So, it's official...i'm here in Italy! i want to first say thank you to those who i spoke with the day of and night before i left on this journey. those of you who didn't have the "privilege" of talking to me while i was freaking out...i will let you know that i was doing just that...FREAKING OUT!!! really didn't think i was going to be able to do this one. this trip is so much more than a mere physical journey for me. in a recent journal entry i wrote, it is as if my skin (what has defined me for so long) has been removed and the pieces of me are now laying scattered amongst the floor for me to pick up, reshape, put together and in turn create a woman with more depth, varied interests and a better sense of who she is.
The plane tood FOREVER to take off...many delays...which made way for increased anxiety and doubt ("is this god telling me something?") once on my way, i met a man who lived in both italy and new york. he informed me and forewarned me of italian men and their treatment of women...interesting i thought, but yeah yeah....
once off the plane, i made it to my first train (my god i didn't plan for transitions!) where i met an older gentleman, Lucciano, who initiated a conversation with minimal english skills (just what i needed when my italian skills consist of "ciao and buongiorno"!). our conversation was going well (a nice, suit-wearing older man who teaches latin literature at the university in Sardinia) tells me he is staying for 3 nights in a hotel known for chocolate, north of Rome. Great, right? absolutely, until he invited me to come to his chocolate hotel so that he could FEED ME CHOCOLATE!!!!! GEEZ.....
After that, i was on my own...had to figure my way onto 2 trains to get to a bus that took me to the campground hostel that i am staying at. jet lagged, overwhelmed and frustrated at myself for not studying italian, i fell asleep. the next day i braved a day out of my room and made it to coffee (the hostel run coffee shop mind you..hey now, a journey begins with a SINGLE step, right?) while sitting at coffee, i met a woman from london who ended up giving me a great little book on rome with fold out maps along with her business card to contact her when/if i get to london. soon after, i met a woman (in the hostel market) from new zealand, who was taking her son into the city. she asked me to come along...and next thing i knew, i was standing in the middle of vatican city and wandering around the basilica. it was amazing to walk amongst such history and devotion.
yesterday faye, her son samuel and i went and walked around the coliseum and roman ruins...again i was in awe.
although, i have had an interesting time touring these beautiful places, it is the people, their language and their culture i want to know. i look forward to immersing myself deeping into who they are in hopes to realize and create more of myself.
today i will be leaving for my first "job". i will be 40 miles or so out of rome helping a family in their bed and breakfast. i get to stay in their renovated barn! here's to hoping that i suit their needs!
things i've learned...study the language if you want to "know" the people, PACK LESS and when facing fear...have faith and jump...god will quietly direct your fall.
til next time...
