St. Catherine, St. Francis, and St. Paul

I was expecting to meet friends in Rome, BUT I wasn't expecting all that happened yesterday. Due to how MUCH happened, I will make a short a sweet list, which will allow you to get the idea.

Yesterday Miriam invited me for some coffee in the dining room and asked me if I would like to go say the rosary with her at 'Chiesa di Santa Maria sopra Minerva'. I, of course, said yes.

I find out when we get there that this is the church where the remains of St. Catherine of Siena are burried.

We say the rosary and I meet the first in the series of some pretty wonderful people, Monica.

Miriam and I go to eat gelato and I invite her to go see 'Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia' .

We walk all around the city looking inside windows of stores that have products that are wayyy to expensive and talk about how we could feed Ghana with the price we would pray for one dress in the window.

We then go to a gallery, which is kind of like a mall, where I proceeded to drink the most amazing cappucino I have ever had in my life ( I wasn't aware REAL cappuccino was supposed to taste THAT good...), and we talked about our lives and compared our pasts and how we got to the point in which we are now.

We visited 'Chiesa dellla Madonna del Pozzo', which that, my friends, is a whole other miracle that happened in and of itself.

Miriam invited me to go see the monks of the Basilica of St. Paul chant the 'compieta', which, do you really think I was going to say, 'No.'?

She mentions we have to go on her moped because it is far away.

I get to see all of Rome on the back of a moped, which let me just say, was INCREDIBLE....but only because she is a good driver...

First, we go to mass with some Franciscan priests and brothers and I get to meet a few of her friends.

At the end of mass, we talked to a priest, with whom I sang some of 'Un Bel Di Vedremo' (He said that if he had been a woman, his calling would have been to be an opera singer and sing that aria...)

Then, this is the most incredible part, we went to visit, 'Le Tre Fontane' (The Three Fountains)which is right next to the Basilica of St. Paul and where St. Paul was executed. I can not explain what it was like to be there. Maybe it is the fact that I love St. Paul's writings. BUT without even really knowing what it was at first, you could just feel it in the air. I have never been to such a holy place. I can't even explain it.

We went inside the church which is truly ancient in all senses of the words to pray and to hear the monks chant the compieta. Hearing chant on disc is NOTHING like hearing it done by incredibly holy people, in an incredibly holy place, who are also beautiful musicians.

Four of us went to a Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of Rome, where we sat and joked and laughed at Sabrina (one of the girls I met) remarks, because everything you said, she was somehow related to it...'I studied at such and such a school.....AHHH MY BANK IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR!.....I like this restaurant...IT'S OWNED BY MY FRIEND!!' We had such a good time.

Miriam and I stopped on the way back to the house at a church where there is perpetual adoration. Perfect way to finish the day.

We realized once we got into the church that it was already past curfew, and so we practically said 'Hi!' and 'Goodbye!' to Jesus at the same time.

We got to the house and were reprimanded by one of the sisters who sternly reminded us that on Fridays the curfew is still 10:30 and that it only changes to 11:30 on Saturday.

She forgave us...a little bit...when we explained we were just doing lots of Catholic things, which was the Truth!

So I went back to my room and really pondered all that had happened that day. That I got to Rome a week before, without anyone, only a friend of a friend. And that little by little I have begun to notice all that has been put around me. That I am surrounded by incredible things. That I have met some of the most incredible people, and it just seemed like we have known each other for ever and were just waiting to meet . And that I, together with these people, have been able to experience some of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced in my life. These are no coincidences. This is the calm after the storm, my friends, and I now know that it is in Rome where I am going to learn much more than I ever thought possible.

I love you, and as always, you are constantly in my prayers.

Do you have water?

A few days ago, I had mentioned I was a little sick, and while at mass that same night, I began to feel pain in my throat. So I knew it was time to get some sleep and relax.

After mass, I went to the grocery store (Which I do mostly everyday in order for my food to be fresh, and well...It seems like everyone else does to!) Bought lots of tea, a very ugly mug of Roman that I needed FOR the tea, and then went to do something nice for myself and bought a cone of Fig gelato (I am definitely on a Fig-kick lately...I think my mom has rubbed off on me even though we are so far away from each other...) In any case, I went to bed very early that night, after drinking lots of fluids, etc. I woke up in the morning, and still not feeling one hundred percent, I took another nap. Needless to say, I woke up a few hours later, still feeling a little groggy, but headed to the kitchen for some juice. (This is where the story gets good, folks :)

So I am walking to the kitchen, and I see an older gentleman walking in front of me (Men are allowed to stay here too, but on a different floor) Mind you, I am still out of it, minding my own business. When he turns to me and says, 'You know, you have no water left in your vending machines. ' So because I was out of it, with my hair probably sticking up all over the place, in pajamas, I was like, ' Oh, no?' (Why I went along with it, I have no idea. ) And he said ' No. You know, it was very good water and a very good thing to have in the vending machines. If you have some more, and would like to put it in the vending machine, that would be a really good thing.' And so I said, 'Yea.'

First of all, there are a few questions I have pondered after this encounter;
A. Why did I allow this man to think I was somehow in charge of the vending machines, and able to fill them regularly? I don't know. But...
B. ...the better question is, how did he come to the conclusion that I, clearly looking like a 'sick and out-of-it' person was in charge of anything anyway? I certainly don't think he could have confused me with a sister, due to the fact that I was wearing a 'Hallmark Project Red' t-shirt and slippers. Or confused me with ANYONE that would be working there, for that matter.

So now when I see this gentleman, I hide. That is all.

Who cares if the Pantheon is your neighbor...

...when St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Catherine of Siena are? I am just so cheesed, I can't believe it. :)

I am around the corner from a church called 'Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minverva' where the remains of St. Catherina of Siena are buried and down the street from 'Chiesa del Gesù' where the remains of St. Ignatius of Loyola are buried.

And thus, this is not a holy spot just because there are some churches, because it is Rome, and because I am in the center of the city. This is a holy place because I am surrounded by some of the GREATEST saints of ALL time...

Again...The Pantheon is magnificent, but these churches are epic.. :)

So much to say... so little time...

Hello there :)

I have so much to say! Unfortunately, I have very little time because I have been given an 'impromptu' invite to go see some Gregorian Chant with some pretty awesome monks!!! (How could I POSSIBLY say no?) SO I will have to inform you all about that, plus more, tomorrow. In the mean time, I am 'a o.k.' here in Rome, thinking and praying about and for all of you.

God bless you all.

Rocules!! (You know...Like HERCules..?)

Solo a me...
Well, I had come to terms with the fact, and was actually quite anticipatory of the fact, that if I continue to walk everyday as much as I have been, I am going to have 'Christy Linn Strength' legs... or at least, this I hope. BUT, I didn't realize that I have, apparently, begun to have Herculian strength!
So I was sitting in my bad last night (I feel like I begin bad stories with this entrance title a little too often...That's not good...) and had gotten up to grab a my little book of evening prayers, when I sat back down, and BROKE my bed. Yes. You heard correctly. I didn't break the actual frame, but I DID break the part that holds up the mattress. So I was so mind boggled, that I started to yell at the bed in Italian... Like it was the bed's fault that I have been eating too much cheese and my bones are all calcium ridden, and I broke the bed! Truthfully, the bed should have yelled at me... But seriously, my friends from next door heard me yelling at the bed and came into help. The prognosis: Apparently this happens all the time. These beds are really old and they start to break after a while. You can fix them at first, but apparently, this wasn't the first time this bed has broken because after Miriam inspected it, she said it has definitely broken before. I was rather disappointed. I desperately wanted to believe I had super human strength...Sigh. So I slept on the other bed. And yes, this morning, I had to explain to one of the sisters that I broke my bed. And she was equally bewildered as I was, but then she inspected it and came up with the same idea as Miriam, not before saying, 'Cosa hai fatto?' (What did you do?) and my respnse having to be, ' Mi sono seduta??' (I sat down?) Yea. We shall see what happens.

But on a better note, I did find a solution the itching and swelling of my mosquito bites. Last night, after mass, I went to a pharmacy and after the Pharmacist inspected my bites and realized that, yes, they were quite bad told me what to buy. Basically, she sold me a prescription lotion that I didn't have a prescription for. I mean, it totally works. But on the back it says:
'Avviso: DA VENDERSI DIETRO PRESENTAZIONE DI RICETTA MEDICA' (To be sold in the presence of a prescription.) BUT I realized it doesn't say 'ONLY in the presense'. That makes it totally o.k. I used some last night and it definitely relieved a great deal of all that itching.

I don't know what it is, but I think I am getting a little sick. I have been sneezing quite a bit and my throat hurts. Well, nothing I didn't expect...I just have to take it easy AND promise not to break my bed due to my excitement of evening prayers. :)

Love you all.

I am A-blood, alas, in Rome, as well...

Last night I was sitting on my bed, reading, when I noticed it was getting increasingly difficult to open my left eye. At first, I kind of ignored it and kept reading, but then I became so annoyed at it that I looked in the mirror. Lo' and behold, not one, but TWO mosquito bites on my left eye, which caused my eye to become almost completely shut, it was so swollen. Then I counted all the mosquito bites on my face, and face alone... Eight. On my face! I had never had that happen to me before! My fingers were also quite swollen after a while because of these bites. What is so baffling is that I didn't even have to TOUCH any of them and they just puffed up . (Thank goodness I brought repellent with me, because if not they would have completely attacked me!...Only, you never think of putting that stuff on your face because it is so strong and the face is such a delicate area...Besides, this has never happened to me before...Sigh.) But seriously, yell at me if I ever complain about an American mosquito ever again. Italian mosquitos are 'Scarface's' protogé... This morning, my eye is looking better...Thank goodness.

But in other news, I had the urge to surround myself with people last night and eat a meal. So after mass, I decided I would walk around, looking perhaps for something that looked appetizing. But it just didn't feel right to me, to sit down and eat by myself like that. I don't even think people do that here. So I bit the bullet, went to the supermarket, bought a few things, and decided I would eat them at the house, while continuing to read. So there I was eating and reading, when all of sudden everyone was apparently hungry and started to coming in to eat dinner! So I did get to eat with people afterall. :) The best part is that one of the girls that lives there sat with me, and we ate fresh figs (which are DELICIOUS, by the way), and all the meanwhile, she had gone to McDonald's and ordered a 'Happy! Meal'. Guess what is the theme?? 'Kung Fu Panda'! So not only did I get to eat with people, but my friend, Miriam, let me have her toy that came with her meal, which had Jack Black programmed making 'panda noises'. Only it doesn't speak Italian, and I let everyone know I was sad that it didn't.

I officially sent my payments to Santa Cecilia this morning, which was a lot easier, surprisingly, then I thought. So now it is even MORE official, and I have been studying for my Italian exam all day. Next Monday is the day, folks!

And so I am o.k. in Rome today, despite the 843 mosquito bites, just taking lots of time to rest, study, sing, and especially pray.

A few more side notes about Rome:
1. Apparently the buses sometimes just stop at a handy dandy rest stop, which is really just the middle of a piazza, and ask you to get off and wait for the next bus. I don't ask questions. I just do as I am told.
2. Don't put Nutella in the refrigerator. It gets hard because it is, afterall, chocolate, and then you can't convince yourself it's a nutricious spread with lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants you put on bread in the morning to start off your day 'right'.
3. Outside of my window, there are birds that wake me up every morning. I didn't know they were birds, at first, because they sound like children screaming at the top of their lungs. Scary birds...

And so I continue to repeat the words of St. Patrick, which have kindly been with me since I first arrived in Rome...'Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me: Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Christ. May your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.'

Ma DAI????

Salutations from the land where you don't realize until the next day how tiring it was to walk through all the Vatican museums (Btw: I told some of the girls I live with that I visited all of them in one day, and they were basically like, 'Are you nuts?')

So tired, I am very tired, Friends. Though, this is not a problem because this country allows you to sleep at any moment, no questions asked. It's a beautiful thing. Well, at least this is the case where I live.

Today, more than anything, and because I am so tired, I have spent my day mostly studying Italian verbs, reading, etc. Nothing too extensive. But was able to have a very nice breakfast with some of the ladies that I live with, which ended up being really, really warming ('Tis great to have good company!) We talked all about the differences between American and Italian culture, which are of course so strikingly different, pros and cons to both of them. But see? I am able to carry off an intellectual conversation :)

So I am off to pay my bills (haha ... Bills follow you to Rome!!!), mostly just my dues for auditioning and rent and then I shall go to mass.

Really quickly before I go: Funny story. Yesterday afternoon I was sitting on the balcony right off of the third floor, reading, which is also where everyone does their laundry, (I find that so amusing that the washing machines are outside with lots and lots of plants, flowers, where you can see all the colorful shutters on the windows with no screens. Very picturesque. And so I have come to the conclusion that that's why they have their washing machines there. They want to work with a pretty view.Back to my story...) and I was also drinking a 1.5 liter bottle of 'Pepsi Light', which for those of you who know me, is not unusual. I had almost finished the bottle when one of the sisters came up with one of the ladies living in the house to fold laundry, and saw me sitting down, with that giant bottle of soda almost gone. (Keep in mind that there really isn't any such thing as boundries in that house. People often stop you, no matter what you are doing, just to say 'Hi.' and ask you DIRECTLY what you are doing, what it means, and why.)And so the lady, Chiara is her name, sees me and pretty much shouts, 'Non mi dica che lei si ha bevuto quella bottiglia completa di Pepsi!!' (Don't tell me she drank that ENTIRE bottle of Pepsi!!!) Just like that. No kidding. Out there. To which the sister says, 'MA DAI??' (Really?) Thus, I realized that my American custom of drinking giant bottles of diet soda is rather foreign to them...Can't imagine why... :)

All of you are in my prayers.

"If you can wait in line in Disney World for an hour...

...than you can certainly wait two hours to see the Sistine Chapel.' Amen sister.

Those were the words spoken by a very chatty American who stood behind me, in line, to enter the Vatican Museum. Even though she bumped into me a few times and spilled water on me (at least it was only water), clearly, she has judgement. Let's just say that the Sistine Chapel is the most incredible thing I have EVER seen. Once you sit down along the side of the room, and concentrate not on the people, but on the art itself, and all the beauty that is there, you really have no words to say because it leaves you absolutely speechless. I literally gave myself about an hour just in that room, observing every little aspect. I mean, the rest of the museum is clearly very artistic, beautiful, etc., but there is just NO comparison. Plus, it comes with a free comic show of the Italian Security Guards in the room yelling at people who take pictures and video, even though there are quite a few(and by quite a few I mean a whole lot of) signs that have pictures to explain what not to do, and also of course, not to mention the intercom that shouts out what not to do in different languages... 'NON CAPISCI???!!!' ... Take my word. Absolutely incredible.

Coming out of my shell in Rome has been made really is at 'Casa Benedettine' (Not that being timid has ever been one of my main virtues...). Everyone is so friendly!!! Especially compared to being in America, my goodness. (Now I understand when Cristiana says, 'The Americans are not a gregarious people'...or gregorious...JUST kidding...) Not that we are unfriendly, but let's just say we're not nearly AS friendly. Yesterday, I had the privilege to meet a very kind young lady, who I first saw at mass yesterday morning, and didn't even realize we lived in the same house until I saw her at lunch shortly after. (This should be the time to say that we not only live in the same house, BUT our rooms are next to each other...This clearly shows my personality...) But we have been able to chat a few times since then, and she's just the most interesting person. After working for four years in what she felt was the mundane, she left everything behind to go live with Franciscans in Assisi and 'better her life' as she says. Incredible!! What an inspiration. Thus between meeting her, and meeting a few other people, this situation is becoming a lot easier. Thank God for such open, good people...

Lesson learned of the day: When an Italian woman tells you NOT to step on the wet floor she is cleaning, even if it means she is blocking your way, even if you can't leave for another twenty minutes... Just don't do it :)

One week until my Italian exam. Thinking about you and praying for you all.

A presto...

Tanti Auguri, Mama!!

Oggi, e il compleanno della mia mama! E per questa raggione, canto...

Tanti Auguri a te!
Tanti Auguri a te!
Tanti Auguri, Cara Aurea!!!!!
TANTI AUGURI A TE!!!

Buon Compleanno, Mama! Ci vediamo subito subito!

Pescador de Hombres

Last night, I was sitting on my bed, reading when all of a sudden, I heard people outside singing 'Pescador de Hombres'. I wanted to sing with them! But then I thought that would be kind of weird, shouting music out of my window at 23:30...right?

Anywho, after taking some time to rest yesterday, going to mass, I took my time around the city again, visiting the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. I wanted to take the time to really analyze them, being that, believe it or not, I'd not had the chance to do yet. The Trevi Fountain is really so brilliant, especially at night when all the lights come on around it. All the people sitting around it, just talking, laughing. It's pretty great (I love this country's extraversion...) And then I ate gelato for dinner...(I've been known to do that in the United States, did you really think I was going to be able to resist doing the same thing in Italy?)

I think the biggest change for me has come in taking that time to analyze things, observe and rest, because I think that through that, I am becoming more grounded, being here. It's really difficult to be in a foreign place, but even more difficult, for me, to be in a place where there is so much going on around you, when you are so used to quiet, and to see all the people around you together, vacationing and such. I know that this is all going to take QUITE some time to get used to, but I am up for the challenge, being that I already feel so awe-struck by a great deal of the things God has placed for me here. But different from being home, I have my own personal responsibilities, that perhaps I would have set aside if I were back home, and I know that now is the time to bring them to life, and change what needs to be changed. I can already sense that this is one main reason I am here.

In short news,

-I found toilet paper AND liquid hand soap (Thank GOD!) and also lots of nutella and cherry jelly.
- I met a few girls from the UK who are staying with the Bendectines as well.
- Thank God for good organists in giant cathedrals...
-There ARE honest people in Rome. I dropped a five, and a really kind man pointed it out to me.
- There is a classical pianist who lives across the street from my room...imagine that.. :)

Parliamo domani...

And btw...

...I have the oppurtunity of going to mass every day at 'Chiesa del Gesu', which is where the remains of St. Ignatius of Loyola lie, because it is litterally down the street. It's just so incredible, the feeling that you have being inside there.

You're all with me, I'm tellin' ya'. :)

Gelato...Fruta...Aranciata...Pepsi Light

Greetings folks from the land where my diet consists of prosciuto, cheese, bread, fruit, Giant bottles of Pepsi Light and Aranciata, and, of course, Gelato. :)

I quickly realized on the first day I got here that the 'converters' for EU sockets they sell you in the United States, don't work everywhere in Europe. Isn't it just my luck that this is in fact my case? So today I went on a quest on Via del Corso to find a hairdryer, an alarm clock, and an electric brush.

Well, I had already begun my day wrong this morning, waking up at 10:30, which is apparently not so good if you want to go shopping on a Saturday. Originally, I just wanted to go to a pharmacy, BUT I didn't give myself the chance, being that they all close at 12:00 on a Saturday. (It wasn't my fault. I stayed up late watching an Italian 'Beatles' Tribute concert on TV. Which, btw, I suggest that you all listen to 'The Beatles' sung by people with strong accents at some point...And then the ladies in the room next door decided they were going to slam doors at 2:00?? I don't know. But it took me a while to fall asleep after that.)SO, I HAD to go to Via del Corso... pretty much Fashion Avenue, that is open for tourists, with stores that no one can really afford. But I tried my luck, and tried to find the most reasonable of things, DESPITE the heat (Think heat in the USA is bad? Yea RIGHT.) But for all you art lovers, I did make a curious find.
There is a store called 'C'Arts', which is basically kind of like a 'Pylones' (look it up! It's awesome!) where they sell all sorts of interesting things. For example:I bought an alarm clock there. It is basically a Barbie stove. More than anything, it made me happy because it reminded me of home. :) And that's all I gots to say about that.

Yes. Rome is hot. The bathrooms are pretty terrible. You can't really find toilet paper, not even at the supermarket. People yell at you and at all hours in general, just because, no good reason. But despite all of that, its art is unlike anything else in this world, and I am more than grateful to be here.

Wow... Il Vaticano and the rest

One of the best things about being in Rome, is that I have been introduced, first via e-mail, to a seminarian friend who studies with the L.O.C. (Sounds like a rap group, doesn't it? Well. Not really) and has been incredibly helpful these past few days in getting me situated. Rome is much cooler when you have an insider showing you places. Saves you work, time, and headaches.

Yesterday, thursday, my friend met me at the Pantheon (Did I mention it is my next door neighbor?) and we did a small look around the center of the city. We pretty much went to every major spot, and measured which we liked best, etc, as to not spend time on that which we did not find as interesting. Only, most things are incredible, so there was much time spent many places. And actually, he helped me find Conservatorio Santa Cecilia, which is on this little quiet side street right off of Via del Corso. It was pretty incredible to finally be standing in front of it, and it definitely gave me a sense of great peace to finally be in front of it and to know where it is, which is rather close to where I am staying. I also learned where to buy the cheapest gelato in my zone (I live in a very centric area, which is great because of the culture, etc. but not so great because vendors are constantly trying to rip you off... like my taxi driver.)

But today was definitely the better of days, because I visited the Vatican. Not by myself, but again with a seminarian with many other seminarian friends working there. Such a difference! I basically got a giant tour of all the most significant things, and all the best information, for free. It was really pretty incredible. And due to all of his friends working there, we got to climb up to the top of St. Peter's Basilica before anyone else was really allowed. But can I just say, we complain about climbing stairs in the United States??? My God, you have NOT climbed up stairs until you have done so in St. Peter's. It's no so much how many stairs there are, as much as the way they are mostly positioned which is mostly small-heavily slanted-spiral. I know. Picture that. When we finally got to the top, there was an Italian woman saying, 'This is truly a sacrifice, a penance, a torture...' But to be quite honest, all that climbing was so worthwhile. You can see ALL of Rome from there. It's really breathtaking and really not able to put into words. That's the truth. We finished by then visiting all the tombs of past Popes and eating more gelato (How is it that this city has 558,876 pizzerias, 476,354 gelaterias, 876,456 cafes, and no bathrooms? Mind boggling.)

So now, I am just soo cheesed because I got an inside tour of the Vatican, and am now looking forward to next week, where I will start getting in contact with Santa Cecilia and getting ready for my audition once I am settled. Ahhh... 8 days until my Italian exam. Piece of cake, piece of pie, right?

God bless all of you.

"LAURA!!!"

Well, so far so good, needless to say, I have had some issues with Taxi Drivers, etc...but it is nothing I hadn't prepared for. (p.s. When someone explains to you how disorganized and nuts the Italians, believe 99.9% and leave only .1% to be an exaggeration) Overall though, the sisters at the house where I am were very very welcoming and have been helpful in short stress tantrums.

My room in the house is really beautiful, in that rustic sort of way. It apparently was an old theater of sorts. The cieling is a complete religious mural of angels, and you can imagine how great it is to look up at that while you are reading or getting ready to fall asleep. That's of course what I like most. I also have a crucifix and a giant picture of the Blessed Mother that came in the room. What else do I need, right?The rest of the house is really pretty nice too, just as you would imagine, with old windows, no curtains, and fresh flowers all over the place. Neighbors drying their clothes. It's really something straight out of a movie in that way.

The only negative to being so close to neighbors is that they fight, vocally, a lot. Mostly during the day, thus far. Today Laura, who is a teenager living next door to my window, yelled at her mom, or elder, for about an hour. They really have no care to be discreet. It's certainly interesting.

The Pantheon is so beautiful. I mean, it's one thing in pictures, but in real life it's soooo huge!!! And you ask yourself, 'My gosh...how is this place still here after so long!' Incredibly well preserved. And it's my next door neighbor. :)

Today, my seminarian friend, Fernando, will meet me at the Pantheon, and will teach me how to buy an SMS card so I can make local phone calls, (Making international calls is rather difficult, and I don't think I will be able to do it often, considering I have to go to a special internet place. But I will write as often as possible by internet.) and then we will visit the Vatican!! Very exciting...

But boy are all of your prayers keeping me strong. Thank you all so much for all of them and know that you are also in mine too. Do not worry. I am doing o.k. and will be in touch.

La pace di Dio sia con voi.

When in Rome ...

..Do NOT do as the Romans do :)

It has taken me quite some time to write again (I truly exaggerate that. It's just because I'm used to internet connection 24 hours a day!) Well, I must get used to it, because I don't think I will have interenet connection here all the time.

Let's just say that Rome ALREADY has its ups and its downs (If I truly were to tell you all that I have already witnessed, and I have only been here for 5 hours, you would literally not believe it. ) But the nuns I am staying with are pretty wonderful, very helpful, and VERY funny. And I am also meeting a friend tomorrow who will show me the Vatican.

I am just speechless right now. I can't believe God has put me here, and I certainly didn't expect it to feel THIS intense, but I am going to go with it, and I shall become a better person.

Five hours, and counting. You are all in my prayers and I love you soo soo very much.

Frankfurt=NT-proof

Frankfurt is officially NT-proof. End of story? Yes. This airport incredibly organized. VERY functional.

Well I am sitting right next to 'McCafé', which SHOULD be 'McDonald's', but it's way too legitimate to be. Petition to bring 'McCafé' to the United States.

I met this really interesting Russian woman who talked to me on the bus ride BACK to the airport about how much she hates the French....airport. And the French ... in general. It was...interesting.

But God is good. I am in Deutschland (Did I spell that right?). I am safe. :)

Now: Frankfurt...Next stop: Bella Roma :)

On the way 'Frankfurt'...

It is ‘6:21 a.m.’ on the dot, ROMAN time (Shh... I am trying to convince my body that this is really true...Eastern standard time, huh? ;) and I am sitting on the plane close on my landing time, which will be in about 45 minutes, in Frankfurt, to then wait for my transfer to Rome. We did rather excellently on time, or at least I think so, due to the fact that this plane was supposed to land at 8:05. Who knows, maybe she said an hour and forty five minutes when I asked? Ahhhh...such is my understanding of things. We shall get there when we get there.

Surprisingly enough, I have gotten quite a bit of sleep (Mostly because I had three glasses of wine in order to calm down, but that’s irrelevant, right?), and so I predict that this is a much better situation than it would have been had I NOT done that. And while I maybe should be sleeping after ‘snack time’ (we’ll talk about that in a second) I just can’t help but look out to the clouds. I wiish you could all be here to see this. The sun is coming out, while my plane is flying over the clouds.It’s shining this strong reflection just north-east of the plane, where the sky looks like a giant lake of beautiful pure-rose colors. Some of that sunlight reflects less on surrounding clouds, so that the clouds actually have a cream color, which makes the sky look like a GIANT beach! It’s so incredible! Only, I wish beaches really DID look like that. Oh well. Maybe in Heaven. :)

So about snack time, and all OTHER food times. Let me just say that only on a European airline would they walk around continuously pouring you glasses of wine and giving you cheese...For free. Yes sir. Free. F-R-E-E, which, to us Americans, when traveling inside the states, all I can say is ‘Yea RIGHT!’. As my aunt Nelly would say,’En los aviones hoy en día, lo unico que te dan es la soba de todas las papitas que nadie se quiso comer en casa!’ Roughly translated into, ‘On planes now adays, all they give you is the crumpled potato chips no one wants to eat on land!’ Thus, I have made a very dutiful connection: ‘Lufthansa cares about YOU! ‘ (Nope, they are not paying me anything to advertise them.) Hooray for good plane experience!

But mostly, I have had a really kind man from Israel sitting next to me on this journey, which God bless him for tolerating me. I have a window seat and he, of course, the aisle, and well, some of us know how much fluid Rosie drinks and how many times she visits the ‘waushraum’ a day. Poor guy. That’s o.k. He’s too legitimate to quitamate :)

Due to the fact that the pilot is now talking to us about all sorts of things, in a language I can’t understand and that my college professor laughed at me everytime I tried to pronounce, I think I will get off here. That seems like the safest thing. Next stop: Frankfurt.