Immigrants in the Italian Labor Force: Pushed to the Edge

Introduction

An issue at the core of the argument against immigration internationally is the idea that immigrants “steal jobs from decent working men,” (Bauder). Since immigration came to the forefront of politics during the twenty-first century, the idea that immigrants are harmful to a country's economy has been central to the debate pushing for the implementation of more stringent controls on immigration in many developed countries. Recently, the issue of immigrants' effect on the economy has been central to various political debates within Italy. At the core of these debates, it is projected that immigrants within Italy's borders are taking away jobs from native Italians and contributing to the faltering of the country's economy. However, it is pivotal to question whether this is the reality. A country full of contradictions, one must constantly be skeptical when considering contemporary issues within the one-hundred fifty year old country. Considering the economy of Italy and observing interactions between Italian natives and immigrants poses the question: Are politicians within Italy skewing the economic situation in Italy to build resistance versus immigrants?

In order to answer this question, it is important to look back at the economic history of Italy and its role as a world power. With an economic history dating back to antiquity, Italy was the economic king of the ancient world. Officially united in 1861, Italy began its transition into the modern Western world. Beginning in the beginning of the twentieth century, Italy entered into the Fascist Era. Post World War I, Benito Mussolini took power, establishing a laissez-faire, or free trade, economic system. During the beginning of Mussolini's rule, the Italian economy thrived; however, it was not long before a new system was implemented. As the world entered into the Great Depression in 1929, Mussolini moved away from a laissez-faire economy, eliminating free trade and nationalizing Italian banks. Gradually moving toward a government-ruled economy, Mussolini implemented an economic model called corporatism, a partnership between the government and businesses within Italy. With this new system, the Italian government sunk into a depression as Mussolini expended much of Italy's money on military advancement. Moving away from corporatism during World War II, a war economy was established and all companies were forced to finance the Italian military. At the end of WWII, the Italian economy was effectively destroyed and Italy saw its per capita income fall to the lowest in its history.

Five years after WWII and the fall of Mussolini, the economy in Italy finally turned around with the so-called “Italian Economic Miracle,” “beginning the period was marked by years of rapid growth, with an annual growth rate which stood at nearly six percent up until 1963,” (Zamagni 338). After 1963, the high growth period of Italy slowed as the Italian economy entered a period known as the Hot Autumn (Zamagni 338). During this period, Italians advocated for more support from the government including the implementation of social services, laws regarding better conditions for workers, guaranteed job security, pension plans, and a national healthcare service. The results of these protests finally came to fruition in 1978 when national healthcare was established in Italy. Two years later, in 1980, Italy became established as an economic power along with the United States, Japan, and Germany. Although the industrial jobs in Italy were declining, the tourism and service industries were thriving; allowing Italy to become part of the G8 (formerly G6), proving Italy's power as an industrialized democracy.

While Italy's economy has been tumultuous in the past, as the country moves into the twenty-first century, it now faces what is considered by the government to be an even worse problem: an influx of immigrants infiltrating the Italian labor force. As precisely stated by Marcello Pera, an Italian senator, in 2005 when he proclaimed “immigration is turning Italians into a 'mixed race'” (Bowen). Prior to the twenty-first century, the threat of immigration was not on the forefront of politics in Italy. However, as tourism has grown exponentially and is at the core of the survival of the Italian economy, it has become vital for Italy to maintain its authentic feel lending the aura of antiquity to visitors. As the industrial labor market has fallen within Italy, the country has become dependent on the service industry in order to withhold their economy from collapsing. Along with this dependency on tourism comes many pressures such as: how does Italy maintain its authenticity with dropping birthrates and increasingly large quantities of immigrants entering the country?

Methods

Sources consulted for the compilation of this paper include journals, articles from The Ecnomist, statistics from Eurostat, and scholarly articles found via Google Scholar. Investigation for this paper also included the interviewing of an Eastern European refugee and the director of the Catholic charity CARITAS. Through careful analysis of literature, statistics, and interviews coupled with daily observation, this research paper was able to be constructed..

Literature Review & Findings

After reviewing various literature, there is evidence that while the media presents immigrants as a harm to the economy, they often serve to sustain the economy. The current prime minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, has recently been highlighted in The Economist “Mr. Berlusconi criticized the very notion of a multi-ethnic Italy. Opposition politicians and some bishops said it was a bit late for aspirations to racial purity,” (economist.com). Berlusconi's ideals of racial purity have molded the country's view of immigrants in society. Unfortunately, the advantages to immigration in the economy are something that is often ignored in Italian society. According to another article entitled “Immigration in Italy: Southern Misery” immigrants often, “sustain parts of the economy that would otherwise be uncompetitive,” (economist.com). Immigrants' contributions to the economy are often overlooked, creating tension between native and immigrant workers.

Another article from The Economist entitled “Stemming the Flow” details the implications of increased resistance to immigration. As immigration has become more prevalent in Italy, more stringent laws have been established regarding employment for legal immigrants, they will be required “to have job contracts before leaving their home countries.” With job contracts required, Italy is making a push to discourage immigrants from migrating to Italy. However, as “Stemming the Flow” highlights, “Many small and medium firms in Northern Italy and farms in the South depend on them. Some businessmen are already complaining that the new procedures will bring serious difficulties. The large and growing number of families who depend on Philippine or Sri Lanken home-helps are worried too,” (economist.com). This statement contradicts the opinions that politicians such as Berlusconi project about immigration within Italy. When implementing these laws and maintaining the encouragement for a single-race country, the advantages of immigrant employment is often overlooked. “Stemming the Flow” successfully points out the advantages that can be reaped from immigrant employment in certain sectors of the Italian economy such as manufacturing, farming, and house-hold help.

While immigrants are projected as having a negative impact on the economy, there is a discrepancy of discrimination against immigrants that are not from English-speaking countries, “even legal immigrants from non-EU countries will have to be fingerprinted. Though it is said that ways will in fact be found to spare Americans, Canadians, and Australians this indignity,” (economist.com). If immigrants are going to be fingerprinted in order to prove their identity to receive a job within Italy, shouldn't all immigrants be fingerprinted regardless of their country of origin? Americans, Canadians, and Australians are just as capable of “stealing” jobs from Italians as individuals from Spain, Romania, Yugoslavia, or Morocco.

Incorporating these sources and comparing them to the data available through Eurostat, here are some statistics regarding unemployment rate, live birth rate, and net migration within Italy compared to countries such as Spain, France, Romania, and the United States of America:

Country	Unemployment Rate: December 2010 (%)
Italy	8.6
United States of America	9.4
France	9.7
Spain	20.4
Romania	7.3

Table 1: Percentage of Labor Force (Anyone that is: a. without work during the week b. currently available for work but is not working c. available for paid work or self-employment d. actively seeking work) in each country that is currently unemployed as of December 2010.

These statistics regarding unemployment further contradict the media's projection of unemployment levels in Italy. Stringent citizenship laws make it clear that the centre-right Italian government will do anything in their power to ensure immigrants will not enter into the public sector labor force. As illustrated by the statistics, Italy's unemployment rate is amongst the lowest in the world at 8.6 percent. This low unemployment rate is contradicted by what is projected through media and Italian politics. Immigrants in the Italian labor force are able to “fill critical labor gaps” (Calavita 64) created from the decreasing birthrate and population. Why are citizenship laws, and therefore employment laws, so stringent when the birthrate in Italy is falling in comparison to other countries in the European Union while immigration rises:

Country	Number of Live Births: 1990	Number of Live Births: 2009	Number of Foreigners: 1998	Number of Foreigners: 2009
Italy	532824	568857	991678	3891295
France	768581	825564	609813	3737549
Spain	365193	494537	n/a	5650968
Romania	237297	222388	n/a	31354

Table 2: Number of live births (babies that were delivered breathing) compared to number of foreigners (number of individuals not original to the country in which they are living)

Country	Net Migration: 1990 (%)	Net Migration: 2009 (%)
Italy	0.4	5.3
France	n/a	1.1
Spain	-0.5	1.1
Romania	-3.7	-0.1

Table 3: Net migration= (immigrants-emigrants/1000 people). If number is positive, there are more immigrants entering the country than leaving. If the number is negative, there are more people emigrating from the country than entering as immigrants.

Looking at the number of live births in Italy over a span of nineteen years compared to the live births of other countries in the EU makes it clear that Italy's birthrate is slowly increasing, with only a small increase of 36,033 lives, compared to the average increase of 57,139 lives. While the birthrate per year in Italy is slowly increasing at a decreasing rate, the number of foreigners entering the country is increasing exponentially, “In ten years, the foreign population has increased by two million people,” (eurostat.com). This statistic coupled with the increase in net migration, as referenced in table 3, clearly defines the stark demographic change that Italy is experiencing. With slow birthrates and a rate of immigration that is increasing at rates previously unheard of in Italian history, immigrants are pertinent to the survival and development of Italy.

Conducting a few interviews allows the information found through literary research and Eurostat to be tied together. Interviewing a volunteer at the Joel Nafuma Migrant Center, an Eastern European immigrant, and Le Quyen Ngo Dinh from CARITAS, a Rome-based Catholic charity focused on helping immigrants, provided an interesting perspective on employment for immigrants.

A political refugee coming from Eastern Europe, the volunteer , shared his experience trying to break into the labor market in Italy. He shared that immigrants are not likely to find a job for an average of three years after their arrival in Italy due to strict laws regarding residence permits. When sharing his job experience within Italy, he conceded that when he first arrived in Italy as a refugee in 2006, there were many resources for refugees and immigrants to live without ever having to obtain a job. Unfortunately, these resources were taken advantage of and refugees and migrants would live off of them as long as possible instead of finding a job. These resources included a multitude of shelters throughout the city where they were able to go sleep and receive food on a daily basis. However, as the laws regarding immigration became more stringent, the shelters were forced to be shutdown. For immigrants and refugees today, there are only two places providing shelter and food to immigrants: the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center, where immigrants are able to go during the day to receive breakfast and shelter until two o'clock in the afternoon, and one shelter where immigrants are able to go at night to sleep. Although many of the resources have been eliminated for immigrants, Salva shared that with this lack of housing and minimal welfare benefits comes the instillation of an “entrepreneurial spirit” within immigrants and refugees alike. Without aid from the Italian government, immigrants are forced to utilize their social network in order to find a way to make a living in Italian society. Salva has personally enjoyed the lack of help provided from the Italian government. He shared that he thinks that the entrepreneurial, or “survival of the fittest”, spirit of Italy determines which immigrants will succeed and which will not.

Interviewing Le Quyen Ngo Dinh, or Director Dinh, further provided an inside look into the economic situation for immigrants within Italy. CARITAS helps to prepare immigrants for job interviews, obtain documentation, and provides Italian language courses for foreigners. Director Dinh shared that while CARITAS attempts to provide employment placement, it is often not very effective. She stated that without a social network, immigrants are often unable to find work within Italy. While there are three ways immigrants can search for employment: through their social network, a private search center (internet), or a public job counseling center, generally the most effective route is to utilize one's social network. Also sharing that it is impossible to find a job that is not simply temporary. The key tool for integration and obtaining a job, according to Director Dinh, is the ability for one to speak the Italian language. Therefore, CARITAS focuses on educating new immigrants with the Italian language.

Discussion

Having analyzed literature, statistics, and interviews it is clear a contradiction lives within Italy: the Italian government is attempting to limit services to immigrants in order to attempt to preserve a single-race country and reject the vital role immigrants play in the Italian economy.

“Southern Misery” highlights the fact that immigration can offer diversity to Italy in a number of ways. With an economy based on the service industry, it is important to consider that immigrants can contribute to the development of a multifaceted economy. Taking jobs that are generally unwanted by Italian natives such as farming, household help, and factory work, immigrant employment can help to expand the economy. Furthermore, by maintaining employment in factories through the utilization of immigrants, Italy avoids outsourcing production to other countries and maintains the authenticity of their goods. The expansion of a multifaceted economy would help to diffuse tensions between immigrants and natives.

Delving deeper into literature, in “Stemming the Flow” it was further discovered that a discrepancy exists between which types of immigrants will be allowed into Italy. With laws determining which immigrants are going to be fingerprinted to obtain work in Italy and which are not, Italy is allowing the institutionalism of discrimination in their country. Unfortunately, this institutionalism is, in effect, snowballing and allowing for the further division of the young country.

Analyzing the statistics available via Eurostat, it is clear that net migration in Italy is continually increasing. This increase in net migration calls for a change in the social and employment structure of Italy. Analyzing the data available makes it clear that immigration is happening in Italy, making it something that must be recognized by the government. As was highlighted in “Mess in the Mediterranean,” it is a “bit late for aspirations to racial purity.” Italy is evolving into a mixed-race country and it is something that must be recognized in order for the country to progress as a world economic power. If Italians continue to attempt to suppress the phenomena that is immigration, they will force all of the immigrants out of their country, causing their resources to be utilized elsewhere.

Comparing the net migration figures to the total amount of unemployment within Italy further shows a contradiction between what is occurring in the economy versus what is projected to be occurring via media, “The Northern League has tapped directly into local Italian and broader European fears about the economy, immigration, and local identity,” (New York Times). Often in the media, immigration has been associated with both loss of identity and a faltering economy. However, when looking at the statistics available, it is clear that Italy's employment is amongst the lowest in the world, making it a destination spot for immigrants. Interviewing a politcal refugee and Director Dinh gave further information directly relating to the economic situation in Italy.

The political refugee's interview lent insight to the development of immigration in Italy throughout the last few years. His opinions on the idea of the “entrepreneurial spirit” are a unique view on the limited resources provided to immigrants entering Italy today. With net migration numbers rising, it is important for more resources to be provided for immigrants newly entering the country of Italy. Furthermore, the elimination of shelters for immigrants and refugees throughout Italy parallels the goals of the Italian government: to stop Italy from developing into a “mixed-race” country.

Director Dinh's interview provided insight to the realities of the toughness of integration into Italian society. While employment often depends on a network within Italy, this network often does not exist. Since immigration is such a contemporary issue within Italy, usually immigrants are the first members of their families to migrate to Italy and are unable to contact anyone they know for employment. Furthermore, while the Italian language is a key tool relating to integration in the job force, it is not possible for one organization, CARITAS, to educate the millions of immigrants residing in Italy.

Conclusion

While conducting research for this paper, there were limitations hindering the research on the role of immigrants on the economy in Italy. With immigration being such a new phenomenon for Italians, it was difficult to find specific statistics relating directly to immigrant employment within Italy. Therefore, analyzing net migration in comparison to figures such as total unemployment and live birth rate allowed insight to the situation for immigrants. Researching such a contemporary issue in a country that is already young presented issues regarding to the availability of relevant information.

Another limitation effecting the research conducted was the lack of information on the role of the black market and presence of the Mafia on the Italian economy. Since both the black market and Mafia are illegal, reliable statistics were unable to be found in regards to their overall role in the Italian economy.

Although there were limitations in regards to relevant statistics, there was also much information available contributing to the development of the argument that immigrants are being pushed to the edge of Italian society through the imposition of stringent laws and resistance from the government, stemmed from pressure to maintain an authentic, single-race population. Immigrants are only accepted in Italian society when they are able to contribute their work to society while blending seamlessly into Italian life,“On one hand, immigrant labour is utilized daily, usually to everyone's advantage and satisfaction. On the other hand, any visible sign of an immigrant presence, beyond the sheer and silent impact of their work, is perceived as a disturbing interference in our domestic affairs,” (opendemocracy.net).

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Blog 8: Service Learning Reflection

Working at GIGA, an art studio in close proximity to Piazza Navona, has been a transformative experience. Matteo Peretti, the artist with which I was working, founded the studio GIGA in 1995 with hopes of bringing the contemporary artists together in one space. Today, Peretti works at the studio producing contemporary pieces focusing on many liberal issues that confront the world today.

Working with in a contemporary art studio within Rome gave me a unique insight to the modern art world in the city that is often overshadowed by the works of antiquity filling the ancient city. Watching Peretti work on a weekly basis was inspirational. He worked with configured many small objects and turned them into monochrome sculptures that one could observe for hours. Many of his works are composed of small toys that have been strewn to the side by their previous owners. Peretti meticulously chooses and arranges these toys to communicate a message to his viewer. Once the toys are arranged, Peretti spray paints his creation, creating a monochrome masterpiece.

Having worked in the GIGA studio for the past two months, I would say that there is a very liberal philosophy in the studio that lends to a forum for contemporary thoughts and creations to be developed in the form of visual art. The site mainly focuses on the creation of art and also serves as a gallery for art shows where artists and critics alike are able to join thoughts. The GIGA studio is a space where any and all ideas are contemplated and accepted.

Initially entering the studio in the beginning of January, I was unsure of what to expect. However, as I began to work in the studio I began to recognize the beauty of what was being created there as well as the influence of the studio's location. Having visited the two modern art museums within Rome (MAXXI and MACRO), it is clear that the government ensures their location is outside of the walls of Rome. With GIGA being centrally located within the walls of the city, it means the art created there is able to be viewed by a multitude of individuals. Located just off of the Piazza Navona in an area full of tourists visiting Rome, the studio is constantly walked past by curious observers. During the months I spend in the studio, countless visitors peered through the windows and often requested to come inside to view the work that was being created. At the beginning of my internship, prior to my visiting of MACRO and MAXXI, I did not realize the significance of this central location.

Only working at the studio for a period of two months, there are many questions that I would like to learn about contemporary art within Rome. I would like to know the role of contemporary art within the city today. With the pressure of antiquity seen throughout the city, I wonder about the pressures that plague the artists to aspire to the ancient greats of Italy such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini. Furthermore, I am interested to know how the powerful ideas of contemporary art are perceived in a country with an extreme right wing government. I also wish I was in Italy longer in order to see Matteo's upcoming show during May in Venice. In order to find out the answers to my questions, I could interview artists throughout Rome and interpret their takes on contemporary art within the city. To further get information, I could see if there are any literary pieces concerning the idea of contemporary art within an ancient city.

Trastevere: A City Within a City

Spending time in the rione “across the Tiber”, Trastevere, has allowed me to gain a lot of information about the neighborhood in which I reside during my time in Rome. Speaking with the residents in the neighborhood, observing daily life there, and reading the history of the area allotted me with much information on the rione.

Trastevere was created as the thirteenth rione of Rome. South from Vatican City and across the Tiber River from the majority of the city, Trastevere remains secluded from what is considered to be Rome's center. With roots dating before Christ's death, Trastevere is signified by a coat of arms of a golden lion's head with a red background. Inhabited in early 500BC by fishermen and immigrants, Trastevere was already spawning into a rione of diversity. With proximity to the Tiber River, fishermen along with Jewish and Syrian immigrants moved into the rione across the Tiber. As Rome developed, during the Imperial Age Julius Caesar and Clodia built villas in the area known today as Trastevere. Durng the Middle Ages, the area of Trastevere was developed into the area that it remains today. With Medieval houses being built throughout the windy streets of the rione, Trastevere obtained character that was unlike any other rione in Rome.

Today, Trastevere is inhabited by students from all over the world along with local Italians that have lived in the rione for generatons. With five international universities calling Trastevere their home (John Cabot University, American Academy in Rome, Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, University of Waterloo School of Architecture, Pratt Institute of Architecture), one cannot help but feel an energetic aura as they walk through the cramped streets of the rione.

The economy in Trastevere is largely based on tourism. With restaurants, small shops, bars, and gelaterias lining the streets, it is the perfect neighborhood for a tourist to walk through to get their fill of authentic Italian food, delicious cappuccinos, and irresistible world famous gelato. After talking to many of the workers in the shops throughout Trastevere, it is clear that the workers in the area simply come to work and then leave when their shift is over. Since the area is more expensive than many other riones, the majority of the workers do not reside within Trastevere.

For the rione project, my partner, Luis, and I decided on four main areas of the rione to take the class to: Basicilica di Santa Maria, Janiculum Hill, Piazza Santa Maria, and the open air market. All four of the attractions within Trastevere are unique to the rione and important to the history that is maintained within the neighborhood.

Basilica di Santa Maria is known as the first church in Rome where mass was openly celebrated. Dating back to 340AD, the basilica is beautifully decorated with ancient mosaics depicting the coronation of The Virgin Mary on the interior and on the exterior depicting images of the Madonna enthroned. Within the basilica, there are twenty-two Ionic and Corinthian granite columns original to the church.

Piazza di Santa Maria, located just outside of Basilica di Santa Maria, is often crowded during the evening and a gathering place for those engaging in nightlife in Trastevere. In the center of the piazza is a fountain that was constructed in 1692 and designed by Carol Fontana. This fountain is original to the piazza while originally constructed in travertine, has since been reconstructed with marble. The Piazza di Santa Maria serves as a great place to observe the natives of Trastevere.

The next point of interest in Trastevere, the Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo in Italian), is one of the few sites in Rome where one can see an expansive view of the ancient city. From the peek of this hill, one can count the seemingly endless domes marking churches within the city walls. The hill is the second tallest hill in Rome but was not one of the seven hills of Rome because it was outside the boundaries of the city that was Rome during antiquity. Originally the center of worship for the cult of Janis, the hill still remains a place of worship and is home to the Church of San Pietro Montorio. The Church of San Pietro Montorio is known as the church where Saint Peter is believed to have been crucified.

Finally, we decided that the last place that would be good to take the group to is the open air market located in a square just north of the Piazza di Santa Maria. This open air market is similar to the one that is located in Campo dei Fiori, but it is significantly cheaper. In this market, vendors display their fruits, vegetables, candies, cheeses, meats, pastas, and anything else that you could imagine. It is fun to look through this market and compare the vendors as well as the people shopping in the market as opposed to Campo dei Fiori.

After exploring the neighborhood and the monuments in Trastevere, the borders within the rione became clear. Interviewing the residents and workers in the shops made it clear that the insiders are the trasteveri, or the people that are native to Trastevere, and the outsiders are the workers in the shops and restaurants that line the narrow streets. I also think that it is clear that the students that reside in the neighborhood for a short period of time do not “belong” in the neighborhood. Since the students do not generally integrate with the natives of the community, it becomes clear that the students in the community do not quite fit in with the trasteveri. When observing the cafe below my apartment, it is clear that the students do not blend with the residents of the rione. The students sit at opposite tables from the residents and never communicate with one another unless the other finds they need to borrow a packet of zucchero from the others table.

Having called Trastevere home for the past month, I find something new as I walk around the rione everyday. With bustling nightlife, restaurants lining every street, and unique markets flowing out of the piazzas; I would say that Trastevere is one of the most diverse and beautiful riones I have visited in Rome. There is never a dull moment as I walk down the streets I have now walked hundreds of times. The charm and character of the ancient buildings all painted in shades of yellow, red, or blue built atop cobble-stone streets lend the rione a rustic feel.

Blog 7: What and who is Italian?

 Rome, Naples, Berlin, Paris: All very different cities with very different outlooks on immigration, youth, and education. While in Italy, there is a very clear definition of who is Italian and who is not, in other countries, such as Germany and France, there does not seem to be a definition of who is belongs in their country and who is an outsider. After visits to MACRO, a modern art museum in Rome, visiting Campo Nomadi in Naples, and studying the borders within the city of Rome; it is clear that Italy is backwards in regards to their acceptance of immigrants and the education of outsiders. In a global context, compared to other countries in the Western world, Italy's identity is shifting from that of a contemporary city to a city that is simply frozen in time.

Trash in Campo Nomadi- Naples, Italy

In class discussion and lectures, the question is consistently asked: Is Italy a contemporary city?After visiting Campo Nomadi in Naples, it became clear to me that Italy is far from a contemporary country. As we entered into the Roma camp, we walked on a trash covered ground. Once we entered into the actual camp, we were met by an abundance of children running around the camp on Friday afternoon at two o'clock. As I looked at my watch and thought about what I was doing at two o'clock on a Friday afternoon when I was a child, it occurred to me that there was something wrong with the fact that children were running around at that time in the afternoon instead of learning in a classroom at school. As I inquired as to why the children were at the camp without parental supervision instead of in a classroom, I received the answer that sixty percent of the population of Campo Nomadi is Roma children and the majority of them are without parents and cannot attend school on a regular basis because there is no regular transportation from the camp to the schools. For me, this answer signified that Italy is far from a contemporary country and without government intervention, funding, and protection laws for immigrants as well as Roma, the country will be unable to develop into a progressive country at the forefront of global issues. Furthermore, when immigrant and Roma children are able to attend school, they are unable to learn the Italian language. The short story “You Wicked Wooden Eyes, What Are You Looking At?” from Multicultural Literature in Contemporary Italy shares how Italian is taught to immigrants, “I began to worry right away, because I know it in my head and I understood immediately that he speaks it very badly. Who knows why they don't seat me next to an Italian so that I can learn from him,” (Orton 132). This story signifies that often immigrant children are not being placed in classrooms conducive to learning and being integrated into Italian society.

After visiting MACRO, Rome's Museum of Contemporary Art, my opinion that Rome is not a contemporary country strengthened. Its physical location coupled with an installation installed inside by Dan Perjovschi, an cartoonist from Romania, denoted to the fact that Rome's issues regarding immigrants and the Roma people have developed into a global issue. With drawings such as this one:

Dan Perjovschi Cartoon- MACRO Rome, Italy

it became clear that one of the objectives of the installation was to bring to the forefront the issues that many immigrants within Italy face. This particular cartoon, showing the invisible space that is filled by the Roma is a bold statement relating to the identity of Italy as a whole and confronts the question: What and who is Italian? With the Roma forced into encampments, paralleling the forcing of the Jews into Nazi concentration camps, it is clear that the Italians want to preserve their identity strictly as Italian and not allow the infiltration of other cultures and traditions into their society. Other cartoons in Perjovschi's installation depict pictures of stick figures chained to a table full of purses. This cartoon represents the immigrants role in Italian society strictly for the purpose of selling black market goods to tourists throughout the city. Since citizenship is nearly impossible for immigrants to obtain in Italy, it is hard for immigrants to obtain jobs outside of the black market. The Italian government makes it virtually impossible for one to “earn a living” (Orton 39) as demonstrated in the short story “Give Me Back My Coat” by Adrian N. Bravi. This short story illustrates the struggles of an immigrant and their struggle to earn a living and obtain a job in society.

Looking at Perjovschi's work coupled with my travels outside of Italy has allowed me to gain perspective on a country whose politics were previously unknown to me. As I traveled to cities such as Berlin and Paris, it was much more clear that immigrants were integrated into society and not pushed to the borders as an outsider forced to earn a living by entering the black market. In both Berlin and Paris, there were no street vendors attempting to sell goods to tourists. With a lack of the street vendors that are so prevalent throughout Rome, it was clear that immigrants must be much more integrated into society as accepted members of daily life in France and Germany.

The ideas of immigrants coming into society also brings up the issue of gentrification. There is no denying that gentrification is gradually changing the borders of Rome. A prime example of gentrification within Rome is the Jewish Ghetto. Formerly an area where the Jewish were confined behind the banks of the Tiber and forced to worship in secret, the neighborhood has developed into an area for the elite. After the Jewish were forced out of the Jewish Ghetto during World War II, the area gradually became gentrified and was no longer reserved for the Jewish minority. Today, many of the immigrants in Rome settle in neighborhoods close to Termini such as Piazza Vittorio and Esquilino. These neighborhoods are extremely close to the city center and in danger of being gentrified in the near future if opposition to immigrants continues in Rome. However, if Italians continue to have low birth rates and high rates of emigration, I would argue that traditionally Italian neighborhoods face the possibility of being gentrified by immigrants new to the city.

In regards to youth, Rome's youth culture and identity is diminishing as time progresses. With a birthrate that is the lowest in Europe, Italy is a dying population. Their low birthrate along with their extreme resistance to immigrant integration into society, has shifted the identity of Italy to that of an old country. The youth that do exist in Italy often emigrate to other countries within Europe because they are unable to find jobs within Italy that suit their educational experience. As youth flees Italy and the immigrant population increases, it makes for high tensions within the country. Since jobs within Italy limited, the elderly are retiring later, meaning that when youth graduate from college, there are no jobs for them to take over.  

From my perspective and experiences in Italy, I agree with Sharra Wasserman that Italy will develop into a contemporary country. With the Vatican looming over Rome and the ancient history laced throughout the entire country, I do not think that Italy will be able to break from its ancient shell without an extremely liberal Prime Minister. Currently having Silvio Berlusconi as the Prime Minster of Italy is only setting them further behind the rest of the contemporary Western world. 

Multicultural Literature in Contemporary Italy: Reflection 2

“Return” Fatima Ahmed

Fatima Ahmed shares a detailed experience with her readers about her return from Vietnam to Cambodia. When reading her short story, I was struck by her recollection of her memory. Memory, a common theme written about throughout many of the short stories compiled in Multicultural Literature in Contemporary Italy. The critical incident effecting Fatima occurred to me with this line, “Intoxicated by recollections deep in my memory, now resurfacing, I finally fell asleep and slid into the night,” (37). As Fatima's memory came back to her, she finally felt at peace with herself back in Cambodia.

This story parallels much of what was reflected in Clash of Civilizations over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio. Both the book and this short story share a common theme of memory. While Fatima finds comfort in her memories, the characters in Clash of Civilizations often worked to suppress their memories that had frequently haunted them.

“Give Me Back My Coat” Adrian N. Bravi

In the short story “Give Me Back My Coat”, Adrian Bravi speaks of a character with an obsession with committing suicide. Throughout the story, the protagonist speaks of his goal of committing suicide in a completely peaceful and happy state. For this character, the critical incident was clear: when they he decided that he no long wanted to take his own life, “I felt like the loneliest person in the world, swollen everywhere, without a coat, or anything of value, I couldn't kill myself in that state,” (43).

This short story tied to the overall theme of our class, the idea of “otherness” that immigrants feel. Since he was unable to earn a living and gain a meaningful place in society. Demonstrating much of the alienation felt by many immigrants, this story demonstrates the struggles faced by immigrants on a daily basis.

“Light Beer and Peanuts” Viola Chandra

This short story, describing a half Indian half Italian woman, depicts a woman struggling to identify with her roots. Being taught her entire life to conform to society and reject the blood she had been given, she struggles to find her place in society, “But it is also true that thanks to his sense of humor, that country for many years has meant nothing more than an unreachable, unreal, and nonexistent place for me,” (46). Struggling to find her identity, she feels as if she is “buried alive” (46).

In this particular story, I think that the critical incident is when she finally is determined to become a part of the culture that her parents always made her afraid to confront, “Every time that I see an Indian or an African in Italy, I hope that he recognizes me; that he sees me as a member of his family, a daughter, since I am no longer the daughter of my own father,” (49). This quote represents the fact that she is beginning to embrace her otherness and reject the ideals of rejection that her parents placed in her head.

“The B-Line” Christiana de Caldas Brito

“The B-Line” continues the theme of memory in relation to words, “these words are all void of memories,” (54). This story illustrates how one does not necessarily have to communicate with the voice in order to make a language. Not being able to speak the native tongue of a foreign country means that many immigrants are forced to find other ways to communicate within society, “Fortunately a musician comes in. he speaks with his hands,” (55). I think that the musician boarding the metro represents the critical point in the story. Music represents a universal language that can be interpreted across borders by individuals of a multitude of cultures. This idea can be tied back to the day that we went on the graffiti walk. ON this walk, art was represented as a universal means of communication. The center where all of the graffiti was constructed represents a gathering place for people from all countries and walks of life where their words can be expressed through pictures.

“The Beggar” Christiana de Caldas Brito

Written by the same author as “The B-Line,” “The Beggar” once again has a strong focus on the meaning of words. In this short story, words are represented as a novelty and are something that the beggar strives to collect. Without these words given to him, the poet would remain in complete solitude and isolation from the world. I think that the critical incident in this story would be when the beggar receives the world foliage from someone on the street. When he received this word he exclaimed, “Do you know that FOLIAGE is much more beautiful than MOON or SPRING?” (60). This reaction represented how much words truly meant to him. They represent a gateway to communication and learning for the beggar.

“The Beggar” parallels the idea of the meaning of words and their importance to immigrants that we often take for granted. 

Artist Statement

Coming from the United States and viewing Italy from my American frame of reference has been an enlightening experience. I approached this grafitti project in a literal manner- depicting and spelling out the vast contrasts between American and Italian culture. While I feel that culture in America is constantly evolving and developing, the culture here in Italy is stagnant and disappearing. As symbolized by the blooming flowers contrasted against dying trees, Italy, in my opinion, is failing as a contemporary country in the western world. Without attaining a new, open mindset that is open to immigrants, Italy will not be able to regain their position in the world as an economic and social power.

Blog 6: Rione Interview Assignment

 Trastevere, translated into “across the Tiber,” was created as the thirteenth rione of Rome. South from Vatican City and across the Tiber River from the majority of the city, Trastevere remains secluded from what is considered to be Rome's center. With roots dating before Christ's death, Trastevere is signified by a coat of arms of a golden lion's head, Trastevere began its roots

Inhabited in early 500BC by fishermen and immigrants, Trastevere was already spawning into a rione of diversity. With proximity to the Tiber River, fishermen along with Jewish and Syrian immigrants moved into the rione across the Tiber. As Rome developed, during the Imperial Age Julius Caesar and Clodia built villas in the area known today as Trastevere. Durng the Middle Ages, the area of Trastevere was developed into the area that it remains today. With Medieval houses being built throughout the windy streets of the rione, Trastevere obtained character that was unlike any other rione in Rome.

Today, Trastevere is inhabited by students from all over the world along with local Italians that have lived in the rione for generatons. With five international universities calling Trastevere their home (John Cabot University, American Academy in Rome, Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, University of Waterloo School of Architecture, Pratt Institute of Architecture), one cannot help but feel an energetic aura as they walk through the cramped streets of the rione.

Having called Trastevere home for the past month, I find something new as I walk around the rione everyday. With bustling nightlife, restaurants lining every street, and unique markets flowing out of the piazzas; I would say that Trastevere is one of the most diverse and beautiful riones I have visited in Rome. There is never a dull moment as I walk down the streets I have now walked hundreds of times. The charm and character of the ancient buildings all painted in shades of yellow, red, or blue built atop cobble-stone streets lend the rione a rustic feel.

Having the opportunity to interview both a resident and a non-resident, with my partner Luis, of Trastevere provided me with a unique view of the area. Entering the bar below my apartment (Bar de Malva), we interviewed one of the workers in the bar who was a non-resident of the Trastevere neighborhood, Sujoy. Sujoy shared with us that he was born in Rome, grew up in Connecticut, and moved back to Rome upon graduating college. He stated that the only time he is in the Trastevere neighborhood is for work. He further shared that he cannot afford to live in the area because the prices of apartments are high. From Sujoy, we also learned that the area of Trastevere did not become a popular spot until about ten years ago when many bars, restaurants, and pubs made their roots there. In the barista's opinion, the area of Trastevere is so popular because of its view of the river and the old, stereotypical Roman buildings that fill the streets. After interviewing Sujoy, we interviewed Pierre, a resident of Trastevere for generations.

Pierre provided much information about Trastevere that I would not have otherwise known. When asked “What makes Trastevere unique?” he answered “The quiet day and busy night time.” Pierre shared that Trastevere comes alive at night, when the piazzas fill with people indulged in revelry. My partner, Luis, asked him “Is Trastevere considered a diverse neighborhood?” Pierre responded that he considers Trastevere to be an extremely diverse neighborhood. He described diversity being the amount of old Romans that have been in the neighborhood and stayed for generations. He shared that the stores in Trastevere have been here “forever.” Confused by this description of diversity, Luis and I asked Pierre to clarify his definition of diversity. We asked him if he meant that there are many immigrants that live in Trastevere. Seemingly shocked by this question, he responded that no, not many immigrants live in the neighborhood because it is extremely expensive and many of them cannot afford it. When asked Pierre to further clarify his terming of Trastevere as diverse, he stated that it is diverse in his eyes because it is different from any other neighborhood in Rome. He shared that many of the residents of Trastevere term themselves trasteveri, in order to separate themselves from the rest of Roman culture and many consider themselves to be living in their own city. Finally, we asked Pierre if he thinks that the students at the many universities throughout Trastevere add to the culture of the rione. He states that while they do add to the culture, it is fleeting because they are only living in Trastevere for a short while and never fully integrate into the culture of the rione.

Interviewing Sujoy and Pierre was a very enlightening experience. It was interesting to hear their perspectives of the rione. Perhaps what I found most interesting was the idea that people living in Trastevere identify themselves separately from the rest of the Roman society. Clearly, Trastevere is a very prideful neighborhood that has been maintained through generations of trasteveri. Considering Pierre's definition of diversity was also an interesting idea to contemplate. I often do not stop to consider the fact that different words mean different things to different people. Pierre proved to me that different areas can be considered diverse for a variety of reasons and not simply because of the people residing in them. 

Multicultural Literature Reflection and "Salvation"

 After reading the introduction and "Salvation" from Multicultural Literature, I was enlightened when the introduction mentioned, "migration is not the exclusive experience of a limited number of people," (Orton 11). Often, migration and immigration is discussed in the context of the individual but often is not discussed collectively. It is important to recognize that immigration does not only effect the individual but has the power to transform society. This effect can be seen by looking at the ever-changing demographics of schools within Italy; "in 2003-4 there were approximately 300,000 children of immigrants enrolled in the Italian school system, in 2018-9 that number will increase to approximately 700,000" (Orton 13). With this increase of immigrant students within schools, all Italian students will have the advantage of learning from the experiences of immigrants from all over the world. While, in Italy, immigrants are often seen as a burden, I think that Italians need to learn to embrace their presence and learn from their experiences. 

Reading "Salvation" by Amor Dekhis also presented some interesting ideas that I had never before reflected on. Something that I often do not consider when thinking about the experience of an immigrant is documentation. Amor speaks of her experience of obtaining documentation within Italy in the following manner, "at police headquarters I was treated as if I had just arrived yesterday every time I went to renew the white-and-blue document that allowed me to be left alone for a few more years," (Orton 68). When thinking of the experience of an immigrant, I often do not consider how difficult it is for an immigrant to obtain citizenship within their respective countries. 

Reading Multicultural Literature also made me question the mindset of the authorities when placing restrictions on the right of immigrants within Italy. I am interested to research a little more about the policies of various political parties within Italy and their views on immigrants. As I continue to read Multicultural Literature, I am excited to hear the experiences of migrants to Italy and their reflections on personal experiences.

Blog 5: Trip to Naples, Italy

Sculpture outside the subway in Naples

 Organized crime, trash-laiden streets, and pizza are just a few things that come to mind when the city of Naples is mentioned. We arrived in Naples hoping to dispel the images of crime organized by the Camorra and 'trashy' (literally) reputation that the city has, but, unfortunately, these stereotypes were only reinforced at a much greater level.

As we pulled into the train station in Napoli, I was struck by the skyline of the gateway to the South. With skyscrapers filling the landscape and mirroring modernity, I expected to be entering a progressive, economically stable city. However, as we exited the train station and made our walk to the Hostel of the Sun, these ideas quickly changed. While there were modern skyscrapers molding the landscape of Naples, our tour guide, Alex, was quick to inform me that these buildings remain virtually empty and simply serve as an image of opposition to progress.

Graffiti directed at the authorities in Naples 

Graffiti covering an ancient fountain in Naples

The skyscrapers are not the only modern image that stuck me as we toured the city of Naples. As we boarded the subway, I was immediately struck by the artwork that lined the immaculately clean subway walls. The subway in Naples was an artwork itself with its easy to navigate halls and sleek turnstiles. Naples' subway system juxtaposed against a blue sky and grit filled streets was an astonishing image. For me, this image once again symbolizes the resistance of the Napoleons to conform with modern day society coupled with the lack of government funding to help clean the trash off the streets. Looking at the subway systems in Naples also poses a question: How is the government able to provide enough money for elaborate artwork to be placed into the subway systems but they are not able to fund enough trash crews to clean the streets of Naples? While the subway system in Rome is not necessarily the cleanest or best designed, the streets of Rome are certainly not overflowing with trash.

Imagery is not the only thing that appealed to my sight during my visit to Naples, I was also struck by the elaborate graffiti lining the outside walls of virtually all of the buildings in the city center. While Rome has an extensive amount of graffiti covering many of its surfaces as well, the graffiti in Naples was must more extensive and detailed. For me, the detailed graffiti on the streets of Naples symbolizes the acceptance of the street art. Instead of mindless tagging, much of the graffiti on the buildings were detailed drawings that must have taken hours to create. The graffiti on the walls of Naples in many ways parallels this image, “This sorry-looking vespa leaning against the wall. It has not been abandoned. The neglect is a subtle form of camouflage,” (Severgnini 164). There is so much graffiti lining the walls of Naples, it becomes a unique sort of camouflage. As I wandered through Naples, the graffiti and trash almost seemed to disappear; simply becoming part of the landscape of the metropolis.

Traveling further South in Italy to Naples was an enlightening experience. The following passage discussing the similarities of personalities of all Italians: “The warmth, the vivaciousness, the importance they all put on human relationships, whether in business or day-to-day dealings, all these are common throughout the peninsula South of the Alps,” (Richards 107). While visiting Naples, I found that while some personality traits of Napoleons were shared with those of the Romans, there was an apparent dissonance between the North and the South. As we walked throughout Naples, it seemed that many of the Napoleons were much more aggressive than the Italians residing in Rome. This aggression was evidenced as motorcycles zoomed past pedestrians without slowing down or waiting for anyone to move out of their way. Resulting from this aggression, as I walked through Naples I continually felt a sense of fear looming as a I turned down each narrow street. Unfortunately, on our last day in Naples, a person in our group was robbed by a male Napolean driving aggressively on a motorcycle. Although we were in broad daylight and walking down a busting street, the mugging still occurred, reinforcing all of the negative thoughts we had previously heard about the South of Italy. Now, as I walk through Rome, I am constantly scared whenever a motorcycle drives by me on the street.

While I am aware that this robbery was an isolated incident that could have occurred in any city throughout the world, it shed a negative light on Napels in my mind. In my opinion, the city of Naples a lot of developing to do. The city has traces of progress laced throughout its streets, but it seems very backwards in the way the city functions. Sadly, the stereotypes surrounding Naples are continually being reinforced. In order for good information to be spread throughout the world about Naples as a city, the power needs to be taken from the Camorra and given to the people of the city.  

Assignment 4: “When you are an immigrant, many doors are closed. Well, yes, some, some are open-- but they are hidden. Without help I can't find them” (Edgar)

There are many controversial issues influencing immigrants throughout the world: socioeconomic status, religion, family, government, media, the economy, gender, and, what I think is central to them all: education. Without access to education, it would be virtually impossible for an immigrant to move up the social ladder in their new societies. Immigrants throughout the world face many challenges in all aspects of their lives, particularly when it comes to obtaining an education. Education has been at the core of the debate about immigrants in America for decades while legislation regarding education for immigrants in Italy newly came under fire in 2007.

Although education policy of immigrants in Italy is a relatively new issue, there are many parallels between immigrant education in Italy and immigrant education in the United States. In both Italy and the United States, children must be accepted into school without documents evidencing citizenship. However, in Italy while documentation is not necessary to be provided for enrollment in schools, parents must ensure that documents of citizenship will be provided in the future.

Where Italy fails to compete with the United States' education policy for immigrants is when it comes to the idea of teaching a foreign language in schools. In the United States, there is an English as a Second Language (ESL) program in place. Unfortunately, in Italy this is simply not the case. According to Anna Onorati, expert on Italian education, Italian is only taught as a second language in primary school. This means, if a child immigrates to Italy when they are over the age of ten, they will not have the privilege of learning Italian as a second language. The language barrier is only one of the obstacles that immigrants in Italy face.

The large influx of immigrants throughout Italy are also faced with a stringent centre-right government headed by Silvio Berlusconi, a lack of integration programs, and a lack of jobs in the public sector. All of these issues contribute to the making of a tough education system for immigrants. With the centre-right government in power and Mariastella Gelmini as the Italian Minister of Education, the education situation for all Italians, particularly immigrants, became bleak. With budget cuts and a new policy mandating that only thirty percent (Manka in class discussion) of students in a school are allowed to be immigrants, Italy faced the biggest revolt in the young country's history. On October 8, 2010 (unita.it) thousands of students stormed the country's capital, Rome, to show their disapproval for the new education policies resulting in twenty million dollars of damages (unita.it). With these budget cuts coupled with the new thirty percent rule, many are left to wonder: how will immigrants get an equal education as native Italians? Gelimi's reform “includes loss by natural wastage of 87,000 teachers' jobs over the three academic years to 2012 and the return to a system in which just one teacher is allotted to each year of elementary school,” (economist.com), with only one teacher per grade, immigrant children will not get the special attention that they need to adjust to Italian culture and learn to speak the Italian language. With a lack of teachers in schools, won't immigrants simply fall between the cracks of an underfunded system?

Underfunding is just the beginning of immigrant issues in the Italian education system. While schools are newly underfunded, immigrants have been arriving in Italy in increasing numbers, making it simply impossible for all immigrants to be integrated into Italian culture. Even with the help of cultural mediators provided by the charity organization CARITAS, it is not enough to help all of the immigrants assimilate to Italian culture. Without integration into Italian culture, it makes it difficult if not impossible for immigrant students to adjust to life in an Italian school.

The lack of assimilation programs for Italian students parallels some of the struggles that adult immigrants face in Italian society as well. As immigrants grow up in Italian society and are able to enter the work force, they are faced with a cold reality. Although immigrants may have obtained their education in Italy, it is illegal for immigrants to get a job in the public sector, “Public sector jobs are much sought-after in Southern and Central Italy, areas of high unemployment, because they offer security and pensions. It is one of the few jobs which will allow women to work and have children without making sacrifices,” (Chaloff 4). Since this public sector jobs are outlawed for immigrants, there is no incentive for immigrants to obtain an education.

While there are many aspects working against immigrants in the Italian education system, there are also some doors that are left open for immigrants. Diversity can often be seen as a resource and “as an opportunity for growth” (childrencrossingborders.org). Often it is ignored that diversity and multiculturalism opens doors to other communities that, in this case, native Italians may not have access to. Speaking a second language in a foreign country opens lines of communication amongst minority groups. Particularly in a country with a failing economy, immigration and diversity should be embraced. The young immigrants migrating to Italy have the opportunity to network with groups of people native Italians do not have access to.

However, many argue immigrants should see their diversity as a blessing. Personally, with Italy being a dying population, often compared to a dinosaur generation, “the Italian is doomed to die out in the next century” (Lakhous 72) I think the immigrants in Italy have an advantage they need to begin monopolizing. With the lowest birthrate in Europe, Italy's “solution lies in the increasing presence of immigrants,” (Lakhous 72).  

Writing Assignment 3: Interviews in Piazza Vittorio

As we walked into the Piazza Vittorio, the diversity of the piazza was clear. There were Italians, Asians, Eastern Europeans, Middle Easterners, Africans, individuals from all walks of life. Initally, I was struck by the diversity as well as the many youth concentrating the piazza. After talking to my first interviewee, Antonio, I quickly learned there is a University in the Piazza Vittorio which explained the youthful population.

With a goal of interviewing one individual that had immigrated to Italy and one native Italian, my partner, Brittany, and I peered into the piazza and decided to approach two college-aged boys. As we approached them and introduced ourselves it was clear one of them, Antonio, fluently spoke English. Antonio shared with us that he was from Calabria and had migrated within Italy to Rome to attend university. Continuing to ask him questions, Antonio's leg began to shake as he spoke. It was apparent he was nervous, so we attempted to calm his nerves by telling him how good his English was and sharing with him a few stories of our own; such as how we chose our respective colleges, where we grew up, and why we decided to come to Rome to study abroad. After sharing a few stories of our own, he began to freely share his own experiences.

He shared that he hopes to stay in Rome for about seven years and hopes to finish his education here. When we asked why, specifically, he chose to migrate to Rome he said “There's no life in Calabria.” He said that Rome is a much more lively city. With our base-level questions out of the way, it was time to ask Antonio his opinions about immigration and politics in Rome.

Initially when we asked, “What do you think about immigration?” he simply responded, “My grandparents are immigrants.” He shared that his grandparents had moved to Toronto, Canada for a job. Although he shared with us that his grandparents are Canadian immigrants, when we asked him his opinion on immigrants coming to Italy, he stated that all immigrants are bad and they simply come to Italy to steal jobs. When we asked his opinion on American immigrants in Italy, he also stated that they are bad and no matter what country they come from, they steal jobs that Italians need to survive. Antonio's opinions on immigration were very ironic. Although Antonio's grandparents immigrated to Canada for the sole-purpose of a job, he opposes any and all immigrants in Italy because they steal jobs. Making his opinions on the economy in Italy clear, it was time to ask Antonio what he thinks the biggest political problem in Italy is. He was quick to state that the biggest problem is the lack of jobs. In Rome, he said that there are no jobs and said that means in Calabria there are zero jobs. Basically, he stated that as you go further south in Italy, the job situation goes from bad to worse.

After taking a short break and heading to a bright red table in the Piazza Vittorio to collect our thoughts, Brittany and I walked back over to Antonio to ask him a few final questions about his 'Southern roots.' We asked Antonio if he ever feels discriminated against in Rome because he is from Southern Italy. He was quick to say that while he does not feel discriminated against in Rome, when he travels further North, they recognize his different accent and act racist toward him.

What I found to be most interesting was Antonio's opinion on the North and South divide in Italy. The discussion of this divide in many ways mirrors the divide that there is in the United States. Antonio shared that the way Southerners are recognized as Southern is by their accent. This is similar to in the United States how Southerners have a much different accent from Northerners. The differentiation of accents can lead to racism in the United States as well as in Italy.

Ending our interview with Antonio, we continued to walk around the piazza to find another youth to interview and asked about their opinions on the city of Rome. After wandering around and observing the piazza for a while, we approached a college-aged female and asked her if she was native to Italy. She quickly responded with immaculate English that she had immigrated to Rome from Morocco when she was seventeen. While her father has been in Rome since 1987, Basma and the rest of her family were able to join him in 2007. Basma, a name meaning 'smile', was quick to open up to us about her enjoyable experiences in Italy thus far. While she is an immigrant, Basma stared that she feels accepted in Italy and has yet to experience much discrimination from Italian citizens. Studying oriental language and Abrabic, Basma hopes to move to either France or London once she graduates from university. Similar to Antonio, she stressed that there are no jobs in Rome where she would be able to use her degree and, therefore, would likely once again have to immigrate to a new country.

Basma's experience reflected Castles and Miller's article “ The Age of Migration.” This article states that there are five core reasons why migration occurs: “people migrate as manual workers, highly-qualified specialists, entrepreneurs, refugees, or as family members of previous migrants,” (Castles 3). Looking at immigration in the context of these five ideas, Basma's experience correlates to that of an immigrant that migrated in order to join a family member. While her experience was as a migrant joining a family member, her father's experience was that of an entrepreneur. Her father chose to move to Rome with an entrepreneurial spririt in order to open up a clothing store. Comparing the “Age of Migration” to Basma's family's experience presented many parallels.

While I was initially scared to approach strangers in the Piazza Vittorio and nervous my lack of Italian would pose a problem for my communication with anyone that would be there, I quickly learned my nervousness was unnecessary. After talking with Antonio and Basma, I learned that they are my peers and very open to sharing their opinions and dreams with me. Perhaps what I was most surprised about was both Antonio and Basma's English language skills. I was very impressed and envious that they were both able to speak another language so flawlessly. Although immigration is not the easiest subject to talk about, they both seemed to be very open to me.

Interestingly, Antonio and Basma had very different opinions on immigration. Antonio, being a native Italian, expressed his thoughts about how bad immigration is for the country of Italy while Basma shared her affinity for Italy and how accepted she has felt as a Moroccan immigrant living in Rome. I think that both Antonio and Basma were somewhat surprised that me, being an American student, would even care to ask about their opinions on immigration. They were very open to talking to me about the topic because it was not something that they were regularly asked their opinion about. If they were to be asked by a fellow Italian about their opinions on immigration, I do not think that their opinions would have been any different from what they shared with me. Being a peer of theirs, I think it was much easier for them to express their opinions to me. The only difference there may have been was their word selection. Since they were limited to the word and expressions they knew in English, if they were speaking in Italian they may have expressed their opinions using a different vocabulary.

Getting out of my comfort zone and pushing myself to approach new people in the Piazza Vittorio was a very enlightening experience. Talking with fellow youth in Rome confirmed many of the issues we have been discussing in class. Antonio's negative opinions about immigration reiterated the majority of opinions we have learned in class that many Italians have. I was most surprised that neither of the two people I interviewed mentioned that there is a lack of rights for immigrants and other minorities throughout Italy. When I asked about political problems throughout Italy, both Antonio and Basma's mentioned the state of the economy but did not mention the state of the government.