https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsNLxFPUFEA
Song of the day: Send the Rain by Noah Gundersen It poured the rain today and I miss my mom. The end.
We spent time today at two prevalent media outlets here within Roma – one was an advertising firm and the other was La Republicca, the most sizable news outlet here in the city. Before launching into any kind of rundown on the individual visits, I need to say something about the European work ethic.
I have traveled through a few European countries (and have worked in one myself) and I’ve got to say that I have long been very put off by the Euro work ethic, and have often found it to be way too pleasure- and leisure-driven. The lifestyle is very sport- and excess-oriented, and a lot of the time that I have traveled, I have realized how much I really do admire the austere, determined mindset of a blue collar American worker. There are about three million things that I long for in the US that can be easily identified in Europe, but I must have decided along the way to look down on the mindset that gets Europeans to work every day. (Remember that whole bit I was saying about having my mind changed and shared by experiences? Well that certainly was a real life example for you.)
After having sat through these two presentations and having spoken extensively with those presenters, I have reached an entirely new conclusion about the European work ethic.
I think they may have some of it right after all.
Slightly related observations: very little people are on their phones on public transportation or at restaurants. Instead, they’re reading. Desks in offices are pushed up next to each other and don’t have cubicle walls separating them from their colleagues. There are pastries strewn about. They walk to the lunch room together and sit in large groups to continue conversation while eating their meals on their breaks. Lastly, they are passionate about their work.
Every employee I spoke to or heard from today in completely and madly in love with their job within the field of advertising or journalism.
At Art Attack, we heard from three lovely individuals who made a two hour long presentation feel like ten minutes – three individuals who didn’t want the meeting to end because they had ideas and projects they wanted to show us. At Art Attack, I was so wildly impressed with the cinematography present in their campaigns that I asked them afterward about how they go about finding people to produce that kind of content (no surprise, through friends of friends or just talented colleagues and staff members).
From the very first second stepping onto La Repubblica’s property, I knew I was in a very different place than Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Entry was ID card-only, and everything was gated and barred. There were three unmarked police cars waiting right outside the exit door, which peaked my interest. After inquiring, I found out that those were the designated police escorts for the three journalists of theirs that were under threat from the maffia because of their coverage.
Inside these walls, I heard from half a dozen individuals who were also madly in love with theie work. And talk about an unconventional work space (photo courtesy of Carrie; I didn’t bring my phone). It’s a goal of mine to at least be employed once in my life by a non-gyro selling establishment that has a vintage flashing “gyros” sign. They do absolutely incredible things at Republicca, and I truly mean it when I say I could have listened to them talk about data journalism for a week.
Following, we went back to the Trevi Fountain to properly throw our old coins in. Beth and I had subpar pasta but I had an incredible Americano, so I have zero regrets. I also had a crepe from a place that had a wall of flowing, melted chocolate. Sweet, sweet chocolate river.
Other than being soaked to the bone, today turned out to be a satisfying and packed day. Plus I got instructions via map from a non-English speaker and was actually able to GET THERE. Someone congratulate me please. I’m desperate.
