"More to Love"

There have been many notable "Nice-isms" over the past week, including (in order from great to greatest):

1) "When you drink something please only drink very good wine." (normally Labrusco - sparkling red wine)
2) "Don't worry about notes [grades] because friends, food, and learning about this history is the best exam you could have."
3) "The more you eat, there more there is to love."

By this point, you probably know that Parmesan cheese and prosciutto come from my current "home" city of Parma. What you probably don't know is that we put Parmesan cheese on almost anything that's edible. Those of us in the "Nice famiglia" break off chunks of the several-kilo block of Parmesan while one person grates the cheese so we can sprinkle even more of it on top of the rest of our meal. I may have had a chunk of cheese and balsamic for dessert yesterday. I also had the pleasure of accompanying Nice to pick up a new block of cheese, which was close to a 40-minute pilgrimage in her car to the farmland outskirts of the city. I know the cheese has aged well because you can see the "eyes." I also know because it's delicious.

Given that my cheese intake is causing quite the unbalance in my ideal food pyramid, I can expect there to be "more" of me at the end of these four months. But I'm going to embrace it! Nice says that once BC students return to the U.S., they normally lose a lot of weight because they don't eat the same type of good food they did in Parma. I love your cooking, Mom, and I'll of course eat and enjoy it once I'm home, but when you get here you'll understand what I mean!

While I'm going to try to steer clear of eating pizza for lunch every day, I'm not opposed to living out that the more of this delicious, authentic Parmesan food I eat, the more of me there will be to love!

Nice

Nice ("nee-chay") is the name of the woman who owns my apartment building. She is also the host "mom" of two BC students in the Nice Apartments and is one of the sweetest women ever. Nice's family has lived in this 16th-Century house for at least four generations. Her "children" are the BC students every semester. From the moment we met her, she hugged and kissed all of us. I felt right at home! There are five of us in the apartment: Vanessa and Kelley live together, Paul lives on his own, and Jackie and I live together. We all get along really well - I think this is going to be a great semester!

Nice's gift!

On my birthday, Nice brought me this Sicilian snack and pulled my left earlobe 22 times (which seems like the equivalent of 22 "good luck birthday punches" I probably would have received in America). The next day, Nice cooked me a delicious birthday dinner (since we had the Parma welcome dinner on my actual birthday). The five of us in the "Nice family" feasted on perfectly-cooked al-dente pasta mixed with Parmesan cheese (obviously), ricotta cheese, and pumpkin! We also had fried artichoke, baked cauliflower, and other delicious sides.


For dessert, I was asked to go next door to get Annetta to join us for chocolate/brownie cake. Annetta is 95 years old and is Nice's former unofficial nanny. She comes up to my shoulders when she's standing straight, speaks only Italian, and reminds me so much of my great-grandma GG. Part of me wishes I did an actual home stay here in Parma, but I feel like living in the Nice Apartments gives me the best of both worlds: independence, but also coming home to a family. But of course no one can replace my real family...I can't wait for you all to see Italy!

My birthday dinner: (left to right) Jackie, Paul, me, Nice, Annetta, Kelley (Vanessa taking the picture)

The Power of Prayer

"For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." ~ Romans 8:26

Not only has God been answering prayers for me to be more dependent upon Him, but He continues to amaze me in His faithfulness. That shouldn't surprise me by now but it still does. This is one of His awesome qualities, in the true sense of the word.

Before departing on this trip, I prayed that I would have roommates I'd get along with and maybe be able to talk about faith with. I've got them. Since I've been here, I've prayed for opportunities to share the gospel and that has become the next conversation I have. I've been praying for the health of a sick friend from home and for God's will to be done in that situation, and she is strongly and steadily improving. The Spirit is working in me more than I can even know. I pray now that I, too, would be faithful to my Father like He is to me.

A Parmesan Birthday!

Il ventidue gennaio!

I think this was the most unique birthday experience I've ever had. Even though I couldn't celebrate with my family on my actual birthday, I thank my parents for allowing me to have this amazing opportunity to turn 21 in Italy! I'm also so grateful for how my 22 new friends over here stepped up to really make my birthday special (and how I felt the love from Chris and all my friends across the Atlantic)!

Il mio compleanno :)

My day kicked off at midnight at The Fish Pub near the Duomo in Florence. "Happy Birthday" was played on the loudspeaker (with my name inserted!) and the owner gave me champagne to share at midnight! One of my friends also got me a free rose from the would-normally-be-creepy-but-not-tonight-because-it's-my-birthday flower salesman.

After a night out with all of my new friends, we got a little sleep (emphasis on the word little) and visited the Medici Chapels in Florence in the morning. I was sleepy but still happy, which is all I wanted. I couldn't take pictures inside the chapel, but I think it is the most beautiful church I've visited yet! The different cuts of stone arranged together are breathtaking. My Art History professor will be discussing/testing us on some of the sculptures within the Chapels, so I'm really happy I got to see them in person!

Nutella & fresh strawberry crepe

I grabbed an amazing 2-euro frittata and a fabulous nutella-strawberry crepe for lunch with some of the girls. I'd been craving that crepe for days, so I was the definition of a happy camper!

We all headed on the bus for our 2-hour bus ride from Florence to Parma, and I was so happy to talk to my Dad! I heard from all of my loved ones that day via phone, text, email, or Facebook. This morning (Wednesday the 23rd) I received four very special birthday letters that kept the celebration going. But I won't jump too far ahead of myself!

I settled into the Nice (again, pronounced "nee-chay") Apartments with my new roommate Jackie. We rearranged the room to give it a more homey feel and put both beds in the same room so we won't be lonely! There are three other BC students in the apartment building, or as the owner Nice says, part of the family! While I was missing home a little bit on my birthday, I know this is going to be a great home away from home for the next few months! (To anyone reading this who wants to visit, Nice says you are welcome anytime).

Since we all just spent a week together on the same hotel floor, it's a little sad having all the BC students spread throughout Parma in different apartments or home stays. But we'll still have class and take trips together! And the night of my birthday we all went to an authentic Parmesan restaurant right around the corner from my apartment building. Brace yourself for the following photos.

Course 1: Vino Bianco, Parmesano, & Prosciutto

Course 2: Tortelli di Erbette

Course 3: Ricotta

Course 4: Lemon Chicken & Salad

Course 5: Strawberries, Cream, &
Chocolate (how did they know?)

Emmanuel

Boy, is God with me! Just over a week ago as I was preparing to come on this trip, I prayed that God would make me more dependent upon Him and that He would show me how to do that. Over the past few days, He has revealed to me more of my self-righteousness and how I need to lean on Him as my Rock. Everybody has personal sin struggles they face, often routinely. I have been reminded of a great truth in regards to my own:

"But [Jesus] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I am comforted to know that even when I mess up, my God is still abounding in love, grace, and forgiveness. (In this I also hear Him saying, "Go and do likewise"). I am further encouraged to know that my weaknesses - what I am not strong enough in my own willpower to do - point more fully to God's perfection. That's why I can't walk through life without Him! It is through this process of sanctification that I feel His Spirit working most powerfully in me. Glory be to God!

Quando in Roma (When in Rome)

Curvature of the cuppola

I'm really glad I've been to Rome before, because just spending part of a single day there is really not enough to take in all that this great city has to offer! Our Art History professor, Rocky, told us the main thing to do in Rome: eat, eat, eat! That is obviously a theme for this entire trip in Italy, but I'd love to go back and have more of a sit-down meal.

Some new friends - St. Peter's Basilica in the back

We kept busy with other great activities, though. We went into the Vatican, which is technically another country (but no, we don't need our passports to enter). This was my second time to this historic and extremely influential part of the world, but it was great learning more about what I was seeing. I learned that St. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world, if not the largest. Everything inside is so massive in proportion to everything else that you feel so small. Much like I do when I think about how truly great God is in comparison to who I am.

Sistine Chapel from the outside

We also basked in the glory of the Capella Sistina (Sistine Chapel). Much to many people's surprise, it is not the "Sixteen" Chapel but "Sistine," named after Pope Sixtus IV (Francesco della Rovere) who constructed the chapel in the 1470s. It was very interesting to see how beautiful it is on the inside but how simple and fortress-like it is on the outside. I may have sneaked a picture of the inside, but I won't post that in order to avoid the security guards tracking me down. They take their jobs very seriously.

View from the top of St. Peter's cuppola (dome)

Benvenuti a Firenze, Italia

"For apart from [God] who can eat or who can have enjoyment?" - Ecclesiastes 2:25

After four-plus days of adjusting to the wonderful city of Florence (Firenze), I've finally decided to make a blog. While this is not my first time traveling, nor my first time in Italy (thanks Mom and Dad), I still think it is important to keep track of and share the many new experiences that are sure to come throughout my semester abroad. So enjoy!

Gelato (fragole)

The verse quoted above has been on my mind since I arrived in Italy. While I was on the plane from Rome to Florence, I was asking myself why exactly I was beginning this four-month adventure

Gusta Pizza

across the Atlantic. Food, drink, merriment, travels, academics, music, friendships: all of these things are
sure to categorize this coming semester. But like the author of Ecclesiastes asserts, all is "vanity" or "meaningless" if I have these things without God. He gives it all meaning and every good and perfect gift is from above! I'm certain I'll be seeing many of His good gifts while abroad (like the pizza and gelato pictured). I plan to start, walk through, and finish this physical and spiritual journey with Christ as my motivation and guiding light.

It is very evident to me how He has already been guiding me. My trip got off to a rough start at JFK airport. We were trying to figure out how to get my luggage sent directly from New York to Florence. I doubtfully would have been able to go through customs, baggage claim, and re-check my luggage in Rome during my one-hour layover. Moral of that story: If you talk to the right people and are persistent you can make almost anything happen. Shedding a few tears doesn''t hurt either.

In the airport in Roma I met my current roommate for the week, Vanessa. We've been getting along great and will be in the same apartment building (called Nice - pronounced "nee-chay") for the duration of our stay in Parma. There are 23 people in my program, 5 males, and everyone seems to be meshing pretty well so far. No one person seems to be left out, which is great! We all stay in the Hotel Meridiana together for our one week in Florence, then we'll all be split up a little more once we arrive at our separate apartments or home stays in Parma.

"Gates of Paradise" - Ghiberti

We've all been taking Art History together with our professor Rocky. He's from Rhode Island and went to college in the States, so he understands American students pretty well since he was one once. I know nothing about art, and have never been particularly interested in it, but Rocky makes it understandable and enjoyable! Directly visiting the sites we're learning about also makes it more interesting than simply looking at pictures in a textbook. As he said, "Some people would cut off their right arm to see some of these paintings." So I'm really trying to take it all in. So far, we've been to the Bargello, Casa Buonarroti, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, and Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore. Among many pieces of brilliant Renaissance art we've seen, most notable have been Michelangelo's statue of "David" and "The Holy Family/Doni Tondo" painting, Botticelli's "La Primavera" and "Birth of Venus," Da Vinci's "Annunciation," and Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" doors. The amount of history in this city is unfathomable. Unfortunately, I could only take pictures of the "Gates of Paradise," since most museums prohibit photography.

Among places I've visited outside of class are the Duomo, Basilica di Santa Croce, Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace), several leather shops to try on jackets I can't afford, and Gusta Pizza, as per the recommendation of every BC person I've talked to who's been to Florence. If I think the food is good here, I can't imagine what it will be like in Parma! My diet mainly consists of pasta and cheese...it's a good thing we've been walking an average of 9 miles each day!

View from the top of the dome of the Duomo

Boboli Gardens with Palazzo Pitti in back
(a.k.a. future wedding location)

Basilica di Santa Croce with some new friends

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) in the background

I would also like to wish a VERY HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY to Annie! Wish we could be celebrating together but I'm sure you're having a great time in Dublin! Much love to my family and friends...more to come soon :)