Take from this world. There is so much that it offers you.
Learn from others. Sit at the feet of the wise. Learn their ways.
Humble yourself to God's direction and wisdom.
Be willing. Give back. Love.
These are my goals.
Join us.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Sum Sum

A summary of the last four months.
November First to February Second was spent in Italy.  While in Italia I lived in Forli and volunteered at a nursing home.  I visit Venezia (Venice), Firenze (Florence), Siena, Pisa, La Spezia, and Roma.  On February Second I got on a plane and landed in London.  I spent a week there visiting friends, (and London and the Stonehenge), before heading north to Harrogate for a week.  There I stayed with some one via couch surfing and got to see some of the city.  During that week I went over to Skipton by bus and then walked about six miles up to Malham in the Yorkshire Dales.  I visited Malham Cove and camped out above Malham Lake.  Heading back to Harrogate and then to London I flew out on February Fifteen to Tampa, Florida.  There I met up with my uncle and aunt and spent the weekend with my cousin and his family.  On Sunday I flew up to Chattanooga where I was picked from the airport and driven four hours to Cleveland, GA where I visited my uncle and cousin for a week. On Sunday my cousin took me to Gainsville where I got a but to Atlanta and then Chattanooga.  In Chattanooga I met randomly, (God's awesome), met up with a friend and we wet caving that night.  The next morning I left at eight am from Chattanooga after a good ol' southern breakfast.  Boarding a Greyhound in Tennessee sealed my fate.  From then on it was loud, annoying, stuffed, stuffy, smelly riding through Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, S Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington.  Because of two completely separate break downs and delays all around,  I arrived into Spokane just a little too late.  My connection to home sweet home had already left, but some how I managed...
I want to say that Italy was beautiful- people and land alike.  England was very moist but the company was worth it all.  Florida was sunny and warm as was seeing my family.  Georgia was relaxing and peaceful- the best time ever spend with my cousin. Tennessee was a miracle and a kick in the pants.  And the rest, is history.

Italia.

In November, 2010 I left for Italy not really knowing what to expect.  It all kind of happened so fast and when I had to leave it felt like only the beginning. While I was there I took Italian classes twice a week at one of the colleges.  By the end I would partially dream in Italian and respond without even thinking in conversation.  But learning the language was really only a bonus.  For some reason when I first arrived I never really thought about meeting and having friends.  The first Friday night, though, I was engulfed in these Italian young people that immediately accepted me into their beautiful words.  After that, life gradually became confusing.  The more I began to interact with people and listen to the words coming out of their mouths, the more I was confused and frustrated and loved it.  Most of them spoke English some what and would kindly help me.  Every Saturday afternoon the youth would get together and have a meeting and before hand usually play some calcio, or soccer.  I loved hanging out with everyone and I was so grateful how they included me in everything.  Most of the time I would need a translation but Luigi was always close by to lend a helpful mouth.
During the week, much of my time was spent working in la cucina, or the kitchen.  Of course my skills were not up to the standard of Salvadore, the head chief, but I would do little things like wash and cut vegatables and meats, and tackle the continuing flow of dishes.  I enjoyed working in there because most of the kitchen staff didn't speak much English.  This forced me to practice my Italian because there were no Luigi's around to tell me what things meant- I was on my own.  Hand signals and examples of products combined with lots of words were used to display what needed to be done and how to do it.  I started catching on and tried to remember words to look up when I got home.  Some times I would bring my dictionary to work with me and those days were honestly less productive because of my constant 'search for the word'.
I love my Italian friends.  I miss them too.  I'll be back though.  Ciao.