LUCCA Day 8: COMMUNITY HEALTH GAME, PUBLIC MARKET, and LAUNDRY

 Jerald and I walked for about 30 minutes at The Wall. With his digital Canon camera ready, he took action shots of people biking and walking with their dogs.

During class, we played a community health game, wherein a group of 3+ were randomly given a gender, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors that affect a team's health status from childhood, adolescent, adulthood, and old age. The main goal is to go through one life stage to another with a level of 5 (excellent socioeconomic status) and to prevent ways of dying. We're basically given a dice and we take turns rolling it. We then either move forward and gain chips or stay in place, have a lowered level, and lose a chip or more. It was interesting to see how having an excellent socioeconomic status (white, rich person) helped with obtaining a better health, despite having the same health diseases such as breast/ prostate cancer and kidney cancer as someone with a lower socioeconomic status (I.e. Female of color).

In the afternoon, we dropped by the local public market, which was about a 10-minute walk away from the Ostello. Trailers of families selling clothes, shoes, and even fruits and veggies parked side by side, hoping to make some profit... These businesses on wheels drop by Lucca every Wednesdays and Saturdays. I had a chance to bargain, which was a neat experience! I came back with a pound of pecorino, Italian bread, and olives marinated with herbs such as basil. It's a delish combo for only 6.50€! I had a lot left that I ended up eating it for dinner as well.



                       

[What an amazing day at the Lucca public market!]

 Helen, Je, Maylena, and I went to the laundry place near the fountain, about a 5-minute walk away from the Ostello. It was fun trying to understand the Italian laundry instructions! We did not need to buy soap, as the amount we paid (4.50€ / load) already included the soap in the machine. Both the washer and dryer loads lasted for about an hour, and everyone ended up with a fresh set of clean clothes!






 

LUCCA Day 7: THE WALL and FIRST BIKE RIDE

Jerald and I walked "The Wall" this morning.. It's like the Burke Gillman Trail, wherein everyone, old and young, are free to walk, jog, run, and bike by themselves or with others. We spotted Italians and even foreigners jogging and walking with their dogs as well as mothers chatting alongside each other, as they pushed their babies' strollers.

About 15 min before 9am, we then headed to San Lorenzo Church and did our quick observation for our ethnographic obs. homework. Majority of those present were elderly people, especially women. We'll be heading back there at 6pm to attend mass.

[Italian nurse (orange) with Senora Janet explaining emergency situations]

We met with the whole group and saw more of Lucca. We talked about the so-called "fraternities," which consisted of a group of lay people, who volunteers during emergency situations. We saw two ambulances, much like that of the U.S. The male nurse wore a bright-orange uniform and told us that unlike before, Italians push their students to obtain a degree from a university. However, there is not much practical experience as it once was.

[Lunch at the ostello's courtyard]

After the short tour of another church, we dropped by a local supermarket. As it was almost 1pm, we ended up going to a nearby pizzaria, where I got mozzarella and spinach calzone... and a cup of home-made Tiramisu! The tiramisu had more creme than the typical one that's made in the U.S. It's topped with powdered cafe. Inside, there were two 2" bite-sized sponge cakes. The tiramisu was just right, and all the ingredients blended well together.

Helen and Jerald mentioned about renting some bikes near the ostello and riding them at The Wall, and yes, they were more than eager to teach a first timer--me! As it was almost the end of the day, we were given the chance to ride for about 45 minutes. Je and Hels taught me some basics during the first few minutes. I struggle a bit, but I assured them that before our alotted time was over, they would see me ride with the breeze. True enough, I stepped on the pedal with my left and pushed with my right. I heard Jerald and Helen yelling, "You can do it!" With an ounce of confidence and gentle push of the afternoon breeze, I began to ride the red bike. Just keep your balance... be free... you can do it... I told myself. Before I knew it, I was riding with my friends.

[Getting ready to ride with the breeze]

[Je teaching me the basics (photo by Helen)]

[Je guiding me (photo by Helen)]

[SUCCESS- thanks to my friends! ( photo by Helen)]

Thursday's our last day in Lucca. Everyday, we continue to find interesting places to go to. I can't wait to see Florence (I already booked to see Michaelangelo's David)!

LUCCA Day 6: SWEET HONEY and 1ST FOUR- COURSE MEAL

I ate the rest of my calzone this morning together with the green grapes (very sweet and fresh) I bought yesterday. I came down to the 2nd floor lounge and noticed people looking up a hostel that we could stay in, while we're in Florence. Afterwards, the so-called "Team Roma" strolled pass through the village and passed " The Wall" to buy our train tickets (60€ each, as we got a 10% group discount) from Rome to Vicenza. "The Wall" surrounds the churches, shops, and even our Ostello previously mentioned in my blogs. 




[Anu, myself, and Maylena with the owner]

 

We went to a nearby honey shop and tasted mixed honeys. Bees were all over the place, yet I was surprised that no one got stung! I bought one jar of honey not made in the U.S. but from Italy's own acacia flowers. None of the Italian family's products have preservatives-- they're all made naturally! It's amazing!

We came back from the road trip with just enough time to take a siesta. My roommates and I were all knocked out! We then woke up a little past 7pm, so that we could get ready for our dinner dates with the whole group.



For dinner, the whole class gathered for an amazing, four-course Italian meal. I also had a glass of white wine.


[Course 1: Bruschettas with cherry tomatoes, pesto sauce & pecorino cheese, & olive oil]



[Course 2: Risotto with potatoes, carrots, and spices]

[Course 3: rare Steak with square, bite-size fried potatoes (sitting next to Señora Angela)]

[Course 4: Hazelnut gelato mixed with whipped cream, almond nuts,and cafe syrup]



Salute!



The ambiance was amazing (like at someone's own personal backyard), and the family members all worked well together to bring in our dishes. The company was great! I was sitting next to Senora Angela, and she talked about some of her struggles with her Italian culture and that of the US. I had a great time, and it was wonderful that we all got the chance to have dinner, just about a 10-minute walk away from the Ostello.

LUCCA and PISA Day 5: FIRST MASS AND LEANING TOWER OF PISA

9am: Italian mass at San Lorenzo Church with 7 others, including Señora Angela, confessions by locals were done before to mid-mass, no wine given, read and sung Italian, everything else was done like that in the U.S., chandeliers present and beautiful Renaissance paintings too! mainly 40+ and elderly Italians present. Why were there not much young adults and kids? We thought Italians encourage their young to attend mass to carry on a strong Catholic tradition, but this was not the case at this particular church.

10-1pm: class

1:30pm: Margherita 8" diameter Pizza finished by the steps of a church, Strolled around the village. Majority of the shops were closed. Tiramisu Dark choco cheesecake for €1.50 sweet, not like the sour taste of the U.S. cheesecakes.

2:30pm: booked and bought train tickets for Florence to Rome this weekend with a group.

4-5pm : Leaning tower of Pisa

Baked under the hot sun, while we waited at the Pisa train station to Lucca, (missed 1st train- had no labels, and they did not really update well the monitors; we could not get our tickets from the automatic ticket area, as they're all in Italian- a local woman and a gentleman helped).

6:30pm: Dinner- calzone with ham, sausage, cheese, more Gelato- mixed berries and banana, so refreshing! Better than most smoothies made in the U.S., Bumped into our professors on our way back, while they headed to a local concert and wanted some gelato as well, Refilled our water bottles at the local, fresh fountain, walking distance from our Ostello.

[with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, pic by Je]

[Freshly baked ham, sausage, and cheese Calzone]

LUCCA: ETHNOGRAPHIC OBSERVATION

A group of seven others, including Gerald and I attended an Italian 9am mass at San Lorenzo Church last Sunday, August 28th. The church was located near a local fruit stand, mini cafes, a laundry shop, and the community fountain. As we walked in, I noticed that a glass bowl of holy water was placed near the main entrance of the church. As locals stepped in, they dipped their fingers in the bowl and did the sign of the cross. We eventually found two benches to the left, mid-way from the altar. Unlit chandeliers were hung in left and right rows from the ceiling. The main candles that illuminated the altar were electronic ones, perhaps to prevent fires from occurring. The only exception were the natural candles that burned brightly near the devotion wing to the left. During the weekdays, the parishioners present were mainly the elderly. There were also few people and no children nor young adults who attended the weekday masses.

The parishioners were mainly elderly Italians, perhaps around 40+ year-olds. We've only spotted one family with kids. Why were there not much young adults and kids? We initially thought that Italians encouraged their young to attend mass in order to carry on a strong Catholic tradition, but this was not the case at this particular church. Since it is vacation time also in Italy, perhaps young adults in Lucca prefer to be elsewhere than spend an hour at church. Are Italians are becoming more liberal, or maybe do they prefer to pray in their own time and personal place? They perhaps see the church as a place for those who seek to worship with the community. I noticed that majority of the parishioners were elderly Italians, aged 70+ that mainly sat at the front. True enough, less and less Catholic young adults and even children fail to attend mass in the United States, partly because the parents are not actively participating as well. I serve at two parishes, one in Tacoma and another at the UW Newman Center. I've noticed that majority of those who attend at St. Ann's Parish in Tacoma were elderly women and minority populations. Moreover, college students hardly ever attend mass and prefer to come only on special occasions such as Ash Wednesday, Easter, and Christmas. I wonder if this is true for Italians as well.

Confessions by the locals were done before mass and half-way through with a priest behind a sealed door. However, there wasn't much privacy, as anyone who wishes to confess may just kneel down at the site next to the priest. This was awkward, as everyone else could see and even partly hear the person's confessions! Perhaps this was created so that one may feel more aware of his/her sins and in a way forms an ambiance that he/she is confessing to the community. In the United States and the Philippines, some parishes or churches have totally closed confession stands. Though one may see another come in, hardly anyone would be able to hear what the person's confessing to the priest. Moreover, confessions are done often times before mass and others may even come in for an appointment.

There was a great sense of community, especially since the Italians did a great job singing in acapella and replying in unison. Like the San Lorenzo parishioners, the parishes I've attended encouraged parishioners to sing but often times with accompaniment, such as with a pianist and the choir.

The priest seemed to have connected well with the community. Though I could not understand Italian, I saw the parishioners listening to the priest attentively. Moreover, the priest had so much enthusiasm and did not read his homily; he spoke to the community, as if he knew each individual personally. In some U.S. parishes, priests tend to read off their written homily that sometimes young parishioners doze off after five minutes of the priest speaking. Nevertheless, there are a few eloquent priests who know how to catch the parishioners' attention and even give interpretations to the previous Gospel readings for the community to reflect on.

The Eucharist is an important aspect of the mass, as this is when bread and wine is transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. The ceremony is very much similar to that done in the United States. However, I found it odd to have no wine during the Communion.

We said "Pace" for "Peace be with you," while shaking each other's hands. Italians behind us smiled as we exchanged such greetings. The same is done in the United States.

The "Our Father" was not sung but was stated orally by the community. The Italians simply raised their hands with their palms facing upwards. However, in America and the Philippines, some Catholic parishioners prefer to sing the "Our Father" and may even hold each others' hands.

How can the Catholic religion be tied to health? I've noticed that the elderly parishioners find company by simply attending the daily masses. Not only do they promote social health but also mental health. I greatly admire the spirit of the elderly Italian parishioners, which I hope the younger generation both in Italy and America should witness.

LUCCA and BARGA Day 4: ROAD TRIPS and HISTORIES

This morning, we all perspired during our 3-hr hike near the Gothic Line, which divided the Germans, who occupied the northern part of Italy and the Allies, who helped with the south, during WWII. A previous WWII Italian soldier probably in his 80s, actively walked with us and shared his personal war stories... I also noticed crosses were located at every high peak. Why? The latter was done to show that God is above all things... Also, I finally learned how "fig" tasted like.. It looks like a strawberry once opened, had the consistency of a kiwi, and yet the taste was sweeter and fresh. It was said that figs are given to Italians as a cure for constipation...

For lunch, we ate home-made pasta, salami sandwich, and sweet watermelon at a Franciscan convent with a spectacular view. There, everyone, including the professors, were given a shot of cappuccino with samburca (a drop of Italian liquor)...  It was odd to see a small bar housed in a mini shop, near the convent's garden and where Franciscan monks used to wash their clothes. The convent was like a nursing home for the aged, and it was very clean.

[If I can do it, so can you!]

[my first fig]

[Anticipating what the Mossano view would look like]

[Italian Cross (photo by Je)]

[View of Mossano (by Je)]

[I have no idea why they put a bee in St. Anthony's sleeve, at the Franciscan convent)]

[eating a sweet, refreshing watermelon on a warm day]

[by the vines at the convent]

[St. Mark's Basilica]

[Barga entrance]

After 2 hours, we rode the bus to Barga, another historic place near Lucca, hiked some more to visit wonderful churches with Renaissance artworks and terra cotta images. Just when we got excited to witness Italian newly weds at the town hall, it was already time to head home. We ate out for dinner, where I got ravioli, sourdough bread with self-sprayed balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1/3 glass of white wine, and a sip of yet another lemoncello at a fancy restaurant, while exchanging stories with some old and new-found friends. To end the night, I ate gelato (hazelnut and choco combo ice cream in a cup first, then melon on a cone for my second dose), while heading back to the Ostello. Tomorrow, a group and I will be going to church, where I will finally be able to participate in an Italian mass!

LUCCA Day 3: BREATH-TAKING VIEW and AMAZING PESTO

Started the day by practicing a little bit of Italian, when a group of 8 and I went to a nearby cafe to eat breakfast... Got a citrus, jam-filled croissant, un (one) cafe late, e (and) a small, naturale acqua for the road (finally, some cold, refrigerated water) for only €3.60 ($5.18). It was a good deal, and the manager was pretty accommodating. What I noticed though these past few days was that Italians are not very fond of ice-cold water, except for a restaurant we went to earlier...

We all gathered near a huge round table for our morning lecture,  which actually just consisted of going over the course syllabus. We were also broken down into groups and acted some Do's and Don't's in reacting to the Italian and American culture differences. Afterwards, Señora Angela taught us how to ride the train to and from different sites, such as Roma and Cinque Terre (5 Italian cities). 

Imagine having a group meeting while eating Italian ham and cheese sandwich, while sitting on the steps of a nearby church... There, we had a group meeting and decided which of the two we would like to go to next weekend... Lucca was closer to these tourist spots, compared to Vicenza, where we would spend the second half of our exploration seminar. My heart wanted to go to Cinque Terre, but only a small number wanted to go and a majority raised their hands when Rome was called out. I then realized that Roma would be a better choice, as it would take us 6hrs to get there by train, if we were to travel from Vicenza... A group and I would be traveling together and would be staying overnight first in Florence then spend the rest of the weekend until Monday morning roaming Rome! There we will visit St. Peter's Basilica and be at awe again once we see some Italian paintings!

[View from the tower]

After lunch, we climbed a I-can't-remember-but-super-tall-crazy-numbered-stairwell-filled tower to capture the picturesque Lucca by mid-afternoon. The breeze was so cool after every floor and once at a top, i just could not help but take pictures of every site! The ground was covered with red-orange tiles when hit by the afternoon sun. The tall, clock towers embraced the clear sky. I turned after taking pictures of my classmates, and I noticed San Lorenzo Church we visited yesterday. The view was just spectacular from above! As the space was tight and bodies bumped into each other, and since we walked from one corner to the next, we then gathered around the stairwell heading back down. I spotted Professor Lenart, the program lead and asked a friend to take a picture of us. Another then took a picture with her and yet another until she had no choice but to hold the smile until the last one came. Afterwards, one by one, we called out our names as Señora Angela translated them into Italian names. Mine, as I thought, was "Cristina." Other names were tough to translate such as "Tolle," so Señora just asked her to pick a name. Then first word that Señora mentioned was Sophia... And Tolle agreed. By 5:15pm we bade goodbye to the cool breeze and beautiful view for our itinerary for the day was done.

[with Emme]

[Atop Lucca (pic by Mandana)]

Before coming back to the hostel, Anu, Heidi, Yen, and I dropped by a nearby Pharmacy, which could be spotted blocks away due to the neon green, cross sign that popped out amidst the brick-walled shops. Unfortunately, she could not find Benadryl and the pharmacist instead recommended another brand, which was €9 (double that for $!) Instead of buying, we left the store, said Grazie, and ended up in front of another gelato place. Surprisingly, a small cup of any two flavors (I had mint and caffe) only cost €1.60, which was cheaper than the other gelato places we've visited in the past! As I chugged the last drop of acqua in my water bottle, we dropped by a fountain, which had constantly fresh, spring water flowing. The residents bring extra large bottles of water and would line up to get them filled there. I was skeptical at first, but as I needed to quench my thirst further, I ended up deciding to bring my extra large bottle, the second time around.

[Eating pesto pasta with Anu, my roommate]

For dinner, the other three girls and I sat down at the small sit-down restaurant near the fountain. I ordered basil pesto pasta, and it's nothing like then ones made in the U.S. The pasta used was firmer,chubbier, while the cheese simply melted and blended well with the fresh, olive oil. The dish seemed to be oily, but in a good way, as the mixture was just right! The plate-filled pesto cost €5.20, while the company was priceless! Heidi also ordered a lemoncello, somewhat like a lemon shot with alcohol. We all were able to try it. As I anticipated an acidic taste, surprisingly a sweet burst landed on my taste buds followed by the strong alcoholic punch. I was glad I did not order one shot, or they would have dragged me back to the hostel.

As we headed back, I rested for a while, organized my things, and took a well-deserved, cool bath. 

Tomorrow, we'll be gone the whole day and would visit another site by bus.

LUCCA Day 2: FIRST TRUE ITALIAN BITE and CHURCH DISCOVERIES

Woke up early, minutes before my clock alarmed for 7am. Took a cool bath, while my two other roommates were still sound asleep. After they all got dressed, we went downstairs to the cafeteria area, and were served real toast with jam and Italian butter... Beforehand, I was told that the caffe latte was good in Italy, and true enough, it was amazing, better than Starbucks! 

After leaving €3 for breakfast, the crew gathered for a quick meeting. Knowing that it was going to be 90+ degrees outside and most likely would get warmer, almost everyone was wearing shorts and a tank top... However, Professor Lenart mentioned we would be visiting churches, so everyone covered up.

                   [San Lorenzo Church]

The clock struck 9:30am, and we headed to the first church about a two-minute walk away from the ostello (where we currently stay). It was called, San Lorenzo Church, Byzantine-inspired structures on the outside of Jesus and his apostles and Renaissance-inspired structures and paintings on the inside of saints. My jaw dropped as I looked at each of the paintings in the church--it was like a museum! The intricateness really showed, and the stories behind them were inspiring as well! There was a mausoleum inside of St. Zeta, patron saint of single women. It was said that when her parents asked what she carried home in her skirt, she mentioned flowers, but miraculously, they appeared as loaves of bread! (If that's the case, then I would buy different flowers (orchids are common here) and bring them home with me! Looking up, the ceilings were painted to create an illusion of depth introwoven with intricate artworks. I wish we can incorporate the styles in our future abode! We also visited San Martino Cathedral, which housed dramatic, Baroque paintings, such as "The Last Supper" by Jacopo Tintoretto. I was mesmerized by the emotions depicted by the artists in the paintings, like "The Assumption." The paintings were so much like the ones painted by Mama-- the details, the strokes of the brush, and the smoothness of the transitions between the colors. It's as if they were coming to life! In our tour, we've passed by three other churches, but we didn't go in. I hope to attend one of these churches this Sunday.
  

[1st Thin-crusted Pizza in Italia]

The shops were amazing- of different varieties, both US-inspired brands like The United Colors of Benneton... I've also never heard of some Italian brands, but in every block (like the abundance of Starbucks in Seattle), Italian shoes are everywhere!!!

For lunch, I ate with three other people at the Fluoridi di Piazza (pizzeria), and for the first time, I practiced real Italian.. Asked "Dove il banyo?" first and later "Vorrei (I would like...)" this 4 different toppings (baked ham, mushrooms, artichokes, olives) pizza, and of course, "Grazie!" We paid €9 each for the whole 9" diameter, thin crusted pizza and my glass of mango juice, plus I had leftovers for dinner!

We came back to the Ostello and interacted with Señora Angela. She talked about the Italian culture and some facts. What I enjoyed the most was practicing some phrases, such as Ciao! Come stai? Molto bene! (Hello! How are you? Very good!) My neighbor asked if I took Italian, and I said I learned some phrases prior to the trip. I'm so glad I did...

We came back to the village as a group and had our second dose of gelato. This time, I had a melone e mango, two scoops on a cone. Afterwards, I accompanied Jerald, Lenda, and Helen as they did some shopping... I came along to see what the stores had. There were some leather shops, of course, shoe shops with European sizes, postcard stands and eating places, and so much more!

Enjoying our Gelatos- with buddies Je, Lenda, and Helen

Earlier, I helped Dr. Heitkemper, PhD, RN with her iPad connection prob. Amazingly, I persevered! We talked a bit about life and the nursing profession. She asked if I wanted to go to grad school, and I said I'd love to, when the right time comes... I also mentioned about nurse camp, and I'm glad she said she'd love to recruit some faculty members to help with our dodgeball event fundraising!

Tomorrow, we'll be touring the rest of Lucca, have cheese tasting, and another one of Señora Angela's Italian sessions. I'm enjoying every bit of this Italian trip-great friends and amazing food!

LUCCA Day 1: TIRING yet EXCITING!

We had 5 transfers total~WA-Philadelphia-Munich, Germany- Pisa, Italy (train and taxi ride)- Lucca, Italy - final destination. I had a day's worth of travel time, waited 2 extra hours for the train from Pisa to our final destination due to a missed and a cancelled ride, but it's one amazing, traveling experience with a group of UW students. I had fun meeting everyone again; I will be with two other girls, Sarah and Anupama, both UW pre-med students.

By 6pm, we went on a quick tour of the nearby plazas. I was at awe at the amazing, architectural structures and Italians walking and driving everywhere! Shops are just close-by, like going through a village within a village of mini outlets! We probably passed by more than 3 churches, just walking-distances away from where we currently live, called Ostello San Frediano.

[Lucca, Italy]

We headed back by 7pm. The whole group gathered and ate some Italian dinner with pasta, bread, fresh salads, marinated pork (with perhaps a hint of rosemary), and sweet, red wine (like the one served from church). Afterwards, we went out to eat some gelato.. I had the tiramisu-flavored one.

Tomorrow we'll have more walking and tourist sites to see in Lucca alone with a tour guide. I can't wait to try the Italian home-made pizzas!