the US economy is bursting my bubble

Sara and I often talk about how we live in "bubble" here. We really have no idea what is going on in the United States or that the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in 40 years.

At the beginning of this trip, I vowed to check the New York Times Web site at least once a day. After all, I am a journalism major, and not a day went by last semester without checking it.

However, when I do go on the Internet, I rarely frequent nytimes.com. I spend the majority of my Internet time planning weekend trips to various European cities, not reading about my native country. Woops.

I spoke with my mother yesterday, and she asked me if the Italians often discussed the current state of the US economy. My answer? Not at all. The only conversations I've had about US politics usually sound like this: "You're from America?!" "Yes." "Who did you vote for?" "Obama." "YES! OBAMA! YES WE CAN!"

Before I left for Florence, I applied for the Liz Claiborne Inc. summer internship program. It is one of the only paid, 40 hr/wk summer internships in New York City that I know of, and after spending the semester abroad, an unpaid internship in the city isn't really an option.

Earlier this week, I received an email with "Liz Claiborne Inc. Internship Update" in the subject line, and my hopes immediately soared. Unfortunately, it was not an acceptance letter. But it wasn't a rejection letter either. Instead, it informed all of the applicants that the company decided to "suspend" its summer internship program because of the economy and overall state of the retail industry.

I was shocked. Shocked that a company of that magnitude (Liz Claiborne Inc. includes Juicy Couture, kate spade, Lucky, etc.) could no longer afford to pay its interns. There goes my dream of frolicking around New York City this summer.

So today I decided to venture onto the NYT Web site for a yet another dose of reality. I began to see headlines of how the recession has led to rushed surgeries and a tiny problem referred to as Foreclosureville.

Rushed surgeries and a pet name for the housing crisis?! Needless to say it wasn't long before I closed the browser and decided to move onto other things... like planning my next meal.

Please don't think that I'm dismissing this recession as anything less than horrible. But for now, let's just say I am very grateful to be living inside my Italian bubble. The bubble where I wave to Alessandro on my way to school each morning and where the kind man at my favorite sandwich shoppe remembers my order. I am so happy here.

Until next time,

Jen