Transportation’s Effect On the Missionary
Photo By: Eletrix
10000 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64155 816.734.8500
The Daily Commute
By: Janae R.
July 11, 2009
This was my first time in Europe. I had come to Italy as an intern with Avant Ministries. Not only was this an opportunity for me to fulfill the internship requirement at my school, but it was also a chance to seek God’s will for my life after graduation. Upon arrival, I found myself in a whole new world, a world different from the familiarities of home. One must understand that I am a small-town girl from southwest Kansas, a place where tiny communities dot the prairie and anything within two hours is considered close. Cows contently graze within fenced pastures, hawks soar high overhead, and wheat fields ripple in the breeze like waves rolling in from the sea. In the country, it is possible to scan the horizon in all directions and not see another human being. Where I come from, most people prefer to travel by car, and everyone waves when driving down the road. As I walked out of the airport onto European soil, it immediately became evident that I was not in Kansas anymore. Over the course of my internship, I have observed the transportation system in Genova and see it as a lens through which one can better understand Italian culture.
Personal Space
One difference I immediately noticed was the lack of personal space on the buses that are such a common sight in Genova. The concept of riding a bus for anything more than school events is completely foreign to me. When I need to go somewhere, I simply hop in the car. I have grown accustomed to traveling with plenty of extra space, so I was pushed out of my comfort zone the first time I stepped onto the bus. People crowded in like cattle. I stood in the aisle, my hand tightly gripping the pole and my feet braced against the constant sway of the bus. I desperately tried to make myself as small as possible. Italians do not mind being in close proximity to others and must have the mentality that there is always room for one more because at each stop, more people rushed in, the free space around me decreasing to almost zero. No, this was nothing like the solitary drives I enjoy back in Kansas, I thought to myself. Getting off was another story. One must start the journey to the exit doors well in advance in order to push past people and make it in time to disembark. On one occasion, I thought sure Rebecca would be left behind, but at the last moment the crowd parted, sending her off the bus in a flourish.
The lack of personal space on buses reflects a collectivistic culture. Whereas in the United States we want to do things ourselves, exercising personal freedom, in Genova, activity centers around groups. Even an everyday occurrence such as riding the bus becomes a collective activity. In general, it is not normal to be reserved in public and Tim said it is actually rude not to express oneself verbally. “The perception of being sociable is really important,” he added. This preference for sociability does not extend past the superficial level, however, because while the casual “hello” may be expected, it would be neither possible nor practical to form close relationships with everyone on the street. In order to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people encountered in a day, Italians have formed tightly-knit social groups that are largely closed to outsiders. It is within these groups that personal thoughts and feelings are shared.
Time Orientation
Another lesson I have learned during my time in Italy is the importance of being flexible when relying on public transportation. Buses do not run on set schedules. One evening, Rebecca and I were waiting for our bus. We saw very few buses at what is normally a busy stop. People began to pile up. Finally, after an hour, we saw our bus drive around the corner, but by this time, it was too late to get the groceries we needed. I realized there was nothing I could do about the situation except remain positive. While buses do not have written schedules, trains do, but this is no guarantee that they will run on time. After enjoying an afternoon at the Debelak’s, Rebecca and I planned to catch a train. Natalie pulled the schedule up on the Internet, and we ran down to the station with two minutes to spare. Upon arriving and waiting for at least 15 minutes, we finally concluded that our train had already come and gone by the time we arrived at the platform. Other times, we have ran up the stairs to the platform, only to see our train pull away from the station. I have learned that transportation in Genova is not consistent and requires flexibility and patience.
This observation about the importance of flexibility when traveling throughout the city has also helped me understand Italian culture. First, Italians do not schedule their lives around the clock. They remain flexible and take life as it comes. In a sense, they have to, since they rely on unpredictable modes of public transportation. Simply the time and effort it takes to travel from one place to another lends itself to the mentality that any activity should be well worth it. According to Tim, “When people go and do something, they do it for a long time.” This means that whether you are going to the beach, someone’s house, or out for coffee, it may last for hours. A result of this flexible relationship to time is a decreased punctuality. Tim said people may trickle in to a scheduled event as much as half an hour past the starting time. For example, Tim’s son plays baseball and his family is usually the first to show up at games. “As Americans, we’re definitely the most punctual,” he said.
The six weeks I spent in Genova were a time of discovery as I immersed myself in the culture and learned more about the people who make up this city. I came to see that cultural values are reflected in everyday life, even in something as basic as transportation. Through observation, discussion, and personal experience, I found that within Italian culture there is a greater emphasis on relationships as opposed to time. The culture is collectivistic and flexibility is valued. The existing transportation systems flow out of Italian culture and reveal much to those who care to delve beneath the surface.
Video Essay:
Transportation in Genoa
The cultural differences inherent in Genova’s transportation systems provide unique challenges for the members of Team Italy One. First, moving throughout the city is difficult when relying on public transportation. It simply takes time, time that could be spent elsewhere. According to Andrew, sometimes it may actually be quicker to walk. One night, for example, he waited 25 minutes at a bus stop before finally boarding a bus for a 12-minute ride. After that, he still had a 12-minute walk to look forward to. While traveling by bus requires waiting at any time of day, it becomes worse the later the evening progresses. Bus frequency gradually slows after nightfall and eventually trickles to a stop. This provides an interesting obstacle since many of the team’s key interactions happen late in the evening. Their participation in these events is limited when buses are not an option and taxis are out of the question due to cost.
Janae R. is a senior at Tabor College in Hillsboro, KS. Janae participated in the Avant Ministries Internship Program, spending six weeks in Genoa, Italy alongside Team Italy One.