Testing, 1, 2, 3

So, it's been a long time since I've blogged.  Too long.  So long that I couldn't possibly write about everything that has transpired since my last post.  And even if I could, you wouldn't have time to read it all over your morning cup of coffee (especially if you're drinking espresso).  

Instead of trying to pick up where I left off,  I am going to start with where I am right now.  At this very moment, I am sitting on my bed in Rome, surrounded by a box of stuff to send home, a backpack of things to keep here in storage, and another half-packed backpack to bring with me on the Camino Santiago.  

That's right, folks! On Tuesday, my brother and I will fly from Rome to France to begin a 35 day walking pilgrimage on the Camino Santiago.  And I'm blogging now from my little phone to make sure it's sufficient to blog from during our journey.  I think it will be.  That being said, follow me along the Camino by following my blog!  Considering I won't be in Roma, I will probably create a new blog and post the link here when I do.  Among other things, the Camino will be a time of thanksgiving for and reflection over all that I have recieved over this past year in Rome, so little by little, by following my Camino, hopefully you'll get a better idea of how my time in Rome was.  We shall see what becomes of the Camino and this potential blog!  More soon.  Until then, ciao ciao!

St. Peter's from across the way

First Day of School!!!

+JMJ+

TODAY WAS MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!

I had two classes today, "Introduction to physico-matemathical and biological sciences," and Latin.  I'm still not even sure exactly what the first one means.  As for Latin, well, know I am learning a dead language in a foreign language.  Hopefully that's as confusing as things will get around here...not likely!!

Even though I understood very little, I had an awesome day!   I was so happy to be back in school and I felt very excited to learn.  I really think the understanding will come, with lots of hard work and even more grace. I am recognizing so many words now, thanks be to God!  I just have to figure out what they mean when you put them all together like the professors do in lectures.  Minor details, right?

And I made MORE new friends!!  Some of them are from Poland!  When they told me they were from Poland, pretty much the first thing I did was smile really big and then say "I LOVE POLAND!"  Their responses weren't nearly as enthusiastic, but give it time, I am sure they will want to tell me all about their homeland...yay!

Ok, off to some time with Jesus now.  More to come!!

Loose Leaf Paper, and Other Important Things in Life

+JMJ+

Tomorrow is the first day of school!!!  Woohoo!  I am excited.  Today, after the opening Mass, I made a Polish friend and ran into a friend I made last semester.  The Mass was SO beautiful.  Both the clergy and the congregation (well, most of the congregation was made up of clergy students) were so reverent and the music was absolutely beautiful, definitely elevating for the soul.  And of course, Jesus was there:)  It made me feel so blessed to be a part of that school.

On my walk home from school today

I got some school supplies this afternoon to prepare for tomorrow.  By school supplies, I guess I mean some loose leaf paper.  That's been about the extent of my preparation.  Actually, that's not exactly true.  There was also the entire summer of application paperwork and the month long Italian class.  But really, there was so much leading up to even that.  Everything in my life, growing up in the faith, discovering a love for theology, making good friends, going to Ave Maria, studying abroad last semester, and so many itty bitty things that, all together, have prepared me for my first day of school at Santa Croce tomorrow.  And constantly, through everything, prayer: other people's prayers for me, the intercession of the saints in heaven, the souls in purgatory, the powerful intercession of the Blessed Mother, and even my little prayers.  It is amazing to take time to step back and reflect on how God has brought me to where I am now.  So much grace!!!  Thank You, Jesus!!  With grace and loose leaf paper, I am set to go for tomorrow!

As promised, here is some documentation of our Iron Chef competition last night.  It was SO fun!  I was super impressed by what the students came up with.  I am pretty sure I wouldn't have come close the the gourmet level they performed at.  Annnnnnd it was delicious.  Can we do this everyday??

Each team had to have a main dish, a side, and a dessert

Team Delicioso--our winners!  Plus a baby and two small children...

Props to the guys for their winning side dish and delicious and creative Nutella mousse! 

Team Venture

Dolce e Bella took the prize for overall presentation--you can see why

Here they are with one of our esteemed guest judges.  There was some real pressure on our chefs!

Happy Sunday!!

+JMJ+

Happy Sunday!  Today is happy indeed.  I went to Mass this morning at Santa Maria del Rosario, one of my favorite churches in Rome.  It was especially fitting considering tomorrow is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary!  Woohoo!!!

Santa Maria del Rosario

I am hoping today will be a day of rest, with some time to do little things that need to be done, to talk with my family (family, if you are reading this, I want to skype you!!!), and to prepare for tomorrow.  Tomorrow is the opening Mass for the academic year at Santa Croce!  So exciting!!  I am excited for classes to begin on Tuesday.  I should probably be scared and intimidated, but...ain't nobody got time for that!!  God is way to good and generous for me to freak out; He always provides for what He wants, so really, what do I have to worry about?  I just have to remember that all semester...

"Pray, hope, and don't worry.  Worry is useless.  God is merciful and will hear your prayer." -Padre Pio

Tonight, we are having an Iron Chef competition with the students!  That should be super fun.  We picked up secret ingredients yesterday...mwahahahaha ;)  I hope we have some cooks in the house!  Keep checking the blog to see how that turns out.  Ciao ciao for now!

The Return of the Blogger

+JMJ+
After a long hiatus, I am back to blogging!  Hopefully regularly.

So what has happened since the last time I posted?  SO MUCH!  Here's a few highlights:

• I have moved again!!!  And am now in a "permanent" home for the next two and a half months.  Woohoo!!  I really cannot believe that I am living here.  I step out my front door, look to the left, and I see the colonnades of St. Peter's.  It is such a grace and a blessing!  Really though, everyday, it is so hard to believe.  All I can do is thank God and just be in awe.

  

  Mama mia!

• The students from the USA arrived on Friday!!! YAY!  There are sixteen of us all together now. We are quickly becoming one big, happy, American family.  We live in a building with two apartments upstairs and two downstairs.

  

  The common room...we are working on coming up with a more appropriate name for the room  where we take our meals and transform into a cafe style hang out place.  This was a little banquet we held to celebrate a long day of successful scavenger hunting.

• Also on Friday, I took my Italian test!  Some things I knew, some things I didn't.  On Monday, we got our tests back and went over them.  By the grace of God, somehow I did not fail!!!  But really, I am pretty sure the Holy Spirit basically did the prepositions section of the test.  I am so bad at prepositions.  I guessed on almost all of them and only missed one.  Here, the Lord had another (there have been so many) opportunity to close the door to the possibility of me studying at Santa Croce; again, He kept the the door wide open.  So, on Monday I will attend the school Mass to open the academic year, and on Tuesday I will start my classes at Santa Croce.  Thanks and glory be to God!!!
• Also on Monday, we had a party at school to celebrate the end of the Italian course.  You really cannot imagine what this was like.  Seriously, I could not believe that this happened.  Basically, everyone came into the biggest classroom and groups of priests (there were a few lay people too) would come up and sing a song, always reflecting the culture of their home country.  Some of them even danced or played guitar.  AND everyone loved it!!  They all had their cameras out, videoing the groups.  People participated like it was a completely normal thing.  It was so funny and so awesome!!

  

  See this?  Yep, not even joking.

• Here a few giant blessings the Lord has sprinkled throughout the past two weeks:
• Mass said by some of my classmates on the altar over the tomb of St. Peter
• Mass said by Cardinal Burke on the tomb of Blessed John Paul II.  On the same morning, we ran into a Polish Cardinal we knew and his secretary, an awesome Polish priest we met last semester.
• North American College deaconate ordinations in St. Peter's, followed by a beautiful reception at the NAC where we got to greet the newly ordained deacons and where I ran into quite a few people I knew

  

  The deaconate ordinations of 41 men studying to be priests to serve the Lord in the USA!!  Get ready for an awesome gift, homeland!!

• I ran into Fr. Hasser, an awesome priest from my home diocese, HERE in Rome, TWICE, UNPLANNED!!!  That made me so so happy.
• I have been so very happy.  Thanks be to God!  So much grace...can't even handle it.  But really, I definitely couldn't handle anything without the grace of God.  I hope the Lord is planning to inundate me with even MORE graces as my classes start on Tuesday!  I will need it!!

A Short Something, Better than Nothing!

+JMJ+

Hello!

Internet is indeed rare at this point, my friends, and I am indeed tired, so this will be short, but...well, it'll be something!

After three weeks of Italian class, I'm practically fluent!!

Hahaha.  Just kidding.  I'm pretty sure I'd say yes to anything if you asked me in Italian; except for one question:  Capito?  Well, usually, no, io non capisco!!

But really, class is going very well.  It's actually really funny; no one in my class seems the least bit concerned that we're supposed to start working on degrees in Italian in a week and none of us really know the language yet!  I am in good company.  My class has learned just enough Italian to make fun of each other, so class has gotten pretty entertaining.

I've been quite busy making preparations for the study abroad students to come at the end of the month.  So exciting!!  It's kind of weird to think that was me just a semester ago.  It's really weird to think that I'm now a student trying to learn Italian and attending a pontifical university in Rome.  Is this real life??

Well, I must be going.  Time to organize the semester calendar!  Yeah!  It's probably important to know what day class starts...yes, yes I should look that up.  TTFN, ta ta for now!

This is the beautiful view from my classroom window!

Status: Second Class Hobo

+JMJ+

On my way into Trastevere one day

Thanks to Divine Providence, I am living out my dream of being a hobo!  Well, pretty close.  I consider myself a second class hobo, since I am living inside of places, going to school, and have a sort of job, but am really dependent on people's charity and generosity.  First class hobo would be sleeping on the streets.  Second class is good for now.  On Sunday, I moved from staying with an awesome Italian family to staying with a friend of mine in a small apartment.  In one week, I will move again!  Yay for not having a permanent address!

The apartment I am in this week does not have wifi, so my posts will probably be even more inconsistent than they have been so far.  

My weekend was very good.  I basically moved my stuff, spent a few hours cleaning books, did all of the normal things I do, and moved!  It's been awesome to spend the fast couple days with my friend, Corinne.  We've traded stories of our summers, shared pictures, and laughed A LOT.  We're going to have to give up speaking in English pretty soon though, or else I'll never learn Italian!  BUT, we have started praying the Liturgy of the Hours together in Italian.  It's really fun, and really funny.  It takes longer for two reasons: I read much slower in Italian and I start cracking up every five seconds.

We've started making preparations for the students who will be studying abroad to come, which is super exciting!!  We're going in just a couple minutes to see the apartments where we all will be and figure what we can do to make them even MORE AWESOME.

My Italian is coming along, by the grace of God, slowly, but surely...but slowly.  Everyone in my class has learned just enough Italian to start making fun of each other, so things get pretty entertaining sometime.  I love my classmates.  They are hilarious.  Just the fact that we all showed up in Rome to study in Italian without knowing any beforehand, really, is pretty funny to begin with.

I must end here for now.  More next time I am blessed (or cursed) with wifi!  Maybe I will get more studying done now that I don't have internet...well, regardless, in all things may Jesus Christ be praised!  

Pray for me!!