Danie and the "No Good, Very Bad Day"

Do you remember the book we all read in elementary school about Alexander and the no good, very bad day? Journey with me as I take you on a memorable tale of this past day in Florence. We started early this morning in Florence. After walking down the busy streets and through the large market, I joined hundreds of other tourist at the Duomo. "Duomo" means the church and almost every church in Italy has a main church named as such. This one, however, is famous for its incredible dome that towers over the city. Brunalessci, a famous renaissance artist and architect, created this amazing dome, defeating all of the people's doubts and the incredible challenge. I have never felt so small or been so enthralled with the artwork. All of the dome was constructed by hand and there are still speculations on how the architectural construction was completed without machines. I can not describe how grand this thing was! About 150 years later, the town decided to paint the inside of the duomo with a scenery of the levels of the afterlife. A master painter, his assistant, and their apprentices worked daily on the curved piece. Above, there is a renaissance freize that appears entirely real and 3d even from hundreds of feet below. We also saw the baptistry next door and the original doors created in bronze and gold.

We split up from the group and exchanged money for bananas. We had fourty five minutes until I was supposed to meet our archeology group to go to Fiezela and see the Etruscan ruins that we've been studying. Well, after forty five minutes of walking around and asking the locals, there we were...lost in this huge city with no way to get to the group. We showed up, cold pizza in hand and realized that the bus had already left. So, as I began to panick and worry about everything...we got another ticket and boarded the bus. However, we found out that the bus system was going on strike that afternoon until the next morning...leaving us with no way to get back. We finally met up with our group, paid to get into the museum, and explained the story...only to find out that the site was closed and all of the ruins under construction. So, up to this point we were lost in Florence, trapped on a crowded bus with people's hands touching areas they were not supposed to, and abandoned in another town. Suprisingly, everyone had a great attitude and we just decided to hike 7 miles to the train station. We made it in perfect timing and had an incredible arial view of the entire city of Florence. God has a way of making the bad days good. I'm so thankful for our professor and his extreme understanding, patience, and humor.

Yesterday, we toured more of our hometown and learned about the Classical Period of art. Paolo took us up into the city museum/library. I held a 16th century Bible...it was indescrible. We were able to look at maps of America made before its discovery. It looked like the library off of "Beauty and the Beast" and I had the chance to pick up any book I wanted to to read. In America, we would never have the chance to read these works of art from the 1400's, but here I could thumb through my choice of works. These moments and the duomo experience were my favorite moments in Italy, so far. We will relax tomorrow before going to Florence again on Friday and then making our way to Cinque Terra, the "five lands" of beauty. Ciao!

Florence and Arrezzo

On Thursday, I traveled with a group of 59 A&M students to Florence, Italy. Florence is about an hour away from the town I live in (by bus). We went to a romanesque style church overlooking the entire city and learned about the frescoes (paintings that are made in two layers: one plaster layer with a simple drawing and another layer with colored paints). The frescoes in some of the churches have been destroyed with age or removed by man. For example, most of the frescoes in San Maria were demolished with the French Revolution. Also, the church called Sant Croce in Florence flooded due to the Anno River and several of the art pieces were destroyed because the people were busy trying to survive the rising waters. The Santa Croce is the place of burial for Michalengelo, Machiavelli, and supposedly Dante. His body is actually located in Rivenna. We walked by Dante's house in Florence and learned about his wife Beatrice. Galileo's home was too far up into the hills to visit, but it was neat to know that we are near by. After a huge lunch and real, American vanilla ice cream, we had the afternoon off to shop in the markets. The leather in Florence, since the city is known for its leather quality, is a little pricey. That doesn't keep tourists away. Joy and I found tons of souvenirs in less than thirty minutes.

In a smaller town called Arezzo, a native named Monica showed us around. After a long walk down the hill from the center and a short train ride, we started out on a long day's trek around the city. All of the Italian cities have a street called Via Roma (the road to Rome) and Corsa Italia to remind the citizens of their Roman and Italian heritage during the fascists regime. The Medicci family, a huge political family in Italy who imported spices and gained great wealth, built their fortress here. The Medicci's, from whom we get our word "medicine" because of the six capsule looking spheres on their crest, built a fortress in this town. The Medicci's had the famous "fleur di lei" as their flower, but when one of the daughters married a royal frenchman, France adopted the flower as their own. The markets in Arezzo stretched for miles, but after hours of walking all we wanted was pizza and water. After a cheap lunch and some gelatto, the entire town fell asleep and all of the shops closed from 1-3:30. We made it back to the center in time for dinner and the town's Medieval festival.

The fesitval has been going on for the last three nights. It is similar to a fair in America, except that EVERYONE comes, young and old alike. They sell wine for 1 euro, have flag throwing displays, make fresh bruschetta and roast a pig. This has been the best way to get into the culture and really become part of the town. Our friend, Areon, shows us around since his English is almost flawless. This morning, I enjoyed my first real breakfast with CEREAL ( you better believe it), eggs, and yogurt. This kind of thing is unheard of in the Italian culture. About ten of us went to mass this morning. People were surprised that I went to worship with them since I'm not Catholic. I just remembered Jesus saying to the Samritan woman that we will all worship together on the same mountain. The service was in Italian, but that definitely did not limit the way that the Spirit could ellicit praise from my mouth. It looks like Sundays will be catch up days at the center. I'm looking foward to a relaxing day of reading, napping, and pizza before we go to a classical concert in the hills tonight. Ciao!

Giving Thanks

For all of the complaints and requests that the Lord has to put up with when I normally run to him in need...it must be nice for him to finally hear praise and thanksgiving from my lips. I have had so many moments of sitting in a chair on our courtyard that overlooks the countryside, thinking "I am here. The Lord wins the battles of life and brings us into triumphant moments."

Since I last made an update, we have started classes and planned our weekend trips. I am trying to fill my head with all of the Italian language. Learning foods and expressions seems to be my forte. Funny...I am able to remember how to say every flavor of gelatto. Last night, we took Leah out for her birthday. We ate ate a really nice, famous restaraunt called Roggio's. The place was full of Italian boys and men watching the championship of a "football" game. The people were so gracious to us! We had all of the restaraunt laughing at our accents, teaching us how to toast in Italian. Not to mention the food...seven of us got different dishes (for really cheap since we did not order the traditional three course meal) and they were all AMAZING...or malto buono! Three hours after our arrival, pictures, and a couple of offers for gelato (too bad we had already eaten three desserts!), we finally left to walk back to the center!

Today we had our first 8 am class about the Etruscans and founding of Rome. Our professor is so understanding about allowing us to enjoy Italy and not keeping our nose stuck in a book. Instead, we are able to experience the culture through on site reports, History channel documentaries, and Italian guest speakers. I enjoy the studying and learning...it's strange how you really learn when there's no pressure.

Paolo, my favorite professor, said something profound about art today. He said, "Art is simply an expression of what is inside a man. When you fall in love, you become an artist." This reminds me of the Lord...When we are in love with the Almighty God, we paint pictures and write poems, expressing that which is inside of us!

Joy and I went and explored the lower parts of Castiglion Fiorentino this afternoon. Here, I found a small cafe that I have always imagined myself at with a book and my journal. We had to stop and sit for a while, just for pleause's sake. We have planned trips to Rome, Paris, and Cinque Terre. I'm a little nervous about all of the details, though. We'll go to Florence and Arezzo as a class in the next two days.

So Surreal

My struggle is how to describe a place that fufills so many of my dreams. Somewhere between the incredible country side (Yes, it does look just like the movies!), the fresh food cooked by our own Italian chef, reading in the cafe, or touring the city before eating gelato with the local kids...somewhere in the midst of all this I have been so satisfied. I recognized, today, that it is not the simple pleasures of man that will bring us real joy. However, when we experience delight in the Lord THROUGH these things real satisfaction comes.

We arrived in Rome after a seven hour plane flight. I think I gained some enemies since I was able to sleep for all but thirty minutes of the plane ride. We rode a bus to Santa Chiara (the center where the students from A&M and four other Universities stay) and ate our first Italian meal. I have three roomates...incredible girls that I really enjoy. The center overexceeded any expectations I may have had. Our room is huge...though the bathroom is a little odd! The town is perfect. It is set on the very top of a hill in Tuscany and overlooks the vineyards. The people love the students here. This is probably because we give them so much business...especially the "gelateria" where every girl got icecream this afternoon. After a day's worth of orientations and meetings, we saw the A&M singing cadets at a chapel performance last night.

This morning, the roomates and I woke up early and went to a bar (...hold on, this really means cafe) to get cappucinno and a pastry before reading and journaling. The most common phrase these days seems to be..."we're in Italy"...things that would be bad in America are small annoyances when I remember where I am.

Paolo, the center founder, took us on a historical tour of the town today. He has a fascinating way of connecting with the students. For example, he sat in front of the church today and explained the symbolism in churches. He talked about the classic era and man's search to find his "center" in the universe. Paolo, emphasized the meaning of sacred (man's realization of a gap between man and God) and religous (a reconnection). It seems to me like the church buildings of old were really created to represent the relationship with a holy God. In reminds me of how the tabernacle and temple were built, even in their grandeur, to display supernatural things. If only churches today were built and purposed to represent the Creator and His creation.

The locals taught us the language today when we went out for gelato and a tour of the town. I found a beautiful, secret place to read in the courtyard. I am even excited about studying archeology while we are here. We'll go to Rome, Florence, Arrezzo, Ostea, and other places to do on site lectures and presentations!

Thank the Lord for the opportunities and relationships that He has already provided. Who would have know that my lactose intolerance would grant me a relationship with the chef downstairs? Please keep praying for dinner conversations and the chance to be a sweet frangrance of the Lord's Gospel in this dream that he's allowing me to live! Thanks for your interests and supports!

Is this really happening?

After years of great Italian food, numerous viewings of Gladiator, a new fascination with gelato, and plenty of daydreaming in class it almost seems like this is too good to be true. Lord willing, I'm leaving for Italy on Sunday, May 22nd to study abroad at the Santa Chiara campus in Castilion Fiorentino in the Tuscan region. The first day that my mom and I visited Texas A&M, we made our way to the study abroad office to find out about any Italian trips they might offer. I saved some of my core cirriculum classes, started setting aside money and applying for scholarships.

In one week, I'll leave to pursue this dream and step foot into a gracious gift from the Father. In worship this morning, I closed my eyes and praised the Lord for all of the remarkable things that He has allowed me to set my eyes upon. Acacia trees in Africa, rice fields in China, and the joy of Texas A&M...I never cease to be thankful for the opportunities that my selfless parents allow their "baby girl" to enoy! I'm practicing my Italian in the car (with the help of a learner's CD). I think all of the Hastings employees got a kick out of watching me unload so many Italian movies, books, and CDs last night.

There will be sixty other students on the trip from A&M, including my dear friend Joy. We realize that this is not a self-titled mission trip, but Joy and I are so excited to get to be messengers of the Gospel to this new land. Please pray that we will have opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ to the students traveling with us and all of the Italians we will meet, including the workers at the center.