English teachers read student work. They read it a lot. I have been blessed this week to have had the privilege of reading the travel journals of our students.
Observations......
*Some have amazing thoughts to share...and it is worth the deciphering of the handwriting....but GLORY, where were the teachers who taught penmanship? I did ask for 'creative' journaling and some of that handwriting was certainly 'creative'....no wonder these kids text!
*Creativity...Some jounrals are so creative with their scrapbooking styles...they have a knack for concise but insightful posts. (Did we used to call scrapbooking "posts?") I love seeing the bits of 'memorabilia' that they saved along the way.
*Memories....I loved reading about the memories of the London trip and the expectations for the Italy trip. Some of the students were fortunate and got to travel to Europe TWICE during their high school years. It made me feel wonderful that it was a great experience for them. It showed me that the investment of my time was well spent (the planning time!)
*Repeat visits.....In London, the kids were constantly finding Starbucks. Not so in Italy...I don't think we EVER saw a Starbucks.....but they found a new stop....GELATARIA....the place you go for Gelato...and no, the American version is NOT the same. Looks the same. I wonder how much Gelato was consumed by this group.
*Addictions....we asked them to avoid the energy drinks. I was thinking of those things in cans. It never occurred to me that espresso and cappuccino would entice them .....and keep calling to them. I probably did not think of coffee as addictive since I do not drink it. But they found a new love for Italian coffee. I wonder if Starbucks will satisfy them now.
*Architecture...I was quite pleased at how much they appreciated the architecture of ancient days...and also astounded that they were amazed that it was still standing. We live in such a temporary world...building gets out of style, we bulldoze and rebuild. Europeans embrace what has stood for centuries and take care of it. (Well, they put a lot of graffiti on buildings and don't clean it off, but if you skip the ground floor view....)
*Future...it was wonderful to read about some of their spiritual insights and how so many of them hope that international travel will be a part of their future. I hope they let God make an impact on their life no matter where they are or what they are doing.
*Sweet...there were even some 'thank yous'...that was unexpected. I guess there is a reason I drive an hour each way to spend time with TMA students. They are great kids and I know that I have great expectations for what God will do in their lives!
Follower ?.....If the blog has not bored you to tears yet, then remain a follower, or add yourself to the list, or delete. I will probably post every now and then when I have a moment or a reflection...as I go through the 20GIGS of photos. I promise not to post all of them!.......but most of all, if you are not a Follower of the only one who really counts (Jesus Christ)....then I hope you will think about doing that today. I promise that it will make all the difference in the world in your life.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Orto de Medici
This photo does not do justice to the hotel but I could not leave it out. This was the most efficient, most gracious hotel staff I have EVER worked with. I highly recommend this hotel if you ever go to Florence, Italy. It is down the street from the Accademia and a short walk to just about anything you might want to enjoy. (See link below)
But the awesome thing about this hotel is that it was once a palace....ever heard of the Medici's? (They were the ruling family who pretty much funded the start of the Renaissance) Good ole Lorenzo "The Magificent" resided here and had a fascination for Roman statues. He felt that painters were 'a dime a dozen' but sculptors were rare indeed. So.....patron of the arts that he was...he opened up his home to young people with artistic talent. They came in and drew the statues and eventually learned to sculpt their own statues as well. In hind site....this actually became known as the first art gallery and art school. I guess you can only imagine how very cool this was for me!
This building is of course, VERY old, so it was surprising at best that there was an elevator. It held a suitcase and a person. Or maybe two people and no suitcases, but it did beat climbing 50 stairs or more to your room! The ground floor is "0" and the next floor is "1" etc. It is a European thing, this ground floor numbering. Fun, yes? They provide ONE room key which must be deposited at the front desk every time you go in and out...but you do not want to carry it anyway. Those are HEAVY keys and rings....and they work upside down from ours. The rooms were just as quaint as their web site shows.
The best part, I left out....we had devotions one evening in one of the parlors. It did lose a bit in the transition to modern times because of the 54" flat screen tv, but hey...look at the ceilings and it will take you back centuries! Did I mention that one of the students in this art school was none other than the fabulously talented Michelangelo? YES! We resided in the same place where Michelangelo studied as a lad of thirteen. Seems that he did not fit in with the other kids, was bullied a bit, and found refuge here, with his great tutors who developed the amazing God-given talent he had been entrusted with.
So...if you think you don't fit in....if you walk to the beat of a different drummer....trust God for direction in your life. Only He knows what potential there is within you, but if you trust Him.....there is no telling where He will lead you and what you will be able to accomplish in his power. Can you imagine the world today if Michelangelo had just run to his room and pouted? As crazy as some of those Medici's were, I surely am thankful that they were patrons of the arts because the world has some great art because of their interests. See....you don't have to BE an artist in order to be a part of the art world!
Statues
I will start adding photos for your 'Trip in Review"
Statues....
We saw a LOT of statues. Michelangelo's work was of course by far the most impressive. Photos were not allowed of "David" but we saw Moses in Rome and so many more. Remember that Florence was the heart of the Renaissance and the Renaissance brought the re-discovery of the beauty and power of the human form. Therefore....fashion was not important for the majority of the statues. Therefore, few were TMA appropriate.
Creativity was important on the trip, so this creative group of students found a way to show you the statues and a part of Medici palaces and still be TMA appropriate. We had some funny shots and a lot of fun on that rainy day in Florence.
Remember also...and it was neat to explain this to students when they asked about the obsession with nudity. There is a great difference between the nudity seen in Florence and in what they are exposed to today. Today it is all about erotic nudity which is pornography.....that is what our society is exposed to in movies, tv, and all kinds of visual advertising. In the Renaissance it was about the rediscovery of the human form and the power and beauty of what God created. When you think about how the sculptors were able to form out of marble, and that it still stands today, shows how very important humans were, and still are, in God's creation. If people only valued themselves and others as so special and valuable, I wonder what kind of society we would have today. As we were in Florence enjoying the beauty of life....in only a few days we would find the horror that was taking place in America by a gunman who had no value at all for life.
I hope the students came away with a greater value of themselves and how precious they are to God, their Creator. I hope they never let someone take that from them.
Statues....
Creativity was important on the trip, so this creative group of students found a way to show you the statues and a part of Medici palaces and still be TMA appropriate. We had some funny shots and a lot of fun on that rainy day in Florence.
Remember also...and it was neat to explain this to students when they asked about the obsession with nudity. There is a great difference between the nudity seen in Florence and in what they are exposed to today. Today it is all about erotic nudity which is pornography.....that is what our society is exposed to in movies, tv, and all kinds of visual advertising. In the Renaissance it was about the rediscovery of the human form and the power and beauty of what God created. When you think about how the sculptors were able to form out of marble, and that it still stands today, shows how very important humans were, and still are, in God's creation. If people only valued themselves and others as so special and valuable, I wonder what kind of society we would have today. As we were in Florence enjoying the beauty of life....in only a few days we would find the horror that was taking place in America by a gunman who had no value at all for life.
I hope the students came away with a greater value of themselves and how precious they are to God, their Creator. I hope they never let someone take that from them.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Return
United 967 was a really nice flight. (Rome to DC)
It was not one of the really huge planes...2-3-2 seating....so at times you could feel turbulence, but generally it was a nice flight. Many of the students appeared to get some sleep....I had a couple of nice naps, took a few strolls down the aisle and chatted with the attendants a bit.
If the students appear rested and energetic upon their return, I still caution parents not to turn them loose for a night on the town too soon. Jet lag affects everyone differently, but the goal is to get back to your USA schedule as quickly as possible. Getting to bed tonight well before MIDNIGHT on USA time should be the goal. Thursday should be spent resting, completing journals and printing photos.
The J- term grade will be based upon the quality of what is written in the journal. (Creative liberties are encouraged in writing styles and journaling.) We are looking for content of discoveries and such, not a time line of activities.
Each student is also to turn in his/her camera card(s) or a cd copy of the cards to Mr. Darnell by the luncheon on Friday. This is also a part of the academic grade and part of their contribution to the photo cd...mandatory.
Students are not to be on campus on Thursday.
Mandatory Luncheon on Friday...also part of the grade. You should have received information from the school and parents might have also been invited. Mr. Salerno does a great job with this activity, so be sure to attend. (This was optional last year ONLY due to the snow day and late arrival to the states.) I believe it is scheduled around lunchtime, so please contact Kelly in the school office to indicate the number of people that will be attending so the events class will be prepared.
By the time this posts, your young people should be home again. Most of them had some of their favorite American foods in the DC airport. Their new friends from Cornerstone headed off for their flight to Chicago and Jimmy was able to reschedule through Atlanta and is on his way to Dallas.
Customs in DC was an interesting experience and I could make some political comments about our borders, but I will use another platform for my 'hobby.' Let's just say that they were very thorough and the agents mean business. You do not cut in line and you do not argue with them. (We observed some who tried...not our group though)
Some of us experienced the new body scans in security and at least one had the pat down. Our kids look so dangerous, don't they? And we got to enjoy the drug beagle scout out my own luggage. (I was transporting a fresh cannoli). The humorous thing is that no matter when or where I travel...I get stopped for something. At least my bag was not dumped out this time, and I did not have to give up the canoli!
We all understand the importance of guarding your American passport as the precious and valuable document that it is......and though we loved our time abroad....it is really good to be back in the USA.
It was not one of the really huge planes...2-3-2 seating....so at times you could feel turbulence, but generally it was a nice flight. Many of the students appeared to get some sleep....I had a couple of nice naps, took a few strolls down the aisle and chatted with the attendants a bit.
If the students appear rested and energetic upon their return, I still caution parents not to turn them loose for a night on the town too soon. Jet lag affects everyone differently, but the goal is to get back to your USA schedule as quickly as possible. Getting to bed tonight well before MIDNIGHT on USA time should be the goal. Thursday should be spent resting, completing journals and printing photos.
The J- term grade will be based upon the quality of what is written in the journal. (Creative liberties are encouraged in writing styles and journaling.) We are looking for content of discoveries and such, not a time line of activities.
Each student is also to turn in his/her camera card(s) or a cd copy of the cards to Mr. Darnell by the luncheon on Friday. This is also a part of the academic grade and part of their contribution to the photo cd...mandatory.
Students are not to be on campus on Thursday.
Mandatory Luncheon on Friday...also part of the grade. You should have received information from the school and parents might have also been invited. Mr. Salerno does a great job with this activity, so be sure to attend. (This was optional last year ONLY due to the snow day and late arrival to the states.) I believe it is scheduled around lunchtime, so please contact Kelly in the school office to indicate the number of people that will be attending so the events class will be prepared.
By the time this posts, your young people should be home again. Most of them had some of their favorite American foods in the DC airport. Their new friends from Cornerstone headed off for their flight to Chicago and Jimmy was able to reschedule through Atlanta and is on his way to Dallas.
Customs in DC was an interesting experience and I could make some political comments about our borders, but I will use another platform for my 'hobby.' Let's just say that they were very thorough and the agents mean business. You do not cut in line and you do not argue with them. (We observed some who tried...not our group though)
Some of us experienced the new body scans in security and at least one had the pat down. Our kids look so dangerous, don't they? And we got to enjoy the drug beagle scout out my own luggage. (I was transporting a fresh cannoli). The humorous thing is that no matter when or where I travel...I get stopped for something. At least my bag was not dumped out this time, and I did not have to give up the canoli!
We all understand the importance of guarding your American passport as the precious and valuable document that it is......and though we loved our time abroad....it is really good to be back in the USA.
Daylight
In that there was only one post written from the time I sat on the couch until daylight....I guess I dozed. Ok, I dozed.
The power went out upstairs. Oh, not everywhere, just in the rooms. Just on two floors...in the rooms. In Italian terms "ah, why does it matter, we should be sleeping, yes?" But WE are Americans...we call the emergency number for the power company and they fix it NOW...right? Aha...but we were in IT-lee, remember....their culture.
They do not worry about much, they just adapt....
So... I tried to charge my ipad from the plug in the lobby. That worked moderately because an ipad does not charge quickly when you are using it. (Quite unlike my macpro!) No problem, right....because airports now have charging stations for all of our electronic necessities...press onward and wait for daylight to arrive. (Right....when in Rome, even the airport....do as the Romans do, and they do not live life connected to electronic devices!)
Daylight found almost everyone up and at 'em BEFORE the appointed 5:50...be in the lobby time. We had to rouse a few, but we were ready for the walk to the bus by around 6. Well....WE were ready....but not the bus. Italian time, baby!
We went ahead and formulated our backup plan, which was to drag those suitcases to the train station and purchase tickets for the train ride to the airport (more expensive than the bus)....about the time that we thought we might start moving to the bus station, our driver arrived, so off to the bus we headed.
Clippity clappity...the sound of the wheels of the suitcases going across the cobblestones, and only occasionally getting stuck in the cracks. Clearly, Italians travel lighter than we do! I failed to mention earlier that Catherine lost a leg and a wheel when we arrived in Rome...and my wheel split and dragged on the way to the bus. Two of us did the drag-a-bag routine!
We discovered along the way that a little market was being set up just down the street from our hotel....shopping, and we were going to miss it!
We loaded up and headed out to Fiumucino Airport....and I think just about everyone took a quick power nap...it was SO quiet!
Airport check in was pretty easy. They did not have a large crowd at all for this morning flight. Jimmy checked on everything the evening before, finding that our flight was in good shape, Cornerstone's connection to Chicago was 'iffy' and his flight to Dallas through JFK had been cancelled. Snow in the USA...lots of snow. It brought back memories of our London snow day.....only this year, we have trip insurance, so it was much less stressful for me!
Checked baggage....gone. Onward to Italian TSA. Oh my, it is NOT like USA TSA. What a breeze! It made me miss the old days!
The Fiumicino terminals are very nice. The shopping is expensive with many many of the designer shops represented along the way. The food stands are delicious though and even though the hotel packed a sack breakfast for us (in a 'sack-ih-TEE-no), almost everyone still found something they just had to buy. These kids spent a lot of money on food....they guys especially love to eat, and I guess they budgeted for it.
Some of the students had no seat assignment, which clearly made them nervous. Sometimes you just have to be patient though, and they were....though some were better at it than others. Their patience paid off by the time they hit the plane though...since they were upgraded to Economy Plus and had a bit of leg room. Lesson....BE PATIENT. Americans so often are not patient, we want immediate answers and results.
Thank you United Airways for making our morning go smoothly. Lydia had a ticket with no problems, and everyone had a seat! Off to America and the promise of a great future and excitement of waking up in our own beds......in the morning! Ah daylight....God provides it every morning with the promise of a bright new day!
The power went out upstairs. Oh, not everywhere, just in the rooms. Just on two floors...in the rooms. In Italian terms "ah, why does it matter, we should be sleeping, yes?" But WE are Americans...we call the emergency number for the power company and they fix it NOW...right? Aha...but we were in IT-lee, remember....their culture.
They do not worry about much, they just adapt....
So... I tried to charge my ipad from the plug in the lobby. That worked moderately because an ipad does not charge quickly when you are using it. (Quite unlike my macpro!) No problem, right....because airports now have charging stations for all of our electronic necessities...press onward and wait for daylight to arrive. (Right....when in Rome, even the airport....do as the Romans do, and they do not live life connected to electronic devices!)
Daylight found almost everyone up and at 'em BEFORE the appointed 5:50...be in the lobby time. We had to rouse a few, but we were ready for the walk to the bus by around 6. Well....WE were ready....but not the bus. Italian time, baby!
We went ahead and formulated our backup plan, which was to drag those suitcases to the train station and purchase tickets for the train ride to the airport (more expensive than the bus)....about the time that we thought we might start moving to the bus station, our driver arrived, so off to the bus we headed.
Clippity clappity...the sound of the wheels of the suitcases going across the cobblestones, and only occasionally getting stuck in the cracks. Clearly, Italians travel lighter than we do! I failed to mention earlier that Catherine lost a leg and a wheel when we arrived in Rome...and my wheel split and dragged on the way to the bus. Two of us did the drag-a-bag routine!
We discovered along the way that a little market was being set up just down the street from our hotel....shopping, and we were going to miss it!
We loaded up and headed out to Fiumucino Airport....and I think just about everyone took a quick power nap...it was SO quiet!
Airport check in was pretty easy. They did not have a large crowd at all for this morning flight. Jimmy checked on everything the evening before, finding that our flight was in good shape, Cornerstone's connection to Chicago was 'iffy' and his flight to Dallas through JFK had been cancelled. Snow in the USA...lots of snow. It brought back memories of our London snow day.....only this year, we have trip insurance, so it was much less stressful for me!
Checked baggage....gone. Onward to Italian TSA. Oh my, it is NOT like USA TSA. What a breeze! It made me miss the old days!
The Fiumicino terminals are very nice. The shopping is expensive with many many of the designer shops represented along the way. The food stands are delicious though and even though the hotel packed a sack breakfast for us (in a 'sack-ih-TEE-no), almost everyone still found something they just had to buy. These kids spent a lot of money on food....they guys especially love to eat, and I guess they budgeted for it.
Some of the students had no seat assignment, which clearly made them nervous. Sometimes you just have to be patient though, and they were....though some were better at it than others. Their patience paid off by the time they hit the plane though...since they were upgraded to Economy Plus and had a bit of leg room. Lesson....BE PATIENT. Americans so often are not patient, we want immediate answers and results.
Thank you United Airways for making our morning go smoothly. Lydia had a ticket with no problems, and everyone had a seat! Off to America and the promise of a great future and excitement of waking up in our own beds......in the morning! Ah daylight....God provides it every morning with the promise of a bright new day!
Foods of the gods
There has been no shortage of eating for this past week. We started each day with a "breakfast of champions." We generally had a buffet with offerings of things like yoghurt (European, no sugar), cereals of various sorts,breads, croissants or other Italian sweet breads, canned fruits, fresh fruit, sliced ham, sliced cheese, sometimes scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. Pineapple juice seemed to be an Italian staple, along with a mixed berry juice and always water (fizzy or naturale) (nat-YOUR-al-AYE)
Lunch was generally on our own so we found varieties of pizza or pasta dishes or sandwiches (paninis) at lunch stands, grocery shops or dine in restaurants. Dinner was generally pizza, a pasta dish, or what seemed to be their meat staple - roast chicken and potatoes, which interestingly, I did not consider to be Italian at all. Tomatoes were abundant in EVERY form.
REAL Italian pizza is so different from American Italian pizza. The crust is very thin and not oily at all. Imagine taking fresh tomatoes, pureeing them in the blender and putting them on the dough...and calling it tomato sauce. Yes, it is a little runny and if you try to eat the pizza immediately, all of the sauce and toppings slide right off. You must RELAX and let it set up for a moment or two. I also never saw a pizza with more than three toppings. We excessive Americans...really, a pizza supreme?
All of the meals could be considered generally healthy, but everyone still has a meal of choice that they can hardly wait to eat upon our return. I have heard requests for things like "a REAL McDonald's burger," an Outback steak, and Mrs. Wagner's lasagna (which supposedly tops anything we had in Italy) to my personal favorite......Vegetables (other than roasted eggplant, zucchini or tomatoes. (oh yes, like the Brits, they serve fresh tomatoes for breakfast as well)
We also learned of food and excess during the time of the Roman Empire. The trip up to Palatine Hill was pretty interesting. When you hear "palatine" just think PALaces....up on a hill. We have an area near Orlando Regional Hospital called "Pill Hill,". Same thing....back in the early days of Orlando the doctors tended to build large homes in the area just east of the hospital, thus, Pill Hill (doctors/pills). And so in Rome the Emperors...those people with great wealth....chose the hill with the panoramic view of Rome and the Empire. I marveled at the way they built the palaces into the hill. The shear size of what remains of the palaces is an indicator of how huge and how elaborate they were. The fact that they could actually engineer these things was astounding to me.
They had running water and fountains everywhere...because they could. Rome had what others did not....water, good water...via an aqueduct system...and some of that system still stands today.
So, how does this relate to food? Excess. The Roman Empire was about excess, and plenty of it. Food, included. I was brought back to recollections of the stories of the emperors table. We can see illustrations in paintings......but just think of large a quantities of food, food from all over the world, rich food. Now imagine people close to the emperor joining together for a meal, imagine the meal lasting for 24 hours...food coming non- stop. Now imagine the flowing waters running through the palaces and I guess the nicest way to describe the activity is....binging and purging.......and continuing to eat. It is hard for us to imagine such a thing, yet that was a normal activity.
Just ask the kids to explain this to you. I am sure their terms will be more graphic than mine....the water was useful for taking the 'remains' out of the dining halls. I don't recall ever studying about more than the excesses, but standing on the Paletine Hill and imagining the happenings of centuries ago, just made a visual impression on me that I will not likely forget. Excess....and in America, we too have way too much of it.
Today I pondered the "food of the gods" ......god, of course, meaning the emperors. Plenty of food. Plenty of Emperors. I pondered also the food of OUR GOD....you know, the one and only, Jehovah God. He provides, every day. Not only does He provide for our physical needs, but He has a provided the wealth...the abundance of His wisdom, found in His love letters to us...The Bible. That kind of excess is healthy for us!
Lunch was generally on our own so we found varieties of pizza or pasta dishes or sandwiches (paninis) at lunch stands, grocery shops or dine in restaurants. Dinner was generally pizza, a pasta dish, or what seemed to be their meat staple - roast chicken and potatoes, which interestingly, I did not consider to be Italian at all. Tomatoes were abundant in EVERY form.
REAL Italian pizza is so different from American Italian pizza. The crust is very thin and not oily at all. Imagine taking fresh tomatoes, pureeing them in the blender and putting them on the dough...and calling it tomato sauce. Yes, it is a little runny and if you try to eat the pizza immediately, all of the sauce and toppings slide right off. You must RELAX and let it set up for a moment or two. I also never saw a pizza with more than three toppings. We excessive Americans...really, a pizza supreme?
All of the meals could be considered generally healthy, but everyone still has a meal of choice that they can hardly wait to eat upon our return. I have heard requests for things like "a REAL McDonald's burger," an Outback steak, and Mrs. Wagner's lasagna (which supposedly tops anything we had in Italy) to my personal favorite......Vegetables (other than roasted eggplant, zucchini or tomatoes. (oh yes, like the Brits, they serve fresh tomatoes for breakfast as well)
We also learned of food and excess during the time of the Roman Empire. The trip up to Palatine Hill was pretty interesting. When you hear "palatine" just think PALaces....up on a hill. We have an area near Orlando Regional Hospital called "Pill Hill,". Same thing....back in the early days of Orlando the doctors tended to build large homes in the area just east of the hospital, thus, Pill Hill (doctors/pills). And so in Rome the Emperors...those people with great wealth....chose the hill with the panoramic view of Rome and the Empire. I marveled at the way they built the palaces into the hill. The shear size of what remains of the palaces is an indicator of how huge and how elaborate they were. The fact that they could actually engineer these things was astounding to me.
They had running water and fountains everywhere...because they could. Rome had what others did not....water, good water...via an aqueduct system...and some of that system still stands today.
So, how does this relate to food? Excess. The Roman Empire was about excess, and plenty of it. Food, included. I was brought back to recollections of the stories of the emperors table. We can see illustrations in paintings......but just think of large a quantities of food, food from all over the world, rich food. Now imagine people close to the emperor joining together for a meal, imagine the meal lasting for 24 hours...food coming non- stop. Now imagine the flowing waters running through the palaces and I guess the nicest way to describe the activity is....binging and purging.......and continuing to eat. It is hard for us to imagine such a thing, yet that was a normal activity.
Just ask the kids to explain this to you. I am sure their terms will be more graphic than mine....the water was useful for taking the 'remains' out of the dining halls. I don't recall ever studying about more than the excesses, but standing on the Paletine Hill and imagining the happenings of centuries ago, just made a visual impression on me that I will not likely forget. Excess....and in America, we too have way too much of it.
Today I pondered the "food of the gods" ......god, of course, meaning the emperors. Plenty of food. Plenty of Emperors. I pondered also the food of OUR GOD....you know, the one and only, Jehovah God. He provides, every day. Not only does He provide for our physical needs, but He has a provided the wealth...the abundance of His wisdom, found in His love letters to us...The Bible. That kind of excess is healthy for us!
Mornings
Backing up to posts written without benefit of internet access.....
Mornings
Being anything but a morning person, these early morning wake-up calls are among the most difficult part of travel for me. I have learned that I am not the only one who was a bit afraid to miss a wake up call since almost half of the students packed fairly quickly after our return to the hotel on Tuesday, and proceeded to do things like play cards, talk and recall their various experiences, and give each other foot massages. (What servants, eh?) I expect them to fall asleep at some point....my expectations may be too high, however....so we shall see...in the morning.
A lot of the kids seem to be on my floor at the Rome hotel, which also has very limited space for gathering, so it is nice to be able to allow them to have their room doors open and hear them gathering together, in the halls and such. This has been a really great group of kids to travel with. I can not speak highly enough of their ability to get along, not only with each other, but to welcome and enjoy the group of students from Cornerstone. Most of the time you would not have known that they were from two different schools. They each have their group of friends, of course...but it has been neat to see them get to know others better. I hope new friendships are being formed because travel helps you to see people in a new light...differently than in the course of a school day.
I had already planned to stay awake and do my sleeping on the plane, planning instead to catch up on blogging...for as long as my fingers can take it on the ipad. Italy (or 'IT-lee) is such an interesting place. They really run at their own pace and it really does not matter what we think the pace, or service for that matter, should be. I purchased internet service so I could sit on my moderately comfortable bed (that might be stretching it a bit) and blog....but the service did not work in my room. It worked until I passed through the doorway of my room, but not inside my room. So for much of this post I am sitting on the floor in the hallway outside my room. Kids interject funny stories as I type, so I keep proofing...there is no telling what this might end up saying! Occasionally I get reminders that I "COULD' go downstairs and be more comfortable. Hmmm...are they trying to get rid of me? Do they not understand that I quite enjoy their company?
My reflection on mornings is that each morning brings us a whole new day. No matter what happened the day before, each new morning will bring new adventures, new opportunities, and the chance to do things 'better.' While we may have to live with the consequences of decisions we made 'in the past', we still have the opportunity to do it better with each new day. We have a few suggestions of things they might do in Italy to make things better each new day, but that is not really our job. When traveling, we are supposed to be embracing THEIR culture, not trying to change them to our culture. We often forget that. I will do another post about rooms and service at Hotel Eurpoa. In hind site, we might find it funny...now that we can put things into perspective.
"Numbbums" Have you ever heard of that? It is when you sit on a marble floor too long and the stinging is from numbness from where you are sitting. I am going to take a stretch break and move to the couch downstairs........more posts to follow!
If I doze off.....I guess someone will wake me up by....morning!
Mornings
Being anything but a morning person, these early morning wake-up calls are among the most difficult part of travel for me. I have learned that I am not the only one who was a bit afraid to miss a wake up call since almost half of the students packed fairly quickly after our return to the hotel on Tuesday, and proceeded to do things like play cards, talk and recall their various experiences, and give each other foot massages. (What servants, eh?) I expect them to fall asleep at some point....my expectations may be too high, however....so we shall see...in the morning.
A lot of the kids seem to be on my floor at the Rome hotel, which also has very limited space for gathering, so it is nice to be able to allow them to have their room doors open and hear them gathering together, in the halls and such. This has been a really great group of kids to travel with. I can not speak highly enough of their ability to get along, not only with each other, but to welcome and enjoy the group of students from Cornerstone. Most of the time you would not have known that they were from two different schools. They each have their group of friends, of course...but it has been neat to see them get to know others better. I hope new friendships are being formed because travel helps you to see people in a new light...differently than in the course of a school day.
I had already planned to stay awake and do my sleeping on the plane, planning instead to catch up on blogging...for as long as my fingers can take it on the ipad. Italy (or 'IT-lee) is such an interesting place. They really run at their own pace and it really does not matter what we think the pace, or service for that matter, should be. I purchased internet service so I could sit on my moderately comfortable bed (that might be stretching it a bit) and blog....but the service did not work in my room. It worked until I passed through the doorway of my room, but not inside my room. So for much of this post I am sitting on the floor in the hallway outside my room. Kids interject funny stories as I type, so I keep proofing...there is no telling what this might end up saying! Occasionally I get reminders that I "COULD' go downstairs and be more comfortable. Hmmm...are they trying to get rid of me? Do they not understand that I quite enjoy their company?
My reflection on mornings is that each morning brings us a whole new day. No matter what happened the day before, each new morning will bring new adventures, new opportunities, and the chance to do things 'better.' While we may have to live with the consequences of decisions we made 'in the past', we still have the opportunity to do it better with each new day. We have a few suggestions of things they might do in Italy to make things better each new day, but that is not really our job. When traveling, we are supposed to be embracing THEIR culture, not trying to change them to our culture. We often forget that. I will do another post about rooms and service at Hotel Eurpoa. In hind site, we might find it funny...now that we can put things into perspective.
"Numbbums" Have you ever heard of that? It is when you sit on a marble floor too long and the stinging is from numbness from where you are sitting. I am going to take a stretch break and move to the couch downstairs........more posts to follow!
If I doze off.....I guess someone will wake me up by....morning!
Internet
Now that I have internet access and a computer with a real keyboard, I will start posting some of the blogs from the last few days. I hope you check back often for other parts of the trip that come to mind as we review journals and recall wonderful memories of our studies abroad. We made it home safely and not as weary as we could have been. It was great to see all of the parents at the end of the hallway welcoming us back. What a great team!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ciao Roma
It is hard to believe that the week has passed so quickly, but it is time to pack our bags for home. Today we took a leisurely stroll through Rome. My feet tell me that we covered ALL of Rome. I will try to hit some of the high spots..it was such a busy and eventful day that I
Will be sure to blog more later.
For now...check the weather reports. Our plan is to reach Orlando at the appointed time. Your job is to check the flight information since it is snowing in D C. Most of all...be sure to meet us inside the airport to sign out your little darlin's. I would love to sign them over to you as we exit security!
Watch for a review of today....Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.....cCircus Maximus...crossing the Tiber River to enjoy the town of Testevere......Piazza Navonna........Church of St. Peter in Chains.....sunset at the Spanish Steps.....Trevi Fountain where we tossed our coins........dinner, family style....and a leisurely walk home.......
AND SOME VERY EXHAUSTED YOUNG PEOPLE!
Get that good olde AMERICAN food ready for dinner.....I know some kids who are ready!
Will be sure to blog more later.
For now...check the weather reports. Our plan is to reach Orlando at the appointed time. Your job is to check the flight information since it is snowing in D C. Most of all...be sure to meet us inside the airport to sign out your little darlin's. I would love to sign them over to you as we exit security!
Watch for a review of today....Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.....cCircus Maximus...crossing the Tiber River to enjoy the town of Testevere......Piazza Navonna........Church of St. Peter in Chains.....sunset at the Spanish Steps.....Trevi Fountain where we tossed our coins........dinner, family style....and a leisurely walk home.......
AND SOME VERY EXHAUSTED YOUNG PEOPLE!
Get that good olde AMERICAN food ready for dinner.....I know some kids who are ready!
Pups
Wow...our pups are tired. I am certain that there will be many journal entries about the walking. Vatican City ...that small unimpressive place...was our first stop. We visited the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Chapel Sistina...phonetically. I will post more about this experience later. Basilica di Saint Pietre (St Peter's Basilica) was incredible. More later about how they financed this incredible place...and about the amazing Michelangelo.
A short walk from Vatican City we came upon Castle San ANgelo which was Hadrian's fortress and eventually part of the Roman Wall. There is a great story about the plagues, an angel, and the castle...more later. we got great photos from the Bridge of Angels over the Tiber..the kids even found muscrats.
We continued walking for a while and crossed the Tiber River in order to reach Piazza del Poppolo....the People's Plaza. There was the REAL Ramses II Obelisk in the center of the plaza. Yes, left from the conquests of the empire!
The three Santa Maria churches were pretty neat. each has a different story but the most impressive to me was the one housing the Carravaggio paintings. More later.
After many more stairs we made it to the metro, through Termini Station and to dinner. This dinner was either amazingly outstanding or we were starving. They took the wine bottles off the table.....again....oh, these Italians.
I am posting at breakfast as we prepare for our final day in Rome. Our pups are refreshed but a lot of students are asking for Advil. This is funny because I thought Advil was an "old lady' thing.
Today brings...St Mary Maggiore Church...St Peter in Chains Church...Circus Maximus...Trestevere across the Tiber...Piazza Novona...Trevino Fountain...Spanish Steps..Trevino Fountain AT NIGHT....THREE COINS TO TOSS....and home for dinner and packing.
Could you do this day?.....My guess is that if you could come to Rome....you would keep your pups as busy as we are? Yes...our boots were made for walking...an so we shall.
Bonjourno! (good day!)
A short walk from Vatican City we came upon Castle San ANgelo which was Hadrian's fortress and eventually part of the Roman Wall. There is a great story about the plagues, an angel, and the castle...more later. we got great photos from the Bridge of Angels over the Tiber..the kids even found muscrats.
We continued walking for a while and crossed the Tiber River in order to reach Piazza del Poppolo....the People's Plaza. There was the REAL Ramses II Obelisk in the center of the plaza. Yes, left from the conquests of the empire!
The three Santa Maria churches were pretty neat. each has a different story but the most impressive to me was the one housing the Carravaggio paintings. More later.
After many more stairs we made it to the metro, through Termini Station and to dinner. This dinner was either amazingly outstanding or we were starving. They took the wine bottles off the table.....again....oh, these Italians.
I am posting at breakfast as we prepare for our final day in Rome. Our pups are refreshed but a lot of students are asking for Advil. This is funny because I thought Advil was an "old lady' thing.
Today brings...St Mary Maggiore Church...St Peter in Chains Church...Circus Maximus...Trestevere across the Tiber...Piazza Novona...Trevino Fountain...Spanish Steps..Trevino Fountain AT NIGHT....THREE COINS TO TOSS....and home for dinner and packing.
Could you do this day?.....My guess is that if you could come to Rome....you would keep your pups as busy as we are? Yes...our boots were made for walking...an so we shall.
Bonjourno! (good day!)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Windows
Tonight I am standing at the window enjoying the laughter of young people and the cool breeze as I post. The window....some clever young men found free wi-fi...so this seems practical. There are no real keyboards at our Rome hotel, so if there are errors in this post...I will edit when I get home. There are a lot of things we really appreciate in America!
Yesterday we visited thee hill cities. I will expand on the adventure later. We visited the catacombs of San Callisto before entering Rome. What a moving experience. We reached Rome before dinner and settled in. more later.
Today we started off with a short message by Jimmy, our tour guide. He is outstanding and is studying to be a pastor. The kids keep calling him Joshua or Mr. expeditions. We spent the day in ancient Rome. It was almost like living out a sermon....the history of the early church...the crazy mythology of the Greeks and Romans....and how the Christians were practical, turning pagan temples into churches. We have also clearly seen that our culture is not so different from the Romans in so many ways. It really challenged our young people to be different and stand up for a better standard.
The young gentlemen who shared the wi fi window tonight must go to sleep, so this will be a short post. I suspect that many students are staying in touch and I know that you are not worried. We are doing great, any "situations"are easily resolved and I will report more as soon as possible.
Tomorrow....Vatican City.
the comment I just heard from the room....."Julius Caesar's tomb...what a joke. They have all these great structures and they give him a pile of dirt with some flowers on it!"
Ah....the windows of the world have been opened for us.
Pray for everyone to stay well....tiredness is setting in.
Blessings from Rome.
Yesterday we visited thee hill cities. I will expand on the adventure later. We visited the catacombs of San Callisto before entering Rome. What a moving experience. We reached Rome before dinner and settled in. more later.
Today we started off with a short message by Jimmy, our tour guide. He is outstanding and is studying to be a pastor. The kids keep calling him Joshua or Mr. expeditions. We spent the day in ancient Rome. It was almost like living out a sermon....the history of the early church...the crazy mythology of the Greeks and Romans....and how the Christians were practical, turning pagan temples into churches. We have also clearly seen that our culture is not so different from the Romans in so many ways. It really challenged our young people to be different and stand up for a better standard.
The young gentlemen who shared the wi fi window tonight must go to sleep, so this will be a short post. I suspect that many students are staying in touch and I know that you are not worried. We are doing great, any "situations"are easily resolved and I will report more as soon as possible.
Tomorrow....Vatican City.
the comment I just heard from the room....."Julius Caesar's tomb...what a joke. They have all these great structures and they give him a pile of dirt with some flowers on it!"
Ah....the windows of the world have been opened for us.
Pray for everyone to stay well....tiredness is setting in.
Blessings from Rome.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Edits
For some reason blogspot chains to words that make no sense as it is posting. Editing is not working on the iPad, but I will review and edit when I get to a computer. All is well. Sweet dreams.
Old
OLD....Wow, there is a word for you. We saw a lot that was old today. I am not talking about USA old.....I mean REALLY OLD...ANCIENT OLD!
We had an early start today, leaving the hotel ORTO DI MEDICI right after a hearty breakfast. SOME people learned NOT to trust That Italian wake up calls will be ON TIME. I know some guys who can dress and pack in three minutes flat......Teamwork got us across the cobblestones, out of the way of hurried Italian drivers and on the bus to start our day. The day was misty but not rainy.
The only time Italians hurry is when they are driving their car or Vespa.
It really was sad to leave Florence. It is beautiful, steeped in history, and really deserves a return visit. It would have been nice to have had a day for the Uffizi....galleries in the Medici palaces....
We enjoyed the ride through Tuscany....the region of Itsly that we are in. Th viNEYards are dormant this rme of year, bot you can see the strong root stock of the plants. STRONG ROOT STOCK....Strong foundation. THIS IS WHAT WE aRE GROWING IN our young people as well.
By lunch time we weed in Lucca. Lucca is a walled city and we saw the contrast between living in Lucca and in Florence, which is a much busier place. The kids enjoyed photography and we were thankful for the wall, because they labyrinth of street kept us confused. The streets still follow the plan from the Roman colony from 180 BC. I did mention OLD didn't I?
You will eventually see photos of our excursions and all of the a amazing cathedrals and churches....but I need a computer for that. Keep checking back.
We all had interesting lunch stories. The little shops only hold a dozen (or fewer) people so we scattered for lunch. Hardly anyone speaks English..oh thank goodness for the iPhones with language translators. Italians CAN read their language and a find the technology fun. It is actually fun to try to communicate. I do not know why we are so hesitant to try to speak. I love that the food is specially prepared when you order. everything is so fresh.
When the kids saw the city, they decided to skip the biking and preferred to a walk around and explore the town. given the misty day and a puddles, it was probably a wise decision.
and...back to the bus.....and off to San Gimignano.....I loved this town. Of the original 70 plus towers, 13 are still standing. This town was built in the 12 th and 13th centuries. Ancient but still standing.....that is what we all want to do, isn't it? We want something about us to endure. A couple of bouts of the bubonic plague over the centuries wiped out the population but this little town is still a jewel. the cathedral is now a church because it has no Bishop, but the craftsmanship...photos will not do it justice.
COOP.....co-op....actually this was the a coolest grocery store. Water bottles were 60 euro cents as opposed to 2,60 or two euro dollars and 60 euro cents. Ah, Disney prices. At least we understand that! The toilettes are also fun. You pay. Yes 50 cents....and there are two flushers and sometimes you have to hunt for them. And the sink water turns on and off by stepping on a button on the floor. Fun. My favorite sign /message for the day
.....courteous people leave the toilette area neat and tidy........
I guess only a mom would appreciate that one. Italians leave messages all over the place!
and a short trip over to Siena......inching ever close to Rome. Siena is another walled city with an ancient amphitheater and an incredible cathedral. I guess what amazes us the most is that these magnificent structures, these works of art and architecture, are Not used for their intended purpose and are now only monuments to older days. It is really sad. Our lesson oaf course is if religion is only a routine, this is where you are headed. ...cold, stale, empty, alone. How thankful we are that we have a relationship with Christ....living, growing, and fulfilling.
We walked at least three miles to dinner...if not more. Picture cobblestones, hilly streets, lots and lots of stones...big ones....again...photos will eventually follow, including our group shot in front of the walled city.
so it is time to turn in. I have discovered that my iPad is trying to be Italian and guessing what I want to say....some words automatically change to italian-ish. Do the best you can...I will read it on the big screen soon.
Tomorrow...
The road leads to Rome.
The catacombs of San Callisto, north of Rome will be our first stop. Mr. Darnell is SO excited...I guess he is anxious to visit those early Popes. These are the most prestigious catacombs, after all.
Orvieto is our final walled city before we reach the hustle and Bustle if Rome. Orvieto is surrounded by vineyards and has a 14th century church as well as a Duomo. It should be exciting. Don't be surprised if you get a gift of olive oil, freshly pressed from the nearby groves.
I guess that if yoau ever felt old..you might feel less so after the ancient adventures of the day. May we wall grow ald with grace and with God's love ever flowing through us
A
We had an early start today, leaving the hotel ORTO DI MEDICI right after a hearty breakfast. SOME people learned NOT to trust That Italian wake up calls will be ON TIME. I know some guys who can dress and pack in three minutes flat......Teamwork got us across the cobblestones, out of the way of hurried Italian drivers and on the bus to start our day. The day was misty but not rainy.
The only time Italians hurry is when they are driving their car or Vespa.
It really was sad to leave Florence. It is beautiful, steeped in history, and really deserves a return visit. It would have been nice to have had a day for the Uffizi....galleries in the Medici palaces....
We enjoyed the ride through Tuscany....the region of Itsly that we are in. Th viNEYards are dormant this rme of year, bot you can see the strong root stock of the plants. STRONG ROOT STOCK....Strong foundation. THIS IS WHAT WE aRE GROWING IN our young people as well.
By lunch time we weed in Lucca. Lucca is a walled city and we saw the contrast between living in Lucca and in Florence, which is a much busier place. The kids enjoyed photography and we were thankful for the wall, because they labyrinth of street kept us confused. The streets still follow the plan from the Roman colony from 180 BC. I did mention OLD didn't I?
You will eventually see photos of our excursions and all of the a amazing cathedrals and churches....but I need a computer for that. Keep checking back.
We all had interesting lunch stories. The little shops only hold a dozen (or fewer) people so we scattered for lunch. Hardly anyone speaks English..oh thank goodness for the iPhones with language translators. Italians CAN read their language and a find the technology fun. It is actually fun to try to communicate. I do not know why we are so hesitant to try to speak. I love that the food is specially prepared when you order. everything is so fresh.
When the kids saw the city, they decided to skip the biking and preferred to a walk around and explore the town. given the misty day and a puddles, it was probably a wise decision.
and...back to the bus.....and off to San Gimignano.....I loved this town. Of the original 70 plus towers, 13 are still standing. This town was built in the 12 th and 13th centuries. Ancient but still standing.....that is what we all want to do, isn't it? We want something about us to endure. A couple of bouts of the bubonic plague over the centuries wiped out the population but this little town is still a jewel. the cathedral is now a church because it has no Bishop, but the craftsmanship...photos will not do it justice.
COOP.....co-op....actually this was the a coolest grocery store. Water bottles were 60 euro cents as opposed to 2,60 or two euro dollars and 60 euro cents. Ah, Disney prices. At least we understand that! The toilettes are also fun. You pay. Yes 50 cents....and there are two flushers and sometimes you have to hunt for them. And the sink water turns on and off by stepping on a button on the floor. Fun. My favorite sign /message for the day
.....courteous people leave the toilette area neat and tidy........
I guess only a mom would appreciate that one. Italians leave messages all over the place!
and a short trip over to Siena......inching ever close to Rome. Siena is another walled city with an ancient amphitheater and an incredible cathedral. I guess what amazes us the most is that these magnificent structures, these works of art and architecture, are Not used for their intended purpose and are now only monuments to older days. It is really sad. Our lesson oaf course is if religion is only a routine, this is where you are headed. ...cold, stale, empty, alone. How thankful we are that we have a relationship with Christ....living, growing, and fulfilling.
We walked at least three miles to dinner...if not more. Picture cobblestones, hilly streets, lots and lots of stones...big ones....again...photos will eventually follow, including our group shot in front of the walled city.
so it is time to turn in. I have discovered that my iPad is trying to be Italian and guessing what I want to say....some words automatically change to italian-ish. Do the best you can...I will read it on the big screen soon.
Tomorrow...
The road leads to Rome.
The catacombs of San Callisto, north of Rome will be our first stop. Mr. Darnell is SO excited...I guess he is anxious to visit those early Popes. These are the most prestigious catacombs, after all.
Orvieto is our final walled city before we reach the hustle and Bustle if Rome. Orvieto is surrounded by vineyards and has a 14th century church as well as a Duomo. It should be exciting. Don't be surprised if you get a gift of olive oil, freshly pressed from the nearby groves.
I guess that if yoau ever felt old..you might feel less so after the ancient adventures of the day. May we wall grow ald with grace and with God's love ever flowing through us
A
Back online
Google did something. Posts should be back up one. Off to biking in the hill towns today. Siena tonight. Blessings.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Firenze
So, it is cold. It is not as cold as London was last year, bot it is cold. I think we Floridians are so weak sometimes. I think this when I see Florentines sitting at outdoor cares without a mere shiver.
Yogurt with granola...not the sweet American kind. Croissants...hearty, not sweet and buttery. Cereal,fruit,muffins, cheeses.....these make up a typical hearty Florentine breakfast. we had breakfast overlooking the garden where young Michelangelo once practiced sculpting.
Our morning walk began with a trip to the Duomo.....the grand church in Florence. The building and it's baptistry building rise up from the square...the piazza. The kids commented that it seemed like a giant movie set. In green and white marble, it was a fitting comment. We saw Cardinals arriving for their morning mass. speakers were set so the crowd could participate.
We enjoyed the life sized full nativity and special guest choirs.
The weather was misty, rainy and gypsies appeared from nowhere to sell umbrellas. The guys were great lookouts and protected the rest of us from having pockets picked!
We learned how to use our card to get into the bank and access fund via an ATM wand understood exchange rates better afterward.
The San Lorenz leather market was fun and bartering a was a game. And of course, some made great deals!
We had an amazing lunch in an authentic restaurant and visited the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo's DAVID. Speechless is a good word for the experience. The special exhibit on Renaissance musical instruments was quite interesting as well. We saw some timpani that Miss Wick would not want.
It grew colder as we walked to the Ponte Vecchio bridge crossing the Arno River. Some of our students are remarkable Photographers!
In learning about the Medici's we also learned that you can leave something wonderful for mankind, yet not be so "swell" yourself and that Christ is what makes the difference
FIRENZE (Florence, in Italian).....one of the great cities that contributed to life as We know it today. May we remember our time here and strive to learn more.
Yogurt with granola...not the sweet American kind. Croissants...hearty, not sweet and buttery. Cereal,fruit,muffins, cheeses.....these make up a typical hearty Florentine breakfast. we had breakfast overlooking the garden where young Michelangelo once practiced sculpting.
Our morning walk began with a trip to the Duomo.....the grand church in Florence. The building and it's baptistry building rise up from the square...the piazza. The kids commented that it seemed like a giant movie set. In green and white marble, it was a fitting comment. We saw Cardinals arriving for their morning mass. speakers were set so the crowd could participate.
We enjoyed the life sized full nativity and special guest choirs.
The weather was misty, rainy and gypsies appeared from nowhere to sell umbrellas. The guys were great lookouts and protected the rest of us from having pockets picked!
We learned how to use our card to get into the bank and access fund via an ATM wand understood exchange rates better afterward.
The San Lorenz leather market was fun and bartering a was a game. And of course, some made great deals!
We had an amazing lunch in an authentic restaurant and visited the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo's DAVID. Speechless is a good word for the experience. The special exhibit on Renaissance musical instruments was quite interesting as well. We saw some timpani that Miss Wick would not want.
It grew colder as we walked to the Ponte Vecchio bridge crossing the Arno River. Some of our students are remarkable Photographers!
In learning about the Medici's we also learned that you can leave something wonderful for mankind, yet not be so "swell" yourself and that Christ is what makes the difference
FIRENZE (Florence, in Italian).....one of the great cities that contributed to life as We know it today. May we remember our time here and strive to learn more.
Creative problem solving
This post will be short, but for those who know me,you will see answers to your prayers on my behalf....and find humor too.
Frankfurt airport. I raved about TSA too soon. Last night when I desperately needed sleep, I found that TSA had damaged the seal on my CPAP machine. My precious roomie needed earplugs for sure! MI decided not to fret but to just trust God for a resolution...and good sleep on my part, for Becky's sake.
While packing tonight I discovered an item I love dearly and never travel without......DUCT TAPE. I think that Duct Tape provides creative solutions for almost anything. Air leak is now sealed up and we are so happy!
yes, I know you are laughing! (with me)
Frankfurt airport. I raved about TSA too soon. Last night when I desperately needed sleep, I found that TSA had damaged the seal on my CPAP machine. My precious roomie needed earplugs for sure! MI decided not to fret but to just trust God for a resolution...and good sleep on my part, for Becky's sake.
While packing tonight I discovered an item I love dearly and never travel without......DUCT TAPE. I think that Duct Tape provides creative solutions for almost anything. Air leak is now sealed up and we are so happy!
yes, I know you are laughing! (with me)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Time
Time.....now there is an interesting concept. Time wasted. Time enjoyed. Time invested. So much depends upon your perspective. We started off our day very early. OUR day, actually was your yesterday. OURS just ended and it is 10:25 1/5 Italy time. (4:25 PM US time on 1/5)
What a great team of students we have though. They were early to arrive at the airport...eager and excited. We made it though ticketing with only one glitch. Time invested ....in helping a student see that things can and will work out, because God is in control of this journey. What a trooper, our gal had patience and grace and trust. I see great travel potential in her future. What could have been a huge obstacle, did not throw her. God provided assurance all along the way! We agree that she will definitely have the most interesting DAY 1 journal entries.
Accolades to TSA. For all that we hear in the news stories, we had only a few minor screenings and found, of all things, lotion on a chaperone s hands. (Italian keyboard...missing apostrophe) The flights were pleasant and uneventful, though long. I enjoyed the flight map and got to pray for our London students when we flew over London, remembering that trip fondly and enjoying it when I hear that the students had a great experience. Time invested well. As we flew over Europe I prayed for J'term 2012, wondering what our destination might be. What a wonderful gift to have parents that allow their students to travel like this. How blessed we are that TMA considers it a worthy investment of our educational time.
Time wasted? You could call watching the luggage carousel circle round and round just that. We did come up four bags short, but are hoping for their arrival at our hotel tomorrow. We were SO positive that they were coming on the next flight and kept watching and waiting. Again, though disappointed, the students took it in good stride and looked for the positive....perhaps the airline will purchase a new wardrobe for them...??? Tomorrow may tell! The Rome airport was certainly an adventure in time management.
By the time we hit the charter bus, students wanted to nap. I particularly enjoyed the tents over the seats, so they could snooze in darkness. It was nice to have almost two seats each on the charter to Florence. Power naps came in handy! Night fell at around 5 PM...that was hard for us to imagine. The light rain brought in some colder weather and we heard that it might snow in Florence by morning.
Finally....Hotel Orto de Medici in Florence. It is right down the street from the Accademia and Michelangelos "David." The history of the hotel is so interesting. The short version is that it was once a Medici residence and Lorenzo Medici (Il Magnifico or Lorenzo the Magnificent) lived here. He felt that painters were a dime a dozen but sculptors were rare, so he collected precious sculptures and invited young talented students to live in the residence and study sculpture. He invested his time in the cultural training of young people. Yes, the young lad Michelangelo showed great talent while studying here.....what a neat thing to be able to stay here. Orto de Medici means Gardens of Medici.
We had a wonderful Italian dinner...pizza or pasta? Well, we chose pizza and calzones made the old fashioned hand thrown way. By the time everyone walked back to the hotel they were ready to hit the showers and the beds. Time....we had more than a 24 hour day today, but it was filled with memories. We met our new friends from Cornerstone and our tour guide, Jimmy will bring us some interesting perspectives. Once rested up, we will head out to see "David" tomorrow...and the Duomo....an incredible building project that kicked off the Renaissance. Ponte Vecchio over the River Arno is another site we plan to explore. Tomorrow is the last day of Epiphany, which is celebrated in Italy. (The 12th Day of Christmas)..it will be fun to experience an Italian holiday.
Time to talk to your children....well, technology is not what it is at home, so do not expect an accurate time table for communication. We have seen some texting work, but not consistently. Remember that we are not in the US and we are fairly well spoiled in our culture. For us, everything is instantaneous. For Italians....ah relax a bit.... As we attempt to step back into history, do not be overly concerned if students do not call constantly. We want them to take a break from technology and enjoy the lifetime of investment of so many great artisans. So much of their life today is built on the foundation of these creative individuals. Technology robs us of quality time so often and when they are texting or calling when they could be observing and experiencing....the are the losers.
Time spent with young people who are eager to travel and eager to learn is always time well spent. God tells us that for everything there is a season. I, for one, am so blessed that this special type of travel is part of His plan in my life.
What a great team of students we have though. They were early to arrive at the airport...eager and excited. We made it though ticketing with only one glitch. Time invested ....in helping a student see that things can and will work out, because God is in control of this journey. What a trooper, our gal had patience and grace and trust. I see great travel potential in her future. What could have been a huge obstacle, did not throw her. God provided assurance all along the way! We agree that she will definitely have the most interesting DAY 1 journal entries.
Accolades to TSA. For all that we hear in the news stories, we had only a few minor screenings and found, of all things, lotion on a chaperone s hands. (Italian keyboard...missing apostrophe) The flights were pleasant and uneventful, though long. I enjoyed the flight map and got to pray for our London students when we flew over London, remembering that trip fondly and enjoying it when I hear that the students had a great experience. Time invested well. As we flew over Europe I prayed for J'term 2012, wondering what our destination might be. What a wonderful gift to have parents that allow their students to travel like this. How blessed we are that TMA considers it a worthy investment of our educational time.
Time wasted? You could call watching the luggage carousel circle round and round just that. We did come up four bags short, but are hoping for their arrival at our hotel tomorrow. We were SO positive that they were coming on the next flight and kept watching and waiting. Again, though disappointed, the students took it in good stride and looked for the positive....perhaps the airline will purchase a new wardrobe for them...??? Tomorrow may tell! The Rome airport was certainly an adventure in time management.
By the time we hit the charter bus, students wanted to nap. I particularly enjoyed the tents over the seats, so they could snooze in darkness. It was nice to have almost two seats each on the charter to Florence. Power naps came in handy! Night fell at around 5 PM...that was hard for us to imagine. The light rain brought in some colder weather and we heard that it might snow in Florence by morning.
Finally....Hotel Orto de Medici in Florence. It is right down the street from the Accademia and Michelangelos "David." The history of the hotel is so interesting. The short version is that it was once a Medici residence and Lorenzo Medici (Il Magnifico or Lorenzo the Magnificent) lived here. He felt that painters were a dime a dozen but sculptors were rare, so he collected precious sculptures and invited young talented students to live in the residence and study sculpture. He invested his time in the cultural training of young people. Yes, the young lad Michelangelo showed great talent while studying here.....what a neat thing to be able to stay here. Orto de Medici means Gardens of Medici.
We had a wonderful Italian dinner...pizza or pasta? Well, we chose pizza and calzones made the old fashioned hand thrown way. By the time everyone walked back to the hotel they were ready to hit the showers and the beds. Time....we had more than a 24 hour day today, but it was filled with memories. We met our new friends from Cornerstone and our tour guide, Jimmy will bring us some interesting perspectives. Once rested up, we will head out to see "David" tomorrow...and the Duomo....an incredible building project that kicked off the Renaissance. Ponte Vecchio over the River Arno is another site we plan to explore. Tomorrow is the last day of Epiphany, which is celebrated in Italy. (The 12th Day of Christmas)..it will be fun to experience an Italian holiday.
Time to talk to your children....well, technology is not what it is at home, so do not expect an accurate time table for communication. We have seen some texting work, but not consistently. Remember that we are not in the US and we are fairly well spoiled in our culture. For us, everything is instantaneous. For Italians....ah relax a bit.... As we attempt to step back into history, do not be overly concerned if students do not call constantly. We want them to take a break from technology and enjoy the lifetime of investment of so many great artisans. So much of their life today is built on the foundation of these creative individuals. Technology robs us of quality time so often and when they are texting or calling when they could be observing and experiencing....the are the losers.
Time spent with young people who are eager to travel and eager to learn is always time well spent. God tells us that for everything there is a season. I, for one, am so blessed that this special type of travel is part of His plan in my life.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Baggage
I pack and re-pack. I started a month ago, maybe more. I edit and edit and the zippers still don't seal it all in. My problem is not the clothing, it is the stuff. Stuff you can simply not live without when you travel. A coordinated wardrobe, Cameras, art supplies, journal, ipod, ipad, phone (now this technology thing should be simpler!)....oh and all the cords and connectors to make the technology function. I am not carrying film...I guess that is a plus. Then there is the blankey and neck rest (we are not flying first class)...and snacks (they sell everything on the plane these days) ....and, of course my vitamins and my Bible (don't leave home without it!) ....it will all fit...yes, I am determined!
How did we ever get by with suitcases with no wheels? I imagine that my precious students have never seen a suitcase without wheels. When I think about it, they probably have never seen anything but an e-ticket either. I feel privileged to be exploring the world with these young people....I love their youthful enthusiasm. They keep me feeling young!
Roma ~ the Eternal City. Yes, it is. A lot of what we will see in Rome is old, very very old. I hope the students appreciate craftsmanship when they see the sculptures and the architecture. Those things are not plastic, mass produced. Talent was required and each piece of sculpture was one of a kind. Kind of like our students, right? God created each one as a masterpiece, one of a kind, unique, individual, clay in the potter's hands.....not finished yet! I am thankful for individuality and I embrace it. It is great to begin to see how unique you are 'in Christ'....it just makes the stuff of the world so much less important. So, Roma......show us your craftsmanship, your masterpieces....and the presence of God, who allowed it all to endure.
How did we ever get by with suitcases with no wheels? I imagine that my precious students have never seen a suitcase without wheels. When I think about it, they probably have never seen anything but an e-ticket either. I feel privileged to be exploring the world with these young people....I love their youthful enthusiasm. They keep me feeling young!
Roma ~ the Eternal City. Yes, it is. A lot of what we will see in Rome is old, very very old. I hope the students appreciate craftsmanship when they see the sculptures and the architecture. Those things are not plastic, mass produced. Talent was required and each piece of sculpture was one of a kind. Kind of like our students, right? God created each one as a masterpiece, one of a kind, unique, individual, clay in the potter's hands.....not finished yet! I am thankful for individuality and I embrace it. It is great to begin to see how unique you are 'in Christ'....it just makes the stuff of the world so much less important. So, Roma......show us your craftsmanship, your masterpieces....and the presence of God, who allowed it all to endure.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Anticipation
2011 has arrived. My bags are packed and ready to go. The itinerary has been set for months now and by all appearances, students are excited and packing as well. January 3 is the start of the second J-Term session for The Master's Academy high school students. The course offerings are amazing, but we who are scheduled for the overseas trip certainly think that our destination is the best! Italy. Specifically, Florence and Rome with some little villages in Tuscany, sandwiched between the two.
How many books have I read.....volume after volume, to be sure. I think that the planning for the trip and learning about my destinations excites me about as much as the actual arrival in the foreign airport. I don't want to miss a thing! I want to savor the sounds and sights, the smells and textures of the towns and cities we visit. I want to blend in with the Europeans and not just be an observer of their lives....and I certainly do not want to be only a tourist.
I packed lighter this year. I am personally lighter this year. There is a skip in my step and a lilt in my voice and I look forward to re-visiting places I loved when first visiting Rome. I am so glad that I threw my three coins in the fountain (Trevi Fountain) and that indeed, I get to return to Rome ~ the Eternal City.
I hope this is more than just a destination or just a trip for our students. I hope they determine to learn a little more about themselves, a lot more about what Christians before them endured, and that they become more passionate about the Lord they serve. I hope they see God's hand in history and learn as young people that He has a great plan for their lives ~ and yes, if they only will allow Him to lead and let Him guide them, I wonder if they have any real idea what a marvelous life is in store for them.
My advice to the students was to rest well, stay hydrated, and stay well.....so they could enjoy this trip to the max. I need to take my own advice!
Firenze and Roma.....here we come!
How many books have I read.....volume after volume, to be sure. I think that the planning for the trip and learning about my destinations excites me about as much as the actual arrival in the foreign airport. I don't want to miss a thing! I want to savor the sounds and sights, the smells and textures of the towns and cities we visit. I want to blend in with the Europeans and not just be an observer of their lives....and I certainly do not want to be only a tourist.
I packed lighter this year. I am personally lighter this year. There is a skip in my step and a lilt in my voice and I look forward to re-visiting places I loved when first visiting Rome. I am so glad that I threw my three coins in the fountain (Trevi Fountain) and that indeed, I get to return to Rome ~ the Eternal City.
I hope this is more than just a destination or just a trip for our students. I hope they determine to learn a little more about themselves, a lot more about what Christians before them endured, and that they become more passionate about the Lord they serve. I hope they see God's hand in history and learn as young people that He has a great plan for their lives ~ and yes, if they only will allow Him to lead and let Him guide them, I wonder if they have any real idea what a marvelous life is in store for them.
My advice to the students was to rest well, stay hydrated, and stay well.....so they could enjoy this trip to the max. I need to take my own advice!
Firenze and Roma.....here we come!
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