Pazienza translates to Patience in Italian. That is what Pastor Solomon talked about tonight at church. Today was the beginning to an end. Today was the last Sunday that Kezia will be here! And I only havea 2 more Sundays with Becca. Its just ending to quickly! And that leads into the patience that I am learning here and will be learning for a long time.
1. Patience with seperation. That is something that I started with here. I missed my family and friends so dearly when I first got here in Italy. And now I can't bear to leave my family here! And the seperation that I will have with them will be for a long time! But I think that knowing that even if I don't see them again here on earth I will worship the God of the Universe with them in heaven for eternity!
2. Patience with school. I still have a slience in my heart about where my life is taking me. But I have strangly learned to love that silence. I have learned to enjoy every minute that I have no plan. I enjoy the freedom that comes with wandering. Both in concept and reality!
3. Patience with those I live with. My roommates are a strange mix of good and bad. I have learned how to live with people that have worldviews and truely different lifestyles. It has formed me into a person that can have patience with people that I never thought I could have dealt with before living here.
4. Patience with God. This is tender. But its so true. Learning to be patient in Christ is hard yet rewarding. And I am still learning everyday.
5. Patience with myself. Hardest and still learning how to put up with myself.
Patience. It is every where and everyone has to deal with it and learn how to do it better.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving
My Thanksgiving was quite different then it ever has been before. Yesterday I woke up at 630am and studied until 10am when I had my final for Italian. So I am now finished with my Italian class for the semester. That is just so strange to me! Cause it means that my time here is almost finished.
Then I went and sat in a bookstore for an hour and read books and ended up buying Little Women. I have actually never read this book. I have seen the movies but I can not recall reading it. So I bought the book and went to Piazza Signora and read amongst the many tourists. It was really relaxing.
Then I decided to hike up the Hill/mountain side to get to Piazza Michaleangelo. I did not go the way that tourists go. Instead I went on the hill along a side road and then into just a part of woods (italian style woods) and walked up the the piazza. It was Amazing! You can see the ENTIRE city! The mountains, the river, the tuscan countryside. I ended up spending 3 hours up there! My friend Kiyomi came and joined me and we went walking up more of the hill thing and then looked at some churches. I had my first Italian hot dog. It was very good and served like the italians only would. But you will all have to discover this secret for yourselves!
Then we walked down ALL the steps that all the tourist were walking up. And we went to Angela's cafe for what ended up being my thanksgiving dinner, it was an italian casserol. It was very good and nice to just chat in Italian for an hour. Then Kiyomi and I went to my apartment and failed at finding a Ballet to go watch. Then around 11pm here my family called and I got to talk to my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and niece. It was a great end to the day!
That was my Thanksgiving. And even though it wasn't the fun cooking at home with my mom, and setting the table, bickering with my brother, etc. It was new and enjoyable. I never thought it would be okay not being home for a holiday. But now I am learning how to celebrate my own ways in my own time. That is something entirely different to be thankful for. I am thankful for you all who read this. And I am thankful I can share a few of my experiences while I am over here.
I also found out today that my friend Kezia (from Scotland) is leaving in less than a week and that she is going back to Scotland. So I might be making a last trip to go see her in Scotland in 2 weeks! But I will be very sad to see her leave! And then Rebecca (from London) is leaving on the 13th of Dec. and we are already making plans to see eachother again! It is sad to see my time here slipping away and the friendships I have here slowly facing the end. Not the end of contact but the end of time to spend with each other in Itlay. So this made me realize this:
My mom and dad will be here in 20 days, I will be leaving Florence in 22 days, and I will be leaving Italy in 32 days. I will be in Ohio in 33 days and in TN in 37. Now to make each day count a little more. Hope you are doing the same!
Then I went and sat in a bookstore for an hour and read books and ended up buying Little Women. I have actually never read this book. I have seen the movies but I can not recall reading it. So I bought the book and went to Piazza Signora and read amongst the many tourists. It was really relaxing.
Then I decided to hike up the Hill/mountain side to get to Piazza Michaleangelo. I did not go the way that tourists go. Instead I went on the hill along a side road and then into just a part of woods (italian style woods) and walked up the the piazza. It was Amazing! You can see the ENTIRE city! The mountains, the river, the tuscan countryside. I ended up spending 3 hours up there! My friend Kiyomi came and joined me and we went walking up more of the hill thing and then looked at some churches. I had my first Italian hot dog. It was very good and served like the italians only would. But you will all have to discover this secret for yourselves!
Then we walked down ALL the steps that all the tourist were walking up. And we went to Angela's cafe for what ended up being my thanksgiving dinner, it was an italian casserol. It was very good and nice to just chat in Italian for an hour. Then Kiyomi and I went to my apartment and failed at finding a Ballet to go watch. Then around 11pm here my family called and I got to talk to my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and niece. It was a great end to the day!
That was my Thanksgiving. And even though it wasn't the fun cooking at home with my mom, and setting the table, bickering with my brother, etc. It was new and enjoyable. I never thought it would be okay not being home for a holiday. But now I am learning how to celebrate my own ways in my own time. That is something entirely different to be thankful for. I am thankful for you all who read this. And I am thankful I can share a few of my experiences while I am over here.
I also found out today that my friend Kezia (from Scotland) is leaving in less than a week and that she is going back to Scotland. So I might be making a last trip to go see her in Scotland in 2 weeks! But I will be very sad to see her leave! And then Rebecca (from London) is leaving on the 13th of Dec. and we are already making plans to see eachother again! It is sad to see my time here slipping away and the friendships I have here slowly facing the end. Not the end of contact but the end of time to spend with each other in Itlay. So this made me realize this:
My mom and dad will be here in 20 days, I will be leaving Florence in 22 days, and I will be leaving Italy in 32 days. I will be in Ohio in 33 days and in TN in 37. Now to make each day count a little more. Hope you are doing the same!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Belissima giorno a Firenze
Today has been a great day and so I thought I would share it with all of you :)
Today started with sleeping in until 950 with the joy of no construcion waking me up at 7. Yesterday it sounded like WW3 was starting in the aparment next to ours! So I got up slowly and took a shower and chatted with my roommate Kaite about the plans of the day. It was a nice start to the day. Just with chatting. I like chatting (most of you know that :) )
Then I went and wandered over to my favorite bookstore "the paperback exchange". It is an english bookstore run by women from England. I went in and sat and read a few excerpts from "The Time Traveler's Wife" and then decided to buy it! I have loved it so far! Then I wandered over to meet Kezia, my friend from Scotland who is here on a grant to look at and create art. We went to a market in townt that I had never been to. It was AMAZING! It had everything from fresh fruit and meats to cheap clothes and shoes! So we wandered through out it and chatted. We both found some sweaters, which Kezia tells me I must call a "jumper" while I live in Europe :)
Then we both found purses! I bought a bonna-fide leather bag for 10 euros! And I got the 2 jumpers for 6 euros! And then we went into the inside market and got a table european style... aka sit with strangers at a table becuase there is no room to have a table of your own. It was so much fun though! The man who owns it is about 70 and dances around and sings while he serves everyone with a smile! It is an adorable place, and worth every second and cent spent there! And great food... Mom and Dad you better be ready to have some yummy food cause I am taking you there when you arrive in a month!
Then we went to Kezia's "flat" and had tea and chatted about what else we were going to do today. We parted ways, Kezia to the Museau di San Marco and me to la mia casa. Then I came home and read for about 2 hours. This book was a great decision to get! I suggest it so far... but I am not that far in yet. :)
Then I decided to watch a movie of my roommate Jess' -- 13 going on 30. It was fun to just sit and watch an old movie from my past. then I made some lovley pasta di pomedero e formaggio. YUM. Then I made myself a cup of tea in a new cup I found hidding in our flat. It is cute, green, and has an adorable smiling face on it :) and then I decided to tell you all about my day. So it wasn't very eventful, but a day were yet again I fell in love with this city, its people, and the momenti piccoli. Hope you all enjoyed your saturdays!
kate.
Today started with sleeping in until 950 with the joy of no construcion waking me up at 7. Yesterday it sounded like WW3 was starting in the aparment next to ours! So I got up slowly and took a shower and chatted with my roommate Kaite about the plans of the day. It was a nice start to the day. Just with chatting. I like chatting (most of you know that :) )
Then I went and wandered over to my favorite bookstore "the paperback exchange". It is an english bookstore run by women from England. I went in and sat and read a few excerpts from "The Time Traveler's Wife" and then decided to buy it! I have loved it so far! Then I wandered over to meet Kezia, my friend from Scotland who is here on a grant to look at and create art. We went to a market in townt that I had never been to. It was AMAZING! It had everything from fresh fruit and meats to cheap clothes and shoes! So we wandered through out it and chatted. We both found some sweaters, which Kezia tells me I must call a "jumper" while I live in Europe :)
Then we both found purses! I bought a bonna-fide leather bag for 10 euros! And I got the 2 jumpers for 6 euros! And then we went into the inside market and got a table european style... aka sit with strangers at a table becuase there is no room to have a table of your own. It was so much fun though! The man who owns it is about 70 and dances around and sings while he serves everyone with a smile! It is an adorable place, and worth every second and cent spent there! And great food... Mom and Dad you better be ready to have some yummy food cause I am taking you there when you arrive in a month!
Then we went to Kezia's "flat" and had tea and chatted about what else we were going to do today. We parted ways, Kezia to the Museau di San Marco and me to la mia casa. Then I came home and read for about 2 hours. This book was a great decision to get! I suggest it so far... but I am not that far in yet. :)
Then I decided to watch a movie of my roommate Jess' -- 13 going on 30. It was fun to just sit and watch an old movie from my past. then I made some lovley pasta di pomedero e formaggio. YUM. Then I made myself a cup of tea in a new cup I found hidding in our flat. It is cute, green, and has an adorable smiling face on it :) and then I decided to tell you all about my day. So it wasn't very eventful, but a day were yet again I fell in love with this city, its people, and the momenti piccoli. Hope you all enjoyed your saturdays!
kate.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Enjoying the momenti piccoli
Enjoying the small/little moments.
Today walking through the center of Firenze with Kiyomi, my friend who is from Japan and is a ballerina, I just soaked in walking through the piazza del republica and walking into shops. A wave of peace is present when you just spend quality time with fellow Christians! It is SUCH a blessing! This is also the moment when I realized that I only have 6.5 weeks here! That is so sad!
Somewhere along the way I FELL head over heals for Florence and Italy! I think God has planted part of my heart here! I have a feeling I will be back in this coutry very soon after I leave! There will truely be a part of Italy in my heart and part of my heart always in Italy. For all I know this trip was a way of God putting a love for the multitudes of people who are lost in this counrty and in this city! It is so sad! When a church no longer means a place or grouping of people fellowshiping to worship God but a museum that you take pictures in front of, Or where locals meet before heading out for a nightcap.
I spoke this week at Bible study and it was all about how we fellowship, and ever since I spoke its like God is putting my words/his words back into me and what I see needing to be done in the city of Firenze! Its almost disheartening to talk to the locals when you see the lost looks in their eyes and no passion for life.
Kiyomi and I meet once a week to get a dolce and coffee at a little "hole in the wall" bar/cafe, and the lady there only speaks italian, so we sit and chat with her and I have LOVED getting to know her. And you can see her longing for something more than the day to day work of life. And I hope before I go that Kiyomi and I can invite her to church or to sit and chat about Christ and life beyond the surface! Please keep Angila in your prayers!
It seems like these are all more than little moments, but truely they are. They are adding up one by one to make one HUGE memory in my heart. And I don't think I could have asked for more from my time here!
I have grown into a person that if you knew me before I left, I am not much of that girl anymore. I have changed and grown and learned huge things here! I have also learned the little things. I think in the grand scheme of things, those little moments mean so much more than the big ones!
So take the time not to smell the roses, but to soak in the little moments. The momenti piccoli.
Today walking through the center of Firenze with Kiyomi, my friend who is from Japan and is a ballerina, I just soaked in walking through the piazza del republica and walking into shops. A wave of peace is present when you just spend quality time with fellow Christians! It is SUCH a blessing! This is also the moment when I realized that I only have 6.5 weeks here! That is so sad!
Somewhere along the way I FELL head over heals for Florence and Italy! I think God has planted part of my heart here! I have a feeling I will be back in this coutry very soon after I leave! There will truely be a part of Italy in my heart and part of my heart always in Italy. For all I know this trip was a way of God putting a love for the multitudes of people who are lost in this counrty and in this city! It is so sad! When a church no longer means a place or grouping of people fellowshiping to worship God but a museum that you take pictures in front of, Or where locals meet before heading out for a nightcap.
I spoke this week at Bible study and it was all about how we fellowship, and ever since I spoke its like God is putting my words/his words back into me and what I see needing to be done in the city of Firenze! Its almost disheartening to talk to the locals when you see the lost looks in their eyes and no passion for life.
Kiyomi and I meet once a week to get a dolce and coffee at a little "hole in the wall" bar/cafe, and the lady there only speaks italian, so we sit and chat with her and I have LOVED getting to know her. And you can see her longing for something more than the day to day work of life. And I hope before I go that Kiyomi and I can invite her to church or to sit and chat about Christ and life beyond the surface! Please keep Angila in your prayers!
It seems like these are all more than little moments, but truely they are. They are adding up one by one to make one HUGE memory in my heart. And I don't think I could have asked for more from my time here!
I have grown into a person that if you knew me before I left, I am not much of that girl anymore. I have changed and grown and learned huge things here! I have also learned the little things. I think in the grand scheme of things, those little moments mean so much more than the big ones!
So take the time not to smell the roses, but to soak in the little moments. The momenti piccoli.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
così é la vita
How do you measure a year in the life?
Così é la vita is translated> Thats life.
I love that phrase! Thats life sums up so much in life. Especially my life right now.
Today we watched the movie "Through the front window" -- It is an italian movie that made me think a LOT! It is all about what you value in life and if you are making the decisions in life that make life something you love.
Innamorarsi con vita > To fall in love with life -- Am I falling in love with my life? Are you falling in love everyday with your life?
How do you decide what to do with your life? How do you make that decision without the help of the Lord? But what do you do when you hear nothing? I love how no one has answers to these questions, because it is what makes God so much more God in my mind. He holds all the answers that I long for.
Così é la vita. This is my vita.
Finite. Scusi per mi diverto. ma così é la vita. Ciao!
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