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Students should take advantage of local events, integrate into new culture
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ne of my teachers recently said something that surprised me: Before 9/11, abroad students were eager to integrate into Italian life completely. But after it happened, she saw them become more withdrawn and less willing to lose themselves in the culture. Her prime example was how travel habits during Fall Break have changed. Before, students would do all of the traveling on their own. Now, a convenient service called Bus2alps takes care of travel, hostels, tours, etc. This ultimately limits how much each person needs to directly interact with the places they’re visiting. I found this especially surprising given how prominently it applies to me. Half of my trips have been arranged through Bus2alps — including my Fall Break — and the other half are organized through the school. So, I asked myself: Do I have this same fear of integration? When I first heard my teacher’s claim, my mind threw all kinds of arguments back at her. I preferred others to arrange my travel since I often get lost when I handle it myself.
MA X ANTONUCCI
lost and found in florence Others know more about the places I’m visiting, so I trust them to know what to see. Services like Bus2alps simplify everything, sparing me hours of stress and planning. The idea of me being afraid to integrate was ridiculous. But after some honest selfreflection, I realized, at least on some level, she was right. My first worry about going abroad was being robbed anywhere and by anyone, not just by people targeting tourist areas. I assumed somewhere other than America was less safe, even though I now know that to be the opposite in some cases. In my first month here, I felt almost terri-
fied to speak Italian to someone who might not know English. I worried I might make a mistake and unintentionally offend someone. Through time, naturally, this delusion grew smaller. Now talking to native speakers feels almost completely natural. All of these fears were much more subtle than I expected, but they were there, and my teacher was right. However, looking closer, I also think she was partially wrong because the worries didn’t last. These fears were shattered after experiencing enough of Italy. And they’re likely to never resurface. The fears first dissipated at an event organized through the school called the Dragon Boat Race. My classmates and I spent two nights practicing rowing with a team of Italian doctors, and then competed with them in several races that Saturday. We were the only English-speakers there, yet were fully a part of the action and integrated into the celebration. Looking back, it’s been my favorite activity during my entire time abroad. It was different because it wasn’t any kind
of tourist activity. There were no means to distance ourselves from the culture, and we were forced into its foreign aspects. It was a real event for real Italians, and I was part of it. It’s what broke down the barrier between cultures. I can’t know for sure how many other abroad students feel the same way, but I know there are some with the same misplaced fears. There is something more we can do about it, though. Not taking part in more events like this will likely be my biggest regret while in Florence, and hopefully future students can avoid this. People should take advantage of events like the boat race, where we experience Italy with the Italians instead of keeping a slight distance from them. It’s not just for better experiences, but also to make us better people by getting rid of these subtle fears of the unfamiliar. Max Antonucci is a junior newspaper and online journalism major. His column appears every Tuesday in Pulp. Visit his website at www.MaxwellAntonucci.com, find him on Twitter at @DigitalMaxToday or email him at meantonu@syr.edu.
Drama department to premiere ‘Translations’ on Friday By Kristin Ross FEATURE EDITOR
Playwrights often draw inspiration from their own lives to make their work relatable to an audience, and Brian Friel’s “Translations” is no different. Friel drew from political differences and language barriers
“Translations”
Where: Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Theater Complex, 820 E. Genesee St. When: Friday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m., 8 p.m. How much: $17-$19
in Northern Ireland in the 1980s when he published the script. Although the playwright has previously said that the play is “a play about language and only about language,” the messages drawn from the script are much stronger. Set in Ireland in 1833, “Translations” poses relevant questions about understanding other cultures and differing views on politics, according to the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ website. But arguably more importantly, the play discusses the need to preserve culture in a constantly changing world. Presented by the Department of Drama, “Translations” opens on Friday and will run through Nov. 23. It is staged in the Arthur Storch Theater at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Theater Complex, 820 E. Genesee St., and tickets are available at the theater’s box office. The show begins when a group of Irish students are greeted by two members of the British Army, which is quickly followed by cultural misunderstandings and misinterpretations due to the evident language barrier. The British Army is in Ireland because its members have been asked to map out and rename places from the traditional Gaelic
names to the King’s English. The remainder of the show discusses the problems that arise from the obvious language barrier, and a division between cultures and class is evident. The conflict that resounds from the two groups’ cultural differences creates a timeless situation, therefore making “Translations” still relevant to today’s audiences, despite being authored more than three decades ago. The Department of Drama’s students are performing “Translations” in its original Gaelic and British accents, and have been working on them since the first rehearsal under the direction of Gerardine Clark, a professor of drama in VPA. “Translations” was first performed in
SEASON TICKETS “Translations” is the second production of the Department of Drama’s 2013-2014 season. Mark your calendars for the rest:
• “A Christmas Carol”
Nov. 23-Dec. 29 By Charles Dickens, adapted by Romulus Linney Directed by Peter Amster
• “Seed-the-Plow”
Feb. 21-March 2 By David Mamet Directed by Rob Bundy
• “The Good Woman of Setzuan” March 28-April 13 By Bertolt Brecht Directed by Felix Ivanov
• “Spring Awakening”
April 25-May 10 Book and lyrics by Steven Sater Music by Duncan Sheik Based on the play by Frank Wedekind Directed by Michael Barakiva Musical direction by Brian Cimmet Choreographed by Andrea Leigh-Smith
Northern Ireland in September 1980. In 1981, it was staged at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City and then revived on Broadway
for a short stint in 1995, and then again in 2007. klross01@syr.edu @kriskross22