GL350: Week Three

       Our third week here in Italy revolved around the idea that Rome is a city of faith. I honestly have lost count to how many churches we have actually been in. But I can say they have all been fascinating. In The Smiles of Rome, Margaret Visser states, "A church stands in total opposition to the narrowing and flattening of human experience, the deviation into the trivial, that follow from antipathy towards meaning, and especially meaning held in comming. Meaning is intentional: this building has been made in order to communicate with the people in it."
      Coming from someone who is not Catholic, and with 90% of Rome being Catholic, I can honestly say I was moved by the churches. Later in the book Visser explains how these spiritual buildings effect people by saying, "The building is trying to speak; not listening to what it has to say is a form of barbarous inattention, like admiring a musical instrument..." There is a reason they ask you to be quiet, for this reason and in certain churches not to take pictures. The silence and focused attention away from the camera makes the experience more meaningful and makes you actually pay attention to what you're looking at.
      One of the sites we visited was the "Holy Stairs". You climb 28 steps on your knees and say a prayer at each step. Most Catholics say a Hail Mary at each step; however, not being Catholic I chose to pray for the ones I love and think of. By the time I got to the top of the stairs, I was sweating however it was worth it and very meaningful. Among the Holy Stairs with visiting many other churches last week, they were all a part of the student tour led by Dave and Emily.
      Friday morning was filled with excitement. Sydney and I hopped on a plane and headed for Spain. Prior to our trip I honestly did not know the city we were staying in, and actually did not know how to correctly pronounce it until we arrived there. Everyone was extremely confused and concerned but I just laughed. We stayed with Leire, who was an exhange student two years ago, lived with my aunt, uncle, and cousin for over a year, and we became inseperatable. Friday morning her family picked us up at the airport, and we spent the entire weekend with them. To say Sydney and I were spoiled with food and hospitality would be an understatement. For never meeting either of us, her parents were more than amazing.
     One thing I learned this weekend that Americans suffer from a language barrier, and I honestly think schools should start teaching foreign languages at an earlier age. Leire's friends were all almost fluent in English, and have been learning it since age four; where as, American's generally don't start learning a second language until middle or high school. I truly wish I could say I am fluent in another language, but I took German for four years and would not come near to being fluent.
      Aside from the language barrier being partially obvious, it is not impending on my trip personally at all.  The majority of people are patient and very caring and love playing schrades. I am also finding that when we travel out of Italy, my mind is set on Italian phrases and I have no filter when I say them. Luckily this weekend we will be in Italy and I can use as much Italian (well, as much as I know and remember) and others will understand me.
       After another fantastic week here in Rome, we will be leaving for Florence Friday and will finally get to ride the fast train...weee!!