a car while crossing the street, he acquired numerous injuries to his left leg and was unable to walk. He was a refugee from Afghanistan making his way through various countries in Europe in hopes of reaching Norway, a place where migrants receive the best benefits. His friends hovered around him reassuring the many worried onlookers that he was fine and did not need medical attention. The young boy’s excruciating expression told otherwise. Without the proper papers in Italy, it becomes complicated to receive medical attention. His guardians were worried that their illegal status in Italy would be disclosed if they brought him to a doctor. Sandra, a volunteer at the migrant center, decided to take her chances and brought him to a hospital. She had to go to three different hospitals until medical professionals finally saw the young boy. As one can see, the Italian health care system is very complex, especially concerning health care of undocumented migrants.

            There are many complex regulations in Italy in terms of who can be covered by the country’s public health care. These regulations range from a person’s legal status in Italy to the severity of illness. In this paper, the state policy in Italy for migrants compared to legal residents will be examined in terms of their access to health care. In addition, the correlation between this policy and the realities of health care practices for migrants will be assessed. The term migrants, as used in this paper, means everyone who has moved to Italy whether their move was by choice such as for an immigrant or forced such as for a refugee. The term undocumented refers to those who are not registered with the Italian government and are illegally in the country. These terms will be used throughout to better understand the complex Italian health care system and how it pertains to undocumented migrants.

-METHODS-

            Information on this topic of Italian healthcare for undocumented migrants as well as legal residents was gathered from a variety of sources. The Joel Nafuma Migrant Center provided great insight on how these undocumented migrants receive care. Sandra, a volunteer for many years at the center, has a lot of personal experience dealing with these migrants at the center and was very gracious to share her experiences. In addition to Sandra, I was also able to speak with Sina who is a nursing student in Rome who volunteers his time at the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center. Sina, even with the language barrier, was able to provide a lot of valuable insight on how undocumented migrants get into contact with doctors to receive the care they need. The staff at CARITAS also provided valuable information, especially Anna Galdo who is the research and projects officer in the asylum and migration department. The internet also served as a valuable source. Such journals as The European Journal of Health Law and The Health Economics Journal provided information on the Italian health care system. Other internet websites were informative by providing statistics as well as the current health care issues in Italy.

-FINDINGS-

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Italy has the second highest rated health care system in the world (Healthcare Economist). Italy guarantees the uniform provision of comprehensive care throughout the country (France). Italy’s national health system, called Sercizio Sanitario Nazionale or SSN for short, receives funding from a regressive payroll tax, social insurance contributions as well as co-payments. In-patient and primary care are free yet tests, diagnostic procedures and prescription drugs require co-payments as high as thirty percent. However, forty percent of the population, which includes the elderly, pregnant women as well as children, is exempt from these co-payments (Healthcare Economist). Emergency health provisions are available to all EU and non-EU visitors. No matter where one comes from, it is mandatory to have some form of health insurance upon arriving in Italy. A permesso di soggiorno, or residency permit, will not be issued without it (Healthcare Economist).

Despite the high rankings by the WHO, Italians are dissatisfied with the quality of their health care. Italians believe that patient choice will improve the quality of care, yet reform is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Waiting times are also a prevalent problem in the current health care system. For diagnostic tests, the average wait for a mammogram is seventy days and for endoscopy seventy-four days (Healthcare Economist). In addition to long waiting times, the sanitary condition of many hospitals is unacceptable. Overcrowded rooms often are filled with lice while patients are served uneatable foods (Health System in Italy). Many opt to pay for private health care as a result of these conditions. Also, the health care system is complicated by the fact that constitutionally, responsibility for health care is shared between the central government and the twenty regions. There are large disparities in regional health service organization and provision (France). In addition, coverage differs greatly depending on one’s legal status. As a result of all these impediments in the health care system, many within Italy are unsatisfied with the Italian health care system.

There are many ways for people to get insured and be covered under this health care system. These include working in Italy, being a EU citizen visiting Italy or simply being an Italian citizen. If you are working in Italy, the employer pays your health insurance. All you need to do is go to your local health authority and register with a doctor at the health convention. A health number is then created along with a health card, which can be used to have all visits to a family doctor be covered. If you are an EU citizen visiting Italy, you can take advantage of reciprocal health agreements. This can be done by simply going to the ufficio staniero (foreigner’s office) and filling out paperwork to cover your temporary stay (Health System in Italy).

Obtaining health care if you do not fit into these categories becomes a little more complicated. My talk with CARITAS’s Anna Galdo informed me that with the correct paperwork, immigrants are treated in the same manner as Italian citizens. The current legislative provisions concerning health care for illegal immigrants can be found in Article 35 of the Legislative Decree No. 286 in July 1998. The article is organized according to several principles including human dignity, health need and solidarity with the most vulnerable people (Romero- Ortuno). This includes having equal rights for everyone irrespective of personal or social characteristics. In addition, everyone in need is granted a right to health care. The article states how illegal immigrants in Italy have the right to receive urgent and essential primary care due to illness or accident, with guarantee of continuity of care (Romero-Ortuno). In addition, migrants are covered for pregnancy and maternity care, full health care for everyone under eighteen as well as vaccinations according to the rules and within the areas of intervention set by the regions. Their health care even extends to diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of toxic dependencies (Romero-Ortuno).

In order to receive these benefits, illegal immigrants must fill an official form self-declaring that they lack sufficient economic resources (Dichiarazione di Indigenza). In return they will be given an anonymous ID regional code (Codice Staniero Temporaneamente Presente) which is valid for six months. With this code they can receive all of the benefits listed above and be treated under the same conditions as Italians. The regional health authority refunds the provider for all expenses. In addition, an illegal immigrant cannot be reported to the authorities (Romero-Ortuno).

Health care for undocumented migrants gets tricky when these migrants fail to obtain these documents. From my talk with Sandra, an avid volunteer from the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center, I have learned that even without documents it is possible for illegal immigrants and refugees to receive care, even if it is breaking laws. According to Sandra, there are certain hospitals in Rome that do not check for documents and turn their head in order to give care to those in need. Sandra mentioned the Ospedale Nuovo Regina Margherita in the Rione Trastevere as a good hospital for immigrants without documents to go and receive care. According to Sina, a nursing student who volunteers his time at the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center, these hospitals take the people’s name and number without contacting the police. In Sina’s words, “this is a way to break the law and do the right thing.”

Overall, migrants either documented or undocumented are able to get access to health care in Italy even if they do so illegally. Migrants who do not have their papers might come up against barriers to receiving care at certain hospitals, but there are places that are open to helping everyone. This type of information is important to pass along to all migrants in order to ensure good health for everyone.

-DISCUSSION-

            Many believe Italy has a very strong health care system in place. Their health care system is set up to offer care to the majority of Italy’s population with little or no copayment. As long as one has the correct paperwork, whether they are an Italian citizen, illegal migrant or legal migrant, they will be covered under the Italian health care system. Other than the bad conditions of long wait times and unsanitary hospitals, the health care system basically has been proven to be successful in ensuring good health for the majority of the population. However, a major problem this system sustains is its inability to provide coverage for undocumented migrants.

This issue of health care for undocumented migrants in Italy has become a pressing topic. There are those who believe that if one is not paying taxes, then they should not be entitled to health care. Aiding these undocumented migrants without papers only puts the Italian health care system further into debt. On the other side, others wonder if it is ethically right to deny someone health care. This is the current topic being debated.

Although some migrants might know these particular hospitals that do not check for paperwork, many others must simply go without help. Changes must be made to this current health care system in order to ensure good health for all. The Italian health care system needs to be prepared for Italy’s changing identity. According to Sylvia Poggioli’s film titled “Immigrants Forced to Margins of Italian Society,” Italy has the fastest growing immigrant population in the world.  This film states that immigrants constitute seven percent of the Italian population. Ever since the mid 1980’s, Italy has imported people from many vicinities including Northwest Africa, South and Southeast Asia as well as South America (Grillo). Italy’s identity is shifting to becoming a multi-cultural country (Wong).

With migration in Italy playing such a large role in today’s society, adaptions must be made to fully include all migrants, whether legal or illegal and with or without paperwork, into the health care system. Access to health care is an integral part of living long healthy lives. Opening the doors at hospitals across Italy for these undocumented migrants would promote good health. Making adaptions to the Article 35 to include ways undocumented migrants can receive care legally will in turn result in better health for all.

There are many problems precipitated by these illegal actions of providing migrant health care. Article 35 of the Legislative Decree No. 286 written in July 1998, relates that there are equal rights for everyone irrespective of personal or social characteristics. In addition, everyone in need is guaranteed a right to health care. According to the findings provided, this universal coverage does not seem to be the case. Undocumented migrants, who do not possess the correct paperwork, are not given equal opportunity to health care in Italy. They are forced to go to the select hospitals that break the law and do not check the migrants’ papers. These illegal practices are hotly debated in Italy since caring for these undocumented migrants puts the Italian health care system further into debt. The Italian health care system has an average deficit equal to $2.5 billion US dollars per year (Maio). These illegal migrants only further the situation. This question of whether these hospitals should care for these migrants given that this care comes at a price is a major issue at hand. Both sides cause issues for either the migrant or financially for the Italian health department.

-CONCLUSION-

            In the end, there is a very complex health care system set up in Italy. This system is designed to cover Italian citizens, EU visitors and documented migrants will little or no copayment. Undocumented migrants, on the other hand, are only covered under extreme circumstances. These include such circumstances as urgent and essential primary care. Although there are certain hospitals that turn their heads in order to help, more needs to be done to enable all hospitals to treat these undocumented migrants. Italy’s identity is slowly shifting as a result of the high prevalence of immigration. With so many immigrants, the health care system needs to change in order to promote the well being of the entire population. It is important for changes to occur so that situations such as the one the young Afghanistan boy was faced with will no longer need to occur. Though this investigation, only more questions are asked pertaining to Italy’s health care system and its involvement with migrants. The future of this health care system and how it decides to deal with this high flow of immigrants into the country is a pressing concern for Italy.

            When gathering information on this topic of access to health care for undocumented migrants, there were many barriers. Since this topic deals with issues involving breaking the law in order to help migrants get care, many were unwilling to talk about specifics on the issue or their involvements. Only after reassuring people that this information would solely be used for educational purposes would people be willing to share information and still I felt as if I were not getting the entire story. In addition to the barrier of having people not want to share information that could get them in trouble with the police, it was also difficult to uncover information about how undocumented migrants received care. Nothing had been published on the issue stating how illegal migrants broke the law to receive care. The only information gathered on the issue was from speaking with knowledgeable people on the issue. Overall, there were many hindrances to dealing with a topic so bound up in legal regulations.

Bibliography

France, George. "The Italian Health-Care System." Health Economics. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 14 Sept. 2005. Web. 2 Mar. 2011.

Galdo, Anna. Research and Projects Officer. CARITAS ROME. Personal interview. 28 Feb. 2011.

Grillo, Ralph, and Jeff Pratt. ""The Politics of Recognizing Difference"" Multiculturalism Italian Style Aldershott (2002). Print.

"Health System in Italy." Web. 2 Mar. 2011. <http://www.italytravelescape.com/Health system.htm>.

"Healthcare Economist · Health Care Around the World: Italy." Healthcare Economist. Web. 2 Mar. 2011. <http://healthcare-economist.com/2008/04/15/health-care-around-the-world-italy/>.

Maio, Vittorio. "The Italian Health Care System: W.H.O. Ranking Verses Public Perception." Web. 12 Mar. 2011. <http://www.pharmscope.com/ptjournal/fulltext/27/6/PTJ2706301.pdf>.

Poggioli, Sylvia. Immigrants Forced To Margins Of Italian Society : NPR. NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. 13 Jan. 2009. Web. 2 Mar. 2011. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99255579>.

Romero-Ortuno, Roman. "Access to Health Care for Illegal Immigrants in the EU: Should We Be Concerned?" European Journal of Health Law 11 (2004): 245-72. Martinus Nijhoff. Web. 2 Mar. 2011.

Sandra. Joel Nafuma Migrant Center. Personal Interview. 1 Mar. 2011.

Sina. Nusing Student. Volunteer at Joel Nafuma Migrant Center. Personal Interview. 6 Mar. 2011.

Wong, Aliza. "Race and the Nation in Liberal Italy." (2006). Print.

Rione Paper: Discovering Rione Trevi

When one thinks of the Rione Trevi, the Trevi fountain is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Although the fountain is a main attraction in this Rione, the area is dense in history, culture and character. Exploring the area and interacting with the residents of this Rione has opened my eyes to more about this area than just its’ spectacular fountain.

The Rione Trevi is very rich in history. Of the twenty-two riones, the Trevi is Rome’s second and was founded in 1763 by Pope Benedetto XIV. The name Trevi originates from the middle age word “Trivium” which means the crossing of three roads. This crossing of these roads occurs where the current Trevi fountain is today. The Rione Trevi’s coat of arms entails three swords, which is derived from these three roads. During the time of the Roman Empire, wealthier people lived up on the hills of the Rione. After the fall of the empire, people moved down to the river and construction on the higher parts of the city came to a standstill. It wasn’t until the Renaissance that the hills surrounding the Trevi became populated with new streets, churches and fountains.

Today, the Rione Trevi includes the busy Via del Corso, the Trevi Fountain, the Palazzo Barberini, the Palazzo del Quirinale and more than twenty churches. The Rione Trevi extends from the western side of the Quirinale hill and the plain between this hill and Via del Corso. It borders to the west on Pigna, to the south and the east on Monti and to the north on Colonna and the walls of Rome. It is one of the larger riones and includes a wide range of sites and regions of differing atmospheres.

The Trevi fountain is Rione Trevi’s most notable monument. It was completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini and is the largest Baroque fountain. It was built to celebrate the end of Aqua Virgin aqueduct. This legend, which involves a young girl showing soldiers a spring that was the source of the aqueduct, is depicted on the upper panels of the fountain. Neptune, the god of water and the sea, can be seen in the center of the fountain taming sea horses symbolizing the mood of the sea. It is a tradition for tourists to come and throw a coin in the fountain wishing to come back to Rome one day. Thousands of tourists visit each day and according to a report by BCC, an astonishing 3000 euros are collected every day from the fountain and given to charity. This astonishing fountain is often the center of many top films including “Roman Holiday” and “La Dolce Vita.”

            Upon arriving into the Rione Trevi for the first time, it is easy to get caught up in the touristy atmosphere. Souvenir shops, street vendors and restaurants in every language line the small winding streets leading to the Trevi fountain. The piazza in front of the fountain is a central social gathering point for many and there is always a constant chattering and energetic ring in the area. The bustling buzz of the tourists definitely livens the area. This image of the Rione Trevi is what most visitors take away from their visit. After talking to a few of the tourists visiting the fountain on one of my visits, it became apparent that visitors coming to the area rarely explore the Rione Trevi other than the fountain.

We talked to a Swedish couple visiting Rome for the first time, which helped get the true tourist perspective of the area. Their perspective differs from mine since I do not consider myself a tourist visiting the city and instead a short term resident. This couple would view the area in a different light since they wouldn’t have an extensive amount of time to explore. They were only in Rome for four days and were hitting all the top sites on their visit, which included the Trevi fountain. Although they thought the Trevi was immense and remarkable, they had not planned to explore the area any further. Since many visitors don’t explore the Rione Trevi other than the fountain, I think it would be interesting for tourists to try and escape the tourist traps around the fountain and explore more of the surrounding area. Hopefully, tour books will include insights on exploring more of the area around the Trevi fountain since there are a lot of cute shops and beautiful buildings with a lot of character in the surrounding area.

            The atmosphere beyond the Trevi fountain is filled with small winding streets lined with apartment buildings and small cafes, shops and restaurants at their base. Walking around beyond the fountain I feel as if I have entered an entirely new area. Here is where the “insiders” of the rione Trevi live. They distance themselves from the touristy “outsiders” that tend to congregate around the Trevi fountain. About one block out, the constant hum of tourist’s excitement fades as people’s routine daily life and chores fill the streets. People carrying groceries, shopping in local stores and grabbing cappuccinos were common errands seen while wandering beyond the fountain. There is a distinct border that defines who belongs and who doesn’t depending on how far away from the Trevi fountain one is. As I meandered through the area surrounding the Trevi fountain, I didn’t necessarily fit the tourist description but was definitely characterized as an “outsider.” This was because I was not Italian and wasn’t completely familiar with the area, which made me stand out.

It is evident from just wandering through the Rione Trevi, that it’s wealthy. Vibrant and elegant buildings line the streets and the residents dress as if they are of a higher status. Security guards stand in front of luxury apartments impeccably decorated and full of character. Women dress in fine furs and walk with a purpose. These are all evident signs that the area is of higher economic status. The fountain is what brings the tourists to the rione and in turn a lot of money. During one of my visits to Trevi, we spoke with an ice cream vender who informed us that the Rione Trevi was an extremely expensive place to live. She could not afford to live in the area and instead commuted from outside the city walls like many other store owners in the Rione. Through both my observations and speaking with the women at the ice cream store, it became evident that this area was extremely wealthy. 

            Art is evident throughout the Rione Trevi. Between the vast amount of sculptures and fountains scattered throughout to the beautifully constructed buildings and churches, art is visible everywhere. In particular the Triton fountain is one of Rione Trevi’s most artistic fountains in my opinion. This fountain was the first of Bernini free standing urban fountains and was built in 1642. The fountain depicts Triton, a minor sea god, with four dolphins at its base. The Triton fountain strikes a dramatic artistic presence in the middle of Piazza Barberini. This piazza is immense and the fountain’s location in the middle draws lots of attention on the elegant fountain. Although there are many elegant statues and buildings throughout the Rione Trevi, I found it very difficult to see any evidence of graffiti or tags of any sort. This is most likely due to the higher economic class of the area.

            Overall, exploring the Rione Trevi in greater detail has opened my eyes to better understanding the area’s monuments, culture, history and residents. As a young college aged student living in Rome and exploring the area, I am sure that I got a different take on the area than others. For example, I was not impressed with the area directly surrounding the Trevi fountain due to the high amount of traffic as well as the numerous shops geared to lure in these tourists’ money. Someone visiting Rome for the first time might absolutely fall in love with this area and view this rione as being representative of all of Rome. In this way, people’s impressions on the Rione Trevi differ greatly. In the end, my impressions of the Trevi area changed drastically after my return for this assignment. In the beginning, I had always viewed the area as strictly for tourists, a place where one could not get the full “Italian experience.” Little did I know that only a few blocks away lay lavishly painted winding streets filled with quaint cafes, shops and smaller hidden restaurants. This assignment has taught me to look beyond what the tour books tell you in order to really get a feel for the area and its culture. I hope that in my last few weeks in Rome, I am able to return to the area and further explore to be able to deepen my understanding of the area.  

Blog 8: Reflections of my Service Learning at the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center

During the past nine weeks, our program has been focused around the topic of immigration and the changing Italian identity. As a part of this program I have been able to deepen my knowledge on this subject by spending time in the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center. This center is located in the crypt of St. Paul’s Church on Via Nazionale. The Joel Nafuma Migrant Center is dedicated to helping refugees become better accustomed to life here in Rome. According to their website, this center offers a place where these refugees can come “to get advice and aid, spend time with people who speak their own language, watch news bulletins from around the world, learn English, Italian, computer skills, and basic skills to help them adjust to life in Europe.” Overall, this experience let me see first hand how immigrants are becoming accustomed to life in Italy. In addition, I was able to walk away with a sense that I was able to make a difference in peoples lives.

In these past eight weeks, I have spent two days a week volunteering my time at the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center. On Tuesdays I usually spend the beginning of my time there in the kitchen. Here I help Salva, a refugee from Russia who once came to the center, prepare tea and cornettos. This job consists of making two large pots of tea and pouring them into cups. At 10:30am, we have the refugees form a line as we pass out these cups of tea along with a cornetto. After cleaning up the kitchen we move into the classroom where we teach English. When we come on Thursday afternoons we also help out in the classroom. Here, we have those at the center who want to learn English gather. Depending on who shows up, we devise a lesson plan around their knowledge level. This is often the most difficult part since usually the refugees that show up come from a variety of educational backgrounds. In addition to teaching English, we also help those who are interested in learning how to use the computer. In the classroom there are computers with special typing programs to aid the refugees in becoming more accustomed to the technologically advanced lifestyle in Italy. Many who come into the classroom wanting to use the computers have never used one before or are just starting to learn how to type. In addition to helping with tea and teaching, our group also helps out in the utility room passing out used clothes and hygiene products such as shampoo, razors and toothbrushes. Although this is not the job I usually assist in, I have spent a few of my days volunteering in this room. In the end, I feel as if our work volunteering in this wide range of activities has proven to make a difference at the center.

When I first arrived at the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center, I have to admit that I did not feel comfortable. Turning the corner into the main room at the center, I felt as if hundreds of eyes turned to look at the definite outsider barging into their personal space. Being an American female of middle-upper class it was obvious I did not belong. Before this time, I had not found myself in such a situation that involved myself feeling like such an outcast. I remember how I kept thinking how I was going to interact with these refugees if there was nothing we had in common since for most we did not even share a common language.

After a few weeks I began to get more comfortable interacting with the refugees. Everyone at the center began to recognize us as regulars and the glares once we entered began to fade. During our time making tea with Salva, he was able to inform us about the background stories of many of the refugees which made me feel more comfortable. He talked about how many were forced to leave their families and extremely unhappy being here in Italy. This helped explain the sorrow in people’s faces and the unapproachable attitude many possessed. He talked about how some wanted to talk, some wanted help fitting into Italian society and others just wanted to be left alone. It was up to them to approach you, and other than just wait there really was not much one could do to help these refugees. This talk with Salva helped me to both understand the stories of many of these refugees as well as not feel as if it was up to me to help everyone, since many wanted to be left alone. In addition, through learning more about immigration, migrants and the situation going on in Italy in class, I began to feel more comfortable spending time and interacting with people at the center. In particular, Grillo and Pratt’s piece titled “The Politics of Recognizing Difference” and Kitty Calavits’s “Law, immigration and exclusion in Italy and Spain” helped lay out the tension and marginalization of immigrants in Italy. My frame of reference had shifted as a result of my time in Italy in addition to my better understanding of the immigration process and situation going on in Italy from class. During our English lessons, we were able to speak with a few about the changing identity of Italy which enabled me to connect with these refugees on a deeper level since I was informed on the issue. By the time our time at the refugee center, I had become very familiar with the process at the center and had made many connections with the refugees.

Even though I was able to learn a lot about the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center, I still have many questions. It would be interesting to learn more about the history of the center as far as the story about how it began. It would also be interesting to get more information about those refugees I was never able to interact with due to the language barrier. I felt as if many had a very interesting story to tell as far as why they were in Italy and what life was like back at home to make them chose to move to Italy. In addition, it would be interesting to learn more about these refugees integration into Italian society once arriving. The language barrier hindered conversation that was this detailed. Some of these questions as far as ones about the center could be answered through contacting the coordinator Tuana while others about refugee’s personal stories will probably never be answered due to privacy issues and language barriers. In the end, I enjoyed my time at the migrant center. It was interesting to be able to work with and aid migrants first hand with the integration process in Italy, which is something we were studying in class.

Blog 7: What and who is Italian?

When coming to Italy, I did not know much about the culture, government or values. I had always thought of Italy as a country as developed and elite as Germany, United Kingdom or France. After spending two months in Rome, I have been able to grasp a greater understanding about Italy, in particular what it truly means to be Italian. In class, we have focused on the topics of education, immigration and religion to better understand this issue of Italian identity. It did not take long to discover that Italians are very selective in who they consider an Italian. From looking at a variety of different topics of identity in these past few weeks as well as my experiences living here in Rome, I have found that Italians do not have open arms to any idea of a changing society. This can be seen through looking into youth and education, the South and North divide, the Jewish presence in Rome as well as my own experiences.

            The Italians are very prideful in preserving and honoring those who are “true” Italians. This idea can be seen when looking at the education system in Italy. Education is not something that is given equally to all who are in Italy, but instead depends on your identity. As out guest speakers Fedelicia Bianchi and Anna Onorati brought up in their lecture on January 25^th, the Italian government has made it difficult for those in Italy who are not born here to receive equal rights to education. This can be seen in Gelmini’s new law in 2009 that made it so that Italian schools cannot exceed 30% foreign students of the total number of students in the class. As Bianchi and Onorati pointed out, this makes it very difficult for young immigrants to receive the education they need to become successful in Italy. Italy’s immigrant youth are forced to spend long hours commuting to schools far away in order to adhere to Gelmini’s 30% rule when a perfectly good school is much closer. This time spent commuting long distances takes away from the children’s time in the classroom, time studying as well as time with their family. Through looking at this new law set up by the Italian government, it becomes evident of Italy’s belief in secluding those who do not fit the Italian mold. In addition, this law further distinguishes what makes an Italian by outlining how those who are not born in Italy are not truly Italian and therefore can not get the same educational treatment.

            By looking into the arguments over the division of North/South Italy further solidifies what defines an Italian even within the country. The northern part of Italy sees the south as a major problem “incapable of pursuing modern and dynamic objective” as discussed in Gabriella Gribaudi’s Images of the South. This idea further expands on the definition of who is truly “Italian.” In the North’s eyes, you are not truly Italian if you are from the South. This idea can also be seen in Amara Lakhous’ book Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio. In his book, one of the characters named Antonio Marini from Milan spoke of his hatred towards those in the South. In Antonio’s eyes, those from the South are not true Italians. Overall, those from the North/South of Italy see each other as completely different people, not sharing unity of their Italian identity. Depending on where you are from determines your identity.

            This idea of defining what makes an Italian is seen when looking at Rome’s history with the Jews living in the city.  In our class tour of the “Jewish Ghetto” we learned how the Jews living in Italy were forced to live in confined space within a small two block area of the city. Conditions were tough since many were forced to live in cramped small rooms and have high security around the premises. According to the reading from the Jewish Social Studies Journal titled, “Narrative Over the Ghetto of Rome,” walls separated Jews from the rest of the population for centuries. This idea of exclusion of others by Italians further enforces the idea that the Italians did not accept people of different races or backgrounds even from early on. In order to be accepted into the Italian society, one must adhere to the cultural practices of Italians whose blood dates back to the start of Italy. In the minds of many, following such a religion as Judaism is not acceptable in terms of being able to call yourself an Italian. Through walking around this area of Rome still termed “Jewish Ghetto” it became evident through the food, location of the Synagogue and talking with the people that this area still had a high percentage of Jews. After learning about this subject, it has made me question whether once the “Jewish ghetto’s” walls were demolished if these negative ideologies towards Jews were still as enforced as they were in the past. Overall through looking at the way Jews were treated by touring the area of Rome’s “Jewish Ghetto,” it is apparent that any differences in cultural practices such as being Jewish were not acceptable in the minds of Italians. Being Jewish is thought of as different and therefore “not Italian.”

            As one can see, the lines of what makes an Italian and what doesn’t are very fuzzy. The only thing that becomes evident through my experiences studying this subject is that Italians make it very difficult for one to truly call themselves an Italian. As discussed through looking at youth and education in Italy, the government plays a role in this definition by making laws that make it more difficult for children not born in Italy to get equal access to an education. Gelmini’s new 30% rule further reinforces how difficult it is to be truly Italian. In addition, through looking at the North and South divide within Italy, it becomes evident that even where one is from within Italy alters one’s identity. Finally, the ideology behind Rome’s “Jewish Ghetto” was examined to further solidify the idea that ones cultural beliefs and background play a role in who can be considered a true Italian. Although I have been able to lay out what makes an Italian and what doesn’t in a few circumstances, overall, there is no clear definition of an Italian.  After my examination in these different fields, it has made me wonder if there is any hope of Italy becoming more accepting of people from other backgrounds and nationalities. 

Multicultural Literature in Contemporary Italy Short Story Responses

“Return”

            Fatima Ahmed’s story titled “Return” was focused around a girls story about traveling back to her home country. She talks of the treacherous journey from the Vietnamese countryside to Cambodia, her homeland. When she was twenty-one she was taken from her homeland of Phnom-Penh to Somalia by her father, “to save our skins.” The violence made it unsafe to stay. She reminisces on saying her goodbyes to the ones she loves in addition to her interactions with local upon her return. Throughout this story, her reflections and memories of her loved country kept resurfacing making her overjoyed to be back.

            In particular, Ahmed speaks of the instance when she returned and had a jug of freshly squeezed sugarcane. She states, “I will never forget that juice, delicious, fragrant and fresh” (pg 32). This love for the food and drink from home is similar to a character described in Amara Lakhous’s book Clash of Civilizations over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio. The character named Parviz had a serious hatred for Italian cooking. He greatly preferred the tastes and spices of his homeland and spoke of them often within the text. Both character’s love of their homeland’s food can be witnessed in each of these texts.

“Give Me Back My Coat”

            This short story entails a very depressing tale about a man so enthralled with the idea of death. He has encountered tough times as far as unemployment and debt and loathes on the fact of ending his life. Sadness and disgust for life are the themes found throughout his short story. He talks about his reasoning behind his thoughts and methods of death. These include such things as taking pills that would not suffice due to the amount of anxiousness he would feel in addition to falling which he feared because he believed that he would uncover the meaning of life mid-fall. In the end of his short story he talks about going out and getting a drink on a cold night. While out his coat, which is one of his very few last meaningfully possessions, gets stolen. This is when, as he sees it, things couldn’t get any worse.

            In the beginning of this short story, he talks about death. The author states how “Death is the only things that can save me from all of my struggles” (pg 38). This theme of struggle and sadness can also be seen in many of the faces of those I work with at the Refugee center. It is obvious that the people at the refugee center have gone through many rough struggles and display their hardships on their faces and work in solitude at the center. In both of these circumstances, the theme of pain can be seen.

“Light Beer and Peanuts”

            In this short story the idea of finding ones identity is a common theme found throughout. An Indian girl was forced to give up her identity due to her fathers strong beliefs that India was, “a place to be avoided with care, a place to not get to know, to be erased” (pg 46). With no identity found in the ethnicity she found home in, she found it even more difficult to fit in and relate to the Italian society. She constantly straightened her hair and bathed in sun lotion in order to try and fit in. In the end she realized that she is too white while also being too black to ever fit in. There were just too many differences for her to find identity within one culture.

            This story brought up interesting ideas surrounding acceptance within a culture. The author states, “ I wanted a whole population to accept me and put aside its traditions, its dogmas and its castes” (pg 47). This idea of wanting acceptance can also be seen in the want of the Immigrant population to be accepted into Italian society as we have learned in class. In Italy, immigrants are strongly looked at as outsiders and integration into Italian society is unheard of. This similar idea of wanting to be accepted into a culture can be found in both circumstances.

“The B-Line”

            This short piece was rich in metaphors talking about borders the strife of language. This theme of language can be witness throughout by looking at the language of the musician, the wordless exit as well as the reference to their native language being, “the boat that ferries my thoughts” (pg 54). Words, as seen in this piece, are an important factor to any society. This is evident in our discussions in class about what really makes up an Italian. This topic of conversation can never go too far without the issue of one’s language being an integral part. It is the basis for understanding ones roots or if someone fits in. In the end, language is the key to ones identity and Italy is no exception.

“The Beggar”

            This is a story about an old blind man who spends his time begging in front of a church asking for words. He is a poet who is in search of the words to fill his poems. Such words as “family,” “glory,” and “unconstitutionally” were some of the words he would receive in his box. The meaning I took from this short story entailed the importance of words in life. In addition, it is important to understand that every person has their own experiences and their own “words” to share and teach with others. In this the language and diction one choses is a representation of one’s identity. This idea of linking one’s identity to their language stems from many of our discussions in class. Based on one’s diction, it becomes apparent of where a person is from, their background to an extent and their lifestyle. This can be seen when we studied the North and South divide in Italy. We talked about how there were differences in the language between North and South that divided the country. Similar to how in this story one’s word they give to the blind man symbolizes who they are, one’s diction and way of talking signals to others information about themselves.

My Own Interpretation...

In my piece that we created in class, I depicted the separation of ideas and the confusion that comes along not having a sense of home. This idea is drawn from the “Light Beer and Peanuts” piece in the Multicultural Literature in Contemporary Italy. On one side of the separation there is Italy while on the other there is India. The main themes of the short story can be depicted in the bold words “Anger,” “Family” and “Borders.” The overlying theme in this piece is the questioning of one’s identity as the main character is doing in the story. Confusion circulates her identity which therefore explains its’ location within the question mark. Quotes are drawn to depict each setting and written on each of their respective sides. All of this helps depict the idea of confusion of one’s identity that can be seen in the “Light Beer and Peanuts” short story.

Blog 6: Exploring Rione Trevi

            Even after living in Rome for almost two months, I do not know much about the rione Trevi. All I know is that this area is home to one of the top tourist attractions, the Trevi Fountain. One goes there to take a picture, throw a coin in the fountain and then moves on. For this assignment, it was enjoyable to be able to go back to explore and to interact with the people of this area instead of just going to see the fountain. My initial impressions as well as my experiences in the interviews with the people of this area helped shape my views of the Rione Trevi. Before further exploring the Rione Trevi I was faced with many questions. I wondered what beyond the fountain the Rione Trevi offered? In addition, I was curious to know who the residents of the Rione Trevi were since from my first visit, all I could really pick up on were the large amount of tourists.

When Marson and I visited our rione, we were able to really dive into the area and get a better understanding of the environment. We decided to head to the area around the Trevi fountain and explore from there. Of course we chose the one day when it was torrentially pouring rain the entire time. This led for probably a skewed view of the area. The streets and shops were mainly empty and tourists were hiding out inside. Instead of taking in the surroundings on my walk there, I found myself with my head down trying to avoid the monstrous puddles that were becoming good friends with my socks. I did notice that as we neared the Trevi fountain, more and more shops were becoming tourist oriented. There were souvenir shops galore, gelato stands at every corner and English menus waiting outside every restaurant. Once at the Trevi fountain, street vendors worked hard to catch your eye to sell you umbrellas and toys. This particular area was very tourist oriented but once we wandered back a few streets the area looked vary familiar to the neighborhood where we live. Small jewelry shops, clothing shops and bakeries were on every block.

Through talking with others we were able to get other’s perspectives on the rione Trevi. We first set out to speak with a resident of the Rione Trevi in order to get to know the area better. After wandering around awhile, we found ourselves at a gelato store around the corner from the trevi fountain. Here we spoke with an Albanian female whose store served as the perfect hide out from the pouring rain outside. She had immigrated to Italy from Albania ten years ago and was a student here studying international relations. She spoke of the high population of immigrant workers in the area due to the low pay they will take compared to Italians. We thought it was fitting that the person we decided to interview fit well with our program’s ideas since she was an immigrant youth. When we asked her about the neighborhood she talked about how the Trevi area was mainly focused around the tourists and the fountain. There were many commercial buildings most of which were very tourist oriented. Tourism and the fountain are very important aspects to this area since they bring in a lot of money. The fountain draws the tourists in and the stores, restaurants and gelato stands reek the benefits through making dents in these tourist’s pockets. Due to the rione Trevi’s location in the historic part of town, living there is very expensive. Many who worked in the Rione Tevi lived outside and commuted to work. We then shifted to talking about her views on the rione Trevi. Overall, she really liked the area due to the character of the buildings and the location in the city. I found myself wondering if others in this area had similar impressions of the rione Trevi.

The next people we talked with were a Swedish couple visiting Rome for the first time. They were only in Rome for four days and were hitting all the top sites on their visit. The only reason for their visit to the rione Trevi was to check out the fountain. They didn’t know anything more about the area other than the fountain. When asked about their initial impressions on the rione Trevi, they mentioned how the weather had definitely made an impact. Instead of really being able to enjoy the sites on their walk from the pantheon, they were rushed and trying to avoid getting drenched. The husband stated how once he rounded the corner and got a view of the fountain, that he was surprised by the sheer size of the fountain. They said that overall they liked the area and if given more time in Rome, they wouldn’t mind spending more time exploring the area. Since many don’t really explore the rione Trevi other than the fountain, I think it would be interesting for tourists to try and escape the tourist traps around the fountain and explore more of the surrounding area. Hopefully tour books will include insights on exploring more of the area around the Trevi fountain since there are a lot of cute shops and beautiful buildings with a lot of character.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed my experience exploring the rione Trevi. It was great to go back to this area that I don’t really get the chance to go to other than visiting the fountain. Talking with both people that were familiar with the area and those who were just passing through was interesting to get their differing viewpoints on the region. It is a gorgeous area that never really gets explored other than the immediate area around the fountain. After leaving the rione this time I was only left with more questions. Why was this area filled with wealth? How much money does tourism bring into the rione? Where are some of the resident’s favorite places to spend their time in the rione since they are hard to spot in the region directly surrounding the Trevi fountain? In order to find answers to these questions I will need to return to the area and speak with more knowledgeable people as well as do research online.

Response to Intro and Salvation Chapters in Multicultural Reading

The “introduction” and “salvation” chapters of Multicultural Literature in Contemporary Italy by Marie Orton and Graziella Parati made for a very interesting read. Many of the issues followed closely with the topics discussed in this program. The “introduction” segment talked a lot about migrants and in particular those in Italy. There was a lot dealing with the difficulty surrounding one’s identity as an immigrant in Italy. An interesting topic brought up dealt with how literature is the ideal forum for identifying the anxieties around the present and future Italian identity.  The topic of school children was brought up when the example of the text entitled, “Uno su trenon parla italiano ma qui nessuno e straniero” was used to demonstrate how text can be used in the issue of Italian identity. A few weeks ago we looked at similar topics when we were touring and learning about the Italian school system and how immigrant children in schools play a role in the Italian identity.

The second part entitled “salvation,” talked about an immigrant’s ideas and viewpoints on the issue of immigration in Italy. He talked about his cousin’s brother in law that was attempting to immigrate to Italy. He strongly advised against immigrating to Italy. It became obvious in this chapter that this immigrant had strong disgust for Italy and the government that made it hard to be happy living in Italy as an immigrant.  From my experience working in the refugee center and after reading the book Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, it seems as if this anger and unhappiness as an immigrant in Italy is a common theme. It makes me wonder why so many are choosing to immigrate to Italy if there are so many unhappy immigrants. As stated in this chapter, the government likes the immigrants due to their aid with taxes so why doesn’t the government devise plans to make coming to Italy as an immigrant a more inviting experience?

Blog 5: Trip to Naples

            Upon hearing we were going to Naples as a part of our program, I was overcome with a mix of emotions. On one hand, there was my friend Gianmarco who is Italian and grew up in Naples. He does nothing but rave about his town. From the beautiful scenery to the outstanding food, he claims it is the best area in Italy. My mother, on the other hand, described Naples in a different light. She talked about her visit many years ago and the disgust she felt about the city. My mother described the setting of Naples as being a place no one would ever want to visit. She depicted it as dirty, unsafe and filled of unfriendly people. Her impression followed the lines of many of the stereotypes we have learned about in class of the south of Italy.

Prior to my arrival into Naples, I tried to keep an open mind by not labeling the city with either of their depictions. Our reading by Gabriella Gribaudi titled, “Images of the South” helped to alleviate the negative portrayal of Naples. She states, “It is a place of the soul and an emblem of the evil which occurs everywhere, but which in Italy has been an emblem of the evil which occurs everywhere, but which in Italy has been embodied in just one part of the nation’s territory” (page 73) By reading this before our arrival, it made it seem almost as if Naples was just labeled with these negative stereotypes and was maybe not as evil as a place as my mom had made it sound. I did however not let my guard down and decided to keep a heightened level of awareness of my surroundings in order to stay on the safer side. I tried to take in as much as possible to try and better understand these stereotypes as well as the fear in many tourists when visiting this city of the south.

As the train arrived I was instantly confronted with a major difference from the Rome I now know and other Italian cities I have become familiar with of the north. The skyline was dotted with high rises, modern buildings, and monstrous apartment buildings. Walking from the train station to our hostel I was able to see a trend in the architecture of the buildings, street shops and people that fed into my initial impressions of Naples. Things tended to be more modern, less colorful and the streets were less full of life compared to the Rome I am now familiar with. The area where I live in Rome is filled with small winding streets that are often bustling with people doing errands and window-shopping. Buildings are painted brightly and offer a more inviting atmosphere. In Naples, construction and plainly painted buildings filled the empty streets. I often wondered while wondering in this area why Naples was constructed in this manner. Was it because the culture of Naples did not value the architecture and vibrant life of buildings like those in Rome?

Even after keeping an open mind when in Naples and the south, I was able to see why people were labeling Naples with such a negative vibe. The amount of trash that was often in the streets and the experiences with the children at the Roma camp as well as Jenny’s mugging all tended to strengthen the stereotypes we had learned and heard about. Usually when I visit a city, I enjoy wandering the streets, especially after dinners to really get an understanding of the culture and atmosphere of where I am. Instead in Naples, I did not feel safe to even leave the hostel. Thinking back to Gribaudi’s words in her writing, it is important to understand that Naples does have crime that also exists in other regions of the world. Although, from my experiences during my visit, the stereotypes and fear that often come along with any discussion of Naples were only reinforced.

Maybe areas such as the ones I describe in Naples do exist in the north. From my experiences exploring the area I have gotten to know in Rome directly around the Campo di Fiori, there are vast differences from what I saw in Naples. It was hard to find the piles of trash and empty dark streets anywhere in Rome. In certain parts of Rome, specifically around Termini, I could find similarities as far as the bland architecture and less friendly atmosphere but nothing as vast and widespread throughout the city as Naples. Even as Charles Richards describes in his piece The New Italians, “Naples is a third world city” (pg 103). From these descriptions, my belief that Naples is unlike those cities from the north is reinforced.

Through my time spent exploring Naples, I began to feel as if I was an outsider. Being a middle class American student, I felt as if I did not belong. In Rome it is common to see school groups exploring the area, where in Naples I did not see anyone my age roaming the streets. Although I tried to dress casually in attempts of not standing out, it was obvious that I did not belong on the streets of Naples. I could even notice a difference in the way our tour guide Alex dressed in Naples compared to in Rome. When he visited Rome to meet our class, he was professionally dressed and it was apparent that he was of a higher status. When we met up with him on the streets of Naples, it was hard to even recognize him. He was wearing a full length jacket and scruffy hat which was a stark difference. It was obvious that I did not know how to dress to fit into the Napoleon society. In the end, I did not get the feeling that blended into the society in Naples. I began to get a better understanding of how immigrants must feel upon arriving to a new country as we had studied in class. This feeling of being an outcast and an outsider are similar feelings both immigrants and myself face.

On the other hand, I was able to see Gianmarco’s viewpoint on Naples. The city was filled with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, outstanding cuisine, and impressive sights of mount Vesuvius from most parts of town. I believe that Gianmarco and our tour guide Alex, who are passionate about their love for their city, are able to look past the grunge and danger in the area and see Naples for it’s beauty. They grew up in the area and have the knowledge of who and where to avoid in order to avoid this danger. Visitors, who are often responsible for creating these negative stereotypes during their visits, stand out and are often targets of crime. It would be interesting to note changes in the stereotype of Naples if the city were to take a stand to clean up the trash and minimize the violence.

In the end, vast differences in style, people and architecture compared to Rome set up for an experience that definitely opened my eyes to seeing part of Italy not like the stereotypical Italian towns everyone seems to know so well. Although I would not be dying to return to Naples, I was able to appreciate its beauty, cuisine and different culture and architecture. Even with trying to keep and open mind during my visit, I was only able to have these stereotypes and fear reinforced. Although Naples wouldn’t be on my top list of places to visit, I am glad I went for the experience. Like in any city, there are both good and bad things yet in Naples I found that the bad did tend to outweigh the good.

Assignment 4: Open/ Closed Doors in Terms of Immigrant Education

            Education is vital in order to be successful in any society. When the issues of immigrants and language barriers become introduced, differences in education become apparent. Through looking at the way in which Italy has coped with this great influx of immigrants in their education system, it becomes apparent of the doors that are both left open to help them out in addition to the numerous ways in which their government has made it difficult to integrate into society. Gerlmini’s new 30% rule in addition to the lack of programs in schools to help out immigrants definitely closes doors for immigrants. On the other hand, certain centers and language programs set up throughout the city are designed to help immigrants integrate into society. These open and closed doors as far as education for immigrants in Italy are then compared to those doors in the United States. Such programs such as ESL help out children while other programs are not distributed evenly, therefore closing off many opportunities to succeed for immigrants.

For Italian immigrants, it becomes very difficult to receive an adequate education due to the numerous closed doors immigrants are faced with. One in particular is Gerlmini’s new law that prohibits Italian schools from exceeding having 30% foreign students in a class. This law, as discussed by our guest speakers Fedelicia Bianchi and Anna Onorati, greatly restricts certain immigrant groups from having easy access to education. In areas that are high in immigrants, many are forced to commute longer distances to attend a school with a lower percentage of foreign born students in the classroom. This commute deters these students from having an optimal education and only further restricts immigrants from being able to integrate into the Italian society. This new law makes me question the motives behind the Italian government. If the government is trying to make it more difficult for these immigrants to obtain an education, it seems almost as if Italy is only hurting itself by not educating its’ population.

In addition to this new law, Bianchi and Onorati also discussed the lack of resources offered to immigrant children in schools. They talked about how there are programs set up to help immigrant kids who are having difficulty but how these programs are only offered one day a week for a few hours. In order to be successful in school, programs like these must be offered more often in order to really make a difference in integrating immigrants into to Italian society. After hearing this information, it makes me wonder what must be done in school systems in order to develop programs like these more often?

Another reason that the Italian school system is thought of as closed, deals with a lack of motivation to attend school. According to Renato D’Arca’s “Social, Cultural and Material Conditions of Students from developing countries in Italy,” only 19% stated that they were advised to attend university. In his piece he speaks of student’s loss of interest in becoming integrated in Italian social framework as a major issue at hand. In order for education of these immigrant groups to be moving forward, their must be a will and incentive for students to attend these schools. This statistic makes me wonder why so many students are not being advised to attend university? Is it because education is not as valued in Italy as it is in America? At least in the states, it is almost impossible to be successful without higher education. Why is this not the case in Italy?

 In Italy, education for immigrants can often also be viewed as being open. Throughout the city, there are centers set up to help immigrants adapt to the Italian culture. For example, both the St. Paul Refugee Center as well as the school we visited as a class offers language classes. As a part of my service learning at the St. Paul Refugee Center, I often help teach English, Italian and computer skills to the immigrants that are a part of this center. In addition, the school we visited talked about how they offer classes in a variety of different languages mainly for immigrants. These types of centers help acclimate immigrants to the Italian culture as well as help them find a successful job. It would be greatly beneficial to open more centers such as these to help the increasing amount of immigrants in Italy acclimate into society here.

     In the United States, it almost seems as if the educational system provides more open doors for immigrant students. In addition to there being no 30% rule for the classroom make up, there are also programs to help immigrant students learn the class material at a slower pace. Programs such as ESL (English as a Second Language) help teach kids at their own pace in a separate classroom. At least in my school growing up in California, these programs existed everyday and helped kids in a variety of subjects in order to help these immigrant kids stay on the same track as their American classmates. I wonder if Italy could work with these ESL programs to try and devise a way to integrate similar programs everyday in the Italian school system?

   Although it may seem as if the United State’s educational system is more open compared to Italy, the US’s system can also be viewed as a system designed to close doors for many immigrants. Immigrant students are often only provided with a basic education that only allows them to fulfill the low paying jobs once they finish their schooling. They are not provided with as much flexibility as far as courses and programs to help further their education. For example, the public high school I attended, which was in a predominately white region of California, offered a range of honors, advanced placement as well as internship opportunities to help students be successful later in life. A town not to far from me was filled of predominately immigrants from Mexico and Central America. In this town, the high schools do not offer such programs to help their students get ahead. I have always wondered that if the programs that were offered at my high school were moved to the predominately immigrant high school if these immigrants would have greater opportunities as far as college and high paying jobs?

     Overall, it is interesting to compare how different countries take on the issue of educating immigrants. Through comparing both Italy and the US, it becomes apparent of the vast differences there are to approaching this issue around immigrants. It would be interesting to look at the successful educational programs set up in both countries and examine a way that these can be implemented throughout the world to help immigrants. In the end though, it is good to hear that immigrants, at least in Italy, have a high rate of educational attainment. According to Renato D’Arca, 59% of the immigrant population obtains a high school diploma in Italy. It is important to continue to help these successful educational programs exist in order to make sure that the majority of the population is becoming educated. 

          

Blog 3: Interviews in Piazza Vittorio

           Upon arriving to the market at Esquilino and the Piazza Vittorio, it became evident that we had entered an area culturally and ethnically rich and diverse. Here, it seemed hard to even spot an Italian face or and Italian restaurant in the area. It was in this region that my partner Sha and I were able to conduct casual interviews with the immigrants as well as Italians in the area to learn more about their personal stories and views on the issues surrounding immigration.

           Not wanting to come off as intruding their personal beliefs and stories, we decided to take an approach which made us look as quizzical tourists rather than bothersome American students impeding on their lives. We made sure to keep our notebooks hidden and smiles on our faces. Sha and I started off in the indoor market where we would meander around each of the shops, showing interest in many of the goods waiting for an opportunity to try and connect with the vendors. Within the first few stands people were already making the effort and reaching out to talk with us by asking us where we were from and saying a friendly “hello.” This became the perfect opportunity for us to strike up a conversation about their insight on immigration and their personal stories on this topic.

         

            The first two men we spoke with worked at a meat stand in the market. They had kindly approached us speaking English knowing we were American. We took the opportunity and flashed a smile while displaying interest in their meats. We hoped this would result in them feeling more comfortable and in the end open up more about their stories and experiences with Italian immigration. The man at the front that we spoke with was from Bangladesh and about thirty years old. He moved to Italy three years ago with his family. He moved to Italy because he “likes money” and according to him, Italy is a good place to be successful. When we asked about education of the immigrant youth, he stated that his children do not go to school and slyly changed the subject to talking about our program in Rome. We took this as a hint that we dove into too much personal information. This interview got me thinking if our backgrounds had influenced the responses we received. Since we were American, and highly value education, he might have felt judged and wanted us to change subjects. We said “ciao” and moved on to try and interview others.

            Only a few stands later we come across two men from Bangladesh who welcomed us with smiles and offering us fruit. Again, we casually glanced around at their goods and asked them questions about where they were from and their immigration to Italy. With the little English they could speak and our gestures, we were not able to get too far. The only subject we were able to commonly understand was about Barack Obama. After stating that we liked our president, their response entailed machine guns and laughs along with phrases of their native language, which we did not understand. With such a language barrier, the situation quickly turned awkward and we swiftly moved on. With this group, I began to wonder if we were able to speak the same language, what interesting stories they would have shared with us? They seemed like they had an interesting background and were knowledgeable on a lot of subjects but neither of us had the means to communicate with each other.

            After not having too much success in the fruit and meat market area, we decided to move on into the clothing section of the market. Quickly upon entering this section of the market, we came across a twenty four year old man named Robbie who spoke very good English at a clothing stand. After wondering around a little more we decided to go back to his stand and try to strike up conversation with him since he seemed to be able to carry on a conversation in English very well. We started by looking at an “Italy” sweatshirt he was selling until he approached us asking where we were from. We approached him in a friendly manor and did not bring up the topic of our assignment right away in hopes that he would open up more to us as we became friends. Our conversation ranged from talking about where he lives in Italy to his upbringing. He moved to Italy when he was ten from India and learned his English in the Italian school system. It was obvious that he was of a higher class than many of the other merchants since he owned many of the shops around us and spoke of traveling the world being a pilot. He lives an hour away and commutes to the market everyday. After introducing our subject of immigration and Italian youth identity, our subject then shifted to speaking more about immigration. He spoke of his father who emigrated from Germany to Rome many years ago. I later introduced what we were doing as our final project and my interest in looking specifically at how immigrant’s health is affected by immigrating to Italy and their access to healthcare. After trying to explain about the healthcare system presently in place in Italy, it became obvious of his eagerness to want to help in anyway he could. He later offered his Facebook to contact him with any more questions. Compared to many of the other immigrants we had talked to, Robbie seemed to be adapted well to life here in Italy through speaking many languages and through his success in the market. This success makes me wonder what others can do to follow his success and to intertwine so successfully into the Italian culture while also maintaining his Indian identity? After speaking with Robbie, I began to wonder what his economic and family background was and if this was a determining factor that set him apart from the other immigrants that we spoke with?

            We then decided to look for an Italian to ask about immigration and their views on the subject. After not seeing many Italians in the market area, we decided to wander the surrounding streets in search of approaching an Italian. After a long walk we finally decided to approach a middle-aged man and ask him about his opinions on immigration. He stated how he did not approve of the immigrants residing in Italy. When asked to elaborate on his dislike for the immigrants, he just kept repeating “not good, not good” while shaking his head. This man called this area of Rome “Chinatown” due to the high amounts of immigrants. China, Bangladesh as well as the Arabic countries were among the most prevalent immigrants in his eyes. In the past ten to eleven years, he has witnessed a great increase in the numbers of immigrants in this community in Rome. One interesting comment he proposed about these immigrants was how, in his opinion, the immigrants were receiving money from the mafia to buy apartments and set up shops in the area. I later questioned what brought him to this belief. Although his beliefs on this issue of immigration are strong, he reassured me that many of his friends and family felt similarly. I began to wonder if his thoughts were truly widespread beliefs across Rome or even within this neighborhood? In addition I wonder what led him to share this information with us? Maybe it was because we were not immigrants or maybe it was because it was evident we shared the same economic status. Either way, I found it an interesting comment to share with strangers.

            Many of this man’s beliefs followed closely to those beliefs discussed in Grillo and Pratt’s “The Politics of Recognizing Difference.” This piece discussed how Italians were beginning to deliberate the complications, consequences and implications of their own identity as a result of the rush of immigrants into Italy. The Italian man we interviewed believed that this influx of immigrants would result in only complications for himself and other Italians and therefore should not be welcomed into his neighborhood or country. It is important to look into the social, political and economical structure of immigrants that cause this man as well as other Italians to have these negative thoughts about immigrants.

            It was clear upon arriving in Piazza Vittorio that we had been introduced to an area of Rome rich in ethnic diversity. Through our many interviews, we were able to get a better understanding of immigration within Italy from a variety of viewpoints. Hearing immigrant’s as well as Italian’s perspectives on the issue surrounding identity and immigration allows for a more personable experience with these issues. Although we were not able to get deep insight on issues of immigration due to language barriers in addition to us being American, we were still able to take a lot from the experience. I am sure that if we were both fluent in Italian as well as coming from a different background, we would have been able to gain more from our trip. Upon leaving Piazza Vittorio, I was confronted with many questions. What brings so many immigrants to this particular area? Has this area always been full of immigrants or is this a recent phenomenon? These questions will only be answered through conducting more research as well as returning to Piazza Vittorio and asking questions.