A Lazy Sunday

The rainy day started with a trip on the subway to the end of the line in order to make it to church. If there was thunder, it sounded like someone was taking a large garbage can to the curb. Some of us still aren't sure which is the case. We got to church early, the way the leaders of the church would be proud and it seemed like every missionary in Italy was there. The Elders and Sisters handed out English headsets to whoever wanted them. I wanted to experience an Italian church so I opted out of it. The hymns we sang were familiar. Though it was Mother's Day (Hi, mom), we didn't sing any mom songs; the branch was pretty small so I don't even know if they had a primary to sing to the congregation. The closest we got to a mom song was O, My Father (it has that one line that talks about how Heavenly Father has his wife, Heavenly Mother, but honestly, we should talk about her way more because she's the coolest).

The BYU study abroad group attended the same branch. Their trip is much shorter than ours. While we are abroad in Italy studying for 4-5 weeks, they are studying for only 2. I can't imagine that. I've had such a wonderful time being able to really soak in the studies, but Steve has said that we are still only grazing the surface. What the heck!

We stayed only for sacrament meeting then headed back to the hotel to change. We planned on going to the Baths of Caracalla (we'll talk about that later) but apparently they were closed today! They've never been closed according to Steve. We'll be going there later, it was decided, and Steve took us all out to lunch.

We took the metro down to the Colosseum where we went down a number of alleyways. Honestly, every street in Italy is so narrow, I think they're all alleyways. Finally, we made it to the restaurant and right in time because there was a crash of thunder then it started pouring rain. No one was sure if we would be paying for ourselves or if Steve was treating us. We ordered our food and Steve got us an appetizer of melon and pruchetta (a thin ham) to share. That's when we figured he was covering the bill. Everyone at my table ordered a drink as well. The pizza we had there was the best I've had in Italy so far (I still miss my mom's pizza. And DiGiorno's). After we finished lunch, we were ready to head out, but then Steve ordered everyone tiramisu to share with one person. When we thought we were stuffed, he ordered strawberries and whipped cream for each table to share. INCREDIBLE. In the end, Steve covered the bill. I was shocked; though I figured he might front the bill, I was ready to pay for my food. What a blessing.

Tiramisu

My vegetarian pizza

Kyndle really enjoying her pizza

With the pouring rain, I decided to stay in today. After reading a few pages from the book Michelangelo & the Pope's Ceiling, I took a very small nap then played cards with a few friends. Compared to lunch, tonight's dinner was rough. There was an array of cheese which had a taste that was hard to bear, potatoes which could never disappoint, and a creature of cooked spinach. Rough.

Eat it, you won't.

Prior to my trip to Italy, many people have told me that I'll find some hunk abroad. Honestly, I don't think that'll happen in Italy. Everyone smokes here! First of all, it smells just terrible. Also, science is here. The climate is changing. Smoking is bad. Get with the times, fam. Maybe that's why none of the guys in Italy have really caught my eye, because they all have like, five cigarettes in one hand lit at a time (that's an exaggeration). But, the waiter at the restaurant was okay. Also, our weekend concierge, Alessandro, is okay too. Still, I don't think The OneTM is in Italy.

Tomorrow is a jam packed day. We are getting up at 5:45 IN THE MORNING (RIP my life) to take a 2 hour train ride to Assisi where we will learn more things! Honestly, this has been the most incredible experience so far and I cannot stress that enough. I have taken just about all the art history courses UVU has provided and many of them overlap so I'm very familiar with what we are studying. But now, I can see these things in context. I'm surrounded by people I don't understand and I understand everything just so well. In my education, I have found a home in Italy. We've been here a week already and I will miss it all so much.