The Power of Unconditional Compassion

The term ‘social justice’ is so widely used, but I struggle to understand what makes a person socially just. Participating in a protest? Donating to charity? Volunteering at a soup kitchen? Helping an old woman cross the street? Going to church every week? Attending a service trip? These are all good deeds that are centered around justice, but does the act of simply doing these deeds make a person socially just?

I personally believe that leading a socially just life involves thinking and acting with an unconditional sense of compassion towards others. The key is that social justice should not be tied to a specific set of actions or deeds, but rather should be a way of life. Instead of putting on a flashy social justice hat each time we decide to help another person, we must always be wearing our invisible social justice hats. If everyone were to live in this way, letting compassion, kinship, and inclusivity be their guide, then the world might no longer need “social justice warriors”; the world may simply be socially just.

In Italy I have encountered numerous individuals who have adopted this compassionate way of living. One example is a woman named Anna, whom I have had the pleasure of meeting through my internship. She shows up to english class each week with cookies, juice, paper, and pens for everyone, despite her financially vulnerable situation. Anna makes everyone feel welcome upon their entry into the class, and continuously praises each individual for their courage and improvement when it comes to learning english. I can safely say Anna is one of the most compassionate human beings I have ever known, and one day after class I decided to express my appreciation for her generosity and kindness. What she said to me in response will forever be ingrained in my memory: “My dear Tori, I am not so special. If someone needs help it is just logical for me to do anything in order to help them.” As a result of loving others unconditionally, Anna is promoting justice and equality. Anna is truly a social justice warrior in every way, and someone I aspire to emulate.

These past few weeks have been really wonderful! I have had the opportunity to travel, to reflect, to meet new people, and so much more. Here are some of the highlights:

For my Immigration and Globalization class we are required to do service learning, and I was finally assigned to my service site two Thursdays ago. I am volunteering with an organization called Arca di Noe that works with migrants (specifically adolescents) living in Italy. The project I am helping with is an afterschool program at a high school in Bologna, which seeks to foster relationships and understanding between migrants and Italian students. Italians tend to hold racist and xenophobic views towards migrants, so this program serves as a way of breaking down these preconceived notions and encouraging students to view migrants in a more humanistic and compassionate way. About seven adolescent migrants from Arca di Noe come to the program each week, and there they do various activities with the students such as performing skits, exchanging cultural fables, learning Italian, studying each others’ history, and doing science experiments. I am incredibly impressed with the way the Italian students have welcomed the migrants, as it is evident that they want to get to know them and understand more about where they come from. My role in this program is to help out with whatever is needed, build relationships with the students and migrants, and serve as an italian-english translator when necessary. I may not be doing much in the grand scheme of things, but I feel very humbled and privileged to be witness to such a beautiful, inspiring, and progressive program. Last week I was talking with one of the migrants after the program, and he expressed to me how excited he was for us to become better friends. He said: “We have so much to learn from each other because we have lived such different lives in such different places. I am so thankful to know you.” This really warmed my heart, and provided me with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation for the rest of my time here. One of the coolest parts about service is the reciprocity of the benefits, as each person involved should be both a giver and a receiver. I have found this fact to be true in all of my past service experiences, but it especially resonates with me in the context of my work with Arca di Noe. I am really looking forward to going back this week!

Last weekend I went on a social justice retreat, and it was a great opportunity to slow down, reflect, journal, discuss, and listen. We took a bus to the bottom of San Luca (a beautiful church in the countryside of Bologna), and there we were met by a Jesuit priest. He gave us each a paper with four reflective questions on it, and then told us to walk alone to the top of the church while thinking about our answers (the walk to the top of San Luca is very steep and takes about 30 minutes). This was a wonderful exercise, as it allowed us to take a break from the busyness and noisiness of our lives and just be alone with our breath and thoughts. Once we reached our destination, we regrouped and began talking about various topics regarding social justice. We specifically talked about our experiences as volunteers and interns at various organizations throughout Bologna, which was interesting and valuable to speak about and listen to. We also discussed our American identity, the privilege that comes along with it, and the fact that we must be aware of this privilege when engaging in social justice activities. The second half of the retreat was mostly focused on migration, due to the fact that most of us are working with migrants at our service sites and internships. We discussed the importance of being gentle and compassionate when asking migrants about their journeys, as many migrants’ journeys to Italy were challenging, emotional, and overall terrifying experiences. The group I am studying abroad with is incredibly intelligent and insightful, so it was super interesting to hear their thoughts and perspectives throughout the retreat. The church that we had the retreat in was also absolutely beautiful, which made the whole experience even more special.

The past few weeks at my internship have been great! I am starting to understand my role there a little better, and I have had the opportunity to strengthen my relationships with many individuals at the Happy Center. Last week Chiara actually let me lead the english class, and it went really well. The activity I planned was for everyone to draw someone or something that was important to them, and then explain why. Some people drew their siblings, family heirlooms, or other knick knacks that were of personal value to them, but many others took the exercise in a unique direction. One man drew a peace flag that he had designed, one woman drew a jar that was labeled “the jar of life”, and another man drew a ghost that represented his spirituality. These three drawings provoked great conversations about peace, the meaning of life, religion, and more. The peace flag in particular led to a great conversation about how we think peace can be achieved, and hearing everyone’s insightful answers made me very happy and emotional. The man who drew the peace flag had a beautiful answer, saying, “love is the medicine that our world needs.” I am so thankful to be surrounded by such inspiring people at the Happy Center.

This weekend I went to Cologne, Germany with Kelly, Michael, and Ellie, and it was so much fun! We stayed in a very nice (but cheap) hostel in the student district, so we were near a lot of cool restaurants, bars, and parks. Upon arriving late Friday afternoon, we explored the area near our hostel and went to a really pretty park with a pond in the middle of it. We got some beers and sat by the water, just talking and taking in the scenery; it was absolutely amazing. We then decided to find somewhere to eat, so we walked around looking for a reasonably priced authentic German restaurant. It took awhile, but we ended up finding a cute restaurant with tons of plants and candles all around it. I ordered a steak with a baked potato and salad, and everyone else got schnitzel (I tried their schnitzel though!! It wasn’t too bad). We stayed there for about three hours, enjoying our meal and each other’s company. Afterwards we decided to grab some beers and french fries, and then hung out in the hostel for a while. The next day we woke up pretty early and walked to the cathedral in the city center. It was about a half hour walk, but we didn’t mind (we have to walk that far to get to class in Bologna anyways haha). The cathedral was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, and we spent a good amount of time just wandering around inside it. We then climbed the tower in the cathedral, which was really difficult but absolutely worth it. We had to climb 533 steps up a tiny spiral staircase, but the view from the top of the tower was simply breathtaking. After visiting the cathedral, we decided to grab some panino kebabs (these are slowly becoming my favorite food) and had a picnic on the rhine river. It was very lovely, and we even saw a proposal! Next we went to a cool chocolate museum, where I purchased some delicious gummy bears. After that, we went to a sports bar in order to watch the FC Cologne soccer game. It was so much fun, as all of the Germans around us were really invested in the game and kept singing and shouting whenever anything happened. We stayed there until the game was over, then made our way back to the student district for dinner. We ended up eating at a burger place near our hostel and then headed back to our room to get ready to go out that night. We hung out in the hostel for a little while, and then on our way out we met an Australian guy named Matthew. He was staying in the room next door to us, and asked if he could come out with us. We of course said yes, and he ended up staying with us for the rest of the night. First we all went to a karaoke bar, which was very fun. We sang Country Roads by John Denver, and some British guys that we met sang Sweet Caroline. We hung out there for a while and then went to a few other bars before going home. Overall it was a really fun night, and a great way to end our weekend in Cologne. Kelly, Michael, and Ellie were so much fun to travel with, and I am incredibly thankful for the beautiful moments, conversations, and experiences that we shared together.

My time here is absolutely flying by, but I am trying my best to treasure every moment. I am filled with gratitude on a daily basis, as I am constantly moved by the people and experiences that have become part of my routine here in Bologna. Thanks for reading!

Redefining 'Home'

Home. One of the most beautiful words in the english language, holding a unique meaning for each who utters it. Home. For me, I primarily think of my house in Glenview and my lovely family members that occupy it. However, I also think of my quaint little dorm room at Saint Louis University with its worn-in futon and echoes of sleepovers, movie nights, endless laughs, and dance parties from last semester’s past. I think of my Grandma’s house in Lake Geneva that I have been making memories in since I was a child. I think of my beaten up Toyota Camry and all of the people, smells, songs, and moments that have been visitors within its metal walls. I think of riding my bike down Lake Avenue and flying under the overpass, feeling like I am an unstoppable bird with a clear place in this world. I think of the Glenview Community Church basement, where I have had the opportunity to grow in my spirituality and learn to love myself and others. I think of driving around in my friends’ cars, screaming ‘Ignition’ into the abyss. I think of sitting at the Hands of Peace mural, reminiscing about the good times with people I miss. I think of deep talks with loved ones. I think of sweet texts that keep me going on the hard days. I think of handwritten letters. I think of hot mint tea. I think of comfort, familiarity, and happiness. And now, I think of Bologna, Italy.

It has been about two weeks since I’ve written a blog post, and since then I have had many  amazing experiences, built many great relationships, and travelled to many beautiful places. I am having such an incredible time here, and have truly come to call Bologna my home. I can now walk to the city center without getting lost, know which cafes have wifi and which don’t, understand the history of the buildings and places around town, feel comfortable hanging out with everyone in my program, and also feel very comfortable being alone. I am so happy here, and could not be more grateful for the wonderful times I have had and the even better times to come.

Now, for the details of my past few weeks!

Two Sundays ago I took a day trip to Verona with a bunch of my friends, and it was absolutely incredible. The city was stunning, with tons of cool architecture and buildings. It was my friend Ellie’s birthday too, so it was really fun to celebrate her along with the fact that we were in a new, exciting, magnificent city. We ate lunch at a really delicious restaurant in the main square area, and even got to sit outside since it was so warm. After lunch we walked around the city for a long time, exploring the touristy destinations (Juliet’s house, the main bridge, etc.), and taking the time to venture down some of the more quiet side streets; that is always where the most genuine and raw beauty is, in my opinion. To finish the day off, we walked to the top of a really pretty church on the mountain with a lovely panoramic view of the city. It was absolutely stunning, and could not have been a better end to a great day.

The day after I went to Verona, I left for an orientation trip to Switzerland with my whole program. It was a seven hour long bus ride to the town of Interlaken where we were staying, but the views from the windows of the bus as we were driving up the mountains made the long journey worth it. Once we got to the hostel and checked in, we had the rest of the night free to eat dinner and do whatever we wanted. A group of people and I decided it would be fun to go to the Irish pub down the street, which was delicious! I ordered a pesto grilled chicken sandwich on ciabatta bread, and I honestly think it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten. After the pub we went back to one of our hostel rooms and played a huge game of Hot Seat, which was a really fun way to get to know each other on a deeper level. The next day was arguably one of the best days of my life. While there were a bunch of people skiing and snowboarding, the less experienced people (including me of course, haha) took a train to the top of the mountain and hiked the Swiss Alps. We hiked for about three hours in total, and the views that we saw throughout those three hours were incomprehensible. The pictures I took will never do them justice, so I guess my advice for all of you is just to go and see the Alps for yourselves...you won’t regret it. After hiking, we got lunch and hung out in a cool restaurant at the top of the mountain. A few hours later, we took the train back down to our hostel, showered, and then helped one of our professors prepare the community meal for that evening. We made tortellini, some type of pasta with pesto, salad, meat & cheese platters, bread, and prepared the glasses of champagne for the toast. It was so much fun to help her make the meal, and we even got to drink wine while we were doing it! After eating dinner as a group and exchanging stories from the long day of mountain activities, a group of people and I went ice skating at an outdoor rink near the hostel. It was so much fun, and I was actually much better at ice skating than I had remembered. That night we went back and hung out in the lobby for a few hours, where we met a guy from Wisconsin named Jeff. He was super cool and had some really interesting life experiences. At the end of the night I asked him for some life advice, since he was 27 and inevitably a little wiser than us, and he said this: “don’t spend your whole life trying to find yourself...you must create yourself.” I subsequently found out that this is not an original piece of advice, but rather a quote by George Bernard Shaw. However, I am still grateful for the words of wisdom and the opportunity to have met Jeff. Overall Switzerland was an amazingly beautiful place, and although it was only a short trip, it was one of my favorite life moments thus far.

Last week I also had my first day at my internship, and it was really amazing. I am interning at the Happy Center, which is an organization that offers various activities and workshops for people experiencing homelessness to attend. It has a strong focus on social integration and community, and prioritizes long-term skill building over basic social services. When I walked in on my first day, the staff was incredibly welcoming and loving. They were excited to get to know me, showed me around, and expressed that I should feel comfortable being myself and making this internship experience what I wanted it to be. It was very different from internships I have done in America, where there is often a list of assigned tasks and office duties to attend to. Instead they wanted me to primarily serve as a companion to the people experiencing homelessness, while also helping to teach english and organize the workshops. In the Happy Center there is a fully functioning kitchen, and each day the staff assigns a different homeless individual to cook a meal for whoever is in the center at that time. That way they are able to gain nourishment as a result of their own hard work, rather than simply receiving food. The meal they cooked on my first day was spinach and rice with potatoes on the side, and it was absolutely delicious! I usually hate spinach, but decided to try it any way out of fear of being disrespectful, and ended up really really liking it. It was fun to talk with everyone during lunch, as they were all incredibly kind, outgoing, and actually very excited for me to be there. Following lunch, I just hung out with everyone in the common area for about an hour, talking with them about their life experiences, drawing pictures, and helping them with their english. The language barrier was honestly really difficult at first, as it made me feel uncomfortable, out of place, and a little bit useless.  However, I eventually became more confident speaking Italian as the day went on. Almost all of the people experiencing homelessness are actually learning english too, so my ability to help them with this skill was a valuable resource. I next helped Chiara (my supervisor) lead an English-Italian exchange workshop, which was super interesting. Instead of her and I being the teachers, we served more as facilitators. If individuals had a question, they were supposed to ask the group, and if the group didn’t know, then they could ask us as a last resort. It was very conversational, and focused on learning english while also building community. Everyone was so kind hearted and hilarious, especially in the ways that they interacted with each other. It was a very fun workshop, filled with lots of learning, but also lots of sarcasm, laughter, and joking around with one another. At the end of the class, one of the women suggested that they serenade me in Italian to initiate me into the Happy Center family. They did just that, and it was honestly one of the most beautiful and moving moments I have ever experienced. I cannot wait to go back this week.

This past weekend I went to Brussels with Ellie, Sophia, and Ally, and it was so much fun. We had to take a taxi, plane, bus, and train within the span of 5 hours, just to get from Bologna to our hostel in Brussels, but everything worked out smoothly and it was all worth it in the end. On the first day we were there, we walked around the city center, saw the Grand Place, and ate some DELICIOUS waffles and french fries. It was a very fun day, and later that night we went to the bar in our hostel to get some drinks and hang out. There we met a really cool man named Hamish, who lived in England and worked for Adidas. He was hilarious and very kind, and we talked with him for the rest of the night. The next morning we went to a flea market in the city, did some thrift shopping, went to a super cool art museum called the MIMA, walked around the Grand Place area a little more, then went back to the hostel for a short nap. That night we met up with a few of my friends from SLU who just so happened to also be in Brussels (CRAZY!!!), and it was so much fun. We went to a really cool bar called Delirium that had the largest selection of beers that I have ever seen, danced a little bit, and met some cool people (including a dad named Chris and a man from Boston named Erick who worked for the Belgian government). We finished the night off with final orders of fries and waffles, and then made the long 45 minute walk home after realizing that the metro stopped running after midnight. We left the next morning, after filling up on the minimal free breakfast that the hostel provided, and arrived back home in Bologna after another train, bus, plane, and taxi ride. Overall it was an amazing weekend filled with lots of funny memories, good talks, delicious food, and beautiful architecture.

Sorry this was such a long post! I really don’t know how much people want to know, so I figured I might as well give a good amount of details and then you all can choose to read it or not from there haha. If you’ve made it this far down the page, you’re truly a trooper! Hope you’re all doing well out there :)