Big lessons in Italy

Living thousands of miles across the ocean from loved ones has definitely been the challenge of this journey. However, it is a challenge that is bittersweet. The distance has allowed me to find something I would have never seen before. I have learned many things, mostly about myself. Relying on myself to get through daily challenges was an important life lesson. Someone close to me once said, “It’s because I love you that I say that nobody wants to hear everything you have to say all the time.” It hit me like a brick wall. No one ever put it to me like that before. But I was determined to change. I started to understand that I am the only one who can make my life better and with God’s help.

This sounds like a simple lesson, but for me, this was not simple to understand. Now that I do, I look at myself and people differently. I am happier. Even with the negatives of working with a group of people here in Italy; I have learned to be happy through struggles, without constantly receiving comfort from people I love. Thank you to those who really love me enough to point out a weakness of mine that I was blinded of. It takes a true friend to do this.

Venice pictures

Unmasking the city of Venice

        “Venice has been the most intriguing city yet!” Middle-aged couple from New Jersey declared while sitting on the side of the canal. I couldn’t agree more with their energy toward Venice. This study abroad experience in Italy has been rewarding, and Venice tops the list. The history, people, culture and food are certainly the reasons.

        Venice was built on wooden poles shoved deep down into the marshy land. The wooden planks were placed on top followed by the several layers of impermeable marble. Essentially, the city is sinking. Almost three inches a year, the tide raises against the buildings. There is something exhilarating about living in a sinking city, another reason to love Venice.

        The guided tours with Giovanna, our tour guide, certainly required most of my energy, especially since I fell down a flight of stairs the first day. Limping around the city, though, is a pleasure.

        Like in Austin, everyone in Venice is “weird.” It brought familiar feelings to see homosexuals open with their relationship and talented street performers performing around every corner. The artistic locals sell their work in small shops for a high price, and the local restaurants are packed with hungry tourists and residents. The transportation – walking - is healthy exercise, and the absence of cars allows for pollution-free air. In Venice you travel by boat or foot. The gondolas are always a tourist attraction and rightly so.

        I could adapt to the way the Venetians live because it is an appealing lifestyle. For the short time I experienced Venice, the locals seemed happy and carefree. Everyone appeared as if they wanted to help others, and even a few gondola owners joked around with me as friends would. The Venetians have strong relationships and firm opinions. The people I met were warm and friendly.

        Two ladies named Bianca and Stephana who worked at a coffee shop down the street from the hotel stood out. They chatted with me like we were old friends, while customers were ordering pastries and coffee. “Here is different than other cities. Children is safer than other cities.” Although her English was a bit broken, her outlook on her city was clear to me. She explained to me that her parents are from Austria, but she was born and raised in Venice and absolutely loves it. “All knows all, even the good and the bad.” The small community allows the people to become a big family. When I asked what dish to try, they both recommended trying the risotto because it is a classic Venetian dish.

        Venetians do know how to eat. Even though my leg was bruised and sore the first night, I forced myself to walk to dinner, not regretting that decision at all. The fish was fresh and perfectly cooked. Shellfish, octopus, fillets of different fish, crab, shrimp, mussels and clams were all prepared deliciously. On the second night, we dined at a more modern place and enjoyed a wonderful meal of pesto pasta and lemon chicken.

         We visited a series of islands, including Murano and Torcello. Murano is famous for the glass and everyone was able to experience a glass-blowing demonstration. Afterward, many of us purchased unique products the “master” created. “Masters” are always blood related and the glass-making business is passed down through generations.

        Torcello is the best kept secret of Venice. Torcello is a small city but worth the visit. There are only a few dozen locals, all of whom are pleasant and helpful. The buildings are bright and the landscape is overwhelmingly occupied by plants and gardens.

        The short visit to Venice our study abroad group experienced opened our eyes to a unique city. I highly suggest traveling there to experience a unique way of life. The history and sinking of the city creates an exhilarating feeling, the culture and people are friendly and personal, and the food is outstanding. I intend on returning to this intriguing city soon.

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Natalie

American experiences culture shock

         Ahh, Italia! The perfect romantic destination for two. Experience the historical buildings, priceless masterpieces, and friendly locals! These are some of the enchanting thoughts we all have had about unknown destinations. Maybe for the normal ten day vacation, tourists can feel this sense of satisfaction when arriving. However, what am I considered?

         I am a full-blooded American living in Florence, Italy. The fast-paced, convenient, hard-working society of my country is what bases my personality. My comfort zone has been tampered with. I am no longer a tourist. I wash and dry my clothes myself, I buy food at the market to cook everyday, I walk to school and run errands just like any other local. The only difference... I cant speak Italian.

         As you all know, I am a proud extrovert, and not being able to connect with the locals who are fed up with tourists, is difficult for me. My positive attitude has not disintegrated though. For example, today I went and explored by myself and ate at Eby's. The burrito I had was made by an Ecuadorian lady who made one of the best burritos I have ever had. It was only 4 euro. I have to put myself out there more than I ever have to make friends.

         Being out of my comfort zone is teaching me a lot about myself and life. I have a new respect for my country and where I live. I am discovering what is truly important; life is too short to spend it worrying. Every museum, artwork, or building I experience, I am reminded of how these people left their footprint for others to admire. Eventhough they are gone forever, their lives will always be remembered and are timeless. When I started letting the good in with the bad, my experience in Italy became purposeful. Just ask yourself, is this worth it? If it is, roll with the punches and the rewards will be plentiful!

Italian culture enlightens student

            Waking up to a boom of thunder and pouring down rain outside the apartment window created an apathetic mood amongst the students.  However, because my favorite part of Italy is the food, I became eager to start the morning.  When we finally arrived at the open-air market, everyone dispersed to explore the people, culture, and food.

I first noticed how the produce appeared to be brighter and less damaged than any produce I have ever seen.  My excitement rose as soon as I saw the red, juicy tomatoes and the shiny, big apples.  Cooking is a staple in my family, so the fresh vegetables and fruits increased my anticipation.  The cheese wheels were all stacked in an interesting fashion, and the instant I walked into the covered area of the market, the fresh seafood smell delighted my senses.  In the end, I decided to buy the big and small tomatoes, fresh basil, a head of garlic, and a loaf of bread to make bruschetta for lunch later on.

Observing the locals shopping at the market, I concluded that everyone is on a completely different time schedule.  A woman continued to study her book peacefully, as I browsed her wine options.  Another vendor also continued to read his newspaper in no hurry to help customers.  Time is not of the essence in this culture, at least not in the way Americans interpret it.  The Italians continued to linger from vendor to vendor reacting to each person as if they were family.  When I asked the butcher if a picture would be appropriate, he smiled and nodded enthusiastically.  He smiled at me as long as I held my camera up and even afterward.

           The love of people and food bring a community together at the open-air markets in Florence, Italy.  Immersing myself in this culture has been a difficult and exciting journey, and I am ready to learn more.

God reaches student in Rome

            Rome’s churches taught me a lot of history and also a little about myself.  The culture shock of being in a new city with different values reached a spiritual place in my own heart.  The familiar feeling of God’s love is proclaimed and unashamed in this culture.  The ancient churches and basilicas show proudly the Catholic faith, and the Roman culture is based around it.  Slowing down my lifestyle to appreciate what is important in life is my goal.

            We first toured St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Christian church in the world, located within the Vatican City.  The architecture of the interior and exterior was phenomenal.  It is the burial site of the first pope, St. Peter, since the many popes have been interred there.  The building’s beauty set my expectations for the other churches and basilicas I would see later that weekend.  I enjoyed the Michelangelo statue called the Pietà.  Mother Mary was shown holding Jesus in her arms.  The sadness on her face and the weak portrayal of Jesus impacted the viewers greatly and is valued highly at the basilica.  Looking back on my experience there, I acted like an ignorant tourist when I didn’t seem to appreciate the basilica and its significance.  Realizing what it means to the people and to history is exceptional.

            The Pantheon was built as a temple dedicated to all gods.  In 609, the emperor at that time gave it to the Pope who converted it to a Christian church.  The building’s architecture is a perfect sphere and has a hole at the top to let light in.  The light hitting the marble floor and wall décor portrays a sense of peace and amazement.  I sat at the altar and stared at the cross in the center surrounded by candles.  I felt blessed to be in such a historical building where millions of people have worshipped God.

            The Jesuit churches impacted my faith the greatest.  As soon as I entered the church of the Gesu, my jaw dropped. The most striking features of the church were the ceiling fresco and the chandeliers.  The way the light captured the church created a feeling of warmth and love.  My experience was not only physical, but very spiritual.  I sat down and felt God convicting me with love.  I prayed for Pedro and his family to have peace and love through the tragic death of his brother.  Suddenly, I felt tears run down my cheeks.  I observed an Italian man praying underneath the light shining down on him.  I asked for forgiveness of my sins and for God to place peace in my heart to deal with being homesick.  I felt close to God in that church, and I will always remember that moment.  The church of Gesu was more than just a beautiful historical building, it was a memory of a moment God and I shared.

San Luigi dei Francesi then became significant to me.  Mass was in session, so I was able to experience some of what the locals experience.  The priests were meeting together while the church members sat praying and waiting.  The interior décor was, again, astonishing.  Sections of the church displayed artwork, baptisms, and other significant aspects of the Christian faith.  Candles lit up Jesus’ face and people would pray and talk to the Father.  Even though I could not understand the language, I understood their love and faith in the Lord.

Rome will always be remembered as a historical Christian city.  Rome was the only place that other countries did not bomb based upon the beauty and history it holds.  The lesson is to take everything slow and remember the important aspects of life.  I hope to soon transition from being a tourist to becoming a true resident.  The culture shock of the religion affected my relationship with God, and I will take with me the moments I shared with Him at each church.

First day in Rome

Waking up at 5:15 A.M created a long but fascinating day in Rome today.  We boarded the bus at 6:30 A.M and started our four hour journey on the road.  Charter buses in Italy are not comfortable, and the roads are small and rough; sleeping was not really an option.  Everyone dresses to impress in Italy, and I am sure if you know me, this part is hard for me. ;)  I wore boots, jeans, and a nice blouse.  This was a mistake.  We arrived to Rome and immediately started the tour to St. Peter's Basilica .  The cobble stone and 45 minutes walk there was not too bad, however, this changed shortly afterwards.  The church is the largest in the world and gorgeous!  [side note: pictures of this trip can be found on my facebook, and some will be posted here]  After that, we toured the Vatican Museum for four more hours (totaling to six hours!) and my feet were bruised and swollen covered in blisters.  We finally made it home, and everyone relaxed at the hotel tiziano before our roman pizza dinner.  The roman pizza wasn't very good, but I was just glad to get a rest!  Will blog soon! :)

Natalie

First footsteps in Italy

Off to Italy!  Today was a combination of emotions: stressed, nervous, excited, sad, and anxious!  The hardest part wasn’t the uncertainty of flying or trying to get my luggage the right weight… it was leaving Colby, my boyfriend and my best friend.  It feels like I won’t be back for quite awhile, and because of that, I was not ready to leave.  Everyone keeps telling me that all of the nerves will go away as soon as I get there; I hope this is true.  I just want to cling in my safe zone with my man’s arms wrapped around me in good ole Texas, but I know that God has bigger plans for me at this moment.  The further this plane flies to Madrid, the more I believe that.

Plane to Madrid

I already met a friend! Her name is Karen, go figure, and she is a middle-aged business woman from Germany! She is super sweet! She has given me insight on some of the fruits of Italy.  The house red wine supposedly is better than any drink you can order at a restaurant.  In her opinion, money spent on museums is not necessary because the beautiful art and architecture is everywhere!  We are also both disappointed in AA right now.  They provided a pillow and blanket of poor quality, they charge for alcohol, and the t.v is completely out of view.  She goes, “I will not let this ruin my trip.  Give me that seven dollar small bottle of champagne!”

Even though, I cannot watch the amazing movie “The Tourist”, I am going to get my eight hours rest! So goodnight readers!  Or, Buonasera!

Madrid to Florence

Picking up from where I left off… I just arrived to Madrid, Spain.  This culture has already impacted me.  Everyone is not in a hurry.  I only had an hour until my flight from Madrid to Florence and the staff hasn’t even confirmed it until just a few minutes ago.  This was difficult for me because the airport is huge and I have not brushed up on my Spanish in awhile.  Finally, I am at the right gate at the right time. 13:10, all aboard!

Florence – First few days

June 1, 2011- Wow! It has been a couple of days living in Florence, and many unexpected events have occurred. My luggage was not lost, which is a wonderful blessing.  Everyone made it to the apartment on the street “via dei servi”.  Six Baylor girls staying together has been fun so far. I have not experienced the nightlife yet, but the food is phenomenal.  The tour guides are Italian women who can speak clear English and are charismatic.  I finally found a café called I’grullo, and the owner Nikko is friendly and lets my friends and I use his internet for free.  I usually buy an espresso… I say “surprise me,” and he always brings a cappuccino charging me only 1 euro.

I have realized that blogging here will be difficult considering internet is always sparse in Italy.  I will try to blog often, so please check on me and leave a comment below with your thoughts and questions!  With love,

Natalie