November in Rome
Now that we have entered the middle of November, things have been pretty normal. In fact, the schedule from week to week is the exact same. The only difference is that I have been learning so much each week. However, there has not been a lot of extra time to explore the city of Rome. By the time I get done with my classes, lunch, studying and exercising, I just want to relax. Having to walk throughout the city never sounds that enticing when I have time to actually explore.
There was a couple visiting from Norman, Oklahoma last weekend that made me realize how much I need to see in Rome. Many tour groups fly into Rome, jump on a bus, and then fly from one historic or religious site to another. However, there are a few seminarians here that make a list of places they want to visit and then they just go down the list. Perhaps I should start doing that in my spare time. At least I could share my experience with you in this blog.
At the college, we are preparing for New Man Weekend, which takes place the weekend following Thanksgiving. There are many fun things for the community to do and see. The highlight of the weekend is the Spaghetti Bowl. This North American College tradition is a flag football game between the New Men and the Old Men from the college. In years past, the Old Men tend to win, in part because they have the entire seminary to scout through, while the New Men have limited numbers. However, I think we might have a chance to win this year.
QB James Platania fires a pass to his receiver.
The Spaghetti Bowl Old Men Team openly wept while watching the incredible football skills of the New Men of '13.
New Men finish up practice with a prayer of thanksgiving.
In addition to the Spaghetti Bowl, we also have a talent show and a huge Thanksgiving Banquet, which the college is known for holding. Many Americans in Rome that are not associated with an American organization are welcomed to the North American College for this special feast, unique to the United States. One of the Scottish seminarians told me yesterday that he heard that tickets for the banquet go for a thousand dollars. Can you believe that? He asked me if it was true and I assured him it was not. It is more like two thousand! haha The whole point of keeping us busy during Thanksgiving Weekend is to keep us from missing home too much. Thanksgiving is such a family-oriented holiday and I am looking forward to video conferencing with my family during our annual Family Thanksgiving Dinner at my house. It will be nice to see my grandmother, cousins, aunts, uncles, and my immediate family. I am so thankful for SKYPE! It has helped me feel closer to home every time I talk to my family and friends from back home.
Finally there is some good news for the North American College! It is possible that the seminarians from the college will be invited to a private audience with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, early next year to commemorate the close of the 150 year anniversary celebration of the founding of the North American College in Rome. The college is the largest national seminary in Rome, celebrating a big anniversary, and during the Year of the Priest. I think our chances are pretty good that it will actually happen.
That is about all that is going on right now in Rome! Ciao!
Weekend in Assisi
This weekend was a great weekend because we were able to get out of language classes on Friday and travel to Assisi for a weekend get away. However, before leaving for Assisi, a Welcome Banquet was held in honor of our class (Class of 2013). The evening began with Vespers and then we were invited to the “Red Room”, which is only used to welcome visiting dignitaries to America’s Seminary in Rome. The reception area was beautiful and had huge windows with a great view of St. Peter’s Basilica, which is a few blocks from the seminary.
The view from the NAC's "Red Room" reception room.
After enjoying some conversation and appetizers, we proceeded to the cortile in front of the main chapel doors for the Welcome Banquet. The dinner was great and the Second Year seminarians worked so hard to make the evening a smashing success. After a great toast by both Msgr. Checchio and Michael Gallacher, a first year seminarian from the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia. After all of the festivities, I sat on the top level of the North American College with three other seminarians and we had a great conversation as we overlooked St. Peter’s Basilica and the city of Rome.
St. Peter's Basilica at night from the roof of the North American College.
On Friday morning we departed for Assisi really in the morning. Assisi is the home of Saints Francis and Clare. The Franciscan Religious Order bloomed from St. Francis’s example and the Poor Clare Sisters originated with St. Clare. The town is built on the side of a steep mountain, Mt. Subasio, and everything is focused on the lives of these two famous and great Saints. I was able to pray at many of the important places that served as the backdrop to St. Francis’ conversion and his new life. The highlights of the trip include visiting the Basilica of San Francesco, the Basilica of Santa Chiara, and St. Francis’ hermitage on Mt. Subasio. I was able to see the remains of St. Clare that are kept in the crypt of the Basilica of Santa Chiera and the crucifix in which spoke to St. Francis.
The Basilica of St. Francis is a huge structure and it shows how proud the town was and is for this famous Saint that was born and lived there.
The Basilica of St. Clare is beautiful and contains the body of St. Clare within the crypt.
One of the best, and worst, parts of the trip to Assisi was the hike I took up to the Hermitage of St. Francis. It is a 4 km hike straight up the mountain. All of my clothes were soaking wet with sweat by the time I reached the top, but the view that met my eyes at the top of the trail was amazing. The nature path was very narrow, one side stone and the other side a drop off. It felt like flying because of the height we were at and also because of the views we could see straight down into the town of Assisi and the lower valley.
The beginning of the 4km hike to the Hermitage of St. Francis.
The path up to the hermitage was very rocky and steep. It was a bit scary at times and I was exhausted.
This is one of the views you can see if you hike the 4km trail up the mountain toward St. Francis' Hermitage.
We took a break on the hike to take some pictures.
We had an outdoor Mass up in the mountain near the Hermitage.
I also really enjoyed going to a music festival within the walls of the fortress that is situated over the town of Assisi. It is really high up the mountain and provided great views of the city. We were able to listen to traditional folk music and enjoy the “block party” type of evening with the Italian locals and their families. We had a blast.
Rocca Maggiore is the fortress overlooking the town of Assisi.
We enjoyed an italian folk music festival with many of the locals.
Italians really know how to have a great time!
I am now back at the North American College in Rome. Just two weeks until my Italian Entrance Exam! I have learned so much in the past weeks and I hope I am able to put that knowledge to good use.
Surviving the First Week of Italian
I have survived the first week of Italian lessons. I have learned a lot of vocabulary, but I think it will probably take some time to be able to put phrases together in a grammatically correct way! However, thanks to Paola and Elisa, I should be able to get pretty far in these four weeks.
My days in Verbania have been pretty methodical. I have been waking up around 7:30 am in order to get ready for my lessons, pray the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer, grab a quick croissant in the dining room, and then I find myself ready for my lessons at 9:00 am. I first meet with Elisa and we focus on vocabulary and speaking. At 10:30 am I get a quick break and then I start back at 10:45 am with Paola. Paola cannot speak any English, but our lessons are awesome. She is my grammar teacher and she is also blessed with a lot of patience. I finish up the one-on-one lessons at 12:30 pm, just in time for Pranzo (lunch)! Our meals are huge! I finally started asking for half-portions! The meals are normally three courses (a pasta dish, meat dish, and dessert). We wrap up Pranzo around 2:00 pm and then the afternoon is free to study on my own. I have been working with the Rosetta Stone computer program and also spend time going over my notes from my lessons. However, I do more than just study.
The afternoon is a good time to go for a walk or even a swim in the cool/cold Lago Maggiore (which I did this week)! The town of Verbania is a tourist’s heaven! There are little shops littering the alleys and there are not really a lot of tourists crowding everywhere. Verbania is a far cry from Rome!
After spending the afternoon studying, napping, and exploring, we celebrate Mass in the chapel of the Hotel (il Chiostro is a remodeled Augustinian Cloister) at 7:00 pm, followed by Cena (dinner). Cena goes on forever and is like Pranzo but with a salad added in there. We are done with cena around 8:30 pm and then we go our separate ways. This year there are 17 seminarians here from the North American College (nine New Men and eight Old Men). Therefore, there are many possible things to do and we often split up. I have went with a group of guys that walk to lakefront to have coffee every evening at a small, Italian, outdoor restaurant several times. It is nice to just chill out and enjoy the evening. However, the 2 euro 50 Coca-Cola is too expensive. I wish I liked coffee!
Below are some pictures of Verbania and Lago Maggiore.
My home for the next four weeks.
Verbania is located near the Italian/Swiss border.
Dan, David, and Ryan swimming in Lago Maggiore.
The 16th century belfry of the Basilica of San Vittore is beautiful.
Another picture of San Vittore.
