San Francesco di Assisi

Yesterday, we went to Assisi for the whole day. We did tons of walking and viewing of art, monasteries, churches, convents, hermitages, and more. It was exhausting and I don't know if I can sit down and remember every single little thing we did and saw, but it was probably my favorite trip so far here in Italy. It was so quiet and therapeutic to me. I was very interested in what I learned about Saint Francis, even though I'm not exactly sure how to apply it to myself. I like to have these things that cause me to reflect on my own beliefs and determine where they fit in and how I respond to them. Many Catholics see Saint Francis as another Christ. It's a long, long story, but I can understand the comparison. I still have many questions about it, but I know that I don't need to know and I know what I believe. I bought a rosary in Assisi as a way of remembering the experience and out of respect for the deep devotion Saint Francis had to God. It's an amazing story. I couldn't help but think of the songs "The Prayer of Saint Francis" and Denison Witmer's "Little Flowers" all day. I didn't realize that his song was about Saint Francis until I heard the stories, and I get really giddy when I make connections like that. I'm planning on showing the song to Matt Doll (our director) because I know he'd like the connection, too.

My favorite part of the day was toward the beginning, when our group sat under olive trees in an olive grove right outside Saint Francis' convent. We were on a slope and we could see surrounding cities and cars in the perfect sunlight. I played two songs on my guitar after our friend Alessandro played two songs on his. Alessandro is our Italian teacher for the semester and I had the privilege of eating at his house with three other students on Friday night. His sons were stinking adorable (one was 2 and the other 4) and they're way smarter than me. We tried to talk to them in Italian. The looks on their faces when we spoke slow and with terrible pronunciation were humbling. But it was so nice to sit and talk and practice Italian with Alessandro's family. I'm amazed at how fast I am learning it. It would be so different if I was still in America and taking classes to learn it, cause I'm here in the middle of an Italian-speaking town. I hear it all the time and I can understand a lot of it already. It's the speaking part that I still haven't gotten down yet. But I have 4 months to learn. Alessandro and I are like best friends now that he knows I play guitar. Yesterday, after lunch, I had crumbs on my jacket (cause I'm a slob) and Alessandro wiped the crumbs off my coat. It was heart-warming.

By the way, I accidentally left a guitar pick under an olive tree in Assisi. There's a part of me still there. :)

Riposo

In the small town of Orvieto, which is an elevated piece of land surrounded by cliffs, the people like to take a few hours of rest during the day. This time is called "Riposo." All shops and businesses are closed and people go home to eat lunch with their families and relax. Today, our group had a chance to travel around and see more landmarks and famous artwork... if we wanted to. You see, the past, what, four days?, we've been traveling a LOT. And seeing a LOT. My two friends and I decided that we'd take it easy today... make it a day of Riposo. I mean, we're going to be here for four months... we can travel around some more later. We went to a small cafe and ordered cappuccinos and pastries. We stayed there for maybe 3 hours. Don't judge. We know we're lazy. Then, we walked around the cobblestone streets of Orvieto for a good amount of time, learning our way around a little. After that, while shops were closing for Riposo, we went back to the monastery and all fell asleep in my friend Julia's room. Don't judge. It's Italian custom! Riposo means rest! We did get to talk about a lot of things and I've been enjoying getting to know these two girls, Julia and Whitney.

Last night I got a little taste of Italian wine. It puts any wine I've ever tasted to shame. It was home-made by the kind people who have been making our meals every day. I rarely find an alcoholic beverage that sits well with me; that I can sit back and enjoy. I just don't like the taste. But. Vino Italiano makes a meal so warm. A girl was sitting next to me who hadn't tasted wine before, and after a few glasses (about an hour later), she leaned over to me with heavy eyes and a huge smile (I don't even think her eyes were completely focused on mine) and she said, "A little vino goes a long way." I crrrrracked up.

Oh, plus, I drank my vino with some Nutella pizza. It was cooked dough blanketed with Nutella. I could have slept inside of it.

Glimpses of Heaven

I went to Rome with the group today. We saw many, many famous landmarks like the Colosseum and the Pantheon. We went to a museum, and sculpture portraits shut me up for a good amount of time. I am just in awe of everything I saw today. Words cannot describe. I am almost glad that I don't have a camera to use right now, cause it gives me an opportunity to just see and admire instead of look through a small box and possibly miss things. Of course, I can't WAIT to take pictures (Sarah! Send me that charger!). I'm itching to. I just think it's good that I don't have that distracting me from really focusing on the ancient art that could easily be overlooked or under-appreciated due to thoughts of "oh, don't forget to take a picture of this," and "don't run into that pole while you're looking through your camera and walking at the same time," or "shoot, my battery is dying." I felt fully present there, and I am so grateful for this opportunity.

Just as an after thought, I think I should talk a little about the food here. I don't think Sarah told me enough about this glorious gift fallen from the sky. Every time the cooks bring the plates out to the table, I feel like I am a groom seeing his bride for the first time (give me a break, I'm using an analogy that I sincerely believe fits). My heart stops and I almost have to fight tears. I don't know why I get emotional about it. Just, the appearance of it tells me I am soon going to be graced with something of which I am unworthy. I try to imagine what it would taste like, and then when I take that first fork-full, my expectations are always out-smarted. This food is the best food I think I'll ever taste in my life. That is all I have to say about that.

Mailing Address

Lydia Nenno
Monastery San Paolo
Via Postieria, 20
05018 Orvieto, (TR)

I was the only student who brought a guitar out of 21. Weeird.

Song of the Day, or the Next Four Months

I don't have much time to write about my day today, but I had a song running through my head a lot while I saw new, beautiful, unreal landscapes.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858677225/

This is sort of how I feel.

Giorno Uno

I am in Italy. So far, we walked around a small part of Orvieto and saw the beautiful cathedral. We ate at the restaurant where we’ll be having lunch and dinner every day. I already ate a blood orange... something Sarah raved about when she got home from Italy. Boy... that was delicious. Each slice was like biting into a juice box. I am a little bit jet lagged because it is 5:30 PM here... where at home it would be 11:30 AM, and I haven’t gotten a full night’s sleep yet. Walking down these city streets, it’s hard not to feel like it’s all part of a fake Disney World set made to look like Italy. But, we are really here. It is beautiful. The view out my window is amaaazing. I don’t have a fully charged camera yet, so I had to take a picture with my laptop... it didn't come out that great but here 'tis!

No offense to anyone, but there’s one person I miss more than anyone already. That is Kaleb. I spent most of the past 9 months with him. I already have an imaginary Kaleb that I look down at. He swings his right arm when he walks, and he imitates sirens with his eyes squinted and a goofy smile. I miss the peanut.

I know Sarah had a plan to post on her blog with a picture every day that she was in Italy last Spring, but I don’t think I’ll be trying that. I will post often, but not that often. Now, don't go thinking I don't care about everyone at home :). I will share my great moments and colorful pictures with you. I just don't want to get too distracted with "Oh, I have to post today!" when there is a short time frame (an hour and a half) each day when I can catch up with emails and uploading photos and such. I will do my best, though, to keep those interested updated with my journeys and memories-in-the-making in Italy. Thanks so much for all the prayers, I can DEFINITELY feel them working in me. I have been more excited about this than ever and I believe that this is the right time in my life for this experience. After seeing Orvieto, meeting people, and getting to meet and hear stories from Matt Doll (the coordinator), I feel at peace right where I am.

PS - If you want to chat or Skype with me, the time to do it is between 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM your time.

Today

This is the day that I leave! I'll be flying from Philly to Washington DC to Rome. My first flight is at 2:40 PM. The second is at 5:04 PM. I should be arriving in Rome at 1:45 AM your time, 7:45 AM mine. It still feels surreal! Right now it's all just talk, but once I'm on the plane, it's the real thing! This is really happening. Say a prayer for me! I'll be updating once I'm on the other side of the ocean.

Sixteen Days

Welcome. In "Enigma Italia", I plan to blog frequently while I am studying abroad in Orvieto, Italy. As you may know, my twin sister Sarah studied in Orvieto during the Spring semester of last year. I will be staying in the same monastery as she stayed in and I'll be visiting many of captivating landscapes that she boasted about. My departure is in sixteen days and as it gets closer, I get a little more excited, a little more nervous. I know that it will be the time of my life, but it'll be 4 months away from everything familiar. I ask now for your prayers that I won't be discouraged by the changes, but open and willing to see what God has in store for me.

I'll begin blogging soon after I arrive in Italy. Please feel free to comment/email/snail mail me whenever you please! I'll be posting my mailing address on here once my Italian blogging begins.

Arriving in Italy: February 19th, 2010
Leaving Italy: June 13th, 2010