italy at last!

i made it! currently i am living day 3 in san lorenzo di arzene in northeastern italy. i wish i could express how beautiful it is here – each day i am simply astounded.

Jesus was so evident as i traveled to italy - sitting right behind me were girls from unwsp also headed to sbi, so i didn’t have to travel alone! unfortunately we spent an extended amount of time waiting for the plane to be fixed in Minneapolis, delaying us four hours. because of the delay, we missed our flight from paris to venice, so I got to spend an additional 8 hours in the paris airport. I arrived at sbi around midnight, by that point we were simply glad to be in italy.

the sbi campus is so pretty. I live in a room with three other girls, sleeping on bunk beds. our rooms open to an outdoor hall, overlooking the central part of campus (see above). being here somewhat reminds me of being at camp, except sbi is way nicer. when I’m sitting at my desk, I can gaze out the window on expansive vineyards which will be green as spring arrives, contrasted by the backdrop of the stunning alps in the distance. (shout out to belle – I think of you every time I see them… you’d love them!) everything about this place holds italian charm… including the varieties of doors (see below). 

daily life here is pretty different from life at mbi. my daily schedule during the week consists of the following:

breakfast 8:00

daily duties (basically cleaning the campus – flashback to the T3 days!) 8:30

personal quiet time/walks in vineyards 9:00

class 9:30

lunch 1:00

riposo (rest time where we are highly encouraged to take a nap!) 1:30-3:30

class 3:30

tea time 4:20

class 4:40

dinner 7:30

on the weekends we travel usually – this weekend we’ll be going to venice for the carnevale di venezia – crazy pictures of costumes coming soon!

personally, it is weird to have been here only for a few days. developing relationships with the other 24 students is new and exciting. it's very odd to be in a place where no one knows anything about me. nothing about my background, my friends, my family, my heart. nothing. it can get exhausting trying to accurately communicate my thoughts, but I am trusting that Jesus will give sweet friendships in which I can understand and be understood. though it is hard to remember at times, I am thankful that there is One who knows me and who goes with me wherever I go, physically and emotionally.