Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
490 Blog 5
This past week, our group visited the Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome. This hospital is the oldest in Europe, dating back to the year 727. It was interesting to see the setup of an Italian hospital and to learn about how things are done here. It was also fun to pretend to be a doctor for a day, since we were required to wear scrubs while in the hospital.
We began our tour of the hospital in a classroom where Italian nursing students are taught. The hospital is also a school of nursing, and their courses seem to be designed in a similar way to the courses in America. We were told some of the facts about the school, and I was surprised to hear that nurses are in abundance in Italy as opposed to the shortage in the U.S.
The director of the hospital spoke to us for a while as well, and he gave us some insight into the ups and downs of the socialized health care system in Italy. This was very fascinating since the U.S. has recently passed new health care legislation. One of the standout comments that the director made was that the hospital struggles to balance cost with income. Based on the problems he pointed out in the current system, it seemed obvious that this struggle was caused by universal health care. However, he did not seem completely against the system, he was only aware of its flaws. For example, he said that the general practitioners in Italy are not usually very knowledgeable. Because of this, they will often send patients to the hospital when they do not necessarily need hospital care. In order to do this, the practitioners will send the patients to the hospital in the middle of the night (when the practitioner is unavailable to see patients), thus cheating the system and “sneaking” patients into the hospital. Overall, the system sounded very complicated, and it was even more difficult to grasp because the director spoke broken English. Nonetheless, it was a very interesting discussion.
After this introduction, we began our tour of the hospital. We walked past rooms where surgeries were carried out, and we saw the care units where post-surgery patients and other in-patients were kept. The rooms in this section were color-coded based on which patients required more or less care from the nursing staff. It was here that were introduced to an American patient who was also a college student. He was from Arizona State University, and was visiting Rome on his spring break. He had been robbed of his money, beaten, and stabbed multiple times. I am guessing that he it was late at night, alcohol was involved, and he was in a bad area of the city.
We also saw a section of the hospital where patients with cardiac problems were kept. The monitoring of these patients was pretty intense, and our group had to split up and take turns viewing the room so that we did not disturb or alarm the patients. After this we saw the labor wing of the hospital. We went through each room that a pregnant woman would go through during the course of giving birth. We were even able to see the room where the actual births take place, which was very interesting. We were also able to see a couple of Italian babies before we left, which got everyone pretty googly-eyed.
In the end, I found our trip to the hospital much more interesting than I had anticipated.
We began our tour of the hospital in a classroom where Italian nursing students are taught. The hospital is also a school of nursing, and their courses seem to be designed in a similar way to the courses in America. We were told some of the facts about the school, and I was surprised to hear that nurses are in abundance in Italy as opposed to the shortage in the U.S.
The director of the hospital spoke to us for a while as well, and he gave us some insight into the ups and downs of the socialized health care system in Italy. This was very fascinating since the U.S. has recently passed new health care legislation. One of the standout comments that the director made was that the hospital struggles to balance cost with income. Based on the problems he pointed out in the current system, it seemed obvious that this struggle was caused by universal health care. However, he did not seem completely against the system, he was only aware of its flaws. For example, he said that the general practitioners in Italy are not usually very knowledgeable. Because of this, they will often send patients to the hospital when they do not necessarily need hospital care. In order to do this, the practitioners will send the patients to the hospital in the middle of the night (when the practitioner is unavailable to see patients), thus cheating the system and “sneaking” patients into the hospital. Overall, the system sounded very complicated, and it was even more difficult to grasp because the director spoke broken English. Nonetheless, it was a very interesting discussion.
After this introduction, we began our tour of the hospital. We walked past rooms where surgeries were carried out, and we saw the care units where post-surgery patients and other in-patients were kept. The rooms in this section were color-coded based on which patients required more or less care from the nursing staff. It was here that were introduced to an American patient who was also a college student. He was from Arizona State University, and was visiting Rome on his spring break. He had been robbed of his money, beaten, and stabbed multiple times. I am guessing that he it was late at night, alcohol was involved, and he was in a bad area of the city.
We also saw a section of the hospital where patients with cardiac problems were kept. The monitoring of these patients was pretty intense, and our group had to split up and take turns viewing the room so that we did not disturb or alarm the patients. After this we saw the labor wing of the hospital. We went through each room that a pregnant woman would go through during the course of giving birth. We were even able to see the room where the actual births take place, which was very interesting. We were also able to see a couple of Italian babies before we left, which got everyone pretty googly-eyed.
In the end, I found our trip to the hospital much more interesting than I had anticipated.
Friday, March 26, 2010
225 Blog 5
For this journal entry, I will discuss the historical background of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, or “Fountain of the Four Rivers” in the famous Piazza Navona in Rome.
The Fountain of the Four Rivers was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in about 1651. The fountain was created in Baroque style, and it consists of four gods in each corner, representing the four major rivers of the world known at that time. These four figures create the base for a great obelisk. The fountain was commissioned by Pope Innocent X. However, when Innocent X set up the competition for which sculptor would design the fountain, he excluded Bernini from competing because many Romans were in opposition of Bernini.
A wealthy aristocrat, who was Bernini’s friend as well as Innocent X’s nephew-in-law, convinced Bernini to design a model for the fountain and have it secretly placed in a room that the pope walked through daily. When Innocent X walked through the room, he was said to have stopped in his tracks in ecstasy. After admiring the sculpture, he exclaimed, “This is a trick. It will be necessary to employ Bernini in spite of those who do not wish it, for he who desires not to use Bernini’s designs, must take care not to see them.”
The fountain was unveiled to the public on June 12, 1651. Before this, the fountain had been covered by scaffolding with large veils over top so that no one could witness its construction. When the fountain was revealed, the reactions of the Roman population were mixed. Many were in awe at its spectacular design and praised its beauty. But many of the people were very upset. The fountain had been paid for and constructed during and shortly after the severe famine of 1646-1648. People complained, posting notes on the fountain and the nearby statue in the Piazza Pasquino saying “We do not want obelisks and Fountains, it is bread we want.” Innocent X had many of these protesters arrested, and he also had street vendors expelled from the Piazza Navona because he felt that they took away from the beauty of the square.
Regardless of initial reactions, the Piazza Navona remains one of the most beautiful and popular places in Rome. The area is always crowded with vendors, tourists, and Italian locals. And standing in the center is one of Bernini’s greatest works, The Fountain of the Four Rivers.
325 Blog 5
In class the other day, we discussed the difference between European leisure and American leisure. Is leisure a lost art for Americans? After spending a day in the Borghese Gardens (basically the “Central Park” of Rome), I was able to relax and collect my thoughts on what it means to chill out.
In America, it seems that when people travel or lounge, it is always considered a “break.” When Americans relax, it is in order to gain their energy back to complete the next day’s work. It would appear that Americans actually work too hard, because their leisure time is always focused on their work. Or perhaps Americans simply focus more on their careers as the defining aspect of their life.
In Europe, on the other hand, leisure time seems to have less focus on regaining energy, and more focus on enjoying one’s self in that moment. This may be because Italians seem to worry less about what they do for a living than in the United States. In Italy, and Rome in particular, social status does not seem to matter. Luigi Barzini acknowledges this in "The Italians." He says that “the tiring game of extracting social recognition from others and expensively impressing the world with one’s own fortune, name or rank, is played by a relatively small minority of Italians,” and many of these have foreign ties. Italians do not gawk over Ferraris in the road, nor does a wealthy Italian man stick his nose up to an average Roman citizen. It is known that the one man has more wealth and power, but conversation between the two men will seem as if two old friends just ran into each other. Also, Italians seem to enjoy their average jobs more than Americans. Owners of small shops and restaurants are incredibly enthusiastic when attempting to serve you. Whenever I enter a store, I suddenly wish I could speak fluent Italian. I want to be able to engage the owners in conversation, because they seem so anxious to speak to me about anything. Barzini also explained this phenomenon by saying that it is each Italian’s duty to make one another feel important. For example, as I browse through stores, shop owners will often create deals that are “just for me.” This is especially noticeable when Danilo is with us, because he is Italian and usually knows the owners of the shops. They each attempt to make each other feel special, and each Italian is expected to return these small favors.
For our class activity on Monday, we were required to enter the Borghese Gardens and relax. When we arrived at the park, we sat to eat some sandwiches we had bought. I immediately realized that our class discussion was very accurate. As we started walking around the park, I realized that I was thinking about the things that I had to do later that day. Particularly, I had to read some of my books and write this blog. I had brought one of my books with me to the city, but I felt that if I sat in the park and started to read it, I would be failing my class assignment. So, I left my book in Ben’s bag and broke from the group. I walked by myself for a while and took in the atmosphere of the park. I snapped a few pictures, sat on a bench and people-watched, and discovered a few statues and fountains. By being in the park, I realized how adjusted I had become to living in Rome. If we had gone to the Borghese Gardens in our first week, I would have had taken a thousand pictures, walked at a quick pace, and my eyes would have been wide. Instead, I was able to relax in a park in a city that felt like home. I did the same things in the Borghese Gardens as I would have done in a park at home. The only difference is that I was in Rome. I realized in a moment what this entire experience of living in another country means. This trip will shape who I am for the rest of my life. The fact that I feel at home now in an entire different culture in a different country is incredible. I am not sure what it will mean for me, but I know it will somehow make me a better person. Well cultured, mature, and more confident (or at least more comfortable) than ever before.
Because I realized these things, I finally felt that I had accomplished my goals for the class. It was Aristotle’s philosophy that leisure time should be used to improve one’s self. It is difficult to explain how this improvement comes about. Through introspection, communicating with others freely, and simply letting one’s mind be free, we can come to new conclusions about who we are. Regardless of how I use my leisure time (to regain energy for work, or simply to enjoy myself), I feel that I am capable of improving myself through relaxation. And I feel that the Borghese Gardens are a great place to do this.
In America, it seems that when people travel or lounge, it is always considered a “break.” When Americans relax, it is in order to gain their energy back to complete the next day’s work. It would appear that Americans actually work too hard, because their leisure time is always focused on their work. Or perhaps Americans simply focus more on their careers as the defining aspect of their life.
In Europe, on the other hand, leisure time seems to have less focus on regaining energy, and more focus on enjoying one’s self in that moment. This may be because Italians seem to worry less about what they do for a living than in the United States. In Italy, and Rome in particular, social status does not seem to matter. Luigi Barzini acknowledges this in "The Italians." He says that “the tiring game of extracting social recognition from others and expensively impressing the world with one’s own fortune, name or rank, is played by a relatively small minority of Italians,” and many of these have foreign ties. Italians do not gawk over Ferraris in the road, nor does a wealthy Italian man stick his nose up to an average Roman citizen. It is known that the one man has more wealth and power, but conversation between the two men will seem as if two old friends just ran into each other. Also, Italians seem to enjoy their average jobs more than Americans. Owners of small shops and restaurants are incredibly enthusiastic when attempting to serve you. Whenever I enter a store, I suddenly wish I could speak fluent Italian. I want to be able to engage the owners in conversation, because they seem so anxious to speak to me about anything. Barzini also explained this phenomenon by saying that it is each Italian’s duty to make one another feel important. For example, as I browse through stores, shop owners will often create deals that are “just for me.” This is especially noticeable when Danilo is with us, because he is Italian and usually knows the owners of the shops. They each attempt to make each other feel special, and each Italian is expected to return these small favors.
For our class activity on Monday, we were required to enter the Borghese Gardens and relax. When we arrived at the park, we sat to eat some sandwiches we had bought. I immediately realized that our class discussion was very accurate. As we started walking around the park, I realized that I was thinking about the things that I had to do later that day. Particularly, I had to read some of my books and write this blog. I had brought one of my books with me to the city, but I felt that if I sat in the park and started to read it, I would be failing my class assignment. So, I left my book in Ben’s bag and broke from the group. I walked by myself for a while and took in the atmosphere of the park. I snapped a few pictures, sat on a bench and people-watched, and discovered a few statues and fountains. By being in the park, I realized how adjusted I had become to living in Rome. If we had gone to the Borghese Gardens in our first week, I would have had taken a thousand pictures, walked at a quick pace, and my eyes would have been wide. Instead, I was able to relax in a park in a city that felt like home. I did the same things in the Borghese Gardens as I would have done in a park at home. The only difference is that I was in Rome. I realized in a moment what this entire experience of living in another country means. This trip will shape who I am for the rest of my life. The fact that I feel at home now in an entire different culture in a different country is incredible. I am not sure what it will mean for me, but I know it will somehow make me a better person. Well cultured, mature, and more confident (or at least more comfortable) than ever before.
Because I realized these things, I finally felt that I had accomplished my goals for the class. It was Aristotle’s philosophy that leisure time should be used to improve one’s self. It is difficult to explain how this improvement comes about. Through introspection, communicating with others freely, and simply letting one’s mind be free, we can come to new conclusions about who we are. Regardless of how I use my leisure time (to regain energy for work, or simply to enjoy myself), I feel that I am capable of improving myself through relaxation. And I feel that the Borghese Gardens are a great place to do this.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
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