L'ultimo fine settimana

I'm sitting here wondering how did this pass by so quickly? It's my final weekend in Florence (L'ultimo fine settimana) and I find myself so full of every emotion imaginable. I can't quite bring myself to write about my reflection on my experience here yet. And it will probably come in bits and pieces because it's hard to describe everything at one time.

I'm very pleased with everything I have done here and I'm not really finding myself trying to cram in last minute things to do before I leave. There are a couple things that I would like to do but if I don't get to, I can still leave Florence without any regrets. Yesterday I got to do one of my "wish list" items- Climb the Cupola- the top of the Duomo. It was absolutely amazing! I can't even begin to put in words the beautiful landscape and scene that God laid out before me when I came out at the top and looked out over this city in which I've been living for the past three and a half months. Even my pictures can't do it justice of portraying how incredible the view was, but at least the pictures can show you much better than I can explain. :-)

A little view out of one of the windows on our way up :)

On my way to the top!

Up, up, up we go!

Ta-Daaaaaa! We've made it!

God is so good!

Week before Finals- Italian style

A brief update on my life:

I have reached my first "week before college finals" aka h-e-double-hockey-sticks week as the majority of the college population calls it. Except, I'm having quite the opposite experience, and I'm not quite sure if I should be extremely worried about it or not.... Those of you that know me and my study habits and my feelings towards school have seen the worst in me when it comes to achieving academically and how you can't expect much kindness from me when major projects, assignments, or tests are in the near future. Studying and preparing to do well has been so much of my life. Yet, I am now six days away from my first final and I haven't started studying....

I've been doing really well in my class. A's on everything, so I know I have some wiggle room, yet I still feel preparred enough to where I truly believe I can't "cram" for anything at this point. Yes, being abroad and this atmosphere has a lot to do with this newfound calmness, but I think I've finally found my niche in studying and how to keep up with my classes enough to where I don't have to cram in the end. Which is absolutely wonderful! The past few days have been perfect as my time here is coming to a close!

Sunday I went to the center and walked around and shopped with my friend Jessi and came back in the late afternoon and just got in bed and started reading a book. Monday I got to come home early because my Italian class was cancelled and I got into my PJs and got in bed again to finish reading the book I had started the day before. Tuesday I got to sleep in because my classes don't start til 11 anyways and after my workstudy job I came home and watched TV during my freetime. And today we didn't have school because it's a national holiday and I went to the Christmas Market in Piazza di Santa Croce with a couple of girls and walked around there for a bit. I've also been able to write extensively in my personal journals on my reflections of my experience here. I've been wanting to do that very much so for a while and it's nice as the final days are coming to be able to take the time and let it all out.

I'm sure my attitude will change a bit tomorrow and this weekend as I do actually do some studying and preparring, but these past few relaxing days have been much needed, and they've really shown me how much I've matured since I've been here. I've arrived at a rational mindset to approaching academics, and still setting high goals and expectations for myself. Part of it has come from my amazing relationship with God that has strengthened since I've been here and I've learned that I can only do my best and no matter what, it's all in His hands. I've really turned my whole life over to Him in every aspect that I could, and since I trust He has a plan for everything else, I know He has a plan and a reason behind the grades that I receive when I utilize the blessings that He has given me to the best of my abilities.

I've been reflecting on this a lot lately, but it is absolutely amazing what God can do when you put it ALL in His hands. I started praying about my college decision as soon as I started my applications, and when April 1st came and I found out from my last two colleges (one of which had been my number one choice) that I had been denied, I knew from the devotional that I read right before I read my letters that God was with me and He had a plan for me. I honestly never could have imagined this time last year that I would be in this city, in this country, in this place in my relationship with God. But there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is EXACTLY where I was meant to be. For so many reasons. One of which is the maturity level to which I have reached and how my life has become so much more peaceful because of how much I've turned over my life to God and the environment that He has provided me with here to learn from.

I cannot wait to get back to the homeland and share with everyone all of my stories, experiences, and guidance that I have received from God since I've been here!

It's crazy to think that I can now say, "I'll be home next week!"
9 more days!!

There's so much to be thankful for

Oops... I'm really bad at this keeping up with the blog thing :-/ I forgot that I never finished telling about my wonderful Thanksgiving Festivities!

So to finish my story! After my Italian class (in which we cooked and ate) I headed down to the Duomo with Jessi and we met Janece to work on an Art History project (the details of it are irrelevant to this story). After we finished at the Duomo we headed back to the school to help out with the preparations for a dinner our Freshman group was having that night. As we turned the corner in the courtyard to walk down into the entrance of the kitchen, we were overwhelmed with this amazing smell of deliciousness! We walked down in, and low and behold there was a turkey in the oven! Apparently only a couple of the "chefs" knew that we were having a turkey, and they wanted to keep it a surprise for the rest of the group! What a wonderful surprise it was indeed! 

The next couple hours were quite interesting! Jessi baked her first cake- I assisted in the cleaning of the bowl (if you know what I mean!). We couldn't figure out how to work the other oven that had all these weird Italian knobs and dials. I slightly burnt the skin on my right hand because in order to stir our Macoroni and Cheese (or as we called it- penne e formaggio), I had to stick my hand in the actual Mac&Cheese because the spoon was shorter than the pot itself. I didn't complain though- I had a nice appitizer leftover on my hand once we finished! :-) Various people preparred various dishes while we listened to some music and danced- I mean worked- the next couple of hours.  

Cylicia, Bri, and Catherine preparring the salad

Jessi, Rachel, Myself, Bri, Mariah, and Terry- Jessi was waiting on her cake to bake, Rach and I were working on the penne e formaggio, Bri was cooking the vegetables, and Mariah and Terry were waiting for the samples :)

Exhibit A: My hand was a complete mess but
Exhibit B: Look at that smile on my face!
Can you tell I was having fun?

Jessi and her first cake!
Che bellisima! (How beautiful!)

Catherine and Terry working on the Bruschetta!

The "first" course: Chips with homemade guacamole dip and cheese dip, steamed and seasoned vegetables, mixed salad, bruschetta, and cranberry sauce. Oh and a little chocolate on our plates! :)

Harrison and I! As you can see our plates were full as well as the table!

Our table at some point during the meal: Shepherd's Pie, Beans, penne e formaggio, and bread.
Also, please note the drink in my cup: Orange Fanta- best drink ever! They make it with real orange juice here! It's like carbonated orange juice! It's amazing!

Jessi was adament on baking the cake by herself.

Ah oh! We got caught!!

Harrison and I were having quite a bit a fun during dinner!
There is no telling what I was doing with this face!





 Mari (from Puerto Rico!!!) and Catherine working on the Bruschetta

I don't even know where to begin to describe the rest of the night as dinner progressed and we enjoyed our meal(s) and each others' company. Throughout the night, I couldn't help but think about how different this Thanksgiving was to anything I have every had, but how wonderful, and almost just as special, this night was for me. We took some time out of our dinner to go around the room and do the traditional "I am thankful for..." but this year, you could definitely tell a difference in the way each of us spoke, that we really meant it from our hearts. The two most mentioned things were: our family back at home in the States, and our "family" here.

It is truly a blessing and definitely the works of God of the dynamics of this Freshmen group. With 20 girls, two boys, two upperclassmen mentors, and a "mama", it is amazing how all of us can manage to get along so well and have the relationships that we do with one another. As our time here is coming to a close, I think most of us are starting to realize how this is an experience that we will never have again, and nobody will be able to understand exactly what we went through except the 24 other members of our "family". We all are so unique in our own ways, yet many of us have (freakishly) common personalities and this "common thread" that we can't quite pinpoint and describe. I will have to spend an entry talking about each of the persons in my "family" later on. Probably when I'm back in the States constantly thinking about them and wishing they were there with me to laugh at certain (ab)normalities that we are going to have to adjust to.

The Family :-)

But anyways, back to Thanksgiving. Being here in a foreign country, not having a roommate for the second half of the semester, and living in a homestay that isn't near anyone else in the program and a half an hour walk to the school has actually been one of the best things that could have happened to me. Pertaining to the spirit of Thanksgiving, I have come to a completely deeper appreciation for the blessings that God has placed in my life.

1) My "Webster family- Gainesville Division- Daryl Klan" I have really learned to appreciate the foundation and necessity of my family back at home, despite how independent I've tried to become. There will never be anyone else on this earth who could ever even substitute for my relationships with my mom, dad, brother, and sister. I can't continue with details because the tears have already started and I've got to keep typing.
2) My Christian family- the ones who have been with me for years and years and the ones who I have just met and our relationships are just starting to grow. I talked about it earlier in the semester, but I have to say it again, there is something completely different about being away from a Christian family and not getting to be around even just one Christian brother or sister every day. Realizing how much of a part of my heart that my Christian family holds has made me see what is important to me and my Christian faith, as well as I have been completely humbled by the amazing Christian family God has provided me with. I don't know if yall will ever know how much your prayers, messages, and words of encouragement have meant to me while being here.
3) My relationship with God. The best way to sum it up is through this bible passage that has been at my side (literally- tapped to the side of the nightstand next to my bed) for most of this semester:

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and anxieties to God, for He cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So that after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation."

-1 Peter 5:6-10

Once I returned to my homestay after the dinner and was getting ready for bed, I couldn't get a particular song out of my head. I sang it last summer at GAP and it's remained imprinted in my heart ever since. The song was "Thankful" by Josh Groban. I'm going to copy and paste the lyrics and a link to a video on Youtube so you can listen to it and see why this song embodies almost everything I've been thinking about and feeling during this Thanksgiving holiday.

Thankful by Josh Groban- Youtube Video

Somedays we forget

To look around us

Somedays we can't see

The joy that surrounds us

So caught up inside ourselves

We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be.

And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see.

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves

There's so much sorrow

It's way too late to say

I'll cry tomorrow

Each of us must find our truth

It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be

And every day we hope for

What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences

There is a place we're all connected

Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be

And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for