dieci giorno

Friday, May 13, 2011 (Ooooooooh!)

Heeeeey!

Scare ya?

Sorry I didn’t write yesterday, It was such a busy day and we were jam packed going from one thing to the next, so I never got a second to sit down and tell you about it. It’s now Saturday morning and we’re just doing some laundry (washing our clothes in the sink…bleh…) before we head out in search of the beach! I’ll give you a recap of yesterday and then hopefully be able to write you again later tonight to tell you about today.

We slept out on the deck last night! There were about 9 of us who pulled our mattresses out on the deck that overlooks St. Peter’s Basilica to be able to watch the sun as it came up and lit up this beautiful ancient city. We went for a run to the Vatican and back (we mapped it online and it’s about a 2.5 mile run… not bad for a vacay!) and then went out to claim our spots on the deck. After only a few minutes out there, our sheets and blankets and pillows were all wet from the humidity! We were one soggy crew out there. We were all laying in our beds falling asleep when fireworks started going off. THIS IS REAL LIFE!!! That’s what I keep reminding myself. This is all so unreal; I can’t believe I get to claim this as my life. How did I get so lucky??? We sat out on the deck of our top floor room in Rome, Italy and watched fireworks go off over one of the most important landmarks in the Catholic religion. What a wonderful world!

We slept to the gentle humming of cars and busses, wailing sirens, and violent horn-honking. Although I went to bed dry, I woke up moist and soggy. I was freezing, My neck was kinked and my throat was so sore. But I woke up to see the sun rising over Rome and instantly none of that mattered. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It made me so grateful to be here. There really is beauty in all things! It just seems a little easier to find it out here. Everywhere you look, there’s something new to knock you over and steal your breath.

We woke up with the sun blasting our face and hauled all our mattresses back across the entire sixth floor to our room.

Now, rewind 12 hours…

Our day yesterday was SO long! We were gone from 9 until 6. It went by really fast considering how long we were out there. It seemed to get a lot better by the end of this week… Last week and early this week, I was always tired and had no energy, I was homesick, It was hard to stay energized and motivated, and I had to work hard to keep a positive attitude. Now, it all comes naturally. I got over that hump and couldn’t be happier to be a part of this experience. Even when we have nine hour days, I’m still bouncing off the walls with energy and excitement!

We spent the first half of our day at a few different churches and seeing some incredible paintings and sculptures. Afterwards, we went to a place called the Fountain of 4 Rivers. It was miraculous! We walked through all these dirty little side streets to get there, so I was so shocked when one of them opened up to a giant, bright white fountain. I think we all screamed a little bit and ran full-speed to see it in its entirety! The square it’s located in is called Piazza Novena and it is exactly how Italy seems in the movies and daydreams. The beautiful fountain was the central focus in the middle of the square and it was all lined with buildings, apartments, and shops in colorful stucco and shutters and flower boxes on the windows. The street cafes have tables with red and white checkered table cloths and the entire street is filled with umbrella-covered vendors with painters painting and selling their work. It was absolutely perfect! It’s those little moments when Italy slows down and comes to life that make this whole trip worthwhile.

We took a break in the Piazza Novena to explore the shops and grab some lunch. Afterwards, we went to the Galleria Borghese. It is a ginormous white building that houses some of the most spectacular works of art in Italy. It’s up on a hill far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and in the middle of a huge park. The streets are lined with soaring trees and the grass spans for miles. People are walking their dogs and riding umbrella-covered 4-seater pedal-bikes. I discovered my favorite statues of the entire trip in this museum. They are both a Roman artist named Bernini; called Apollo & Daphne and The Rape (Abduction) of Proserpina. They both tell such interesting and memorable stories that set them apart from the other works I’ve seen.

The Apollo & Daphne is about a woman who is destined to morph into a tree unless the love of her life lifts her off the ground before she can take root. The statue depicts Apollo attempting to lift Daphne off of the ground, but he’s reached her too late and she’s already turning into a tree. Her feet and calves look like bark and her fingertips resemble leaves and branches.

The Rape of Proserpina is about a young girl getting abducted. Don’t worry, there isn’t anything graphic, because back in those days rape meant abduction. –I was a little worried, too!— Proserpina is the daughter of the Mother of the Seasons and is kidnapped by the God of the Underworld. It shows her in the moment as he has grabbed hold of her and she is fighting to get away. You can see a tear streaming down her cheek and the way his fingers dent into her skin with such a tight grip makes it almost seem real. The story continues to explain that her mother is sad while she is away which is why we have fall and winter and then is happy again when she returns which is why we have spring and summer.

Both of these pieces are filled with so much movement and passion. They are both so lifelike. The detail blew me away. Not only were these sculptures more visually appealing than any of the others I’ve seen, but they told a more captivating story. I was so mad that we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the museum, because it held my favorite sculptures of this entire trip!

I’m sorry for all of you that read these emails word for word. I know they’re probably boring since I get so excited about something you’ve never even heard of. Just bear with me, because these emails are doubling as my journal entries, so I have to be as detailed as I can so I will always remember these things. I promise not to be offended if you’re only skimming!

I love you so much! It’s so great to hear from you guys! I’m sorry I don’t always respond individually due to the long, busy days… But I promise I read them and am so grateful to have them. Ya’ll are the best! Thanks for everything!

Ciao!

Wit

giorno nove

Thursday, May 12, 2011

What’s up ya’ll!

Today was a fabulous day! We were done with touring and lecturing at 12:30, so we were done early enough to do our own thing and spend the afternoon however we pleased. It was nice to come back to the apartment and still have a glimmer of energy and not want to collapse into the sheets and never wake up.

We saw the Church of Four Fountains, Ecstasy of St. Teresa statue, and the Tomb of Pope Julius II.

I gave my report today! Mine was on the Tomb of Pope Julius II with Michelangelo’s statue of The Moses. I felt really prepared and it went so well! I was so excited to give it because I had grown so fond of it after all the hours I spent learning about it. It was so amazing to see it in real life. I spent so much time researching this work of art and learning all about it, so it made it that much more incredible to be standing feet away from it and seeing it with my own eyes. I think, to me, this was my one moment to experience Italy in the shoes of all these art history majors. They have studied these people, places, and works of art for years and it is such a huge moment for them to be able to see it in real life. I haven’t heard of so many of these artists, sculptors, paintings, sculptures, or buildings, so I don’t have that same passion for and connection to the things we see. I love being a part of this once in a lifetime opportunity, but it’s different for me than it is for the rest of the group. After taking the time to learn all about one specific work of art, it really intensified the experience of seeing it in real life. Now I understand why this trip means so much to these girls. We’re all here for different reasons and it was cool to be able to have a chance, however slim, to understand the reason some people came and what they are getting out of it.

After my report, we were dismissed for the day. Oh happy day! It makes such a huge difference in all of our attitudes when we have shorter days because we’re not so overwhelmed, stressed, and exhausted! We are so much more excited about the things we see when we haven’t been going for 5 hours! It made such a difference! We all went to the shops in downtown Rome by the Spanish Steps. We spent the afternoon exploring the city and buying souvenirs. I have been so good about spending money here, I’m almost worried I’m not going to use all the Euro’s I took out at the ATM! All I wanted for myself was a t-shirt and a jacket and I got them both today! I can’t wait to walk off the plane in all my fly get-up, practically fluent in Italian… You guys will hardly recognize me!

We just barely got back to the hotel and have been lying around talking for a little bit and will go down to dinner in a few minutes. I am so sick of the food here! How weird is that?? I seriously just keep daydreaming about food at home. I would go for a huge bowl of cereal or some eggs in a heartbeat! Breakfast is all like pastries and desserts and then meat and cheese. It’s the most bizarre combination. My breakfast each day is a croissant with honey and a piece of meat rolled up with cheese. For dinner, they serve us pasta as an APPETIZER at every meal! We get a plate of pasta, and then the main course comes out which is usually meat I don’t eat, and then some really bland dessert. All I can say is, Mom, your cooking beats Italy ANY DAY! I guess I don’t have to be so worried about gaining weight on this trip… I hardly eat anything! Plus, Steve said we end up walking about 130 miles on average throughout this trip! And the 7 flights of stairs to our bedroom are enough to give us all buns of steel!

Anyways, it’s been a great day and after a little help from my friends, I got over my slump of homesickness I was having earlier in the week. Things are looking up!

Love you all!

Take care,

Wit

giornata lavorativa di otto

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Last night Amy and I ran down to the Vatican and back. It was absolutely beautiful. Really, how many people can claim that as their jogging route?! The weather was perfect and the sun was just barely setting, so we couldn’t have picked a better time or place! Nobody here exercises… which is funny, because I have only seen 1 fat person the whole time I’ve been here. Must be good Italian genes! You pass about 20 or more joggers every day in Utah, but I think we’ve maybe seen 1 or 2 the whole time we’ve been here. I haven’t quite decided if that’s the reason everyone was staring at us or not, but we were certainly turning heads last night. If I have ever been longing for attention in my life, I’ve gotten my life’s worth of attention here. People (mainly guys) just blatantly stare at us. They don’t try to cover it up at all. It’s extremely obvious and they’re not the type to look away if we make eye contact. The attention is not near as fun as it sounds… I feel like eye-candy wherever we go! Aside from all the stares, turned heads, and cat-calls… the run was a blast!

After our run, we had a dance party out on another room’s deck overlooking the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. Our possibly homosexual friend, Isaac, gave us a performance of Beyonce’s Single Ladies and we got a private lesson on how to do the dance. It was hilarious! He’s been kind of quiet the entire trip, so we were all rolling with laughter and smothering him with applause and cat-calls upon seeing him crawl out of his shell and be the life of the party! It was fun to finally connect with the group like that and let loose with everyone. The only time we’re all together is when we’re touring Rome and listening to lectures, so it’s hard to get to know everyone and make those bonds. It was so fun to see everyone at their best and enjoy each other’s company outside of the studying part of being abroad! After that we all did Ab Ripper on the deck. If Tony’s excruciating exercises weren’t enough to rip our six-packs, how hard we were laughing certainly was. It was a blast! It was such a great way to spend the night!

We woke up early this morning to a jam-packed day of touring. We left our hotel at 7am and are just barely getting back now (4 pm).

Our first stop was the Vatican Museum. We spent over an hour waiting in line and finally got into the museum, where we roamed the halls and rooms for a little over 3 hours. Sculptures have become some of my favorite things to see here in Italy. I could spend so much time looking at the sculptures (a little bit more time at the naked male sculptures), while I’d rather just peruse on through the paintings at a steady pace and quickly glance at each one.

We took a lunch break for an hour before went back to sight-seeing. I love the breaks... It gives us time to relax, enjoy the scenery, people watch, and really think about where we are and how lucky we are to be here! It’s always nice to relax for a second and step back with a few spare minutes to remind yourself of this unique and incredible opportunity and make sure to not take it for granted.

Today I realized that although it’s tiring and exhausting, doing a study abroad is the best way to come to a foreign country. I get frustrated sometimes with the structure of being on a study abroad. It’s hard to have the same basic routine every day, to rely on someone else to make your plans, and have to do what the majority of the group is doing. BUT, today I found an argument against my stinky attitude by realizing how it really does benefit us and give us the best of both worlds. We have the opportunity to see all the sights we would want to see if we were to come on our own and then some! Steve knows where everything is and exactly how to get there. If I weren’t on a study abroad, I have no idea how we’d accomplish anything or do half the things we wanted to do, because it’d be impossible to get around without Steve. We spend ½ - ¾ of our day with Steve and the entire group doing tours and lectures, but we’re able to do whatever we want with the rest of the time. If we play our cards right, it works out real nice and we’re able to experience the best of both worlds. We get an on-call personal tour-guide but we also get some independence and relaxation.

After our break, we headed off to see the Sistine Chapel. I seriously had butterflies! Never in my life has art made me feel like that! I couldn’t believe it! I was legitimately giddy and excited to see this world-famous chapel and the incredible work Michelangelo created on the ceiling. The anticipation and suspense built as we wandered through a maze of labyrinths and halls. By the time we reached the doors to the chapel, I had lost all ability to speak because the butterflies were practically fluttering out of my mouth. I was instantly speechless and awestruck as I stepped into the chapel and saw the incredible artwork. I felt so small next to those soaring walls and beneath the colorful, elaborate ceiling. It was amazing to think I’m really here. I was really in the Sistine Chapel! It’s something I’ve learned about all my life and a place practically everyone has heard of… And I actually had the opportunity to see it in real life. I had to pinch myself a couple times to make sure it was real, because it certainly felt like a dream to be in such a famous historical place.

It blows my mind to witness the incredible talent these ancient artists and sculptors possess. I have an intense respect for Michelangelo after seeing the Sistine chapel. I can’t even fathom how he possibly did it… First and foremost, I couldn’t even look at the ceiling without it hurting my neck, I have no idea how he painted on it! His proportions and perception was incredible. I don’t understand how he could have everything mapped out on such a huge and vast canvas. All my life, and even for the first few minutes in the chapel, I thought the ceiling was more than just paint. It wasn’t until Steve explained otherwise that I realized that the archways, pillars, and sculptures I thought were real are just painted on the ceiling. Michelangelo did an incredible job of painting in 3D. It really came to life! I was in awe. What an incredible talent to have and such a resounding way to share it! The Sistine Chapel is certainly on my list of must-sees!

Our lunches are a little wimpy, so we’re all starving by dinner. We’re trying as hard as we can to make our snacks last so we don’t have to buy our lunches. We want to buy lunch maybe once a week so we can at least experience the food here (the food served at the hotel is not food, by any means). We eat breakfast around 7 or 8 every morning and only eat a granola bar and fruit snacks until dinner at 7. Plus, we’re out in the sun and walking all day long. What I’m trying to say is… It’s dinner time and I’m starving, so I gotta go!!! Bon apetit!

Hugs and kisses from a broad abroad! Haha, get it?

Send the love!

Wit

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