Rome Week 9

Melissa Tait checks in weekly from her study abroad semester in Rome; catch up with her every Wednesday on Trazee Travel.

After traveling around Spain and Portugal for 10 days, it was refreshing to be back in Rome, immersed in the Italian culture. This week, I experienced a couple of events that shined light on the importance of art.

© Melissa Tait

For my photography course, which consists of on-site classes, we attended and documented an event. We had the pleasure of experiencing a participative art show to raise awareness on sex trafficking. The show involved wired mannequins stuffed with hair (yes, real hair!), symbolizing that hair follows people throughout their lives. The participant was then asked to take a strand of hair from the mannequin to keep with them and then donate a strand of their own hair. With a different approach to bring awareness to issues such as sex trafficking, it makes people think about the issue and truly be involved to make a difference.

Roma © Melissa Tait

I also experienced a Roma football game. The game itself was not as interesting due to my lack of football knowledge, but being at the Olympic Stadium and cheering for the city that has become my home was an experience I cannot forget. Even the vendors selling beer and hot dogs gave a little piece of home to the game. When Roma defeated Udinese 3-1, the crowd cheered, waving Roma flags in celebration. Football culture is evident all around Europe and truly brings cultures together.

Art comes in all forms, from sports to sculptures and I believe it brings people together in a common purpose.