International Courswork
Multidisciplinary Perspectives on the Bay of Naples
​This course taught me so much about the different aspects of Southern Italian culture. The professor pushed us to analyze layers of cultural differences that lay way beneath the surface of what tourists typically notice. We traveled to the nearby cities of Naples, Amalfi, Ravello, Herculaneum, and Castellabate, which were all very insightful in their own ways. In Naples, we were able to see the economic differences between the outskirts of the city and the wealthy neighborhoods of Sorrento. In Amalfi and Ravello, we compared the effects of tourism in the popular destination of Amalfi compared to the quiet mountain town of Ravello. Herculaneum showed us the roots of the nation’s culture and how citizens of the ancient cities lived. Lastly, Castellabate pushed us further out of our comfort zones by surrounding us with local Italians who don’t speak a lot of English. In addition to these excursions, we had guest speakers who opened our eyes to topics in Sorrento, and all of Italy, that we had not yet explored. Some of these topics include religion, economics of family corporations, the mafia, volcanology, and civil rights in Italy. These lectures revealed so much that I would not have realized without this course, and have taught me how to observe differences in culture in other places I travel throughout my lifetime. In this way, the experience I gained through this class, and through living in Sorrento, will stay applicable no matter where I end up or what I end up doing.
International Internship
For three credits, I was given the opportunity to work with conservationists at the Marine Protected Area of Punta Campanella. Ieranto Bay, which is located in this area, was historically used as a quarry, which greatly impacted the health of the marine ecosystem. Now that it’s protected, there’s a lot of work needed to continue to increase the environmental health of the bay. I help do this through several different projects. First, I help another student with her project measuring biodiversity in the Bay. She’s measuring the level of biodiversity using fish in the order Blenniidae. These fish, Blennies, live close to the surface, which makes them good indicators of environmental health because they’re particularly sensitive to environmental changes, especially pollution. By snorkeling and monitoring Blennies, we can tell if the Bay is effectively recovering. Additionally, I assist with another project by collecting ocean litter throughout the area. This litter is collected from both the Small Bay and Big Bay areas on the beach, ocean surface, and ocean floor. The trash is then categorized by the material it’s made out of to analyze the most common type of litter in each part of Ieranto Bay. This will lead to a better understanding of what kind of trash needs stricter regulations to protect our oceans. In the Bay, I also monitor the number of people and boats. I monitor the people in Ieranto every 2 hours based on what area they’re occupying, simultaneously, I watch for any unauthorized boats that enter the area. Since the area is protected, there is no motor activity, fishing, or anchoring allowed, so when an unauthorized boat enters, I must sound an alarm and ask them to leave immediately. This whole experience taught me about the specific operations that go into running a marine protected area, and how the process compares with that of America.
Green Cities, Active Living Webinar
I also had the opportunity to attend a webinar hosted by European Urban Knowledge Network titled "European Studies Because Series: Green Cities, Active Living". This webinar was focused on how infrastructure and city design throughout the European Union has become more focused on sustainability techniques that promote walkability, preserved and restored green spaces, and human health and happiness. The hosts presented case studies of existing infrastructure being removed or modified in favor of these sustainability approaches. The most prominent example of this was the city of Utrecht located in the Netherlands. Utrecht used to rely on highway transportation, but efforts in 2020 removed the highway completely, leaving a pedestrian and cycling-friendly environment. Additionally, statistical evidence was shown to support the idea that citizens are healthier and have a greater sense of wellbeing and satisfaction when in sustainably built cities that favor walking over car travel. This webinar was very eye-opening to see as a born-and-raised American, since most cities here were designed with a very car-dependent mindset. Seeing alternatives to the way my fellow Americans and I live every day made me hopeful for future changes in our country's infrastructure that incorporate more of these sustainable ideas that would benefit both us and the environment. The examples of highway removals specifically resonated with me, since these show that it's never too late to implement more planet-forward city design. Furthermore, seeing successful initiatives like this one shows that there are ways to live greener without heavily sacrificing convenience. In actuality, these pedestrian-friendly cities are more convenient for daily living and foster far greater amounts of human connection. The side by side comparison of European green cities and the average American city makes it clear that car-dependence is not only more environmentally damaging but also more isolating. Overall, this webinar opened my eyes to new methods of mitigating climate change impacts through sustainable development and made me enthusiastic about recognizing and appreciating green city features both abroad and in America.