Towards the end of the school year, before the insanity of finals ensued, I was faced with a dilemma.
Free time.
That's right, looking ahead to the summer I realized that my job would only be about 10 hours a week and I would have about a month to fill before returning to my beloved home sweet Kentucky home.
For my family and friends, this is probably no surprise. I am always occupying my time with something, and I oftentimes anxious when I find too much time on my hands.
I was talking to my spiritual director about this large amount of free minutes looming ahead, and what was his response?
"Good."
I was somewhat confused, what did he mean by good?!
"You need to learn to relax and just be, to live and enjoy free time."
Hmpf. A very wise priest, who seems to know me well...go figure. Learning how to relax is not a strength of mine, and it can quickly lead to my demise.
I have noticed this tendency in many other people my age. We are 'go-getters' wanting to find out a way to fill every second to achieve a particular goal. We have no problem with taking time off, as long as that time is confined to a day...or maybe two.
I will only speak for myself, but in this hustle and bustle to become accomplished or to achieve, I miss a million opportunities everyday to grow as a person in experiencing beauty and culture and life!
Using free time well is an art. A balance of rest and exciting adventure. Learning and growing without frantically studying.
Relaxing doesn't mean you must sit and twiddle your thumbs all day (although snuggling up in your bed for a movie marathon is occasionally just the ticket to kick start the process), but it is more importantly about nourishing your soul and experiencing what the world has to offer. Taking advantage of this freedom actually allows me to work better once the time has come again to hit the pavement running because that time will inevitably come.
So, go relax, but relax well. The opportunities are few and far between so take advantage of the opportunity to experience the depth and beauty of life.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014
The thrill of trust
+JMJ+
Endings lend themselves to reflection. You are able to look at an experience as a whole, retrospectively, and the bits and pieces that were once unclear or downright confusing along the way tend to make more sense.
In the past few weeks, my first year in Rome has been winding down and coming to an end.
More than reflecting on all that has happened this year, which could fill volumes, I keep returning to the moments before I embarked on this adventure.
Before I left the States I was filled with uncertainty. There was no guarantee that I would like Rome, that I would make any friends, that I would pass the first semester of classes, or that I would even find my way to my hotel from the airport.
More prominent than this feeling of uncertainty though, was the feeling of trust.
Not just trust, but radical trust.
This trust was rooted in the Lord because I had discerned that moving to Rome was his will for me and being assured of his will, I was sure that everything would pan out.
This trust did not guarantee the success in my endeavors, but it did guarantee that the Lord had a purpose for these adventures in my life.
This trust is thrilling and freeing because it confidently throws all uncertainty to the wind and leaps forth into the endless sea of possibilities ahead. When took this leap there was a rush of adrenaline and excitement because for the first time in my life I felt that I was truly going to be challenged.
I have faced challenges before, in grueling sports practices or while studying for a particularly difficult exam, but in these challenges I was always fairly confident I would succeed because I had been continuously training or studying for such occasions. In moving to Rome I had no reason to believe that I was prepared to handle what was ahead because I had no idea what was actually ahead!
This first year was hard, probably one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was absolutely beautiful.
I have attached a link to my 'YEAR IN REVIEW!' video. I put this video together for my class as a surprise and I think I enjoyed their reactions to the video more than the video itself. Most of them had no idea I had secretly gotten these pictures and I also worked in several inside jokes. It is an inside look at the life and love found in the Church.
Disclaimer, it's in Italian, and some dork does an opening comment, but past that, it's a quick sneak peak into my life this past year.
Know of my prayers and I look forward to seeing everyone when I am home in August! Oh how time flies!
Endings lend themselves to reflection. You are able to look at an experience as a whole, retrospectively, and the bits and pieces that were once unclear or downright confusing along the way tend to make more sense.
In the past few weeks, my first year in Rome has been winding down and coming to an end.
More than reflecting on all that has happened this year, which could fill volumes, I keep returning to the moments before I embarked on this adventure.
Before I left the States I was filled with uncertainty. There was no guarantee that I would like Rome, that I would make any friends, that I would pass the first semester of classes, or that I would even find my way to my hotel from the airport.
More prominent than this feeling of uncertainty though, was the feeling of trust.
Not just trust, but radical trust.
This trust was rooted in the Lord because I had discerned that moving to Rome was his will for me and being assured of his will, I was sure that everything would pan out.
This trust did not guarantee the success in my endeavors, but it did guarantee that the Lord had a purpose for these adventures in my life.
This trust is thrilling and freeing because it confidently throws all uncertainty to the wind and leaps forth into the endless sea of possibilities ahead. When took this leap there was a rush of adrenaline and excitement because for the first time in my life I felt that I was truly going to be challenged.
I have faced challenges before, in grueling sports practices or while studying for a particularly difficult exam, but in these challenges I was always fairly confident I would succeed because I had been continuously training or studying for such occasions. In moving to Rome I had no reason to believe that I was prepared to handle what was ahead because I had no idea what was actually ahead!
This first year was hard, probably one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was absolutely beautiful.
I have attached a link to my 'YEAR IN REVIEW!' video. I put this video together for my class as a surprise and I think I enjoyed their reactions to the video more than the video itself. Most of them had no idea I had secretly gotten these pictures and I also worked in several inside jokes. It is an inside look at the life and love found in the Church.
Disclaimer, it's in Italian, and some dork does an opening comment, but past that, it's a quick sneak peak into my life this past year.
Know of my prayers and I look forward to seeing everyone when I am home in August! Oh how time flies!
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Plesantly Surprised
+JMJ+
When one is about to move to another country or make a huge life change, there are two main things that happen; you receive more advice than you could ever know what to do with, and you are warned of all of the possible things that could go wrong.
Before moving to Rome, I actively sought advice, but all of the warnings made me a tad nervous.
The typical, "Watch out for your purse, pickpocketers are sneaky there!" or "Be careful of the cabs you choose, not all of them are official and they will try to rip you off," were frequent warnings and very good to be aware of, but there was one warning that actually made me nervous.
"You are going to the heart of the Church, which is beautiful, but you are also going to the heart of the politics of the Church...don't be surprised if you become disenchanted with the faith."
That is a strong warning...and several people shared this sentiment.
I am no stranger to Church politics. My college experience taught me very well that those who work for the Church are human just like the rest of us, and this leads to frustration and politics regardless of the supernatural mission of the Church.
Given this warning, I came to Rome expecting to experience the politics everyone was referring to; to become frustrated with being one of only a handful of lay people in a school full of seminarians and priests, to be less respected because I am one of the youngest students in my program, and to be misunderstood in my intentions in studying at the school because I am a woman (Occasionally people think women studying at pontifical universities/for the Church in general are in favor of women's ordination to the priesthood so this can cause apprehension. People have no problem inquiring about my intentions to study here, and I have no problem being blunt in saying I came to the school because I love and support the teachings of the Church and want to communicate that to everyone, not change them.).
These are just some of the uncertainties I held as a result of more general and specific warnings before embarking on my adventure here. To be quite honest though, I have encountered very few of these issues in my first year here.
Yes, politics are a reality of the human institution of the Church, but more than anything, the supernatural beauty and power of the Lord's action in his Church has struck me.
Every time I am blessed to go to a papal event, or an ordination, or a trip to a holy pilgrimage site, I think "Now this is the coolest thing I have experienced so far. The Lord's love has never felt so tangible and the true awesomeness of the faith has never been so clear." What this has taught me is that the Lord's goodness can not be limited by our poor expectations of Him. I am constantly reminded that He desires our greatest happiness, and once that we think that has been realized, He takes it a step farther.
Being a lay person, especially a lay woman, in the land of seminarians and priests has actually taught me the true appreciation the Church has for the laity and women. I realize a novel could be written on this topic and maybe I will elaborate more later on, but I have never felt so valued as a person and as a woman as I have at my university. Chivalry and respect are the norm, but my independence and competence is also fully respected; these two concepts are complementary. The Church has always recognized the unique dignity of women and I have been able to experience that in a concrete way this year.
My age has also never been an issue. I think more often than not I am selling myself short. My input has always been respected, and although I feel like the young kid of the group faking it until I make it, I am actually viewed as a young professional with something to offer.
There are only a million other blessings I received this year, and I hope to elaborate on them more in depth in future posts (now that I am almost done with classes I will have more time!), but all in all the running theme is the same; I love the Lord and all of the blessings he has showered upon me this year. I have been pleasantly surprised by the beauty of this experience and I look forward to the graces that will come in the upcoming years.
I ask for your prayers as I go through my last few weeks of finals, and be assured of my prayers for you.
Totus Tuus Maria!
Leslie
PS- Check out the video I made for my class for the end of the year...it's a little glimpse into my life inside and outside of school (warning..it's in Italian).
When one is about to move to another country or make a huge life change, there are two main things that happen; you receive more advice than you could ever know what to do with, and you are warned of all of the possible things that could go wrong.
Before moving to Rome, I actively sought advice, but all of the warnings made me a tad nervous.
The typical, "Watch out for your purse, pickpocketers are sneaky there!" or "Be careful of the cabs you choose, not all of them are official and they will try to rip you off," were frequent warnings and very good to be aware of, but there was one warning that actually made me nervous.
"You are going to the heart of the Church, which is beautiful, but you are also going to the heart of the politics of the Church...don't be surprised if you become disenchanted with the faith."
That is a strong warning...and several people shared this sentiment.
I am no stranger to Church politics. My college experience taught me very well that those who work for the Church are human just like the rest of us, and this leads to frustration and politics regardless of the supernatural mission of the Church.
Given this warning, I came to Rome expecting to experience the politics everyone was referring to; to become frustrated with being one of only a handful of lay people in a school full of seminarians and priests, to be less respected because I am one of the youngest students in my program, and to be misunderstood in my intentions in studying at the school because I am a woman (Occasionally people think women studying at pontifical universities/for the Church in general are in favor of women's ordination to the priesthood so this can cause apprehension. People have no problem inquiring about my intentions to study here, and I have no problem being blunt in saying I came to the school because I love and support the teachings of the Church and want to communicate that to everyone, not change them.).
These are just some of the uncertainties I held as a result of more general and specific warnings before embarking on my adventure here. To be quite honest though, I have encountered very few of these issues in my first year here.
Yes, politics are a reality of the human institution of the Church, but more than anything, the supernatural beauty and power of the Lord's action in his Church has struck me.
Every time I am blessed to go to a papal event, or an ordination, or a trip to a holy pilgrimage site, I think "Now this is the coolest thing I have experienced so far. The Lord's love has never felt so tangible and the true awesomeness of the faith has never been so clear." What this has taught me is that the Lord's goodness can not be limited by our poor expectations of Him. I am constantly reminded that He desires our greatest happiness, and once that we think that has been realized, He takes it a step farther.
Being a lay person, especially a lay woman, in the land of seminarians and priests has actually taught me the true appreciation the Church has for the laity and women. I realize a novel could be written on this topic and maybe I will elaborate more later on, but I have never felt so valued as a person and as a woman as I have at my university. Chivalry and respect are the norm, but my independence and competence is also fully respected; these two concepts are complementary. The Church has always recognized the unique dignity of women and I have been able to experience that in a concrete way this year.
My age has also never been an issue. I think more often than not I am selling myself short. My input has always been respected, and although I feel like the young kid of the group faking it until I make it, I am actually viewed as a young professional with something to offer.
There are only a million other blessings I received this year, and I hope to elaborate on them more in depth in future posts (now that I am almost done with classes I will have more time!), but all in all the running theme is the same; I love the Lord and all of the blessings he has showered upon me this year. I have been pleasantly surprised by the beauty of this experience and I look forward to the graces that will come in the upcoming years.
I ask for your prayers as I go through my last few weeks of finals, and be assured of my prayers for you.
Totus Tuus Maria!
Leslie
PS- Check out the video I made for my class for the end of the year...it's a little glimpse into my life inside and outside of school (warning..it's in Italian).
Saturday, February 22, 2014
The blood of the martyrs
+JMJ+
Today I went to Circus Maximus, what is now an open field used for jogging and picnics was once one of the main places that Christians were martyred in the early Church, even more so than at the Colosseum.
Circus Maximus is not to far away from me, and to be quite honest it is rather un spectacular at first glance because the field is only halfway covered in grass, the other half being covered in gravel, and it is surrounded by noisy streets. I was nearby when I decided to pray the rosary so I began walking around the path.
As I was praying I couldn't help but be struck by the contrast between what the field is used for today and what it was used for so many years ago.
Christians hundreds of years ago died for the faith on that field and even though much time has passed I still felt united to them. How? Through prayer. As I looked up to the sky I thought 'This is the same sky the martyrs saw as they cried out to the Lord in their last moments on earth; crying out for his will to be done and for the strength to accomplish it.' In this very place we were both having conversations with the Lord, and we were both there for the same reason, to give our lives to him.
Granted I am not dying for the faith here, I am studying for the Church that they died and loving every second of it. We both were/are following the Lord in the context of which he has called us. This experience of the grandness and universality of the faith, spanning beyond the confines of time, resonated deeply in my heart. God is so good.
Today I went to Circus Maximus, what is now an open field used for jogging and picnics was once one of the main places that Christians were martyred in the early Church, even more so than at the Colosseum.
Circus Maximus is not to far away from me, and to be quite honest it is rather un spectacular at first glance because the field is only halfway covered in grass, the other half being covered in gravel, and it is surrounded by noisy streets. I was nearby when I decided to pray the rosary so I began walking around the path.
As I was praying I couldn't help but be struck by the contrast between what the field is used for today and what it was used for so many years ago.
Christians hundreds of years ago died for the faith on that field and even though much time has passed I still felt united to them. How? Through prayer. As I looked up to the sky I thought 'This is the same sky the martyrs saw as they cried out to the Lord in their last moments on earth; crying out for his will to be done and for the strength to accomplish it.' In this very place we were both having conversations with the Lord, and we were both there for the same reason, to give our lives to him.
Granted I am not dying for the faith here, I am studying for the Church that they died and loving every second of it. We both were/are following the Lord in the context of which he has called us. This experience of the grandness and universality of the faith, spanning beyond the confines of time, resonated deeply in my heart. God is so good.
Monday, February 17, 2014
When the White Flag Flies
+JMJ+
I am currently sitting in my room with my oversized hoodie and a glass of wine. This expert display of comfort is my way of unwinding from my second week of finals, which have proven to be rather difficult.
No one likes finals. They are always stressful, and even if you are prepared there always seems to be the very good chance the professor will ask you the ONE question you were unsure about. I have the tendency of being overwhelmed over finals because the amount of information to be learned is never ending, and due to the number of classes I am taking and all of the material being in Italian, studying is a slow and often disheartening process.
What I have learned from this finals experience, aside from the academic material I have taken to heart, is that I have limits.
Yes that's right, I am not unstoppable and have often found myself in way over my head realizing I have reached the ends of my limits. What do I do in these times?
Accept defeat.
Yep, right again, I give up. I accept that my limit has been reached and just stop. I lay down on my futon and listen to a song called White Flag Flies by Army of Me (like a dramatic teenager) and accept that I have been defeated and I can no longer go on.
Before I give the impression that I am actually packing up my bags and heading back to the States or appear to be seeking a pity party let me explain the beauty of accepting defeat.
Accepting defeat is a beautiful and necessary experience of humility. When I realize that my capabilities are finite, no matter how much I will my brain to be hold more information or my energy to be in larger supply, I am reminded that my efforts alone are never enough. I, by my own strength cannot accomplish what I am called to do without the one who has called me to do it.
I have known that my strength comes from the Lord for a long time and that realization has more so come in specific instances or periods in life where something unexpected has come up. To be quite honest though, in terms of everyday life, I have known my accomplishments are a result of Gods grace but I have never truly felt that. I have always felt capable and at times unstoppable, but this ongoing finals experience challenges that notion everyday.
Over the past two weeks I have taken a few exams, some being unexpectedly in Italian other being oral finals which is completely foreign to me, my apartment has flooded, electricity shut off, loss of internet, mixed up test dates, little sleep, and one of my best friends lost a dear family member who I have also been blessed to know, spend time with, and love.
All of these factors have helped me realize that I, on my own, am very limited. And again, this is not to been seen as a bad thing, it is a tough but beautiful blessing.
When I give up, I feel liberated in my weakness, I am reminded that the Lord is the one accomplishing everything for me and if I need to stop and take a break it is okay because he will continue to love me despite my weakness.
So maybe 'giving up' isn't the right phrase, but more so letting go. I have learned to let go of control in a very concrete way because on my own I would no be able to accomplish what the Lord has set out for me.
His lessons are not always easy, but they are always good. I am thankful that finals were more than just an academic experience, but rather an opportunity to grow in my relationship with the Lord.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
This is Christian Joy
+JMJ+
Happy Advent everyone!
Recently my life here in Rome has been filled with Christmas celebrations as the first half of the school year is winding down. This past Wednesday we had a Communications faculty Christmas party (an hour longer than the rest of the school) and this evening I was blessed to have a Christmas dinner with my class after the 15 priests celebrate Mass for us six lay students. These past few days have caused me to reflect on my short time here as I prepare to take a break and gear up for Christmas and the new year!
During the break in my moral theology class today one of the Italian girls in my program, Giovanna, came up to me and said that she loved the picture I had posted from the Christmas party the day before. It was a simple group picture of my class all wearing Santa hats (this can be seen on facebook!), but despite being a normal group picture I realized it is more than a simple picture, there was something special about it.
Joy.
The picture is just of 15ish people standing in the hallway of a school posing for a picture, but there was one thing that you could not have 'posed' in that picture.
Joy.
Giovanna said it so beautifully, "I showed the picture to my dad and I said, 'This is christian joy!'"
And she is right, the picture captures something that I think was taking place in all of our hearts; a deeper realization of the Lord's blessings in our lives. In this picture we are all realizing that this experience in Rome can only truly be understood by those we are surrounded by. No one else will understand how silly you feel when trying to speak a new language while in graduate school. No one else will quite understand how exhausting it is adjusting to a new culture, and no one else will know what it means to abandon yourself to the Lord in this particular way...but my classmates do.
This particular picture is special to me because it marks a point where my class became more of a family and it is tangibly expressed through our joy.
This evening at the Mass with my class Fr. Brian spoke about this notion of being a community here in the Eternal City. He stated so eloquently that our class truly is a family and one that finds its foundations in Christ.
When we celebrate, we celebrate with the joy of Christ.
We celebrate Christ.
This is the Christian joy.
Happy Advent everyone!
Recently my life here in Rome has been filled with Christmas celebrations as the first half of the school year is winding down. This past Wednesday we had a Communications faculty Christmas party (an hour longer than the rest of the school) and this evening I was blessed to have a Christmas dinner with my class after the 15 priests celebrate Mass for us six lay students. These past few days have caused me to reflect on my short time here as I prepare to take a break and gear up for Christmas and the new year!
During the break in my moral theology class today one of the Italian girls in my program, Giovanna, came up to me and said that she loved the picture I had posted from the Christmas party the day before. It was a simple group picture of my class all wearing Santa hats (this can be seen on facebook!), but despite being a normal group picture I realized it is more than a simple picture, there was something special about it.
Joy.
The picture is just of 15ish people standing in the hallway of a school posing for a picture, but there was one thing that you could not have 'posed' in that picture.
Joy.
Giovanna said it so beautifully, "I showed the picture to my dad and I said, 'This is christian joy!'"
And she is right, the picture captures something that I think was taking place in all of our hearts; a deeper realization of the Lord's blessings in our lives. In this picture we are all realizing that this experience in Rome can only truly be understood by those we are surrounded by. No one else will understand how silly you feel when trying to speak a new language while in graduate school. No one else will quite understand how exhausting it is adjusting to a new culture, and no one else will know what it means to abandon yourself to the Lord in this particular way...but my classmates do.
This particular picture is special to me because it marks a point where my class became more of a family and it is tangibly expressed through our joy.
This evening at the Mass with my class Fr. Brian spoke about this notion of being a community here in the Eternal City. He stated so eloquently that our class truly is a family and one that finds its foundations in Christ.
When we celebrate, we celebrate with the joy of Christ.
We celebrate Christ.
This is the Christian joy.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
ROMANticized life
+JMJ+
Mi dispiace! I'm sorry!
It has been a long time since I last wrote a blog entry, and I won't lie...I saw that coming once that classes started.
I want to recount some of the fun memories that have taken place in the past couple of months, while also giving a realistic view of my life here in Rome...because it's not always papal masses and gelato over here (okay, I might eat a fair amount of gelato).
This week marked a 'breakthrough' point in my Italian! I am finally beginning to understand the majority of my classes and the especially exciting part is that I am understanding when people speak directly to me. Although it seems that listening to a lecture and listening to someone in a conversation would be similar, I find it much more difficult to decipher direct questions because I must understand everything the person is saying, not just the main gist.
This leads me to my first beautiful memory and also 'real life in Rome' example.
Last week, the people in my year of communications decided to organize a dinner out on the town, and it was a blast! There were 5 priests and 4 lay students at dinner and because everyone spoke a different language, Italian was the common denominator. It was a great opportunity to practice the language around people who were in the same boat as me, and it was also a moment when I realized how not normal my life is. It isn't necessarily normal for people to go to school with priests, much less to hang out with a group to where the ratio of priests to lay people is in favor of the priests. With that being said, I love that! I love that I am able to experience this side of the Church, that I am able to witness the genuine holiness of these men who have given their lives in service of the Church, and also to witness the love and devotion of the other lay students in my program.
On the 'real like in Rome' side, everyday is exhausting and challenging because my brain is typically functioning in three different languages; English, Spanish, and Italian. I have come very close to doing my school work completely wrong because of slight translation errors and to be quite honest, I feel very stupid most of the time. I am used to expressing myself and my ideas in class and sounding somewhat intelligent, and here I am doing well if I understand what people said to me the first time they speak. I have to frequently remind myself that 3 months ago I knew 0 Italian, so understanding a lecture is still a huge victory!
I have had the opportunity to go to the apostolic palace, to pray at the tomb of St. Francis and St. Claire, go to masses celebrated by Cardinals and Pope Franci, and so many other crazy things, but even though there are awesome opportunities life here is hard and not everything is the ROMANticized (see what I did there) life you see in the movies, shocking I know. I can honestly say this is one of the most challenging things I have done, and I often struggle on a day to day basis, but the joys and difficulties in themselves have taught me so much.
My goal for the blog from here on out is to occasionally explain what I am up to, but to focus more on intentionally expanding on specific instances/ experiences/thoughts rather than a report of where I go on cool trips. Moving away from home, regardless of where you end up, brings about a new look on life. New cultures bring new perspectives and ideas and I want to elaborate on those!
So if you have any questions for me that you would like me to turn into a blog post, whether about Italy, learning a new language, graduate school, the Catholic Church, etc. please let me know and I am happy to discuss anything...otherwise you are leaving me up to my own devises and there are no guarantees for where my thoughts may end up.
Until next time, I continue onward in Rome and be assured of my prayers!
Mi dispiace! I'm sorry!
It has been a long time since I last wrote a blog entry, and I won't lie...I saw that coming once that classes started.
I want to recount some of the fun memories that have taken place in the past couple of months, while also giving a realistic view of my life here in Rome...because it's not always papal masses and gelato over here (okay, I might eat a fair amount of gelato).
This week marked a 'breakthrough' point in my Italian! I am finally beginning to understand the majority of my classes and the especially exciting part is that I am understanding when people speak directly to me. Although it seems that listening to a lecture and listening to someone in a conversation would be similar, I find it much more difficult to decipher direct questions because I must understand everything the person is saying, not just the main gist.
This leads me to my first beautiful memory and also 'real life in Rome' example.
Last week, the people in my year of communications decided to organize a dinner out on the town, and it was a blast! There were 5 priests and 4 lay students at dinner and because everyone spoke a different language, Italian was the common denominator. It was a great opportunity to practice the language around people who were in the same boat as me, and it was also a moment when I realized how not normal my life is. It isn't necessarily normal for people to go to school with priests, much less to hang out with a group to where the ratio of priests to lay people is in favor of the priests. With that being said, I love that! I love that I am able to experience this side of the Church, that I am able to witness the genuine holiness of these men who have given their lives in service of the Church, and also to witness the love and devotion of the other lay students in my program.
On the 'real like in Rome' side, everyday is exhausting and challenging because my brain is typically functioning in three different languages; English, Spanish, and Italian. I have come very close to doing my school work completely wrong because of slight translation errors and to be quite honest, I feel very stupid most of the time. I am used to expressing myself and my ideas in class and sounding somewhat intelligent, and here I am doing well if I understand what people said to me the first time they speak. I have to frequently remind myself that 3 months ago I knew 0 Italian, so understanding a lecture is still a huge victory!
I have had the opportunity to go to the apostolic palace, to pray at the tomb of St. Francis and St. Claire, go to masses celebrated by Cardinals and Pope Franci, and so many other crazy things, but even though there are awesome opportunities life here is hard and not everything is the ROMANticized (see what I did there) life you see in the movies, shocking I know. I can honestly say this is one of the most challenging things I have done, and I often struggle on a day to day basis, but the joys and difficulties in themselves have taught me so much.
My goal for the blog from here on out is to occasionally explain what I am up to, but to focus more on intentionally expanding on specific instances/ experiences/thoughts rather than a report of where I go on cool trips. Moving away from home, regardless of where you end up, brings about a new look on life. New cultures bring new perspectives and ideas and I want to elaborate on those!
So if you have any questions for me that you would like me to turn into a blog post, whether about Italy, learning a new language, graduate school, the Catholic Church, etc. please let me know and I am happy to discuss anything...otherwise you are leaving me up to my own devises and there are no guarantees for where my thoughts may end up.
Until next time, I continue onward in Rome and be assured of my prayers!
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