Political Science in Naples, Italy: The Unexpected

The prominent laissez faire attitude of the Italians, manifested in both the people and the environment, has been quite surprising and inspirational to my desire to see libertarianism in the States. Traffic laws, for example, are simply a suggestion. Motor scooters have free reign to travel through and around pretty much anything that is not another person, and pedestrians are seemingly fearless of being struck. I wonder why they even bothered to paint crosswalks in the first place. Yet, the system works wonderfully, and I have yet to see any major traffic jams. It is a very free market approach to traffic!

Ironically, the people who seem to care least about what is going on are the police, who can usually be found meandering about the streets in pairs talking on their cell phones and paying little to no attention. Barbara noted that one female officer’s uniform was complete with hoop earrings and two-inch pumps. Who said justice can’t be classy?

Of course, this laissez faire approach comes with its downsides, as the city is littered with an enormous amount of trash. This is particularly strange, considering the stringent trash laws that require separation of plastic and metals from foodstuffs. Then again, most of the laws seem voluntary at best, so it shouldn’t surprise me that this is extended to sanitation.

The refugees in my center are not what I had expected. I don’t wish to down play their circumstances, but most of them are not fleeing active combat zones, as I had previously believed. Instead, the majority are economic refugees from West Africa. I wish I had read up on that instead of spending the better part of two years reading about ISIS and the Syrian Civil War. Anyhow, I look forward to getting to know them and hearing their stories. I’m sure there is a lot they would like to get off their chests.

-Tucker Strom

Political Science in Naples, Italy: The Arrival

When coming to Italy for this program, I was not too sure what I was going to get myself into. Thankfully, I did not have much time to think about it, owing to my busy summer schedule with the Army. My journey started at about 8 am Saturday morning when I left Easley, SC to drive to Atlanta, GA to catch my flight, and it didn’t end until roughly 11:30 am local time in Naples the next day. It is easy to say that I was running on fumes by the time I arrived.

That night, after finally getting settled in, a handful of the other students and I decided to hunt down a good place to eat. We were hoping to find a pizzeria to try our first slice of authentic Italian pizza, and that is just what we got. We came across a small hole in the wall shop that served Margarita pizzas for €4 and with a side of a 66cl Peroni, we could not complain! One pizza here is equivalent to a 12-inch pizza back home. After that, we walked around via Toledo to see what else we could find as well as orient ourselves to this new, bustling city. It’s safe to say by the time we went to bed that night, the majority of us had been awake for approximately 36 hours, so none of us had any trouble falling asleep.

Robert Machamer

Political Science in Naples, Italy: Off to a Great Start

Well, I can honestly say the start of this volunteer trip to Naples, Italy has been great. Most people don’t like these kinds of trips because of all the long and sleepless travel and the jet lag you get from the flying. For me, that has not been the case, because I’ve been blessed with the ability to sleep anywhere if I’m tired enough. For the first flight, I traveled from Toronto to Rome, which takes about eight and a half hours. When I got on the plane, I sat in my chair and instantly fell asleep. I was fortunate enough to sleep the entire plane ride. This made for a great start to the trip. When I arrived in Naples I was well rested and completely ready for adventuring into the heart of the city and Italian culture.

            The first few days were a little disorienting. There was so much to do and so much to explore. On the first full day, we got a very brief but very helpful orientation, where we learned the basics about our volunteer program, the history and culture of the city, and some basic Italian for communication. Then, we got a tour of the city. This tour lasted for about two hours, but it covered a good portion of the historical center of the city. Of course, because Naples is in Italy, we saw plenty of old and beautiful churches and lots of ancient architecture. This first day was very short and easy, but it was very helpful in preparing us for the work ahead.

            On our second day in Italy, we had another orientation. However, this time, we actually got to visit the volunteer centers where we will be contributing for the next month. This was definitely interesting, since we got to meet many new and interesting people who we will work with. I got to meet a very nice lady who is my specific volunteer coordinator at LESS. LESS is a non-governmental organization that helps refugees in Italy. My coordinator’s name is Lucia. Luckily, she is both intelligent and very fluent in English. She has also been an excellent guide, teaching me about my role in the volunteer headquarters and the work I will be doing, which is mostly administrative.

            These past few days volunteering at the headquarters has been rewarding, but challenging at times. Mostly, I am engaged in project coordination with other refugee organizations, translating resumes from Italian to English, planning fun events for the refugees, and communicating with both the United Nations and the European Union. My job has mostly involved communicating with coordinators from these international organizations. If LESS actually becomes a partner of these larger organizations, it would receive many benefits, including access to resources from them.

            It honestly feels amazing being here. We haven’t even gotten to our first weekend yet, and I’m already having so much fun on this trip while still learning! My fellow classmates and I are already planning trips to Pompeii, Rome, and even Germany for the coming weekends. All of these trips will help broaden my cultural understanding, while at the same time being very fun and interesting.

- Christopher Niepsuj

Political Science in Naples, Italy: Introduction to Human Trafficking

As a member of The Citadel group studying abroad in Naples, Italy, I will be working with the International Napoli Network and its associate groups to help refugees/migrants and human trafficking victims. This week I had my first opportunity to go with a LESS social worker, Marina, to visit one of the group homes

The home consisted of 12 young men between the ages of 19 and 25. They were from Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Many of them reported they had traveled to Italy by boat through the Mediterranean Sea. They had paid a fee to a middle man or broker for the transportation. Since their arrival in Italy, LESS has provided each of them with an apartment, a SIM card, and a small allowance. The allowance is for the purchase of a cell phone, clothing, food, and spending money.  The four-bedroom apartment houses three men to a room, and they are responsible for coordinating their own cleaning and food preparation. They were also given a physical to determine whether they had any health needs. In return for this support, they are required to attend Italian and socialization classes to assist with their assimilation to Italy. LESS also offers job training for refugees if needed. If a refugee fails to attend required classes or training, his or her allowance is reduced. This is the main way of motivating them to participate.

One man I met with spoke English very well. Ali reported he left Pakistan for religious reasons. His family is Sunni Muslim, but under the influence of an Aunt, he felt compelled to join the Shia. The family argued with him, but he was firm in his conviction. Ali’s life was threatened by his brother and other family members. One evening, when he saw them with guns, he jumped the balcony and ran to his Aunt’s home. His aunt made arrangements with smugglers to take Ali from Pakistan to Libya. From Libya, he traveled to Sicily and then to Naples.  He decided to seek asylum in Italy for religious reasons.

Ali is a very interesting man. He stated he was educated in Pakistan where he earned a certificate. In his home country, Ali was employed with the government as a foreman to oversee the construction of buildings and roads. In addition to English, Ali stated he is proficient in Arabic, French, and Urdu. In the nine months he has been in Italy, he also has learned Italian.  Ali has not been before the Commission to plead his case for asylum yet.  He says that, if it is granted, he plans to stay in Italy, find a job, and help others in similar situations.

- Barbara Brown

Bonjourno from Naples, Italy! - Political Science in Naples

The PSCI Service-Learning Program met in Naples, Italy at 10 AM on Monday, July 4. Our goal is to help non-governmental organizations assisting refugees arriving in Italy and to learn about human rights in economic development. 

The Citadel group includes four graduate students: Barbara Brown (Social Science); Robert Crossno (International Politics and Military Affairs); Emily Harmon (Social Science); and Tucker Strom (International Politics and Military Affairs).  The group also includes Michael Holland, a rising junior from Augusta, GA; Robert Machamer, a rising junior from Easley, SC; Christopher Niepsuj, a rising junior from Elma, NY; and David Truesdale, a rising senior from Charleston, SC, as well as Sarah Tenney Sharman, an Associate Professor in the Political Science Department. Dr. Tenney Sharman’s husband, Howard Sharman, is also serving as a volunteer with the group.  The program is designed to enable students to get hands-on experience while studying theories related to the politics of economic development.

Most people are familiar with the ongoing refugee crisis that has lit up headlines around the world, as more than 153,842 people have made their way from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East to Europe since 2015.  What many people don’t know is that this has been a problem for Italy for quite some time.  Because of Italy’s boot-like shape, long and meandering coastline, and close proximity to Africa, it has long served as a gateway to Europe. Hordes of refugees fleeing conflict, human rights violations, persecution, and socio-economic deprivation in other areas of the world arrive here almost daily in rubber boats, dinghies, and unseaworthy vessels. So far, 76,699 have arrived in 2016. Many of these people arrive desperately in need of international protection and assistance.

“Fear” and “uncertainty” have become the words of the day both for those seeking refuge and for those providing it.  Italy itself is still reeling from the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, suffering sluggish economic growth and high levels of unemployment. In addition, many are worried about a variety of issues related to the number of arrivals. These include concerns not only about potential terrorists and terrorist attacks, but also street crime, communicable diseases, and the financial burden associated with providing for so many in need.  Of course, the new arrivals face the fear and uncertainty of having to assimilate into new cultures, learning new languages, finding jobs, and starting over.

To date, most of the refugees and migrants making their way to Italy have been from sub-Saharan African countries, like Eritrea, Nigeria, Somalia, and Cote d’Ivoire. However, since Turkey has agreed to take back the refugees arriving from the Middle East to Greece, Italy is expected to become a primary port of entry for additional refugees coming from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Many of the arrivals seek political asylum in the European Union.  While asylum status is usually reserved for those fleeing persecution in their home countries, the application and investigation process is complicated and time consuming.  Similarly, refugee status is reserved for those fleeing active conflicts who hope to return to their native homes one day. Many of these people are forced to flee their homes in the wake of extreme violence, trauma, and deprivation. Still others coming to European shores are simply migrants in search of job opportunities and better life styles. In all cases, the arrivals have to be processed and provided basic living protections until they can assimilate in their new environments.  This includes food, clothing, and shelter as well as medical and other assistance.

The Citadel group looks forward to working with local non-governmental organizations here in Naples to help in this endeavor.

- Sarah Tenney-Sharman

Pictured (from left to right):  Usha Waygood and Ivan Fadini  (International Napoli Network); Howard Sharman, Barbara Brown, Michael Holland, Tucker Strom, Rober Machamer, Robert Crossno, David Truesdale, Emily Harmon, and Chris Niepsuj

Study Abroad Spain - Falling Back in Love

Having taken Spanish as a language off and on throughout my grade school years and then choosing it as one of my majors in college I’ve come a crossed a variety of teachers from many backgrounds and countries of origin. Each of these instructors gave me a new perspective and angle into learning Spanish and understating the culture of the many countries. But the crowning experience so far in my journey towards graduation has been the summer study abroad opportunity in Spain. This has been a completely immersive program with every intention of improving a student’s Spanish no matter the level. On this trip I’ve been lucky enough to hear the roar of the crowd in the Plaza del Toros in Seville as the matador gracefully dances around the 2,700 lbs bull. I’ve walked the ancient halls of Alhambra where sultans and Spanish kings alike fought for control of this ancient and beautiful country. The ancient halls of La Mesquita in the ancient city of Cordoba left me speechless at the lengths man was willing to go in the pursuit of beauty. But the best experience by far of the whole program was the opportunity to meet all new people; to share their stories and come together as one. People from all walks of life willing to share their life story with you all in an attempt to help you truly understand them and their culture and their ancestors’ stories. This program has strengthen all resolve I have when classes become difficult and helped me to fall back in love with the language. 

- Nicholas McKenna, Junior, Modern Language major, Palmetto Battery Company 

Study Abroad Spain - Seville & Valencia

I studied abroad in the cities of Seville and Valencia in Spain. Each city was very beautiful and had its own unique characteristics. Seville was an older city and had many massive beautiful cathedrals. It had a river running right through the middle of it and at night you could sit on the bridge and look down the river and see the lights of the tall building reflecting off the water. It was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. During the day you could kayak down the river or if you are brave enough you could try jumping in like we did. Most of the streets are coble stone which is really cool to walk down and fun to watch bicycles struggle to ride down.  Valencia was a more modern city. The buildings were much bigger and the city it self was much bigger. The downtown are was older and had some beautiful architecture. If you love to exercise then Valencia is the place to go. Running through the middle of the city is a park that has bike paths, walking paths, and exercise equipment. It’s the perfect place to get a run in. And then probably the best part about Valencia is the beach. The sand is almost pure white and the view is amazing. You look down one side and you see massive sky scrapers and then the other way you will see a huge port with towers and cranes, a sight to see. The food in both cities is amazing. It can be alittle pricy at times but as you learn the city you will find the best places for the best amount of money. We found a little sandwich shop with sandwiches ranging from one euro to about three. Pretty good deal, but on Wednesdays and Sundays the entire menu was one euro…so I bet you can guess where we were on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Spain is defiantly a beautiful place that is like no other and I promise you that you will enjoy the trip and be amazed by what you see.

- James Blocker, Sophomore, Business major, Romeo Company

Group of cadets in Plaza de Espana

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Cadet Brunson

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