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!