The European Union is a controversial and confusing entity. During the past decade, it has increased its influence across its domain despite losing one of its largest member states, the United Kingdom. I am no seer, but I expect the European Union to further integrate its members more closely together, and to expand further into Eastern Europe and even to parts of the former Soviet Union in the next few decades. Regardless of your opinions on the European Union – whether you believe it has improved the lives of hundreds of millions of Europeans and made Europe a more progressive or welcoming place, or that it is a technocratic socialist forerunner of a dangerous New World Order – it has increased peace and stability on a continent known for nearly perpetual warfare since the Roman Empire. In a way, it is a more concrete 21st-century version of the “Concert of Europe,” the international diplomatic system that maintained a general peace for a hundred years up to the First World War. I decided some time ago to interview two residents of the European Union, Chiara Bondi and Gabriele Fett, to get their honest opinions of it.

To begin with, please tell us where you’re from and how you found Hamilton.

Chiara Bondi: I am a senior here at Hamilton and a math major. I am an Italian citizen, a resident of Spain, born in France. Quite a variety. I grew up in an Italian academic system. Part of my family is American, from New York, and I always admired how their educational system worked. I’ve always wanted to go and try it, trying the same experiences in the same environment, both academically and socially. I never had the chance in high school, but realized I might as well do it through college. I knew I wanted to go to the East Coast and a small college. Out of all the possible colleges in the Northeast, that were small and liberal-arts, where I could play golf, I knew Hamilton was where I wanted to be when I toured the school, had info sessions here, and talked to students and faculty. I loved it. Now I’m here and I’m very happy.

Gabriele Fett: I’m a junior at Hamilton, from Rome, Italy. I wanted to go to a liberal arts school. I toured all of them and this was the nicest one, in my opinion.

What are the benefits of living in the European Union?

Chiara: One of the benefits, especially as a young person, is culture. Because of all these international agreements, you only need one form of ID. Typically you just need either your personal ID or your passport. With no restrictions, it is really easy to travel within countries, making it really easy to learn. It is really enjoyable to just travel around and visit a city you never thought about visiting, visiting its museums and learning about its history and culture. A lot of people see the EU and Europe as just one entity, and to some extent you can see it as just one country politically, but demographically and culturally every country is different. You are able to easily learn and educate yourself about it. From a political standpoint, it was very important to rebuild Europe after World War II and then develop a system for trade and dialogue between countries that would work, for countries to avoid war and defend each other. But now, there doesn’t seem to be much political benefit.

Gabriele: I’m not a business owner, but if I were, it would be free trade and no tariffs. And personally, as an individual, it’s being able to go to other countries without much document checking. I have been able to go to other countries such as Holland and Sweden. You show them your EU passport and they just let you go by. There are no other steps you need to take.

What is your opinion on the Schengen Area, the region in Europe with very easy border crossings thanks to the EU?

Chiara: The Schengen Area really promotes culture. I know a lot of people don’t value culture as they should, but it is very valuable. Learning how to adapt to different cultures, since you can’t just go into a different country and expect to interact with locals in the same way you interact with people from your own country. For example, in Italy when you meet people you give them a handshake; in Spain, it is two kisses on the cheek; in France, it can be as much as five kisses on the cheek. If you are an Italian and you go to France and don’t know this, and just shake their hand, they are going to see this as extremely rude. Traveling through Europe taught me how to quickly read the environment around me and adapt. I think the Schengen Area is good for this reason, especially for young people, making it easier to learn and explore. You are not just visiting old places, but learning about a place’s history, heritage, and culture, becoming a more worldly person.

Gabriele: It seems fine. Open borders are a weird thing. When people think of them, they are imagining you can just walk across them without any checks. That’s not what it is. You have to go through checkpoints, you have to show them your ID, it has to match you. It’s more that you don’t have to get a visa or any other documentation. It’s more like going from California to Texas.