giorno sette

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Hey Fam!

Today has been a pretty relaxing day. Hand-crafted, I might add.

Amy and I decided to come back to the hotel before the rest of the group and call it a day a little early. We started our day by doing lectures with the group and visiting 4 different churches. We saw the Church of Santa Constanza, Church of St. Agnes, Church of St. Mary Major, and the Cathedral of Rome.

I was having a rough day today. Not a bad day, just not super stoked to be learning about the history of an ancient Italian church. I started the day off feeling extremely homesick. Plus, we were so tired because we got back so late last night and had to get up so early this morning. And the fact that I’m not an art history major makes it hard for me to appreciate these things the way the rest of the group does. It got to the point where the 4 churches we saw today looked just like the 28 churches we’ve seen in the last week. They were all blending together and I was losing my interest. I couldn’t focus on the information being provided and I was missing that umph to get me through the day. The churches were beautiful, I’m not going to take away from that. Every building, inside and out, is incredible and is so beautiful to see. But today, all I wanted to do was appreciate the beauty. I couldn’t handle hearing one more date, about one more Pope, or one more style of architecture.

I am so absolutely grateful to be here and I am having the time of my life! But with the crazy week I just had and the crazy weeks that are ahead, I felt exhausted and intimidated. After class and lectures were over, everyone decided they wanted to go see the Christian Catacombs. It was about 1:30, and Amy and I just wanted to go back to the hotel. Apparently Amy had been feeling the exact same way as me today, too. We were both just feeling homesick and really overwhelmed. We wanted to be able to just have a relaxing day to take a nap, catch up on our rest, get our reports done, go for a run, and hang around the hotel. We were in desperate need of a break. Plus, the catacombs cost 10 Euros (which is like 15-20 American Dollars), you can’t take pictures there, and it’s a very narrow, claustrophobic, column of tombs… All in all, we weren’t too interested. So, to the dismay of the rest of the group, we called it a day early and came back to the hotel.

Honestly, it was the best decision I ever made. It has felt so nice to just sit and relax and take a break from going 90 miles an hour. Everyone kept trying to convince us to come by saying, “You’re only in Italy once, you want to make it good, take advantage of every opportunity!” But, in reality, I am only in Italy once! And I do want to enjoy it… Sometimes it requires just as much relaxation as it does sight-seeing to enjoy a trip. And I was getting to the point where I was burned out. I definitely needed a break to relax and enjoy my time here at a slower pace. I’m so glad we called it a day early! We’ve just been hanging out at the hotel and laying out in the sun on our top-floor deck. It’s paradise! I think we need these moments every now and then! We’re having long days of sight-seeing and lecturing the rest of the week from 7am to 4pm, so we certainly needed to get some down-time so we wouldn’t end up so burned out and overwhelmed again.

With all the churches we’ve visited, I’ve seen my fair share of monks and nuns. I absolutely love observing different cultures. I love people-watching here! To me, I’m taking away just as much from this trip by observing the people as I am by seeing the famous historic works of art. The monks and nuns and their lifestyle fascinate me. It’s so crazy to compare their religion to ours and the difference between how we show our devotion. I was thinking today about how weird it is to think of our vastly different outlooks on worship and devotion. To them, they show their devotion to God by vowing to never be married. In our religion, the greatest act of devotion is to find an eternal companion and be sealed to them in His temple. It’s funny to compare those differences and realize how unique everyone’s belief are. In our church, marriage is the greatest act of devotion, but to them it’s sacrificing that privilege that proves how devoted you are to Christ! It made me so grateful to be a member of the LDS faith, because I’d much rather spend my life with an eternal companion than all alone in a long frumpy black cloak! I don’t think I’d ever prove my devotion if it meant vowing to never be married! I can hardly wait to take part in showing my devotion to God in the way we were raised in our church by getting married and starting a family!

Families just seem to be one of the many differences between Italy and Utah. It doesn’t seem to be quite as family oriented as Happy Valley. Families and children aren’t the priority here that they are back at home. I’ve probably seen 5 kids in the entire time I’ve been here and at least 3 of them were on vacation with their American families! The greatest thing about coming on these adventures away from home is all the things I become so thankful for that I took for granted. I learn so many life lessons through these risks and journeys and I always come home with a greater appreciation for my blessed life in Utah (or even Portland) with all of you!

I’m going to write in my journal and then go for a run to the Vatican before dinner. Holy crap, I can’t believe I just said that. How awesome is my life?! :) There’s so much more motivation to run when there’s exploring to be done!

I miss you all. Really. I’m starting to get pretty homesick. Apparently you guys are pretty great and I must enjoy your company… Cause I’m having a hard time being away from home!

Love Always,

Wit

sesto giorno

Monday, May 9, 2011

Ladies and Gents of the USA!

I miss you all like crazy!

We woke up at the crack of dawn this morning and took a 2.5 hour train ride into Assisi.

It was absolute paradise! As I stared out the window, the scenery was filled with rolling green hills, vineyards, endless rows of olive trees, cobblestone pathways, and old Tuscan-style buildings with shutters and flower boxes on the windows. In the months leading up to this adventure, whenever I pictured myself spending a month in Italy, THAT was the backdrop in all my daydreams. That’s exactly how I pictured this country to look and I was thrilled to finally have it meet my expectations. It was seriously a dream. Imagine a little cobblestone village on the top of this huge green hill overlooking the entire valley. It was breathtaking!

I loved taking a break from the fast-paced, tourist-infested, dirty, busy streets of Rome. It was so great to go somewhere a little more low-key and peaceful. We had the opportunity to step out of our tourist shoes and step into the shoes of the locals. More than seeing all the famous sites, I absolutely love taking the time to observe and take part in the culture. I like to see and experience the way of life in the new places I visit; to understand their lifestyle on a day-to-day basis. To me, experiencing Italy in the shoes of an Italian means so much more than standing behind a camera and a notepad gawking at naked statues. Don’t get me wrong, I’m stoked to see David, but I think we often time lose out on such wonderful opportunities to learn the culture because we’re too busy being tourists and get caught up in the “must-see’s”.

We were allowed a lot of free time to explore the area on our own, which I loved! We walked up and down all the streets, stopping in every shop, little café, and scenic lookout. It was such a relaxing day and the change of pace was warmly welcomed!

There were quite a few churches, cathedrals, and basilicas in the area that we were able to walk through. We saw the little boxes where people ask for forgiveness from their Father, for they have sinned. It was so crazy to see those in real life! I never understood that those are a legitimate and prevalent part of many people’s religion. We saw worshiping in service… Prayer, offerings, candlelight, chanting… The works! At first, it was a little spooky being in the presence of such a different culture and religion. The things they do are so different and their churches and services seem so dark. The light is so dim, the crucifix is everywhere, and the chanting is so eerie. As different as it was, the more I saw it, the more humbled and appreciative I became. This place has given me such an understanding of religion. Although we may not worship in the same way, these people are such an example to me in their incredible devotion and dedication to their church. They are some of the most passionate and religious people I have ever seen and it is inspiring to be in their presence. It inspires me to embrace my religion and put more of myself into my faith. I am so blessed to have the true gospel in my life, yet I fail to show half the devotion and passion of the Catholics I’ve seen here. It is such a reverent place and it is so humbling to be in the presence of such passionate worshippers. I can’t say I found my testimony at a Catholic church in Italy, but I can certainly say I gained a greater appreciation for religion and a desire to develop a similar passion for it.

The coolest thing happened today!!! So, I was passing these people on a verrrry narrow staircase, so we were getting pretty intimate. We’ve had yet to find anyone who speaks English, so I usually just smile and try to get my point across with my hands. Well, as one of the ladies past me, she said, “Hello!” and my entire face lit up as I said, “Hello!” back to her! I was so excited to be able to communicate with someone outside our group! She asked where I was from and after I told her I asked where they were from. When she told me Oregon, I let out a squeal and told her I’d be moving there once I got home from Italy! I had a nice little chat with her, her husband, and her two female friends. It turns out that this lady and her husband live right in the same area that Gage and I will be living in and they are actually some sort of city council members in Beaverton!!! He gave me his card and said, “Call me if you ever need anything! We have 6 kids, and we know how it is to have them move away on their own where they don’t know anyone else… We’d want someone to be there for our kids! It can be hard when you don’t know anyone nearby. If there’s ever an emergency or you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to call!” It was the sweetest thing, I almost cried. (Gage, they actually live on Multnomah Boulevard! I can’t picture in my head where that is at, but I know I’ve heard Gina the GPS say it a million times while we’ve been driving around!) What a small world, yeah?? One of the ladies they were with works at the University of Oregon and she wrote down our last name so she could cheer for Gage when they play PSU! The other lady gave me her name and number and said, “I have a daughter that’s your age and she runs around with a really great group of gals. There are about 7 of them and they’re such nice, fun, good girls. It can be hard living somewhere away from home without any friends… Even if you’re married. Call me when you get settled in and I’ll give my daughter your name and number. They won’t hesitate to call you and make you feel right at home! They’d love to have a new friend under their wing. And it’ll help you a lot to get adjusted to your new home!” So… there ya go! I go all the way to Italy to find new friends in Portland! How crazy is that, though?? They were the nicest people. I was overwhelmed with shock and gratitude as they did everything they possible could to reach out to me! Like, for example, when the wife told me, “Now you do know it rains a lot in Oregon, right??” Haha, I’m sure glad I had her warning! Really, tho. They were incredible people and I think it was a lot more than coincidence that I ran into them. Even if I don’t ever end up hanging out with her daughter or calling that couple for help, it’s comforting to know there are at least 2 people in that state I can call if something comes up. And it’s crazy to think that all came to be 7,000 miles away in Italy! Funny how little things fall into place like that!

Well, it’s midnight here and we have to get up in 6 or 7 hours for another long day, so I’m going to call it a night!

I miss you all. I didn’t want to admit it until at least halfway into the trip, but I’m already a little homesick. I can’t wait to see you guys!

Ciao! Mi manchi!

Wit

quinto giorno

Sunday, May 8, 2011

FINALLY!

A day all to ourselves to spend however we please!

You’ll never guess how we decided to spend it…

AT THE BEACH!!!

It was the perfect prescription for our worn-out minds and bodies. It required absolutely no effort physically or mentally and we could turn our legs and brains off for a few hours. It was amazing!

Sure, I break for the beach at every vacay and I may have spent every day for 2 months at the beach last summer… So you may say: Seen one beach, seen them all. Right? WRONG. This was not just some beach! For starters, how many people can say they’ve put their feet in the Mediterranean Sea?? I’d say that’s pretty spectacular! And if that’s not enough to make it once in a lifetime, all the boobies and speedos I saw ought to be!!!!

HAHA! I saw so many body parts today. Mostly boobs. It seemed like it was all the old, overweight women with the confidence to bare it all! Their tummy’s hung over their swim-bottoms as they lay in the sand and their bare boobs sagged to both sides. It was awful. Half the guys were wearing speedos, the other half were just wearing their whitey-tighties. They might as well have been naked, because I’m pretty sure I saw it all anyways. There were lots of thongs today too… And majority of the buns were fall from steel. All-in-all, it was a very eye-opening and eye-squeezing-shut day!

There was quite a bit of PDA, too. I haven’t even seen that much lovin’ in movies! Everywhere we look, we’re surrounded by people who can’t keep their hands and lips off of each other. At the beach, on the metro, walking through the streets, and going through museums… It’s a soft-core porno! Now I know why they call it the City of Lo-oooove!

We even saw a lady pull her skirt up, her nylons down, and PEE in the MIDDLE OF THE STREET!!! For real, there are so many things that, as soon as I pick my jaw up off the floor, make me laugh and think to myself, “Only in Italy!”

There are guys dressed up like different Roman characters at just about every monument. They look like they belong in the movies 300 or Gladiator. They make their living by charging people to take pictures with them. I’m so stingy, especially with the exchange rate from dollars to euros and all the money that disappears in the process, so I refuse to pay for anything! I saw this steamy man dressed in some leather gladiator get-up, with long blonde-hair, lookin’ like Fabio. He saw me and said, “Ciao, Barbie. Let’s take a picture.” I asked him how much and he said, “2 Euros.” I tried bartering with him to let me take it for free and as perverted as he was, my eyelash batting wasn’t enough to make him budge. I gave up and started walking away to catch up with the group when he yelled, “But, I love you!” Just to keep the peace and have a little fun I yelled “I love you too!” over my shoulder. The next thing I heard was him yelling after me, “You want to do something, Blondie???” HAHA! We all couldn’t contain our laughter! Somewhere between bouts of laughing, I managed to keep the throw-up down, too.

I know Mom, Dad, and Colter are going to have a cow about that story, but I couldn’t help but share. Someone keep Colt from buying the next ticket out here! I have a good head on my shoulders and we’re all being very cautious! Like I said in one of the earlier emails, I actually feel really safe here and haven’t ever felt too threatened or nervous. Not any more afraid than I’ve been in Utah. It’s made a huge difference in the trip to feel so comfortable. Had I spent the whole time in fear, I wouldn’t be enjoying myself as much as I am!

Last night we got Gelato and took the metro to the Trevi Fountain to see it all lit up at night. It’s crazy that we’re actually living here and getting acquainted with the way of life to the point that we can spend our afternoon and nights just like the locals. We take the metro and walk everywhere! Just like the Italians! This is so much more than a vacation. We’re getting a real taste of Italian life, which is priceless!

The weather here is perfect. It’s been in the 70’s and 80’s the entire time we’ve been here. It’s hot, but not unbearable. It’s so good to feel the sunshine! Steve said that last year it rained the entire time, so I am so thankful for the beautiful weather we have! I’m getting quite a few new freckles on my nose and cheeks… Maybe I’ll come home looking like I did last summer from Hawaii!

Tomorrow is going to be insane. We’re taking a day trip to Assisi. We have to leave to catch the train at 6:40am and won’t be back home until about 8:30pm. I’m really excited to go there because Katie said that was one of her favorite things she did while in Rome! It’ll be a long day, but just like every long day here, it’ll be SO worth it. What I’m trying to get at, though, is that tomorrows email may make it there a little later. With the time difference, it may still make it by tomorrow your time… If not, Dad, please don’t call the Italian polizia! :) You’ll hear from me soon!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, MAMA!!! I tried calling you a few times, but I’m not sure what’s going on… The call won’t go through. So I sent you a text instead, I hope that made it through. If not, I hope you know how incredible you are and how grateful I am for you. I couldn’t have asked for a better Mom. God knew exactly what he was doing when he sent me to you… There’s no one in this world you gets me like you do. You make me laugh ‘til my stomach hurts and you always know how to make my tears stop. Regardless of the array of emotions and reactions I feel on a day-to-day basis, you have an understanding of each and every one of them and know exactly what I need to hear that day. You are my best friend and I thank the Lord every day for the incredible bond and friendship we’ve formed the last couple of years. I don’t know where I would be without you. You’ve helped me through every bad day and you’re the first person I want to share the news of my good days with. Thank you for pushing me when necessary and coddling me when I’ve gone too far. Thank you for knowing my potential and always encouraging me to achieve it. Thank you for your wonderful example. Thank you for your untouchable sense of humor. I am, without a doubt, the luckiest girl in the world. You’re one hell of a woman, Mom! I love you! Festa della mamma felice!

Ti volio bene!

Wit