Living With Saint Benedict

It amazes me that after my first week in Orvieto, I am actually starting to feel like I am living here and not just visiting. The other day we went to the super market and it was surreal to be buying things that I needed for living and not for gifts or souvenirs. It is a pleasant surprise to feel this and I can’t wait until I become even more familiar with this lifestyle and town.

My first month of class is a drawing course called Disegno in Orvieto, and our first week is entitled in the syllabus as The Lines of a City. This week of drawing has felt like a month of drawing, not because of how much we have done, but because of how much I feel like I have been given the direction to challenge my drawing skills and improve. We have been walking all over the city drawing lots of buildings, windows, trees, arches, walls, trying to capture the unique and unparalleled lines of this ancient city. I have loved how doing this has opened my eyes to see so much detail and history that makes this town unique, which I would have otherwise missed out on. I so appreciate my professor and how he starts everyday with poetry and quotes and getting us centered in what we are here for. To quote the syllabus, “This course, taken by all students during the first month of the semester, prepares each student to engage deeply with her surroundings, giving the visual language of description a lead role in forming our relationship to the landscape and townscape, and setting the stage of deepening these connections made through eyes, mind and heart in each succeeding course…students will improve their vision, adjust their speeds of perception, and become better participants in the “sacra conversazione” with the past. The results will be both the work of our hands and the shape we give to our life together: Drawing presence in the shape of an embrace.” The last sentence that I quoted beautifully sums up what my first week of class has been and what this month will continue to be, “Drawing presence in the shape of an embrace.”

On Wednesday we got to participate in a charismatic worship service called preghiera, which means prayer. It was a time of open worship through song, scripture readings, and prayer, all in Italian. This was a beautiful experience. Although I could not understand the words that were being spoken or sung, I felt such a deep connection to the community that I was a part of. I felt so embraced by those worshipping next to me, even though we could not say more than “hello” and “how are you.” I can’t even begin to describe the beauty of the voices coming together in song to worship God within such an ancient setting. The acoustics of the old church that we were in were amazing, and the voices filled the space in a way that is indescribable. Contributing to the voices in song were the sounds of children laughing and running around. It felt to good to be able to worship in what some people would call an imperfect setting. There was noise, it was freezing, there was no structure, and it was the most profound worship experience I have ever had. It was raw and it was real. I am so looking forward to being a part of this every Wednesday.

On Thursdays and Saturdays the Orvieto market opens up. I was so looking forward to going to the market and it was everything that I expected. There was fresh fruit, vegetables, dried fruit, cheese, wild boar thighs (didn’t exactly expect that) and other meats, scarves, and the wonderful sound of Italian chatter all around. The whole city seems to come alive at the market. There are colors everywhere, a whole bunch of different smells, and a variety of people doing their weekly shopping. It was a lovely way to start my day.

One of the ways that the program helps us to get integrated into the community and to practice our Italian is to have dinner with an Italian family. We were split up into groups of four and five and then were set up with a family to go and have dinner with. This was such a pleasant evening. The family that we went to was so welcoming and hospitable. They welcomed us into their home and served us a delicious traditional Italian meal. We were served two different types of lasagna (which were both delicious), brucchetta (pronounced brusketta), a wonderful quiche-like dish, a delicious salad, and a sweet nutty cake. Let’s just say that it was amaaaazing! During dinner we practiced our Italian and tried to communicate as much as we could, but the family was fluent in English so we ended up speaking in English for the majority of the time. They had three kids, one girl and two boys. I got to sit next to their daughter and she was so sweet and fun. I let her draw in my notebook and I tried to ask her questions and I discovered that she loves Toy Story and that Woody is pronounced voody in Italian. It was nice to be around little kids again. One thing that I was not expecting was that after dinner it is common to drink a shot of espresso. I had never had a shot of espresso all by itself before and it was definitely a surprise when I took my first sip. According to the family I can now say that I am a true Italian ;)

Saturday was, and will continue to be, calico day—soccer day!!! A group of us students and a couple of friends of our Italian professor got together and played an awesome soccer game! I was surprised by how much I truly enjoy this. I played for pretty much the whole game and even though my whole body is aching now, I am SO looking forward to playing again. It was a very close game. We were tied until the end when we had to do the penalty shots, which put us behind a few points…but it was still a great and fun game. I am looking forward to playing more and hopefully improving my calico skills.

It has been an eventful first week in Orvieto. I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by! This weekend we are all looking forward to our trip to Roma where we will get to go to the Pantheon, Saint Peters, the Vatican—the Sistine Chapel, and where we will get to see work done by Bramante, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and many more influential artists. I am SO excited for this opportunity and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Ciao! 

“A beginning is ultimately an invitation to open toward the gifts and growth that are stored up for us. To refuse to begin can be an act of great self-neglect.” This quote from the book To bless the Space Between Us by John O-Donohue, encompasses what this semester abroad is all about. It is a beginning: a time to be aware of my gifts and to anticipate and welcome growth. This quote is also one of the many that our program director has used to introduce what our journey in Orvieto is about. He has introduced us to the intentions of this program through many beautiful words—written by him and by many seekers of truth before him—through touring our new home and learning about the history behind it and behind those who have made their lives here, through conversation over delicious food and cappuccinos, and through the simple but precious time we have all shared together so far. My journey here was long, but the reward of being here far out weighs the length of the journey. From before I left I have felt that being a part of this community and experiencing this Italian lifestyle was exactly what I was being called to do, and I can now say with confidence and comfort that that is true.

It is about 7:40AM right now, and I am sitting at Café del Corso eating a chocolate croissant and sipping a cappuccino before my first class starts at 9:00AM…it’s a rough life ;). These last couple of days have seemed unreal and I keep on having to remind myself that I get to be here for four months and not just a couple of days. There is so much to see, so much to learn, and I am so thankful that I have the time to invest in all of it.

We arrived on a beautiful sunny day in Rome at about 9:00AM on the 25^th, where we met our program director. This meant that we had the whole day to stay active and try not to fall asleep…let’s just say that I nodded off more than just a couple of times throughout the day. Our bus ride to Orvieto was about two hours long. We drove through the Umbrian countryside, which was full of sheep, olive orchards, vineyards, castles, and cute medieval cities on the sides of mountains. It was a beautiful drive, to say the least. On our arrival in Orvieto we met our Italian professor, our RA, and a former Gordon IN Orvieto student who will be helping out with our classes. I am looking forward to growing in relationship with all of them. We had lunch not long after we arrived and unpacked. We eat every lunch (pranzo) and dinner (cena) at a restroant called Locanda del Lupo, which translates into Den of the Wolf. The owners of Locanda del Lupo are so gracious and welcoming, and the husband even performed a popular Italian song for us! I am so excited to learn more Italian so I can communicate with them better. My first meal in Italy was an extravagant salad, rich with all local vegetables, such as olives, mozzarella, and tomatoes. It was by far the best salad I have ever had. After lunch we toured parts of the town, learning about some of the history and seeing some of the beautiful views, such as the Duomo and the beautiful view of the countryside that we have. I then got to have my first gelato in Orvieto! I ordered a chocolate rhum gelato, and it was one of the most rich and satisfying tastes I have experienced. I could definitely get used to this! The rest of the day was full of more exploring and eating and getting to know my Orvieto community. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day to be introduced to our new home. It was a fantastic first day, and when my head hit the pillow in my bed I was out for a good ten hours before our next day of adventure and learning.

I awoke to another sunny day, which we started out with a long walk around the town learning more about the history and how Orvieto has been shaped. It was a perfect way to start the morning. The air was crisp and refreshing and the views of Orvieto were breath taking. Our Italian professor was born and raised in Orvieto so he taught us about the history and the people. At about 10AM it was time to head to our first mass, which was such a wonderful experience. The service was beautiful, and even though I couldn’t understand a word that was said, I still felt connected, and the priest even welcomed us to their service. After mass the choir director asked if any of us would like to join the choir, and a few girls and I decided that we are going to join. I think it will be a great way to learn more Italian and to become more connected with the locals. Our next destination was a café where we stopped to have chocolates, pastries, and cappuccinos. It was delicious! We then climbed the many stairs to reach the top of the huge clock tower, where we could see the entire city. It was so much fun to examine how the city was all connected and to see the scale of the Duomo compared to the rest of the city. It was a beautiful day that was ended with all of us having pizza in one of the apartments and laughing together and learning about each other.

So far my experiences have been so blessed that I could not feel more content. I am so excited for what is in store for the rest of the semester. Everything that comes out of our director’s mouth when he is preparing us for our next four months is so in tune to what I am seeking that I can hardly keep from tearing up out of pure happiness. I am so thankful for this opportunity and I look forward to the rest of my time here in Orvieto.

Well it looks like I am off to Italy just in time for lent. I guess my fast for this season of lent is going to be the United States. I think that will suffice ;) I can’t believe that I leave TOMORROW! It is strange to think that I felt like this day would never come, while at the same time feeling as though my time has flown by. I feel ready to start this season in my life, and I am eager to discover what it has in store for me. 

Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement. I am looking forward to sharing my adventures with you! 

Buon Viaggio!

P.S. Due to the complicated process of receiving packages in Italy, please do not send me any packages. I love to write letters so feel free to write me a letter, but please no packages. Thank you! 

“Living With Saint Benedict” is a place for reflection and sharing while I am off on my adventure in Italy. I am so looking forward to this semester and I am happy to get to share it with you through this blog. As I prepare for my trip I am filled with excitement, eagerness, awe, and contentedness. The more I hear about this program, the more I feel like being in Italy and a part of this specific community is where I am supposed to be. I am so thankful for this opportunity and I can’t wait for my experience to begin.

One of the significant beauties of this program rests in the name that I have chosen for my blog. Saint Benedict is not only a local saint of the Umbrian area as well as the “father of Western monasticism,” but he is one of our main focuses while in Italy. We look to his example of community, service, and dedication as a framework for our purpose while we are in Orvieto. To quote the handbook, this program seeks to address “hungers that people feel deep inside without fully recognizing them,” as well as “[to prune] back unconstrained foliage to nourish the roots of being human: namely, an incarnational mode of human being that can touch the spiritual in the material, that can hear and see the invisible things of God in the visible things of God’s creation, that can sing with Saint Francis.” My time in Italy will be a time for self-contemplation, seeking God, growing artistically, being fulfilled by a deep community, and enjoying a life of simplicity and beauty through an Italian lifestyle. I can’t wait!