Today is my last day in Northern Italy and the last day of my stay here at La Via Antiga. My time here, although short, has been wonderful, mostly because of my two wonderful hosts who spoil me so much! I spend most of my time working in the kitchen with Meris and have cooked and eaten so many delicious things! Ricotta cake, cookies, ravioli, buffalo, pork, espresso, and on and on...The ony thing i have not tried yet is horse (a normal meal in Europe!) since I guess the horse here are not fattened up enough to slaughter, yikes! Meris has made it easy for me to explore some of the so-called Venetian Arc: towns and sites outside of Venice that are less popular, but still worth seeing! The other day I visited Verona, the setting of Romeo and Juliet and saw Juliet's famous balcony along with a bunch of magnificent churches and Verona's own Colosseum (a smaller version of the one in Rome, but was used for the same purposes). Being in the Colosseum was very interesting. I instantly got a weird feeling because I realized that many people stood in the same spot hundreds of years ago and breathed their last breath. Christians especially - sent to die before a crowd all because of what they believed. History is fascinating to read about but its another to visit the actual places things occurred.
Tonight I head to Treviso with Meris for some shopping and maybe a taste of the town's famous Tirimasu, since it claims to be the home of the delicious dessert.
Tomorrow morning Ill take a train to Assisi where I will be staying and working at Casa Faustina, (www.casafaustina.com) an agriturismo on a mountain overlooking the birthplace of St. Francis, that also makes extra virgin olive oil. I'll be helping out with the olive harvest among other things. I'm very excited for this leg of the journey because it will allow me time to travel around one of the most beautiful regions of Italy and also the region where my family comes from - Umbria. I will be at Casa Faustina for a whole month and am looking forward to settling in.
Otherwise I am doing well and enjoying lots of peace and quiet. I watched television yesterday for the first time in a long time and was amazed - it was nice to have an outlet to the outside world even if it was all in Italian! I started watching Italian kids shows since the language isnt as tough to follow. Oh and another thing about Europe that Ive noticed but am not a fan of - mens fashion. Every guy under the age of 30 wears tight pants. I dont get it, but theres something wrong when the men's pants are tighter than mine... oh well. Ill try to post pictures later - not only of tight pants, but of other things as well, but for now im due back to work!
Ciao!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Venzia
Ciao a tutti! I have safely arrived in Italy and am getting settled into life here. The first stop on my journey is a stay at La Via Antiga, an agristurismo run by a fantastic couple, Ciro and Meris (pronounced cheero e Merrice). From the first moment I met them theyve been nothing but friendly and hospitable! Meris is a great Italian language teacher as she already speaks four languages fluently. Starting in her 20s (shes now 43), Meris just started traveling. Shes seen most of the world and is still very adventurous. She doesnt live to work but just does what she needs to - she says she hopes to sell the business in a few years so she can travel some more- Meris says life is just too short to be working all the time! She reminds me so much of my friend Danielle. In the time Ive known her, Danielle has up and left to live in Costa Rica, Ireland, and currently Costa Rica. Danielle's the one who introduced me to "wwoofing" in the first place. They're also both outgoing, friendly, silly and very adventurous. Ciro likes to joke with me a lot and we have healthy debates about history and the status of America. At first I was open to what he had to say, but then he said "freedom isnt good for everyone" and I stopped listening... But in any case, he's very good to me and is generous in letting me use his computer!
Anyway, my first full day in Italy allowed me to see Meris' adventurous side up close. She knocked on my door in the morning and asked if I wanted to go to "the mountain." (I had no idea what mountain she was talking about.) I of course enthusiastically agreed. After a two and a half hour drive, we arrived in the Fruili-Venezia-Giulia region to hike through the Dolomites. I never thought I would ever visit this area so I was glad to see something new. We started hiking and didn't stop for five hours. I'll tell you what, nothing cures jet lag like a good climb up a mountain! Needless to say it was exhausting yet beautiful and a great start to my trip.
The next day was another day off for me (I work in the restaurant on the weekends) so I headed into Venice ("Venezia"). Meris was so great at helping me figure out the bus system and now I am proud to say that I am a semi-pro at Italian public transportation! Venice is incredibly charming and beautiful. There are no cars to its extremely safe and almost feels like you're on a movie set. The only way to travel is by water or by foot and since I didn't bring my bathing suit to wear while traversing the canals, I spent the whole day walking. It was the best way to see the town. I have a whole new appreciation for my legs because I realize that by the end of this trip, they will have carried me hundreds of miles around Europe. Oh by the way, I was just kidding before about the swimming in the canals - people travel by boat which is so fun to watch! If you're a romantic you can take a ride in a gondola but I'm not sure it's worth the price. I took a vaporetto (water bus) ride all the way up the Grand Canal and enjoyed it just as much.
I headed to Piazza San Marco (st. Mark's Square)which is the most famous attraction in all of Venice. My mouth dropped open in awe as I entered because I practically stumbled upon it. When you enter you see mostly people and pigeons. All the people in St. Mark's Square are tourists or Italians trying to sell something to tourists. Most of the tourists are American - you can tell by the Wrangler jeans and fanny packs. I'm so glad to be here in October because I hear it's so crowded in summer that there's barely room to move. It's funny, I found myself trying to act cooler and more confident than all the tourists because for some reason I feel I have a leg up on them because I live with native Italians. However, my gig was up when I realized I had been walking around with my Italy giude book in my hand. Oh well.
The pigeons in Venice are abundant and dangerous. Forger pickpockets, these winged creatures could really cause some harm! I had at least four zoom by my head - I could've lost an eye! It's like a scene from the sixties horror movie "Birds." You know, the one where seagulls attack and peck people to death. Ok I guess pigeons aren't that aggressive but you get the idea. Perhaps my favorite moment concerning pigeons was when some idiot decided it would be a good idea to get a dozen or so pigeons to land on him by luring them with food. I suppose he thought this would make for a great photo op. BIG MISTAKE. Clearly this guy has never spent time on the Jersey Shore, or at any beach for that matter. Never ever feed the birds because they will never go away. It may be cute at first but then before you know it the birds are getting a little too cocky and you realize they've taken your panini (sandwich) right out of your hands, runing a perfectly good lunch.
After watching the pigeon man, I toured the Basilica di San Marco which is absolutely incredible. I dont know if I've ever seen such opulence or attention to detail. The Basilica is very beautiful and is known for its 43,055 sq. ft. of mosaics that run from floor to ceiling. If you were ever wondering what any particular saint or religious event looked like, just glance around the Basilica and you will probably see it depicted on the wall. It sort of makes me want to mosaic my whole house with people and scenes from my own life. (" Look to the left folks and you'll see Lauren's first bike ride" or "On the ceiling is a picture of Lauren's high school basketball coach.") Ok, I know that's over the line, but in all seriousness there is a very spiritual aspect to each mural and mosaic - each has a gold background. This was supposed to signicy the glory and light of God himself.
The Basilica is a bit strange to be in because it's always full of tourists and I think people have a hard time being worshipful inside. I'm looking forward to visiting some smaller churches where you can actually sit and be in peace.
My favorite part of the Basilica was the upstairs "Galleria." For a mere £4, you can hang around the outdoor balcony and get a fantastic view of the square below. From the Galleria I got a close view of my other favorite part of the Basilica - four bronze horses that sit atop the building. They are a vision of strength and are very impressive. The horses were taken from Constantinople by the Venetians after the 4th Crusade. And like much of Old Europe, they are a joint symbol of the political and spiritual. They mark the era of Byzantium but also are said to represent the four evangelists going out to spread the Word of God.
I finished my day with a quick free tour of a Vivaldi exhibit and got to listen to some wonderful classical music. Vivaldi is a child of Venice known for his string compositions hence the many violins I saw at the exhibit. I had no idea there were so many different types of string instruments - big violins, baby violins, violas, basses, etc. (disclaimer: "big violin" and "small violin" are not actual names of instruments.) I also tasted my first real Italian gelato and decided I wuld have some in every city I visit! Forget lunch, give me gelato! For only £1 it's worth it. Maybe by the time I'm done here I would have tasted every kind of gelato Italy has to offer. Delicioso!
Anyway, my first full day in Italy allowed me to see Meris' adventurous side up close. She knocked on my door in the morning and asked if I wanted to go to "the mountain." (I had no idea what mountain she was talking about.) I of course enthusiastically agreed. After a two and a half hour drive, we arrived in the Fruili-Venezia-Giulia region to hike through the Dolomites. I never thought I would ever visit this area so I was glad to see something new. We started hiking and didn't stop for five hours. I'll tell you what, nothing cures jet lag like a good climb up a mountain! Needless to say it was exhausting yet beautiful and a great start to my trip.
The next day was another day off for me (I work in the restaurant on the weekends) so I headed into Venice ("Venezia"). Meris was so great at helping me figure out the bus system and now I am proud to say that I am a semi-pro at Italian public transportation! Venice is incredibly charming and beautiful. There are no cars to its extremely safe and almost feels like you're on a movie set. The only way to travel is by water or by foot and since I didn't bring my bathing suit to wear while traversing the canals, I spent the whole day walking. It was the best way to see the town. I have a whole new appreciation for my legs because I realize that by the end of this trip, they will have carried me hundreds of miles around Europe. Oh by the way, I was just kidding before about the swimming in the canals - people travel by boat which is so fun to watch! If you're a romantic you can take a ride in a gondola but I'm not sure it's worth the price. I took a vaporetto (water bus) ride all the way up the Grand Canal and enjoyed it just as much.
I headed to Piazza San Marco (st. Mark's Square)which is the most famous attraction in all of Venice. My mouth dropped open in awe as I entered because I practically stumbled upon it. When you enter you see mostly people and pigeons. All the people in St. Mark's Square are tourists or Italians trying to sell something to tourists. Most of the tourists are American - you can tell by the Wrangler jeans and fanny packs. I'm so glad to be here in October because I hear it's so crowded in summer that there's barely room to move. It's funny, I found myself trying to act cooler and more confident than all the tourists because for some reason I feel I have a leg up on them because I live with native Italians. However, my gig was up when I realized I had been walking around with my Italy giude book in my hand. Oh well.
The pigeons in Venice are abundant and dangerous. Forger pickpockets, these winged creatures could really cause some harm! I had at least four zoom by my head - I could've lost an eye! It's like a scene from the sixties horror movie "Birds." You know, the one where seagulls attack and peck people to death. Ok I guess pigeons aren't that aggressive but you get the idea. Perhaps my favorite moment concerning pigeons was when some idiot decided it would be a good idea to get a dozen or so pigeons to land on him by luring them with food. I suppose he thought this would make for a great photo op. BIG MISTAKE. Clearly this guy has never spent time on the Jersey Shore, or at any beach for that matter. Never ever feed the birds because they will never go away. It may be cute at first but then before you know it the birds are getting a little too cocky and you realize they've taken your panini (sandwich) right out of your hands, runing a perfectly good lunch.
After watching the pigeon man, I toured the Basilica di San Marco which is absolutely incredible. I dont know if I've ever seen such opulence or attention to detail. The Basilica is very beautiful and is known for its 43,055 sq. ft. of mosaics that run from floor to ceiling. If you were ever wondering what any particular saint or religious event looked like, just glance around the Basilica and you will probably see it depicted on the wall. It sort of makes me want to mosaic my whole house with people and scenes from my own life. (" Look to the left folks and you'll see Lauren's first bike ride" or "On the ceiling is a picture of Lauren's high school basketball coach.") Ok, I know that's over the line, but in all seriousness there is a very spiritual aspect to each mural and mosaic - each has a gold background. This was supposed to signicy the glory and light of God himself.
The Basilica is a bit strange to be in because it's always full of tourists and I think people have a hard time being worshipful inside. I'm looking forward to visiting some smaller churches where you can actually sit and be in peace.
My favorite part of the Basilica was the upstairs "Galleria." For a mere £4, you can hang around the outdoor balcony and get a fantastic view of the square below. From the Galleria I got a close view of my other favorite part of the Basilica - four bronze horses that sit atop the building. They are a vision of strength and are very impressive. The horses were taken from Constantinople by the Venetians after the 4th Crusade. And like much of Old Europe, they are a joint symbol of the political and spiritual. They mark the era of Byzantium but also are said to represent the four evangelists going out to spread the Word of God.
I finished my day with a quick free tour of a Vivaldi exhibit and got to listen to some wonderful classical music. Vivaldi is a child of Venice known for his string compositions hence the many violins I saw at the exhibit. I had no idea there were so many different types of string instruments - big violins, baby violins, violas, basses, etc. (disclaimer: "big violin" and "small violin" are not actual names of instruments.) I also tasted my first real Italian gelato and decided I wuld have some in every city I visit! Forget lunch, give me gelato! For only £1 it's worth it. Maybe by the time I'm done here I would have tasted every kind of gelato Italy has to offer. Delicioso!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
expecting the unexpected.
So these days blogging seems to be the new hip thing to do so I figured I'd hop on that bandwagon and create my very own blog/online journal documenting my time in Italy and other parts of Europe. I'm grateful for those of you who are willing to check in every once in awhile and I hope that this proves somewhat interesting or at least gives you an insight into what I'm learning/doing/experiencing over the next few months.
In about 24 hours I will be on a plane to Venice for my first leg of the journey. I couldn't be more excited. Everyone's been asking me what exactly I'll be doing over there and the best I can come up with is to say that I'll be hopping around to different organic farms/"agriturismos" and working alongside native Italians. To learn more about the program, go to www.wwoof.it. Yup, four years of college and now I'm a farmer. Talk about being responsible. I sold my car, deferred my loans, packed everything I need in a backpack and am taking off. Other than the "wwoofing", I don't really know what each day will bring. However, one thing I do know is how incredibly blessed I am to do something like this. I am only 22. I have the chance to bum around Europe for a long time. Most people in the world are wondering where their next meal is coming from or how they're going to pay their bills and I'll be visiting cathedrals and learning how to make pasta from scratch. I am so grateful.
So I guess another way of phrasing that "what are you doing" question is to ask, "what are you expecting?" Ah expectations. I've realized there's quite a difference between expectations and goals. I think we all do a lot out of expectation - mostly trying to meet the expectations others have for us. However, that usually ends up backfiring because we probably never feel like we can ever really meet those expectations or we end up miserable because we feel stuck trying to please everybody else when all we really wanted was to be ourselves. Now don't get me wrong, expectations aren't all bad. For example, having high expectations for my students (in case you didn't know, I have my teaching license and am planning on becoming a high school social studies teacher) is a great thing - students tend to meet high expectations and are all the more successful because they were actually challenged. However, in other areas of life, expectations can sometimes leave us with a sour taste in our mouth. That's why I say it's best to have low expectations. Shoot for mediocrity and you'll never end up disappointed! haha. Therefore the only expectation I have for myself on this trip is to expect the unexpected. Oh and by the way, if you're wondering when exactly I will end up using that teaching license I worked so hard to earn over the past four years, don't worry - I plan on coming back and getting a real job as soon as possible. I just figure I'd take my retirement now when I can actually enjoy it!
So for the next seven and a half months I'm not focusing on expectations but rather goals. Goals are great to have - something to work for - something you choose for yourself-something to keep you hoping and fighting. I have simple goals for this trip and here are a few of them:
1. Have a fantastic adventure.
2. Live simply. I can't think of anything better than working with your hands, digging in the earth and taking time to really appreciate God's creation.
3. Learn some great new skills i.e. the language, cooking, farming, gardening, etc.
4. Read and write a lot.
Yes, I know those goals are probably not earth shattering, but they seem pretty darn good to me. I guess I'll keep you updated on this blog at how they're coming along.
Another question people have been asking me is if I'm at all scared to go it alone for awhile and the answer to that is a resounding no. Besides, my parents are worried/anxious enough for everyone. (haha sorry mom and dad, love you!) Plus, I have terrific friends who have done a lot braver things. For example, my friend Matt is at his second go-around being a missionary in South Africa - I can't think of anything more brave than that - going into hard places, and shedding light - sharing Jesus. Heck, I know a ton of people that do that in America too - people who walk into high schools befriending teenagers and sharing that same hope of the gospel. Or like my friends Rob and Steve - men who serve in the military and risk their lives for this great country (ah yes, that's another thing you might learn about me from this blog...I love America - I know it's not popular to say these days, and I know America isn't perfect, but lighten up people! You can worship freely, work freely, speak freely etc. That doesn't happen everywhere.) Anyway,they're brave, not me - heck, I'll be eating gelato and drinking wine everyday, I can think of a lot worse things to do!
Ok, this post has gotten way to long and I should go pack! I suppose the next time you'll hear from me I'll be in beautiful Italy. Ciao! (one of the few Italian words I know so far...)
In about 24 hours I will be on a plane to Venice for my first leg of the journey. I couldn't be more excited. Everyone's been asking me what exactly I'll be doing over there and the best I can come up with is to say that I'll be hopping around to different organic farms/"agriturismos" and working alongside native Italians. To learn more about the program, go to www.wwoof.it. Yup, four years of college and now I'm a farmer. Talk about being responsible. I sold my car, deferred my loans, packed everything I need in a backpack and am taking off. Other than the "wwoofing", I don't really know what each day will bring. However, one thing I do know is how incredibly blessed I am to do something like this. I am only 22. I have the chance to bum around Europe for a long time. Most people in the world are wondering where their next meal is coming from or how they're going to pay their bills and I'll be visiting cathedrals and learning how to make pasta from scratch. I am so grateful.
So I guess another way of phrasing that "what are you doing" question is to ask, "what are you expecting?" Ah expectations. I've realized there's quite a difference between expectations and goals. I think we all do a lot out of expectation - mostly trying to meet the expectations others have for us. However, that usually ends up backfiring because we probably never feel like we can ever really meet those expectations or we end up miserable because we feel stuck trying to please everybody else when all we really wanted was to be ourselves. Now don't get me wrong, expectations aren't all bad. For example, having high expectations for my students (in case you didn't know, I have my teaching license and am planning on becoming a high school social studies teacher) is a great thing - students tend to meet high expectations and are all the more successful because they were actually challenged. However, in other areas of life, expectations can sometimes leave us with a sour taste in our mouth. That's why I say it's best to have low expectations. Shoot for mediocrity and you'll never end up disappointed! haha. Therefore the only expectation I have for myself on this trip is to expect the unexpected. Oh and by the way, if you're wondering when exactly I will end up using that teaching license I worked so hard to earn over the past four years, don't worry - I plan on coming back and getting a real job as soon as possible. I just figure I'd take my retirement now when I can actually enjoy it!
So for the next seven and a half months I'm not focusing on expectations but rather goals. Goals are great to have - something to work for - something you choose for yourself-something to keep you hoping and fighting. I have simple goals for this trip and here are a few of them:
1. Have a fantastic adventure.
2. Live simply. I can't think of anything better than working with your hands, digging in the earth and taking time to really appreciate God's creation.
3. Learn some great new skills i.e. the language, cooking, farming, gardening, etc.
4. Read and write a lot.
Yes, I know those goals are probably not earth shattering, but they seem pretty darn good to me. I guess I'll keep you updated on this blog at how they're coming along.
Another question people have been asking me is if I'm at all scared to go it alone for awhile and the answer to that is a resounding no. Besides, my parents are worried/anxious enough for everyone. (haha sorry mom and dad, love you!) Plus, I have terrific friends who have done a lot braver things. For example, my friend Matt is at his second go-around being a missionary in South Africa - I can't think of anything more brave than that - going into hard places, and shedding light - sharing Jesus. Heck, I know a ton of people that do that in America too - people who walk into high schools befriending teenagers and sharing that same hope of the gospel. Or like my friends Rob and Steve - men who serve in the military and risk their lives for this great country (ah yes, that's another thing you might learn about me from this blog...I love America - I know it's not popular to say these days, and I know America isn't perfect, but lighten up people! You can worship freely, work freely, speak freely etc. That doesn't happen everywhere.) Anyway,they're brave, not me - heck, I'll be eating gelato and drinking wine everyday, I can think of a lot worse things to do!
Ok, this post has gotten way to long and I should go pack! I suppose the next time you'll hear from me I'll be in beautiful Italy. Ciao! (one of the few Italian words I know so far...)
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