Thanksgiving already?

     It's crazy to me that Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  Over this week I've forgotten that multiple times, but naturally Italians do not celebrate or note the American holiday so life goes on like normal here.  Between a weekend in London visiting a sweet friend who frequents Rome often and another weekend with a wonderful visit from my dad, the last few weeks have quickly come and gone.

    Monday evening our team hosted a cultural event for our Italian friends to introduce them to Thanksgiving.  Since Italians don't eat dinner until 8-10 here, we did it around aperitivo time (6-8) which is essentially a pre-dinner appetizer slot to hold you over until the meal.  Our intent behind this Thanksgiving aperitivo was to yes, allow them to experience the goodness of Thanksgiving food, but also to give a brief talk on the history of Thanksgiving in the US and what the Bible has to say about giving thanks.  We had an excellent turnout, filling the whole of our gallery room.  The girls I invited told me they enjoyed hearing about our holiday, and it was a neat way to mention the spiritual reasons we have to be thankful without scaring them away.  Plus, everyone loved the food (how could they not?)

Displaying the 13 kilo (27 pound) turkey

         While it’s sad this is the first Thanksgiving I won’t be with my family, I’m looking forward to celebrating with my family in Rome.  Our team is doing a big meal together with all the usual foods, aside from the ones that require ingredients we can’t get here.  Monday was like a teaser, sampling different dishes, so it’ll be great to sit, eat, and take the Lord’s supper together.  Though we can’t get any of the classic football games here, the sport will still hopefully be incorporated in the day through a movie of some sort!

Watkinsville Worship in Rome

     Goodness, time is flying by. I can't believe this week marks 2 months for me in Rome; there is still so much I hope to do while here, and I certainly see why most missionaries stay for at least a few years.  Everything in Italy takes time!

     Last week was Italy's anniversary for being a unified nation-150 years, to be exact.  Friday night Taylor and I went with one of our friends and students to a patriotic celebration in Piazza del Popolo.  An Italian composer and conductor, Ennoi Morricone, gave quite a show there with his orchestra.  It was definitely a cultural experience, seeing carabinieri and Italian officers everywhere, people waving Italian flags, memorial posters constructed...much like a 4th of July parade in the states, except here the carabinieri have Valentino designer uniforms.

Joining in the spirit of the night

         One of the things I heard once I arrived in Italy and was being prepped on what to expect with cultural personalities was how Italians tend to cancel appointments when it rains.  At first I thought that was just laziness, but yesterday I got to experience the 35 minute walk back to my apartment from the university in the rain.  After about 5 minutes of walking and thinking of all of those who travel much farther than I to come, I understand completely the choice to stay inside!  That's only one of the many differences between figuring out how to meet students or plan events here, for people really do need to take rain checks.

     In the last week I've had several appointments with students, which has been wonderful.  Two of my friends here (Silvia one of the exchange girls who came to Athens in August, and Marco, who I tutor in English grammar) have both decided they want to help me practice my Italian through language exchanges.  It has been really helpful to be able to practice one on one with someone, so the conversation stays at my level, so I'm hoping these sessions contribute to my Italian improving more quickly.  

     I also had a really good lunch with Claudia (another student who did the Athens exchange) on Monday, and heard a neat story.  She was asking me if I found a church here that I liked, since she went to WFBC with us when she was in American and saw the community.  While we were talking about that, she mentioned that she still plays to the WFBC worship cd I gave her, and her family even joins her in listening!  While they're only listening to it now for the change in musical style (for as Claudia said, "[her] church music is, God forgive me, boring"), the lyrics in those songs are completely gospel-oriented.  Since no one in her family speaks English as a native language, it could be a way they practice and have to evaluate what the words mean, which is an exciting avenue for the Holy Spirit to begin working in that household!