+JMJ+
Yesterday was my last day of the language class offered at Santa Croce, and it ended with a test. Unlike other tests though, this one did not matter. There was no pressure to do well because I am able to start my classes regardless of how I did. I am sure the rest of graduate school will be just as pressure free, right?
In celebration of finishing the language school my super awesome neighbor took one of my friends and me out for lunch at Hard Rock cafe! I have not had beef since moving to Italy, and ya know what, sometimes you just want a honey BBQ bacon cheeseburger. When we walked through the doors of Hard Rock I felt as if I were stepping into America. The waiters spoke english, there were free refills, and 80's rock music videos were playing throughout the restaurant. It is funny how much more I appreciate these things now that they are few and far between.
At lunch we talked about how the first month went and what all is still to come. Part of me feels as if I have lived here for a few years already, and the other part of me can't believe the past month has flown by so quickly. I have been in the country for a month and I have been at the school for about three and a half weeks, but I have not actually started doing what I came here to do.
In the past four weeks I have learned many things, but there are a few that have taken root in my heart.
1. If you say 'Yes' to the Lord, He will take you seriously. This past week I learned my program will take three years as opposed to two. Although I was bummed by the idea of being away from my family and friends for another year I could not help but remember a little conversation I had with the Lord when praying about this whole moving to Rome thing. Basically I said I felt he was calling me to this so time was not an issue and I would just follow him, and he said 'okay'.
2. Friends are of the utmost importance. My friends from home have been so supportive and 'on call' for the past month to make sure everything is going well here, or if they need to send an emergency care package with peanut butter and other such American goods.
I have also been blessed with some wonderful friends here! My number one concern was not being able to speak the language, it was that I wouldn't have any friends. The lay student community here is a tight knit group that has been so welcoming and making friends has not been an issue from day one. I am so grateful for their support and friendship, and I cannot wait for many more wonderful memories to be made! My new roommate is also pretty darn awesome as well!
3. Always watch where you walk. But seriously...there isn't much grass and people don't pick up after their dogs, so you really do need to watch where you step. This is also not including the random lethal cobblestones that randomly jut out of the street and try to trip you!
All in all, this past month has been full of so many blessings. Sure some days were harder than others, but aside from the challenges which are inevitable, the Lord's providence has never been so evident. He has literally taken care of everything, from finding me an apartment, to helping me understand homilies in Italian when I need some spiritual nourishment for my soul. He is so good.
So, one month down....a lot more to go!
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Tomorrow is a new day
+JMJ+
Do you ever just have 'one of those days'? Those days that see to be extra difficult for no reason, or those days when you are just in a funk?
I do. And yesterday was one of them.
Yesterday was 'one of those days' that I could not understand Italian for the life of me, I was really overwhelmed by the number of classes I was signed up for, and my allergies were kicking my butt. In general it was a 'why the heck did I move to Italy' day.
When I got back from classes I decided I just needed to take a break from studying and relax. What I wanted to do most was to call up my friends from home and my Mom, but when there is a 6 hour time difference, it seems everyone is in the middle of their day when I am finally free during mine.
So, what did I do? I faced the fact that the day was a 'blah' kind of day and kept in mind that tomorrow would be a new day (I also ate ice cream and had a glass of wine!). I am all for being a strong person and keeping your head up when things get tough, but there is nothing wrong with having a bad day...even when living in Rome.
About a year ago when my grandparents passed away a dear friend told me, "Leslie let yourself feel what you are feeling, then offer it to the Lord. It doesn't matter if it has been a few months or if you think you should be okay, just face the day for what it is and what it brings and go from there."
Really, this is great advice for life in general. Yesterday was a tough day, I recognized that and asked the Lord to help me, and then went to sleep knowing that today would be a fresh start. There is nothing wrong with having 'one of those days' but always keep in mind that tomorrow is a new day and another fresh start.
Do you ever just have 'one of those days'? Those days that see to be extra difficult for no reason, or those days when you are just in a funk?
I do. And yesterday was one of them.
Yesterday was 'one of those days' that I could not understand Italian for the life of me, I was really overwhelmed by the number of classes I was signed up for, and my allergies were kicking my butt. In general it was a 'why the heck did I move to Italy' day.
When I got back from classes I decided I just needed to take a break from studying and relax. What I wanted to do most was to call up my friends from home and my Mom, but when there is a 6 hour time difference, it seems everyone is in the middle of their day when I am finally free during mine.
So, what did I do? I faced the fact that the day was a 'blah' kind of day and kept in mind that tomorrow would be a new day (I also ate ice cream and had a glass of wine!). I am all for being a strong person and keeping your head up when things get tough, but there is nothing wrong with having a bad day...even when living in Rome.
About a year ago when my grandparents passed away a dear friend told me, "Leslie let yourself feel what you are feeling, then offer it to the Lord. It doesn't matter if it has been a few months or if you think you should be okay, just face the day for what it is and what it brings and go from there."
Really, this is great advice for life in general. Yesterday was a tough day, I recognized that and asked the Lord to help me, and then went to sleep knowing that today would be a fresh start. There is nothing wrong with having 'one of those days' but always keep in mind that tomorrow is a new day and another fresh start.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Oh Italy
+JMJ+
I know I have recently been posting more reflective thoughts rather than what is going on here in Italia, so here is an update on the happenings of my life!
I have completed the first week of language school and all is going pretty well. Sometimes I have no idea what is going on, and other times I feel confident I might one day...eventually learn the language. The funny thing about language school is that in my class I am one of two women! I am in a class of about 20 priests and that becomes quite entertaining. In the whole program there are about six lay women, three religious sisters, and 60 priests...needless to say I am outnumbered, but that has helped to form a solidarity amongst the women.
Most of the people in the program live in a residency and almost everything is taken care of for them. They have a laundry service and all meals are prepared. I tend to get some sympathy for having to 'fend for myself' and juggle learning a new language at the same time, and I think my classmates find me endearing.
Not only do I stick out at school, but I am somewhat of an oddity in the city in general. Pale skin and strawberry blonde hair draw a lot of attention. I have been this way since I was, ya know...born, but apparently it isn't quite as normal to everyone else. I am stared at a lot and there are a lot of 'Ciao bella' comments as I walk through the city, and yes I have been asked out and proposed to. Although it is sometimes a confidence boost, I really dislike all of the attention. I would prefer to blend in and intentionally draw attention to myself (you know by dancing down the street like I usually do) rather than always be the subject of gawks and side comments. Little old Italian church ladies seem to like me though so that is a plus (you don't want them on your bad side)!
The coffee here is amazing and I am working on becoming a professional gelato connoisseur. Turkey sandwiches are not common here, but salami and really good ham are...so I am surviving. I have also enjoyed the fruit!
There is a lot of walking in Rome and Birkenstocks are very common here, and no I am not crazy enough to try and wear heels on the cobblestone, I would break my ankle.
The fashion confuses me, some things I can see trending in the US but the combinations of clothing that people put together are rather eccentric.
Aside from that I am just adjusting and trying to settle into my new place. I have found a roommate, who will be in my same program at school, and she moves in at the end of the month!
I have had such great support here while adjusting and I already have a great group of friends. There is a lot of solidarity amongst the English speaking people so it has been nice to step into an already formed community.
With all of that being said, and all of the beautiful adventures I have had thus far, I miss America! I miss my family and friends, being able to buy food to-go, punctuality, my car, fall, knowing where I am and not having to rely on public transportation, parks and nature, and so many other things.
All in all, the transition has been tough, but day by day it gets a little easier. I am so thankful for this opportunity and I am excited to see what all is to come!
I know I have recently been posting more reflective thoughts rather than what is going on here in Italia, so here is an update on the happenings of my life!
I have completed the first week of language school and all is going pretty well. Sometimes I have no idea what is going on, and other times I feel confident I might one day...eventually learn the language. The funny thing about language school is that in my class I am one of two women! I am in a class of about 20 priests and that becomes quite entertaining. In the whole program there are about six lay women, three religious sisters, and 60 priests...needless to say I am outnumbered, but that has helped to form a solidarity amongst the women.
Most of the people in the program live in a residency and almost everything is taken care of for them. They have a laundry service and all meals are prepared. I tend to get some sympathy for having to 'fend for myself' and juggle learning a new language at the same time, and I think my classmates find me endearing.
Not only do I stick out at school, but I am somewhat of an oddity in the city in general. Pale skin and strawberry blonde hair draw a lot of attention. I have been this way since I was, ya know...born, but apparently it isn't quite as normal to everyone else. I am stared at a lot and there are a lot of 'Ciao bella' comments as I walk through the city, and yes I have been asked out and proposed to. Although it is sometimes a confidence boost, I really dislike all of the attention. I would prefer to blend in and intentionally draw attention to myself (you know by dancing down the street like I usually do) rather than always be the subject of gawks and side comments. Little old Italian church ladies seem to like me though so that is a plus (you don't want them on your bad side)!
The coffee here is amazing and I am working on becoming a professional gelato connoisseur. Turkey sandwiches are not common here, but salami and really good ham are...so I am surviving. I have also enjoyed the fruit!
There is a lot of walking in Rome and Birkenstocks are very common here, and no I am not crazy enough to try and wear heels on the cobblestone, I would break my ankle.
The fashion confuses me, some things I can see trending in the US but the combinations of clothing that people put together are rather eccentric.
Aside from that I am just adjusting and trying to settle into my new place. I have found a roommate, who will be in my same program at school, and she moves in at the end of the month!
I have had such great support here while adjusting and I already have a great group of friends. There is a lot of solidarity amongst the English speaking people so it has been nice to step into an already formed community.
With all of that being said, and all of the beautiful adventures I have had thus far, I miss America! I miss my family and friends, being able to buy food to-go, punctuality, my car, fall, knowing where I am and not having to rely on public transportation, parks and nature, and so many other things.
All in all, the transition has been tough, but day by day it gets a little easier. I am so thankful for this opportunity and I am excited to see what all is to come!
The beauty of normalcy
+JMJ+
If you were to get on Facebook right now you would notice a common trend. People have uploaded pictures, statuses, and other posts that make their lives seem almost unbelievably perfect and put together. They have tons of friends, go on awesome trips, eat delicious looking food, and this small snapshot of their lives gives the impression their life is something to be striven for.
I am also guilty of this. Who wants to feel like their life is actually just average? What is an average life? Is having an average life so bad?
In my opinion, this 'perfect life' facebook trend is rooted in something deeper. It is rooted in the pressure of trying to prove oneself.
Throughout my school years and into post-grad life I have noticed this constant pressure to 'do something' with my life. Not just to get an education and find a career, but to do something different and to be the best. This expectation to be more than an average person with an average life started in high school. It was never really said, but there was a very tangible sense of competition to be the best in the class and to earn the highest scholarships and to work towards a prestigious career. Normalcy was somewhat looked down upon.
Fast forwarding to college and nearing graduation, this pressure to do something different and significant with my life was present once again, but unlike my high school self, I didn't care as much about what others expected of me. My worldview had changed from caring about what others thought to caring about what I felt called to do. I even found telling people that I was moving to Rome hard because my goal was not to be 'impressive'.
Now, back to Facebook. I do not think Facebook created this pressure to prove ourselves, but rather it illustrates a common mindset in our society, a mindset that says we must be better than the norm. But normalcy is quite beautiful. Living a life that we feel called to allows us to enjoy our lives and not despair when we see the 'epicness' of others.
My life in Rome is pretty darn normal and I appreciate that. I wake up, go to class, run errands, cook dinner and pray. It just happens that I am in a historic city that people are familiar with versus my old Kentucky home. So embrace normalcy because in reality the day to day activities of life, no matter where you are, are quite normal.
If you were to get on Facebook right now you would notice a common trend. People have uploaded pictures, statuses, and other posts that make their lives seem almost unbelievably perfect and put together. They have tons of friends, go on awesome trips, eat delicious looking food, and this small snapshot of their lives gives the impression their life is something to be striven for.
I am also guilty of this. Who wants to feel like their life is actually just average? What is an average life? Is having an average life so bad?
In my opinion, this 'perfect life' facebook trend is rooted in something deeper. It is rooted in the pressure of trying to prove oneself.
Throughout my school years and into post-grad life I have noticed this constant pressure to 'do something' with my life. Not just to get an education and find a career, but to do something different and to be the best. This expectation to be more than an average person with an average life started in high school. It was never really said, but there was a very tangible sense of competition to be the best in the class and to earn the highest scholarships and to work towards a prestigious career. Normalcy was somewhat looked down upon.
Fast forwarding to college and nearing graduation, this pressure to do something different and significant with my life was present once again, but unlike my high school self, I didn't care as much about what others expected of me. My worldview had changed from caring about what others thought to caring about what I felt called to do. I even found telling people that I was moving to Rome hard because my goal was not to be 'impressive'.
Now, back to Facebook. I do not think Facebook created this pressure to prove ourselves, but rather it illustrates a common mindset in our society, a mindset that says we must be better than the norm. But normalcy is quite beautiful. Living a life that we feel called to allows us to enjoy our lives and not despair when we see the 'epicness' of others.
My life in Rome is pretty darn normal and I appreciate that. I wake up, go to class, run errands, cook dinner and pray. It just happens that I am in a historic city that people are familiar with versus my old Kentucky home. So embrace normalcy because in reality the day to day activities of life, no matter where you are, are quite normal.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
And Jesus still comes
+JMJ+
Everything has changed. The country, the language, the food, the traffic and transportation, the school, the time, everything has changed.
Correction, almost everything has changed, because one thing has stayed the same. Jesus still comes.
I was in Mass the other day, doing my best to remain prayerful while trying to follow the Italian, and during the consecration I realized this miracle is universal. Jesus being present never changes. The Lord is and always will be.
I had always known this but to experience the reality and beauty of this truth at such a needed time left a sweet impression on my heart.
I will always have what I need and I will always be okay here in Italy or anywhere in the world for that matter because Jesus still comes.
Just a small 'adjusting to Italy' thought of the day.
Everything has changed. The country, the language, the food, the traffic and transportation, the school, the time, everything has changed.
Correction, almost everything has changed, because one thing has stayed the same. Jesus still comes.
I was in Mass the other day, doing my best to remain prayerful while trying to follow the Italian, and during the consecration I realized this miracle is universal. Jesus being present never changes. The Lord is and always will be.
I had always known this but to experience the reality and beauty of this truth at such a needed time left a sweet impression on my heart.
I will always have what I need and I will always be okay here in Italy or anywhere in the world for that matter because Jesus still comes.
Just a small 'adjusting to Italy' thought of the day.
Monday, September 2, 2013
The joys and trials of week one
+JMJ+
I have made it to Roma! Although I have been here a few days, this is the first time I am able to sit down and process everything that has taken place over the past week.
If I am being honest, I had several moments/days where I was completely overwhelmed with the move I had just made. The first morning I woke my, my first thought was, "what in the world did I just do!?"
I felt completely out of my comfort zone, I had no idea where anything was, and oh yea...I don't speak italian. The reality of the situation became very daunting and if it were not for some very awesome and wonderful people, I would probably still be stuck at the airport.
Moving to Rome on my own has been a challenge, but it has also made so beautifully clear how much the Lord is taking care of everything. When I need help with something, there always seems to be another 'friend of a friend' that is willing to help out or a native english or spanish speaker near by that can tell me how to activate my phone, find the grocery, give me directions, etc. I have started to actually understand what abandonment to the Lord's will and providence actually is. There have been several times I have realized I am totally dependent on Him for very practical things, and that I am not capable of much when left to my own devices.
There is a great community of American students here who I had dinner with the other night, and it was great to get the inside scoop on what going to a pontifical university as a lay student really is. There are favorite seminaries among the lay students, important things to avoid, and an endless supply of embarrassing mis-translated italian experiences. The number one piece of advice I have taken from them is to not freak out when everything is hard, because it will be tough for awhile.
I have also been blessed to see so many things in such a short amount of time! I am slowly figuring out the public transportation, how to skillfully cross the street, and my favorite gelato flavor.
All in all, the transition has been smooth, but not lacking its challenges. I have enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends at home, and hopefully that will only become more frequent as I find better internet connection.
I will eventually upload pictures and have more stories/posts, but this whole moving to a new country thing is a tad time consuming.
Know of my prayers for you, and please keep praying for me...I must lug about 100 lbs of luggage around tomorrow to my new place...thankfully yet again, the Lord has provided some friends to help me!
I have made it to Roma! Although I have been here a few days, this is the first time I am able to sit down and process everything that has taken place over the past week.
If I am being honest, I had several moments/days where I was completely overwhelmed with the move I had just made. The first morning I woke my, my first thought was, "what in the world did I just do!?"
I felt completely out of my comfort zone, I had no idea where anything was, and oh yea...I don't speak italian. The reality of the situation became very daunting and if it were not for some very awesome and wonderful people, I would probably still be stuck at the airport.
Moving to Rome on my own has been a challenge, but it has also made so beautifully clear how much the Lord is taking care of everything. When I need help with something, there always seems to be another 'friend of a friend' that is willing to help out or a native english or spanish speaker near by that can tell me how to activate my phone, find the grocery, give me directions, etc. I have started to actually understand what abandonment to the Lord's will and providence actually is. There have been several times I have realized I am totally dependent on Him for very practical things, and that I am not capable of much when left to my own devices.
There is a great community of American students here who I had dinner with the other night, and it was great to get the inside scoop on what going to a pontifical university as a lay student really is. There are favorite seminaries among the lay students, important things to avoid, and an endless supply of embarrassing mis-translated italian experiences. The number one piece of advice I have taken from them is to not freak out when everything is hard, because it will be tough for awhile.
I have also been blessed to see so many things in such a short amount of time! I am slowly figuring out the public transportation, how to skillfully cross the street, and my favorite gelato flavor.
All in all, the transition has been smooth, but not lacking its challenges. I have enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends at home, and hopefully that will only become more frequent as I find better internet connection.
I will eventually upload pictures and have more stories/posts, but this whole moving to a new country thing is a tad time consuming.
Know of my prayers for you, and please keep praying for me...I must lug about 100 lbs of luggage around tomorrow to my new place...thankfully yet again, the Lord has provided some friends to help me!
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